At those words, Ophelia recalled Siana’s attitude when she came to ask permission to go to the Nevel family castle. She had felt that her behavior was somewhat subtle at the time, but it seemed she had a separate plan.

I didn’t know that and was going to ask Anika, whom I had last met with Siana, about the reason.

Ophelia, who had unknowingly recalled the deceased, took a deep breath. Was it because she had seen Starlet’s death with her own eyes but not Anika’s? She still couldn’t quite believe the woman’s death.

Anyway, since the castle gates were locked, the dispatch of the investigation team would also be delayed. Ophelia looked at Dahel, who was staying up with her. The young man, who had looked much healthier and more energetic than in his previous life, was now looking down at the floor with a pale face.

“If you’re not feeling well, you can go in and rest.”

“No, I’m fine.”

And Dahel slightly avoided her gaze. Ophelia didn’t urge him further.

In his previous life, Dahel had shown blind support for her, thinking she was the one who had freed him from the clutches of the former Lord Rohos.

However, in this life, the boy was rescued by Idren’s hand, not hers, and he felt deep gratitude towards Anika, who had helped the process go smoothly and remained kind until the end.

So the Dahel she knew didn’t exist. Realizing this fact, Ophelia felt a chill in one corner of her heart.

Come to think of it, it was like that. The previous life and now were different. She had habitually treated those around her as she had in her previous life, but when examined, everything was not as she had known.

No, there was only one thing that remained the same. Idren. That man who had come back in time with her was, after all, the person she knew.

Feeling some comfort in that fact, Ophelia thought herself ridiculous. Wasn’t he the man she had felt most unfamiliar with when she first returned to the past? But now she felt less lonely because he was there.

However, Idren is not here, and instead, what’s around are only unfamiliar things that she might not be able to control properly. Ophelia slowly rubbed her face. She couldn’t understand how the situation had come to this.

That dawn, the armies of the elder families united and began to invade Sigrasal Castle. Considering that no army except the royal family’s private soldiers could be stationed in Edegrund, it was clearly treason.

Ophelia declared them all as traitors with the king’s authority delegated to her. The head of the Chesa family urgently brought troops for the sake of his son and the royal family, and an official document was issued to minimize damage to civilian homes. Its content was to prohibit going out for safety and to move vulnerable groups to temporarily prepared shelters.

Since the head of the Nevel family had died, there were no Nevel troops among the rebel army. Another messenger bird brought word that Nevel Castle was also under attack.

Fortunately, Nevel Castle where Siana was staying seemed to be holding up well with Hazel and the royal family’s private soldiers. If they had been able to receive detailed news, it would have been easier to grasp the situation there, but given the circumstances, that was impossible. Not only was the amount of information a messenger bird could deliver at once limited, but there was also a risk of being hunted by the enemy.

Amidst the turbulent situation, the wavering public sentiment in Edegrund was controlled by Lisana, who had been the royal family’s head servant since the previous generation. The old woman was said to be the most supported person in the capital after the king.

“It’s because she’s been consistently engaging in relief activities since before the rebellion broke out.”

Salode added this while explaining to her how the defense would proceed. Ophelia nodded to the man who seemed to have been watching her closely since the night she heard the news of Anika’s death.

Now everything she had gained in her second life felt unfamiliar to her. If it weren’t for the thought that she had to hold out until the master of the castle returned, she would have tried to escape in some way or another.

Dahel helped Lisana and Salode organize the stockpiled supplies and control the inside of the castle. Ophelia was about to say some words of comfort to the young man who still hadn’t fully shed his youthful appearance, but then stopped. She didn’t know what to say.

The attacks didn’t discriminate between day and night, but they subsided a little at night.

“They have no other choice but to rebel, so if the defense continues, we will win.”

Perhaps thinking she might be anxious, Salode slipped in such words. It was when they were standing on the castle wall looking down together.

Ophelia looked down at the head of the Ond family, who was now bringing up her dignity in his speech after drawing in all kinds of words to insult the royal family.

Those insults, teetering dangerously between calling her a princess of a ruined country and a wanton woman, were something she hadn’t heard in a very long time. In her previous life, similar words always followed when she engaged in luxury goods businesses or money games.

How many days had the defense lasted when news came that an army was approaching from beyond the northern castle wall. Since only reinforcements could come from the north of Edegrund, it was good news.

“The reinforcements will reach Edegrund’s walls within two days.”

Salode reported to her as she sat in a chair in the study.

“Your complexion is pale.”

“What do you mean?”

“His Majesty will be returning soon.”

Only then did Ophelia realize what the man meant by saying such things to her, and she nodded.

“I’ll make sure to manage my appearance until the king enters the castle.”

After all, that was something she should naturally do. Ophelia knew that the internal affairs of the castle were handled more by Salode and the head servant than by her own hands. Idren had left it that way, she was told.

But there was no reason to be upset about being told to properly maintain her appearance.

However, when she agreed, Salode’s expression became even more uncomfortable.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Then what did he want? Ophelia looked at the man who had been acting strangely for some time now. If he had something he wanted, she wished he would say it directly instead of beating around the bush.

But Salode remained silent for a moment, then disappeared after leaving one contextually incomprehensible sentence.

“If you have any requests, please let me know anytime.”

And two days later, as the man had said, the blockade on Edegrund’s walls broke down. It was a signal that the army had entered from outside.

As promised, Ophelia tidied up her appearance from early that morning. She took out and wore the red dress that Idren had said he liked, and called a servant to apply makeup thicker than usual.

As she was looking at her reflection in the mirror, she suddenly recalled what Idren had told her when crossing the river between Aglante and Reden. Didn’t he say that her appearance was a hundred times better than her personality?

However, when she asked if he liked her because of her appearance, the man who had said such things actually denied it. Ophelia briefly recalled the childhood encounter he had mentioned as an inexplicable reason for his affection. It was still an insufficient reason for such a flawless man to cling to while risking everything.

She couldn’t linger long as she had to go to the castle walls to show her face to the people and soldiers. Ophelia placed her hand on Salode’s arm, who had come to the door to accompany her, and said as they walked,

“If you want the marriage annulled, discuss it with the king.”

“…I don’t understand why you’re saying such things.”

Ophelia added an explanation to the man who had chosen the standard method of avoiding an awkward topic.

“I have no authority over this marriage.”

Since it wasn’t a marriage made by her will, ending it should also be done by the party who was the subject when it was established.

Salode did not respond to her words. Ophelia didn’t say more to the man who had, after all, fully expressed his dissatisfaction with this marriage in her previous life. If there was one thing that hadn’t changed in the present different from the past, it would be the gaze of those loyal to the royal family evaluating her.

The castle wall they climbed was a scene of fierce battle. Salode positioned her outside the range of arrows.

Ophelia looked down at the soldiers swinging swords at each other while shouting battle cries. Although she had seen many things in her previous life, this was her first time witnessing such a direct battle scene.

It was then that someone among them shouted.

“It’s the royal family’s flag!”

Before she could consider whether it was an enemy or ally speaking, she caught sight of a black flag in the distance. The many-branched tree embroidered with gold thread was the symbol of the Sigrasal royal family.

Someone shouted from below. There’s no time! Set fire to the castle! True to those words, fire arrows flew in. Salode grabbed her and pulled her inward.

“Now please retreat to the inside of the castle.”

Ophelia did not follow that instruction. Because one of those visible in the distance looked particularly familiar. She approached the castle wall as if entranced. Salode followed, aghast.

“Your Highness! It’s dangerous!”

But before the man could pull her back inside with those words, the knight at the forefront removed his helmet. Ophelia’s eyes met the golden eyes looking up at her precisely. That was her last memory.