Anika did not stay long in the royal palace.

Ophelia stood on the castle wall, watching Anika’s party leave the castle.

In the carriage that looked small from far below, Siana and Dahel would also be there.

Before leaving the castle with Anika, Siana returned a significant portion of her titles and property.

At first, Ophelia tried to dissuade such a woman.

“Wouldn’t it be better to keep them? The more wealth, the better.”

“It’s, it’s fine.”

And Siana smiled, looking a bit unsure but nonetheless sincere, and said,

“I won’t need such things anymore in the future.”

Although she didn’t know what conversation they had with Anika, it seemed she had received a promise that gave her expectations for the future.

Since she had arranged their meeting hoping Siana would do well, Ophelia didn’t try to change her mind.

She had already learned in her past life that her prejudices could be wrong.

“Alright, contact me anytime if you need help.”

As she was briefly recalling their short conversation, Idren approached from behind and said,

“I didn’t expect you to send Dahel as well.”

“He was originally from the South, after all.”

In the first place, the reason Dahel had come to Edegrun in her first life was because she had kidnapped him.

Although it wasn’t a kidnapping with ill intent, she couldn’t deny that it had been forceful from the start.

Nor did she want to deny it.

To correct the past, one must first acknowledge their mistakes.

Thus, Ophelia admitted that in the past, she had forcibly dragged the boy into her life.

That his blind will and loyalty were mixed with the desperation of one who had nowhere else to go.

Now that she no longer wanted to exploit anything of his, it was only natural to face this outcome.

“Still, I had hoped you would do as you wished.”

“This is what I want to do.”

Although it was now a vanished past, Dahel had helped her tremendously.

Even if she couldn’t repay it all, she could start with what she could do now. Ophelia said to the man who was gently embracing her from behind.

“We can hire other people to help with work, and I can consult with you on difficult decisions.”

Of course, there would never be anyone as smart as Dahel again, but if there were shortcomings, one could just work harder to make up for them.

Now Ophelia had the motivation to do so. The will to continue living even after killing Mahanas and Dares, and to cultivate something in that life.

In the past, she had never held anyone’s hand because she didn’t want to be lonely for her entire life.

The experience of losing what she had loved was too devastating to want to go through twice.

She didn’t have the courage to love someone again and expect a future where anything could happen because of it.

But after unintentionally losing everything once, there was nothing more fortunate than being able to start life anew.

Ophelia tightly grasped the man’s hand that had come to rest on her stomach.

Now she was certain that good things would happen in the future. It was only natural since she had the best thing in the world.

Idren, covering her hand with his other hand, sighed.

“…Did you know I would like it if you said that?”

“Aren’t you embarrassed to say such things out loud?”

It was meant as a playful reproach, but Idren mumbled in a slightly smaller voice.

“I feel like I should be embarrassed since you’re reacting that way.”

An embarrassed Idren was pleasant to see. With this rather simple thought, Ophelia nodded.

“That’s not bad either.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Just take it at face value.”

Yes. The man who finally answered obediently gently stroked her hand with his thumb. The hands touching through the gloves were warm.

Enjoying that warmth, Ophelia said,

“There’s someone I want to introduce you to. It’s someone you know, but… I’ve never formally introduced you.”

“…It’s not a pirate, is it?”

There was a hint of anxiety in his voice. It seemed the memory of being suddenly taken to a pirate den in the previous life had left quite a strong impression.

Ophelia suppressed a laugh that was about to escape and answered,

“No, so don’t worry.”

“That’s fine then.”

Cleanly relieved, Idren pulled her a little closer.

Their warm body temperatures pressed together. It was a temperature that was more pleasing for being opposite to Edegrun’s cold weather.

After hesitating for a moment, he said,

“Actually, I have a confession to make to you.”

“Tell me.”

Even if he had caused some trouble – in fact, among his recent actions, there were fewer that didn’t fall into the category of trouble – she would overlook it generously, but first she needed to know the content.

Idren continued,

“There’s something you said here before… do you remember?”

“What did I say?”

“You said Gilrod Nebel was his daughter’s share.”

And the man added. Just as Prince Reden and Reden were your share, the right to behead him belonged to his daughter Siana.

Though she didn’t think she had explained it that kindly, he seemed to have understood the meaning on his own. Ophelia nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But in this life, I ended up killing him. I remembered what you had said, but at that time I was so focused on eliminating him…”

Ophelia didn’t let him make any more excuses. Before his trailing words could continue, she said,

“I already knew.”

“Well, I suppose you would.”

It would have been strange not to know, since he had executed him and hung his head on the castle wall.

Why did I do that then? Idren sighed at a past he would correct immediately if he could.

It was then that Ophelia lightly bumped her head against his chest.

She hugged his arm that was across her torso.

“I wonder if you remember what you yourself said.”

“What did I say?”

Of course, Idren had said many things.

Ophelia recalled a past so arduous she didn’t know how it had passed.

There had certainly been a man who kept giving her pieces of hope as if they were his own flesh, and herself who had been busy backing away as if it were poison.

Days when she couldn’t understand what was to be gained by loving so much.

But in the end, Idren had won her.

Ophelia could no longer call him foolishly hopeful. Because in the end, she had become just like him.

And on the day she first found the courage to become as blind as him, there were words she had heard from him.

“You don’t have to give up what you want to do just because I don’t like it.”

There were only two men in her life who had shown her such consideration.

Haslen and Idren.

But while her first fiancé had been someone who knew how to reach out his hand from under the light, Idren was someone who would shrink himself to match her.

Of course, Ophelia liked his attitude.

There was a sense of stability that came from feeling in control of the situation. That safety and peace were among the things she had never had throughout her childhood.

But if she thought of Idren, such a relationship wasn’t healthy.

Just as he had acknowledged that she had her own values, wouldn’t he have his own values too?

Ophelia wanted to respect that as much as possible. She continued,

“I just meant you don’t need to be so conscious of me.”

“You won’t scold me?”

“When have I ever scolded you?”

The body pressed against her back flinched slightly, as if he had something to say about that.

Before he could pretend to be more cowed over her justified anger, Ophelia said,

“Besides, revenge isn’t necessarily the only thing for Siana’s sake.”

Perhaps Siana didn’t know anything about killing or retaliation at all, and might find happiness in living with someone compatible in the South.

Unlike herself, who felt no hesitation in getting her hands bloody, Siana seemed gentle by nature.

For such a person, it might not be bad for her father’s death to end as an unexpected fortune.

Idren, who had been rubbing her hand with his thumb, said,

“I’ll soon transfer Galisa to your name.”

“I don’t need it.”

In the past, when Idren had given her the position of Governor of Galisa, it was almost like a request.

I’ve given you even this much, so please don’t throw it away and run.

Now, even without being bound by such things, Ophelia intended to always stay by this man’s side.

“But wouldn’t it be better to have private property?”

“Are you going to give me headaches over money matters?”

“That… of course not!”

“Then why are you trying to give me private property?”

Anyway, everything Idren had was as good as hers.

Even if she didn’t want it, he would make it so.

Moreover, the land she would have is not Galisa.

In this life, Ophelia intended to fully exercise her right to inherit the throne.

“Still, it would be better to go on an inspection tour once.”

Because Idren had executed many lords and suddenly started a war, it was good to tend to public sentiment.

Idren answered docilely to her words.

“I’ll prepare for it.”

A perfect man who seemed to be prepared just for me. Thinking again of a thought she had once had, Ophelia pulled his arm.

Even though the posture had become uncomfortable due to her greed, Idren kissed her cheek without a single complaint.