Turning back time is not an easy thing to do.

The past is beautiful because we cannot return to it. That’s why people regret and revisit what has passed.

The Khan tribe’s relic. Even with an artifact imbued with power passed down from ancient times, turning back time a month was all that could be done.

Although it could only be used once, Aden used it for none other than Ludmila, for her sake.

He wanted to rise higher to avenge his mother.

With that ambition he set foot in the imperial palace, and there he heard news of his mother’s passing.

The person who held onto him as he wandered in guilt for not protecting his mother was the young Ludmila.

That child, who lived with her nanny in the desolate palace, was his salvation.

The child who saved him when he tried to take his own life many times. Ludmila, it was to save you.

He made a vow to himself many times as he turned back time.

That he would never expect anything special from you because of this choice.

But such vows held no meaning before the brilliant smile you made while looking at flowers in the sunlight.

He loved you.

When the shadows that weighed heavily lifted and you smiled brightly, no joy could compare to your smiling face.

So he had no regrets.

Even if you didn’t choose me, even if I wasn’t chosen by you.

In the end, all this situation was caused by the endless weakness of a man who made a promise he couldn’t keep. There is no resentment, no hatred, no regret.

I just hope that your choice will be the right path for yourself.

“Aden.”

It was Benjamin’s voice that broke the ensuing silence. He silently looked at his friend’s face.

There seemed to be a calmness tinged on one side of his resigned face. The way he turned his gaze with monotonous eyes looked almost nonchalant.

“Benjamin. In the end, you were right.”

Benjamin, who had been looking at him with a slight frown, tucked in his chin at the voice that seemed to have given up on something.

He too had heard the story of Viscount Hernen.

At the story that Ludmila and Aden were fighting over Marquis Erdi, Benjamin could only swallow a soft sigh as if hearing the story of a play with a predictable ending.

“I think I lied to you.”

That there would be no problem sending her away in 4 months.

That when the time comes and the moment arrives, I would send her away. I had answered so resolutely.

And at the same time, I had deceived.

The truth was that I hadn’t hidden her somewhere else because I wanted to keep Ludmila by my side, even if for a short time.

Having denied that fact and spent time, it was inevitable that it would end up like this.

Impatience always ruins things.

Even though Benjamin had spoken up at the risk of offending me, I didn’t realize.

How selfish and self-centered what I was doing was. The face of Ludmila begging me as if screaming came to mind.

To think she would be so desperate to save her husband.

The Ludmila who had calmly proposed for me to kill her husband was nowhere to be found.

Faced with such an attitude, Aden had no choice but to push through with his will even more stubbornly.

Because he couldn’t deny it. Because denying it here would mean losing everything.

The emptiness soon sublimes into a hollow laugh. Aden ran his hand through his hair.

“Don’t tell Ludmila about me.”

“But…”

“She has chosen.”

What? Those words didn’t continue, but one could guess that something had happened between the two.

Choice. In that situation, the choice would have been between Kedilen and Aden.

The fact that Aden was showing this attitude meant that Ludmila had chosen Kedilen.

Benjamin, who had quickly assessed the situation, closed his mouth and didn’t continue speaking.

As silence fell, Aden once again fell into a deep sleep as if surrendering to the wave of drowsiness. Benjamin, who had been watching silently, shook his head with a sigh.

I knew you’d be like this.

Benjamin, who normally would have blurted out those words, couldn’t bring himself to say them as he got up and left the room.

All that remained in that place where the fireplace was blazing was Aden, once again wandering in the abyss.

The commotion seemed to have left a bruise.

For Ludmila, who had been dragged back to the marquis’ residence, all that remained was the servants’ surprise that the lady of the house had returned.

As if performing a scripted play, the servants rushed out to welcome Ludmila’s return home with a round of greetings.

Although Ludmila, wrapped in sadness, wanted to be alone, her inherently kind nature could not be erased.

Ludmila, hearing the greetings, smiles, and cries of the people welcoming her, could not simply push them away.

Without even having the process to fully accept her sorrow, she had to find herself as the marchioness of the house.

Not as Ludmila Perez, but as the lady of this mansion.

The traces and warmth of the many people who had shaped her at Habertz Castle disappeared all too easily in this bleak and stuffy landscape.

With the meadows and hills still shimmering before her eyes, and the scent of white plum blossoms seeming to linger on her nose, she sat in this wide and luxurious room wearing the dress she had worn just a few months ago.

Without needing to do anything, without doing anything, she remained silent.

Aden had died.

As Ludmila recalled that fact once again, tears welled up in her eyes. How did things end up like this? What exactly went wrong?

Although she had already answered dozens of times, Ludmila asked that question again. As if it was everything to her. As if she couldn’t endure without doing so.

“Ludmila.”

It was then that the door opened and a voice calling her name was heard.

Rubbing her eyes to wipe away the moisture, Ludmila turned to look at the doorway.

Kedilen, who had entered with flowers, was wearing a very gentle smile.

As the open door closed with a sound and silence fell again, he entered and placed the flowers he had bought in a new vase.

Golden lantana.

Ludmila bit her lip as the color reminded her of that man’s eyes.

Unaware of her thoughts, her husband recounted what had happened when he went out today.

The uninteresting social circle stories and tales of noble ladies she used to meet often when she lived as the lady of the house echoed dryly in her ears before fading away.

Kedilen, who had been silently arranging the flowers without looking at her, finally turned his head and smiled brightly.

Ludmila had seen countless times in the past few days a smile she had never seen in years.

If it was a smile that could come out so easily, he should have shown it earlier. Then I might have at least tried to love you.

Such futile thoughts would arise, but then anger would surge when she realized that Aden’s death was ultimately because of this man who hadn’t even shown that smile.

But when it led to the conclusion that it was because she had met Aden and asked him to kill this man, a sigh echoed in her mouth like an echo.

“How are you feeling?”

“…”

“It must be stifling being cooped up in the room all the time? Just bear with it a little longer. Once things are settled, you’ll be able to go out.”

Ludmila swallowed dryly at the affectionate voice she had only heard when he was showing his public face.

“When will you let me go?”

“Ludmila.”

“Please let me go. I want to apologize.”

She needed to go to Habertz. She knew she couldn’t stay with them again. She just wanted to apologize.

To say that she had killed their master with her greed. That she had driven him to his death. She wanted to apologize and beg forgiveness for her sin.

“…That’s not possible.”

But Kedilen didn’t allow even that. Shaking his head firmly, Kedilen repeatedly refused Ludmila’s request.

He said that Aden’s death should have nothing to do with the Erdi marquis family.

He repeated that they should know nothing and just stay quiet. Not knowing that his wife’s insides were rotting and crumbling with each word.

He hadn’t changed. Only his outward attitude had changed, but in the end, he was the same man.

Ludmila closed her eyes with an indifferent face at his attitude that prioritized the family over her.

Kedilen, who had been watching her with anxious eyes, got up from his seat and walked towards the mantelpiece.

“There’s a press conference in two days. We should have done it earlier, but it was delayed because things were busy.”

The man who had placed a photo of Kedilen and Ludmila looking affectionate there turned around with a smile.

“There, we’ll reveal that you’re alive and the whole story of why you had to leave.”

Kedilen had already said and confessed many things. It also included the fact that Baron Ferington had tried to kill her.

Thanks to those words, Ludmila was able to know who the man who had tried to kill her was, but in fact, even that didn’t matter anymore.

Whoever had tried to kill her, she had already erased all that from her heart.

If she could be with Aden, it didn’t matter who she resented or hated.

It was surprising that Ludmila had such a magnanimous side that could forgive everything, but to her, Aden was salvation itself.

But now that he was dead, what was left?

“When that happens, everything that was lost will probably find its place again.”

“…”

“This time, not just the position of Minister of Commerce, but if we play our cards right, we might even rise to the position of Minister of Finance. And that’s not all. As the old nobility gradually retreats and the new nobility takes over the majority of the parliament, I could gain the position of not just Speaker of the Lower House but even Prime Minister.”

When that time comes, the Erdi marquis family might even receive the title of duke.

Duke Erdi. No, we might even be granted a new surname.

Kedilen smiled refreshingly as he imagined himself becoming a legendary figure who brought a new wind to the empire.

“From now on, you won’t have any troubles. I promise only good things will happen. I won’t treat you badly like before or raise a hand against you.”

Kedilen slowly approached, knelt down, and silently looked up at Ludmila seated in the chair.

“So, give me a chance.”