Charlotte wrinkled her nose, feeling a ticklish sensation.

“Ahem.”

As she gently rubbed the bridge of her nose with the back of her hand, Benjamin opened the window behind the office.

“Are you alright? It might be better to have a look outside.”

“I’ll have someone come and ventilate the room.”

For that reason, seats were arranged in the backyard. They also prepared food, as both of them hadn’t eaten yet.

It seemed her grandfather knew that Benjamin hadn’t eaten either. That’s why he chose this time.

‘After five years, is it only the outward appearance that has changed?’

There was something that was the same as before, yet different.

What drew the most attention was definitely the scars.

“You have a lot more scars.”

“Do I?”

“On your hands and neck.”

“They don’t particularly hurt.”

“Have you had them for a long time?”

“It’s been a few years. Most hands that wield a sword are like that.”

As Charlotte reached out to touch the scars, a hiccup sounded from somewhere. Hic. Hic. The sound of someone desperately holding back their hiccups was painful to hear.

“Hic!”

The chief attendant hurriedly swallowed his breath.

“I, I apologize.”

The chief attendant continued to swallow his hiccups after that. He tried his best to hold his breath and reduce the sound even a little.

“Hic! Hic!”

Benjamin put down the knife he was holding. His eyes met the chief attendant’s. A brief silence passed between them.

“Send everyone away.”

At the end of the silence, Benjamin commanded, and the chief attendant bowed his head.

“Yes. I will send everyone away.”

“Do not disturb us until we call for you.”

Instead of speaking at length, Benjamin dismissed them with a nod of his chin. A look of annoyance was apparent on his tired expression.

“The chief attendant seems quite stiff.”

“Here, I am the unfilial son who killed the former emperor.”

“The former emperor died of illness…?”

“The former emperor, who looked like a living corpse, managed to hold on to his life for five years, and then suddenly died. I suppose they found it suspicious in their own way? It seems my mere presence has instilled fear in them.”

Benjamin whispered with a small laugh. It wouldn’t be strange for such rumors to circulate considering he had taken the throne while covered in blood.

Benjamin neatly arranged Charlotte’s stray hairs with his straight fingers. The curly strands clung to his fingers.

“After the former emperor died, the state of the country was in such a mess. It was even more admirable that a country like this managed to hold on to its lifeline for so long. The national finances were depleted, and all the loyal subjects had their heads cut off…”

Something heavy tugs at the ankles.

“The founding king must be clapping with joy in his grave.”

The reason he, who was recorded as a tyrant even in his previous life, ascended to the throne was not only due to force but also justification.

‘Our engagement was planned, but my choice of you was impulsive.’

I didn’t want to die a miserable death like in my previous life.

It was like a demonstration of power to those who had ruined my life in the previous life.

I won’t let you ruin it like in the previous life.

“I’ve revised the law so that parental rights are not unconditionally given to the biological father. Perhaps because they saw the elders and nobles of the palace dying one after another, there were no objections during the council meeting.”

Charlotte hurriedly opened her mouth, feeling the air becoming somewhat burdensome.

“Why didn’t you tell me then?”

“Hmm. What are you talking about?”

“The day you came to see me. The decision to send me to the estate couldn’t have been solely made by the Windsors. You must have influenced my maternal grandfather, right?”

Benjamin smiled subtly.

“Even if you had been there, there wouldn’t have been anything for you to do.”

“Is that so?”

“Leaving you in that state would have caused some kind of trouble.”

Someone approached them.

“Your Majesty, it’s the chief attendant.”

Benjamin had just told them not to disturb, so if he came directly, it must be an urgent matter.

Benjamin seemed to know that as well, as he asked in a subtle tone.

“What is it?”

“The captain of the royal guard has come to see you. He says it’s an urgent matter and is waiting in front of the office. What should we do?”

The chief attendant mumbled with a sad face. I definitely didn’t intend to disturb you two.

“Prepare a place for the young lady to rest. Don’t go anywhere and wait, Charl.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Is the tea temperature to your liking?”

Charlotte nodded and smiled slightly.

“If there’s anything else you need, please let me know.”

“I’d prefer to be alone inside. Would you mind giving me some space?”

The head maid led the maids out.

Charlotte stayed in a separate room inside the palace. She sat on the sofa and fiddled with the teacup. The vibration of the tea rippling through the teacup with dewdrops on it was transmitted.

A single petal gently settled. The deep orange Darjeeling had an astringent yet appropriately savory taste.

She covered her lap with a furry blanket and leaned back in the chair.

“I already knew that the ministers and subjects found him difficult, but seeing it in person is clearly different.”

Benjamin is far from having a comfortable personality.

“It’s not just people who have changed, but many things have changed.”

Charlotte put down the teacup. It seemed some time had passed, but there was still no news from Benjamin.

She thought about asking the maid how much longer it would take but decided against it.

Instead, Charlotte went and stood in front of the mirror.

A woman with dark brown eyes watched Charlotte from the other side of the mirror.

Reaching out the same way, blinking the same way.

“I’ll end this life happily.”

Charlotte recalled the day she died and returned.

A blurry afterimage overlapped on the other side of the mirror.

There, in the previous life, was a nineteen-year-old girl who died, returned, and seemed like she would die again soon.

The ‘child’ who experienced the death of her biological mother, had to keep quiet even after learning about the existence of a mistress and an illegitimate child,

and just lived like that even though she was not protected due to her father’s absence.

“I was also a child back then.”

Charlotte shook her head.

“Have I changed a little?”

The precarious child from before learned to resign herself, learned to stand alone.

And she learned to be handled by people from an appropriate distance and learned to adapt to it.

Her hair, which had grown longer than before, reached her hips when left loose.

Perhaps because the ends were trimmed and managed with fragrant oil, it exuded an abundant yet elegant atmosphere.

Charlotte went to the bed and lay down.

Should I take a short nap? The splendid patterns of the palace caught her attention everywhere.

Charlotte lay sideways on the blanket and closed her eyes.

The unique tension that came from an unfamiliar space also gradually faded away.

In her slowly fading consciousness, Charlotte thought she heard someone’s voice.

‘How is it now? Is your day peaceful?’

Was it her mother’s voice?

Charlotte answered softly. I’m trying to make it so.

[This is the timeline separator]

“You’re late.”

Benjamin dismissed the attendants and moved his steps.

‘His Majesty said he might be late today and informed the young lady, but it seems the young lady said she would wait.’

Still, he thought she would have left by this time. Benjamin stopped walking and looked up at the empty air.

The sun had set.

The sunset sky quickly darkened, and by the time he left the office, it had been pitch-black for a long time.

‘You’re still here.’

In a place he thought would be empty, Charlotte was lying down.

“The young lady fell asleep just a moment ago.”

Her reddish-brown hair was scattered on the bed, and she had her back to the door.

“Your Majesty… I will wake the young lady.”

“No. Don’t follow me in and stay outside.”

He closed the door with his back to the entrance. Her unique body scent wafted in the space with just the two of them.

Thud― Footsteps resounded, but Charlotte remained silent.

“Charl.”

He stopped walking.

“It feels like I’ve touched something I shouldn’t have.”

He reached out his hand, and it seemed like a strong scent of blood wafted over. Sticky blood clung to his fingertips.

Benjamin withdrew his arm. His hands were only sparsely covered with calluses and were clean.

As he nervously swept back his short hair, she rolled over.

“Mmm.”

Whatever dream you were having, your expression was distant.

He reached out to her long eyelashes.

He cupped her cheek, tickled by the sensation on his fingertips. Her soft skin was different from his.

“Charl.”

That name lingered in his mouth.

“Charlotte.”

Charlotte slightly opened her eyes. Hazy eyes looked up at him.

“You’re still sleepy.”

“…”

“Do you want to sleep some more?”

Benjamin lowered his head and whispered. Their eyes met. An intimate gaze was exchanged.

The hazily closed eyes followed him.

Benjamin lowered his head and brought his body closer.

Charlotte glanced down at the hand on her cheek and fumblingly covered it.

Then, slender arms embraced him.

“Charl.”

And their lips touched.

Hot breaths erupted.

She greedily gasped for breath within it.

[This is the timeline separator]

My throat was blocked. My windpipe stiffened, and as time passed, my breathing became more faint.

A sense of emptiness that felt like death settled in.

Despairing at the fact that my voice didn’t reach anywhere,

my lungs hardened, and my agonizing screams turned into silent shrieks.

Everything stiffens.

This breath. This body.

Is there rest at the end of this death? Or is it misery?

At that time, I think I was a little miserable. This is all a dream.

An illusion, a past that has already passed, and an ending that had already ended once before.

“Is it a dream?”

“…Probably not.”

“It doesn’t seem like it either.”

“You have a bad sleep-talking habit.”

Charlotte struggled to open her eyes.

You are in front of my eyes.

I woke up to the voice that whispered repeatedly several times.

Charlotte reached out her arms. She embraced his neck and filled the breath she lacked.

She breathed deeply into the depths of her lungs.

“I can’t breathe.”

“You need to breathe.”

“You do it for me.”

“Really…”

“Give me breath.”

Their lips touched again. As if filling the lacking breath, something slowly rose.

His scent seeped deep into her lungs.

It was hot and rough, soft yet firm.

His grip wrapped around her neck.

“Are you half-asleep?”

“…”

“It’s like I’m doing something terrible.”

It was when his hand was slowly falling. Her delicate fingertips touched the back of his hand.

It was a slender and soft hand. There was not a single scratch on the skin, and the neatly trimmed nails were soft.

Even with this gesture, that expression was incongruously out of place.

“…Don’t go.”

The thin voice trembled.

“Don’t leave me alone.”

“…”

“Please, don’t leave me alone.”

It might have been her true feelings that came out while half-asleep.

“I’m right here.”

The softly whispered voice made her breathing subside.

“I didn’t go anywhere.”

Benjamin brought his body closer, and the bed sank softly.

He approached slowly yet subtly. His black eyes also became persistent as if examining her thoroughly.