Time flew by in the blink of an eye over the course of a month. During that time, various preparations were completed based on memories from the previous life.

First of all, Bellia was somewhat satisfied with the fact that she could prepare in advance for the gold mine negotiations and the opening of the Shanetan Road, which played the most important role in the collapse of the Ronica Kingdom.

In particular, the Shanetan Road also played a decisive role in the Ingot Empire’s invasion of the Ronica Kingdom.

Raul declared that he would attack the Yakum Kingdom using the roads of the Ronica Kingdom and led his troops towards the capital of the Ronica Kingdom.

‘That damn bastard…’

Thus, betrayed by the Empire, which was believed to be the strongest ally, the royal palace burned and family members lost their lives.

As Closet was escaping through a secret passage, she was caught by Raul and…

Bellia shook off her thoughts, deliberately trying not to recall the past events.

‘…Bastard.’

The lovely Closet left her last words, saying she didn’t want to live such a humiliating life, before jumping out the window.

Of course, the kingdom wouldn’t have fallen for that one reason of opening the road alone. But the opening of the Shanetan Road greatly contributed to the Empire’s decision to divert its army heading towards the Yakum Kingdom to Ronica. Bellia let out a deep sigh.

“Bastard!”

Still not feeling satisfied, she deliberately cursed out loud once more.

‘I will surely end his life with my own hands.’

She would unhesitatingly stab Raul’s neck with her very own hands. For that day, Bellia was living on.

Fortunately, or should it be said, thanks to Callid’s help, the groundwork was quite smooth.

More than that.

“…A mercenary guild.”

To think he hid that so cunningly and didn’t even show a hint of it in front of her?

‘It’s truly vexing that he kept this hidden until the moment he told me to become the Emperor.’

Bellia puffed her cheeks, recalling the report Derick had delivered recently. How surprised she was when she learned that Callid was operating a mercenary guild in the Tessa duchy.

In the past, he must have been preparing for the future while keeping quiet like this too.

‘With an attitude as if daring me to find out. It’s infuriating.’

Bellia clicked her tongue.

Taming a hunting dog is this burdensome.

‘And what? He’s running a merchant group too? Ha!’

Remembering Callid’s tone when he spoke as if it was nothing, she felt incredibly annoyed.

Derick reported that it would take a lot of time to dig deeper into him. So the mercenary guild they’ve discovered now, and the merchant group he’s said to be running through a proxy, are probably just the tip of the iceberg.

“…How utterly insolent.”

Bellia smiled enigmatically, her eyes gleaming.

She could have been upset by the fact that he was hiding so much from her, but strangely, she felt rather excited. Even in this moment of digging into him, she kept feeling elated.

‘I want to know more about him.’

Yes. That was exactly how she felt.

She was so curious about Callid that she couldn’t stand it.

“I’ve been too swept up in it all this time.”

As Callid suddenly approached her sincerely, Bellia couldn’t hide her tumultuous feelings and kept being swayed by him.

During the brief time apart from him, Bellia finished preparing her heart. Now it was time to counterattack. From the beginning, he was a hunting dog, and she was the master. She must not forget that fact.

The hunt has only just begun. There was still a long way to go. So she had to hold the initiative until she achieved her desired goal.

‘How impudent.’

She no longer intended to deny her feelings towards him. She wouldn’t be able to stop her wavering emotions anyway. But that doesn’t mean she’ll just go on about love with him.

Callid is using all sorts of tricks to shake Bellia. Knowing that full well, she can’t just quietly fall for it.

‘…I wonder if the Callid from back then succeeded?’

Suddenly, she became curious about the Callid from her previous life.

She hoped he had succeeded. Only then would it provide some consolation to herself who died so miserably.

Bellia stood on the terrace, taking in the scenery that might be her last. Once she leaves now, when will she be able to see this warm royal palace of Ronica again?

“Sister. Are you all ready?”

Closet appeared with puffy eyes and asked.

They had been chatting together in the room all through the dawn.

‘She seems a bit better now…’

Yesterday, she cried all day long telling her not to go, then got angry telling her to leave quickly, then cried loudly again begging her not to get married, and then calmly declared that she would take care of Herald.

As Closet’s emotions changed countless times, Bellia seriously wondered if she had been like this before too.

‘I’m sure I sent her off without any fuss back then.’

Bellia greeted Closet with an awkward smile.

“You’re not taking much with you?”

“Yeah. I think I’ll have to buy everything new when I get to the Empire anyway.”

“…Then at least take that ugly statue!”

Closet pointed to a small statue placed in the corner of the terrace. It was a statue that Herald and Closet had made as a birthday present when they were very young.

“It’s too heavy to carry.”

“Tch!”

Is she going to cry again?

As Bellia looked at her worriedly, Closet bit her lip hard and held back her emotions.

“Sniff. Come out quickly. Everything’s ready to leave outside.”

Then she left the room in a huff.

Bellia, who had been watching, burst into laughter and followed after Closet.

As she went outside, slowly taking in every scene with her eyes, many people had come out to see Bellia off.

“Bellia.”

Herald grinned and held out his hand to Bellia. Bellia smiled back and grasped his hand.

As she approached the carriage with Herald’s escort, the King and Queen looked at Bellia with slightly reddened eyes.

“Travel safely.”

“Take care of your health.”

“Yes, Father. Mother.”

Bellia answered bravely.

This won’t be the last time, so there will be no tearful farewell.

“We’ll always miss you, my child.”

The Queen reached out her arms and hugged Bellia tightly.

“I don’t feel good about sending you off so hastily. But I believe you’ll do well wherever you are.”

It’s unknown when she’ll be able to return once she leaves the Ronica Kingdom now. But she won’t face the same tragic ending as before.

The future is changing. It has been changing little by little, starting from choosing Callid instead of Raul.

‘…Because I’ve changed too.’

Thinking back on her past self, Bellia has changed tremendously. The Bellia who foolishly lost everything and could only cry is gone now. Although it’s a path to the Empire filled with painful memories, strangely, Bellia’s heart felt light.

No, rather, she wanted to arrive in the Empire as soon as possible.

‘I miss him.’

She missed Callid. He looked at her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. No matter what story Bellia brought up, no matter how much she pushed him away, he didn’t change.

In fact, he might be no different from Raul. But even if it’s foolish, this was Bellia’s second choice.

‘I won’t fail this time.’

She has no intention of walking down the path of failure she had experienced once before. Bellia greeted her family with the brightest face possible.

“Everyone, stay healthy.”

Bellia’s expression as she boarded the carriage was incredibly fresh.

As if she was looking forward to the future that was to come.

“…Isn’t it time for her to arrive?”

Acid almost frowned at this question without realizing it. It was already the fourth time he had heard the same question.

‘She’ll surely come well on her own.’

But if he revealed such inner thoughts, he would undoubtedly be severely reprimanded, so he barely managed to maintain a gentle smile and gave the same answer for the fourth time.

“She will arrive soon.”

Callid was not at all satisfied with Acid’s answer.

Why is time flowing so slowly today of all days?

“Ah. There she comes.”

At those words, he hurriedly raised his head to look ahead, and saw a white carriage slowly approaching in the distance.

Callid, who had been sitting casually on the stairs, got up to prepare to welcome Bellia. Eventually, the carriage slowly came to a stop in front of him.

“Bellia.”

Callid smiled brightly and opened the carriage door, extending his hand. Then a small white hand slapped Callid’s hand away. Callid raised the corners of his mouth as if amused and held onto the door, looking inside.

“Hm? Bellia, stop joking around.”

Callid said in a whining tone.

“This isn’t right, Callid.”

Bellia said coldly without even turning her head. Callid chuckled and slightly leaned his upper body into the carriage to grab Bellia’s hand.

“We haven’t seen each other in a long time, and you’re acting like this? Hm? Not even showing your face properly.”

“Get out. And close the door.”

“Bellia.”

“And welcome me again.”

Her tone was cold and frosty.

Quickly realizing why Bellia was acting this way, Callid burst into laughter and carefully closed the door.

Behind him, Acid and the people of the Second Prince’s Palace seemed puzzled.

But Callid couldn’t hold back his laughter. He leaned his forehead on his arm against the carriage and chuckled for a while. Then, taking a deep breath, Callid stood up straight. He opened the door again and shouted in an exaggerated, booming voice.

“My lovely Bellia!”

Everyone was stunned by the Second Prince’s sudden behavior. Why is His Highness suddenly acting like this?

But Callid didn’t stop there. As soon as Bellia placed her hand on Callid’s outstretched hand, he immediately pulled her with force.

The reaction caused Bellia to lose her balance and she emerged from the carriage as if bouncing out.

“Ah?”

And Callid, who tightly embraced Bellia in this state, whispered softly in her ear.

“Smile. People are watching.”

Then he shouted in an even louder voice.

“Bellia! Every day I couldn’t meet you, my thoughts were only of you!”

What is this stiff and awkward tone? If you’re going to act, do it well.

Bellia couldn’t help but chuckle at Callid’s brazen attitude.

He said he would welcome her as if greeting the person he loves most in the world. What is this?

“You know I’m not satisfied at all right now, right?”

Bellia murmured quietly, burying her face in Callid’s neck. Callid chuckled and said,

“I’ll welcome you properly later, so just smile for now.”

At those words, Bellia immediately changed her expression and smiled brightly as if she was the happiest person in the world. Callid put Bellia down on the ground.

“I’m really disappointed.”

“As much as I’d like to kiss you, I don’t think I could stop if I did.”

Bellia burst into laughter at his words.

“We can’t do that here.”

But at Callid’s last words, Bellia slapped his arm.

How are you going to fix this if you say such things!

Callid rubbed his arm slightly, smiling, even though it didn’t hurt at all.

“Haha. So just bear with this much.”

“Callid, you lost. Admit it, won’t you?”

Bellia had boldly kissed him at the welcoming ceremony. So she had been looking forward to this moment, remembering how he had boasted that he would welcome her grandly when she arrived in the Empire.

“Alright. I lost.”

“Then hug me again.”

Callid covered his face with one hand. Then he took a deep breath and exhaled.

“…Do you really want to see me go crazy?”

“Come on.”

But Bellia just laughed lightly and stretched out both arms, paying no heed.

Seeing this, Callid bit his lip as if holding something back. Then he took a step closer to Bellia and growled in a low whisper.

“…You’ll regret this.”