Before her regression, Alicia constantly clashed with the emperor who opposed her marriage to Killian.

No, rather than clashing, it would be more accurate to say that Alicia was stubbornly insistent one-sidedly.

The emperor had granted everything Alicia wanted since she was born and raised.

This was partly because what she wanted was not unreasonable, but also because there was nothing the emperor of the empire could not grant.

The emperor had acted as if he did not know the word ‘rejection’ in front of his beloved daughter, but marriage was the one thing he could not allow according to her wishes.

It was not that he opposed it to use his daughter’s marriage strategically, as those with power often do.

The emperor simply could not bear to watch his lovely daughter throw herself towards unhappiness.

Killian Diaz.

A man born as the illegitimate child of Duke Diaz, who became the rightful master of the duchy by overthrowing the legitimate heir.

The emperor, more than anyone, knew in detail the amount of blood that was spilled for him to reach that position.

As such, he did not want his daughter to become the companion of such a man.

[I want you to be happy.] [I want to be by that person’s side for my happiness.]

The future that father and daughter wished for was one, but the process was different.

If they had hated each other, it would have been settled in some way, but because they loved each other too much, no conclusion was easily reached.

But now, Alicia declared that she would end the long tug-of-war herself.

“You won’t marry Duke Diaz? Alicia, are you saying this sincerely?”

The emperor, who had resolved to grant his daughter’s wish with a truly helpless heart while looking at Alicia’s swollen red eyes from crying non-stop, asked in disbelief at her unexpected words.

“Yes.”

And at the firm answer that came back, the emperor, realizing he had not misheard her words, closed his mouth and fell into thought.

Until yesterday evening, Alicia had been begging for permission to marry Killian.

What could have happened last night to break the heart that seemed as if it would never give up?

“It seems the time has come for us to have a proper conversation.”

With those words, the emperor turned his head to look at the crown prince and his wife, then subtly nodded towards the door.

At this, Crown Princess Sienna’s lips quivered, but Adrian, who grabbed her hand faster, bowed his head towards the emperor.

“We will take our leave. Ari, I will come see you later.”

“…I’ll go out. I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

After Sienna, with a slightly gloomy face, bowed her head and left the room with Adrian, the attendants gathered around also tactfully left one by one until only the emperor and Alicia remained in the room.

“Alicia.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you change your mind?”

It was just yesterday evening that she had tearfully declared that if he would not allow her marriage to Killian, she would go to him alone and propose, and cling to him until he accepted.

Even if it was the rashness brought on by the fever of first love, the emperor knew that Alicia’s feelings for Killian were not light.

That’s why he couldn’t sleep, thinking that when the morning sun rose, she might leave the capital avoiding his eyes and head towards Killian…

“I know it’s not a heart that would change overnight.”

He could have pretended not to know and followed Alicia’s wish not to marry Killian.

However, the tears his beloved daughter had shed weighed on his mind.

If those tears were shed to cut off her affection for Killian…

With just that assumption alone, the emperor had to question Alicia.

“May I ask why you made such a decision?”

“…I was immature.”

“Alicia…”

“I’m grateful that you’ve indulged my tantrums all this time.”

Looking at his daughter smiling with her reddened, puffy eyes, the emperor could tell that Alicia of yesterday and today were completely different.

They say children grow up in the blink of an eye in their parents’ arms, but could her gaze become this deep in just one night?

“I am the princess of Eregron. I realized, albeit late, that my marriage should be for the sake of this empire.”

Alicia had realized, after regret, that all the privileges enjoyed by being born into the royal family carry the same weight as the duties that the royal family must bear.

Until returning to today… that is, until the moment she escaped through death, Alicia had never properly shouldered those duties.

‘So from now on, I will live for Eregron.’

The reason God granted her a second today must be for this very purpose.

‘I will make different choices than before. That’s how I’ll correct all my mistakes.’

Alicia looked into the emperor’s blue eyes full of worry and placed her hand on top of his rough, large hand.

“So don’t worry, Father. I won’t marry him.”

It was a promise to the emperor and a commitment to her foolish self.

Alicia did not take her eyes off the emperor who was staring at her intently.

She was afraid that if she looked away, the image of her beloved father would disappear, even though she had realized this was not a dream after crying until she was exhausted.

“…Alicia.”

“Yes.”

“Your father is saddened by such a resolution.”

“Pardon?”

Alicia’s eyes widened at the unexpected words of the emperor.

She had thought that even if she didn’t receive praise, the emperor would be relieved by her words that she wouldn’t marry Killian.

But sad?

Had she mistaken the time she returned to? But Father never approved of Killian until the day he died?

Alicia’s confusion was immediately apparent on her face.

At the sight of his daughter, who had become more mature but still couldn’t hide her true feelings, the emperor swallowed a small sigh, then placed his hand on Alicia’s head, slowly stroking it as he began to speak.

“A marriage for the sake of Eregron… This father doesn’t understand why you had such a thought.”

“But… I am royalty. The marriage of royalty is for the benefit of the empire…”

“Your words are right, but not right.”

“…Why is that?”

A face that didn’t understand.

The emperor gently smoothed out his daughter’s furrowed brow with his finger, then smiled softly as he gave the answer.

“Do you think it makes sense that my empire cannot protect even one smile of my daughter?”

“…Pardon?”

“My empire is not so wretched that it needs to gain profit by selling my daughter’s happiness.”

“Father…”

It would have been the same even if he had lived the life of a commoner rather than the emperor of an empire.

What father in the world would try to profit by selling his daughter’s happiness?

“So Alicia, you should make a choice for your own happiness. Your happiness will be the happiness of this Eregron.”

Firm but affectionate words.

Alicia felt tears welling up again and hurriedly bowed her head.

She couldn’t show herself crying again when it hadn’t been long since she stopped crying.

“Father… you are too soft on me.”

“I can be a little soft with you.”

The emperor, pretending not to notice Alicia’s tears falling on the back of his hand, answered in a voice full of laughter as he slowly patted his daughter’s round shoulders.

“So tell me, Alicia. Will you marry Duke Diaz?”

“…No. I won’t.”

I won’t do it.

It was a small voice choked with sobs.

But the emperor, who never failed to catch his daughter’s voice as always, replied, “Do as you wish.”

Alicia was once again grateful that this was not a dream, as the affection permeating that firm answer was so welcome.

Alicia’s crying grew louder as she was held in the warm embrace of her living, breathing father.

[This is the timeline separator]

The Binion Duchy, bordering the Black Border known as the Land of Beasts in the north of Eregron.

In the depths of the Gripool Fortress at the forefront, which divides the land of humans and the land of beasts, a man sat at the desk in his office, reading a letter that had arrived for him a week ago for the umpteenth time.

What was reflected in those dark green eyes that shimmered darkly following the flicker of the candles illuminating the room?

The white-haired man who had just come to the office to write a report on yesterday’s battle was waiting for the master to open his mouth, holding even his breath.

“Bril.”

“Yes.”

“The preparations?”

“They are complete.”

The man who had been looking at the letter in his hand turned his gaze towards the man called Bril.

Those who first saw his eyes, resembling those of a snake, would all, without exception, avoid his gaze and tremble in fear.

However, Bril, who had survived numerous brushes with death alongside him, could face him calmly.

“Can we finish before winter ends?”

If someone else had asked this, it would be to check the possibility, but when Bril’s master asked like this, there was only one answer he wanted.

“We will finish it.”

Not a possibility, but a definite answer that it would be done.

Bril, who had given the answer his master wanted as always, placed the report he was holding on his desk.

“The wolves are ready.”

Another name for Duke Diaz’s direct unit, Badulf – the Wolves of Diaz.

The man nodded at the words that the fierce wolves, loyal only to their master, had completed their preparations, then turned his gaze back to the letter in his hand.

Recognizing this as a signal to leave, Bril bowed his head politely and quietly left the office.

And the man left alone again, Killian, ran a hand through his short, neat black hair and tightened his grip on the letter.

As the high-quality paper crumpled, the neat and elegant handwriting at the end of the letter also distorted.

After scanning Alicia’s handwriting with his eyes, Killian let out a snicker.

“Won’t bother me… I wonder if she really can do that.”

Was it mockery?

Killian’s gaze, with his lips twisted upwards, was directed somewhere beyond the window.