Before her regression, Alicia made many mistakes.

Most were trivial mistakes anyone could make, but there were also big mistakes that pushed her to the point of choosing death.

And one of those big mistakes was her engagement to Killian.

‘That was the beginning of all the misfortunes.’

Following the flow of her past life, this winter would have been when she received permission for her engagement to Killian and shed tears of joy.

Winter at eighteen years old. Alicia obtained the emperor’s permission and sent a proposal letter she wrote herself to the Vinion Duchy.

She had heard rumors that there was a small commotion at the duke’s castle on the day when the daily love letters changed to an official proposal.

But that was the end of it.

Other nobles who heard the news simply nodded once, as if something that was bound to happen had finally occurred.

‘It was no secret that I was clinging to Killian.’

It was the spring of her thirteenth year when she fell in love at first sight with Killian, who visited the imperial palace with the previous Duke Diaz in place of his brother who had passed away in an unfortunate accident.

From that day until the day she died, Alicia’s heart never changed.

‘But not anymore.’

At the time when she should have stubbornly sent a proposal letter she wrote herself, Alicia sent a letter to Killian containing her final farewell.

It was something she could have ended simply by stopping the passionate letters she sent every day, but she felt a farewell was necessary to shake off her last remaining attachment.

“My brother was happy to see you writing a letter.”

“Pardon? Your Highness, what did you say?”

“It’s nothing.”

Alicia, who had been organizing her thoughts alone, waved her hand towards Mina, who was wondering if she should refill her empty teacup.

At her gesture, Mina quickly cleared the tea table.

Alicia, looking at the table that had been cleaned in an instant, raised her head to take in the surrounding scenery.

“The fairies have bloomed beautifully.”

“The gardener and greenhouse keeper are paying special attention to it since it’s Your Highness’s favorite flower.”

Fairy, named for its small and lush flowers resembling the skirt of a fairy’s dress.

Alicia’s favorite red flowers climbed the arched pillars and fences of the white gazebo inside the huge glass greenhouse, captivating the eyes of viewers with their splendid and beautiful appearance.

Alicia, who had been taking in the bright flowers for a moment, reached out her hand from her seated position to stroke the petals of the climbing rose blooming inside the gazebo with her fingertips.

“Your Highness, the thorns are sharp.”

Amy, who had been quietly observing Alicia from behind, softly warned her to be careful.

As the nanny who raised young Alicia and the head maid in charge of managing the Imperial Princess’s residence, Amy was a woman with considerable influence even within the imperial palace.

Of course, her influence was limited to matters concerning Alicia, and she herself knew her place and never opened her mouth carelessly, so she had never wielded that power even once until now.

‘It was about her that Amy spoke up for the first time.’

Killian’s hidden lover, Lady Cheryl Louis.

The woman who, like him, pushed aside her own brother, who was also a powerful successor, and took the position of count.

The reason she could have such power as the owner of the largest trading company in the empire was because of the help of her lover, Killian.

Although Killian was the Imperial Princess’s fiancé and later became the emperor’s husband, he did not abandon his lover.

‘Come to think of it, it’s as if I took her place.’

Not only did she hurt her father and brother’s hearts with her stubbornness, but she also took away an innocent woman’s lover.

That’s why Alicia pretended not to know even though she knew that he hadn’t ended his relationship with her.

It was partly because she thought it would naturally end over time, but it was also an action she could take because she was confident she could capture Killian’s heart at that time.

“How foolish.”

“Your Highness?”

She was not only foolish but also arrogant and prideful.

Because nothing had ever failed to go her way before, she was certain she could win Killian’s heart as well.

Alicia slightly waved her hand towards Amy, who was looking at her worriedly, and smiled as if nothing was wrong.

‘There will be no engagement. There will be no marriage. Killian will be happy with her, and I… I will fulfill my duty as the Imperial Princess of Eregron.’

Although the emperor said there was no need, Alicia owed a debt to Eregron.

Although it had now become something that never happened, a debt of the heart does not disappear so easily.

So Alicia vowed that in this life, no matter what, she would become an Imperial Princess who would be helpful and beneficial to the empire.

“Winter is coming to an end.”

Alicia, who had stepped out of the gazebo onto the garden ground, raised her head to look at the ceiling of the glass greenhouse.

Unlike the warm and bright inside of the greenhouse, the upper part of the glass dome was repeatedly accumulating snow that had started falling since morning to a certain thickness before sliding down.

“The last snow will fall soon, and then it will be spring.”

Amy, who had followed Alicia out of the gazebo, answered while draping a thin shawl over her shoulders.

“I was hoping to stay at Rasa Castle for a while after the banquet… Do you think Father will allow it?”

“How long do you intend to stay?”

“Until the end of spring.”

“…He will allow it.”

Amy had been taking care of Alicia from the moment she was born until today.

She nodded, easily understanding that the request to stay at the resort castle meant wanting to avoid Killian.

“If we speak to His Majesty, he might even allow you to skip attending the banquet.”

“No, I can’t. It’s the spring banquet, not just any event. I, as the Imperial Princess, can’t miss it.”

“Will you be alright?”

“…It’s only for a moment. Besides, if I don’t approach him first… he won’t approach me.”

A person’s heart cannot be cut off at once.

Alicia smiled bitterly and shook her head, knowing well that resolving her feelings for him was not as easy as she had vowed, even though she had decided to do so.

However, Alicia was not afraid of the banquet where she would face Killian.

It was always Alicia who approached.

It was she who begged, who pleaded for love.

And it was Killian who watched all of this without giving even a slight corner of his heart.

So this time will be the same.

Especially after sending a letter apologizing for everything and promising not to bother him again.

If Alicia knew Killian, he would have burned that letter with an indifferent face, thinking he had solved one annoying problem.

“Anyway, he won’t care about me.”

Moreover, Alicia had a reason why she must attend this banquet.

‘All the nobles of the empire need to know that I’ve given up my feelings for Killian.’

Although they don’t say it out loud, the nobles of the empire were certain that news of the engagement between the Imperial Princess and the Duke would be heard soon.

They were just unable to gauge the timing because the emperor was opposing it.

But Alicia had given up her feelings for him and was preparing for a marriage for the sake of the empire.

Although the emperor said there was no need, Alicia had vowed to dedicate this life to the empire.

She didn’t know who she would end up marrying, but once a match was decided, she would do her best for him without wavering.

So for the sake of her future husband, whoever he might be, there was a need to cleanly and officially settle her relationship with Killian.

‘Because I know what kind of hell it brings when the heart of a spouse, who should be the closest person, belongs to someone else.’

She didn’t want to inflict the hell she had to go through before her regression on someone else.

‘So let’s think from now on.’

How can she effectively announce that she has ended her feelings for Killian?

What method is there to not only announce it but also give certainty to the nobles?

It was at that moment when Alicia, who had started walking slowly while adjusting the shawl falling over her shoulders, was lost in thought considering methods.

A servant who had clearly run in from outside the greenhouse hurriedly whispered something to Mina, and Mina, upon hearing the news, stiffened her face and passed on what she had heard to Amy in a low voice.

“…Your Highness.”

Alicia, who had not noticed the small commotion behind her as she was lost in thought, stopped her steps and turned her head at Amy’s cautious voice.

Only then did she notice the servants and Mina looking at her with pale faces, and Amy with a complex expression.

“What’s the matter?”

“Your Highness, Duke Diaz is reportedly on his way to the capital.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“It seems he has an urgent report for His Majesty the Emperor and is heading to the capital earlier than usual.”

“…What?”

“Due to the urgency, it’s said he will be entering directly into the imperial palace instead of the ducal residence in the capital…”

Alicia, whose mind had frozen for a moment, could only understand what Amy had said after carefully scanning the faces of those looking at her.

Killian is coming back.

Upon hearing this unexpected news, Alicia closed her eyes for a moment, feeling a cold wind shaking her body that couldn’t possibly be felt in the warm greenhouse.

The news of Killian’s early return was first conveyed to the emperor.

The crown prince, who had recently been learning how to handle state affairs by the emperor’s side, had heard the news together with the emperor because of this.

“Will it be alright?”

“…I don’t know.”

An urgent report from the northern border, the most dangerous area, and the early return of the one guarding it.

It was not a good sign that the man, cold and sharp but meticulous in performing his duties, was heading to the capital before winter had even ended.

However, the worry of the father and son sitting in the emperor’s office was different.

“It hasn’t even been a month since Alicia said she would resolve her feelings…”

Knowing that his daughter needed sufficient time to sort out her feelings, the emperor looked at his son, who had the same concerned expression as himself.

“Adrian, what do you think?”

The emperor asked, looking at his son who cared for Alicia as much as he did.

And Adrian answered decisively without any hesitation.

“Ari needs time.”