“I’m sorry for keeping you when you’re busy. Well then, let’s meet at the ball.”

It was when Etienne greeted Leharht and turned away. When she felt a hand holding her wrist, Etienne looked back at Leharht.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Leharht’s touch didn’t seem to surprise Etienne; her reaction was calm and natural, like flowing water. She seemed to be waiting for something from Leharht.

Etienne’s direct gaze skimmed over Leharht’s eyes, nose, and lips in turn. While it looked like she was appreciating the face of a beloved man…

‘Her eyes are trembling.’

It was because of the uneasy feeling she had during the conversation with Fernando that she was scrutinizing him.

“It seems like it shouldn’t be any later… This time, don’t leave; listen to what I have to say.”

Leharht held Etienne’s wrist, giving a warning in advance. Although there was a hint of laughter in his tone, indicating that she wouldn’t be able to escape this time, it didn’t lift the atmosphere.

“My ability works when you die.”

It was a fact she already knew, but Etienne remained silent, waiting for the next words.

“But… I was so foolish. Knowing how cruel your death would be for you, I still pushed it onto you.”
Etienne lowered her head. When she died, it was sad, but now she could understand everything.

Honestly, if it weren’t for Leharht, life wouldn’t have been given to her again. She hoped he wouldn’t feel guilty.

“I’m okay.”

“Even though your family collapsed because of my plan?”

Etienne, who had told Leharht not to worry about her, fell silent. At the mention of her family, she couldn’t provide any response.

“I told you. My ability works when you die. You could have not died, but your life changed because of me.”

He was not saying that he gave Etienne another chance, but that he took her life away intentionally to turn back time.

“Also, it was an act that destroyed your family.”

“That, that…”

Feeling the icy explanation from Leharht, Etienne lowered her head. Although she thought she understood everything until now, it all got tangled like a twisted thread in the end. Perhaps he was using the excuse of being tangled to avoid facing the truth.

“Even if you turn away, the truth remains unchanged.”

Leharht grabbed Etienne’s arm to make her look at him.

“I dreamt of telling my plan to Duke Supraher. At that time, I didn’t know how significant it was and acted selfishly. I wanted to turn your feelings of unrequited love for Fernando.”

“Your Majesty.”
Etienne looked up at Leharht with a bewildered expression. She wished he would tell her that everything he had said until now was a lie.

“What is that look? What was the meaning of those eyes looking at Fernando that made me feel tempted to do something unspeakable to you and your family?”

“So, Your Majesty… you killed them? My parents, Letin, and Lena…”

Etienne’s face turned pale as she mentioned her people one by one. She thought that the shock wouldn’t be greater than when Fernando found out about her feelings, but it was her misconception.

Overwhelmed by the betrayal at the back of her head, Etienne turned her head away from Leharht.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Etienne.”

“Just a moment. I need time to think.”

Etienne hoped for a moment that he wouldn’t say anything. Hearing Leharht’s voice now wasn’t helping her at all.

However, Leharht didn’t help Etienne to be alone with her thoughts.

“You can hit me and curse me until you feel better. If that’s what it takes for your heart to ease, I’ll accept anything.”

“I don’t want to hit Your Majesty. I don’t want to curse either.”

Etienne lowered her head.

Then, she withdrew her wrist from Leharht’s grip, took a step back, and stood at a distance from him.

“Etienne.”

“I was foolish.”

“What are you talking about? Why do you think you’re foolish? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I should have doubted it when you mentioned the Emperor’s ability to me. Since I’ve returned to the past by dying, I should have asked what would happen to that ability if I hadn’t died.”

Why didn’t she have such thoughts? It seemed too simple. She might have thought that even if she aged and died, she would return to being sixteen.

She never wished for a quick death.

Etienne looked at Leharht with quiet eyes. Her heart beat very quietly, as if it had stopped, and her tangled thoughts refused to think any further.

Thanks to that, Etienne could face Leharht with a calm expression without getting excited.

“I will step back.”

“Etienne.”

“I don’t have any thoughts right now. So, I need time to think.”

“The more you think, the more you’ll resent me. You can hate me, Etienne…”

Leharht had always told Etienne to express any emotions to him. Although it felt strange to Etienne, as it wasn’t a request for forgiveness, Leharht didn’t change his words.

“Anything is fine. So…”

“Your Majesty.”

For a while, she had worried about whether the title “Your Majesty” would suit the situation. However, here and now, Etienne called Leharht “Your Majesty” several times.