Episode 5

I nodded half-heartedly and went up to the second floor with Eclat.

“Oof.”

As I was about to flop onto the bed, I saw Eclat standing by the door, her shoulders hunched up tightly.

Ah, right. I used to be a wicked villainess.

No wonder Eclat was so intimidated.

“Eclat, don’t just stand there. Come here.”

“Y-Yes? Do you… need something?”

“No. I’m just telling you to come and sit down.”

But Eclat hesitated, unable to move easily.

Well, Riverata hadn’t exactly been the easiest mistress to serve.

She often took out her moods on the staff.

“Then could you bring me a glass of water?”

I pulled out a classic trick from my past life—a line I’d used countless times to get someone closer.

Eclat moved almost reflexively, pouring water into a glass and bringing it over.

“Thanks.”

When I thanked her, Eclat’s twig-like hands began to tremble.

“M-Milady, are you… alright?”

I guess she wasn’t used to hearing thanks.

Eclat glanced at my face nervously and cautiously continued.

“You’re really okay, right?”

“Of course. Look at me—perfectly fine.”

I exaggerated my expression and gestures to ease her anxiety.

She wouldn’t lower her guard overnight, but give it a few days—we’d be friendly in no time.

Just like always.

“I was really worried about you, milady.”

“Worried?”

I took a sip of water, thinking little of it—

“When did you… spend the night with His Grace, the Grand Duke Cygnus?”

Cough! Cough!

Seriously? In a world without smartphones, how does gossip travel this fast?

“I’m so sorry! Forgive me, milady!”

Eclat dropped to her knees, apologizing so frantically that I had to help her up even as I choked.

“No, get up.”

“Milady…”

Cough, cough! “Ugh, my throat…”

“Are you alright, milady?”

“Who did you hear that from?”

“But… is it true, milady?”

Eclat didn’t answer my question and instead blinked up at me with wide, innocent eyes.

“I asked you—who told you that?”

Eclat shrank back even further and mumbled,

“I… just overheard Madam talking. She said His Grace picked you up like a feather and vanished with you while you were drunk…”

“Drunk?”

“S-Sorry! I was just repeating what I heard…”

Eclat immediately shut her mouth and looked at me nervously.

But what could I say? She wasn’t wrong.

Suddenly, my temples throbbed. I clutched my head and bowed low, prompting Eclat to rush toward me in alarm.

“Milady! Are you okay? Should I fetch some medicine?”

“No, I’m fine. But I do need a hot bath.”

“I-I’ll prepare it right away!”

“No, it’s fine. I can do it myself.”

“No, milady! You can’t mean that!”

“Then just prepare it slowly, okay?”

When I said that, Eclat looked incredibly moved and nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes, of course. Right away, milady!”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Ah, this is heaven.”

As I sank into the hot water, the tension that had gripped my body since last night began to melt away.

“Who is that old woman? She definitely knows something.”

‘Milady, you want to get out of here alive, don’t you?’

She said this was my last chance. That I had to put everything back in its place within twenty attempts.

Wait… the last time I died was the nineteenth time, so if I die again—this will be the twentieth.

Meaning this life is my final chance.

I recalled the words she left behind: “Return everything to where it belongs.”

I mulled over what that could mean.

It likely meant that everyone needed to meet the people they were meant to in the original story.

Zerelach Cygnus and Leoni Almaz.

Me and Nathan Palamedes.

Although Nathan ends up leaving for Leoni midway, anyway.

“No, seriously—shouldn’t she have told me this from the beginning? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have done something so stupid last night!”

I ended up yelling out loud without meaning to.

And from beyond the door, I heard Eclat’s voice.

“Milady! Is something wrong? Are you okay?”

“Sorry! I’m fine, really!”

I sank completely into the water, submerging myself all the way under.

Then I slowly rose back up, rubbing my soaked face and hair.

“So now what am I supposed to do?”

Things might’ve started off wrong, but if I let the plot flow properly from here, it might still be salvageable.

But at that moment, the image of Zerelach’s bedroom from last night popped into my head.

“Ugh, I must’ve lost my mind. I should’ve just said, ‘I’ll be going now’ and left!”

But how could I, when he was leaning in with that ridiculously handsome face?

When that devastating voice was whispering just inches away?

If there’s one thing I’m weak to, it’s a nice voice!

This is all the damn alcohol’s fault.

If I hadn’t gotten drunk, if I’d stayed clearheaded, I never would’ve ended up in the arms of the man who’s killed me nineteen times before.

What began as an intoxicating pleasure last night has now settled into something far closer to fear.

“It’s not too late, right? I just messed up one puzzle piece, that’s all, right?”

I stomped my feet in the water and muttered, only to hear Eclat again outside the door.

“Milady, are you sure you’re okay?”

Does she have some kind of “Are-You-Okay” patch installed?

“Mmhm, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure I shouldn’t come in?”

“Yes! Please don’t come in!”

After barely convincing her not to help bathe me, I lay in the tub, completely relaxed—

Knock knock.

“Milady?”

“I’m fine! Totally fine! From now on, I’ll wash my face, bathe, brush my teeth—all on my own…”

“It’s not that. You have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

A visitor? At this hour?

I poked just my head above the tub and asked Eclat from behind the door.

“Should I tell them to wait?”

“Wait—Eclat. Who is it?”

Why is my heart suddenly pounding?

The vivid memory of his warm smile from last night overlays the terrifying recollections of my past.

Ugh, get a grip.

This is your last chance, remember?

Wait… if I don’t put things back where they belong in this final round, then what happens?

Am I just… stuck in this story forever?

No. Absolutely not.

I slapped my cheeks a couple of times.

As I cooled my flushed face with wet hands, Eclat carefully uttered a name.

“Lady Leoni Almaz is here.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Rive, are you really alright?”

Leoni said she’d come running at the crack of dawn because she was worried about me.

She’d even woken up early to buy my favorite cookies, waiting outside the bakery for it to open so she could get them fresh out of the oven.

“Mmhm, I’m okay.”

For some reason, I couldn’t look her in the eye.

I couldn’t even pick up the cookies she’d brought.

“You say you’re okay, but you’re not even touching the cookies. You always say cookies are the best cure after drinking.”

At her concerned voice, I forced a smile and picked one up.

I should eat at least one, for her sake.

Although seriously, what kind of person eats cookies for a hangover?

I need something hearty to settle my stomach.

Sure, asking for ramen here would be ridiculous, but even some orange juice would help!

Muttering those thoughts to myself, I stuffed a chocolate cookie into my mouth and chewed.

“By the way, they’re holding a ball soon to welcome the Grand Duke Cygnus to Muiton. Madame Ohane is apparently pulling out all the stops. The whole town’s buzzing about it.”

Suddenly, I wasn’t sure if what I’d bitten into was a cookie… or a rock.

“Mm.”

“I’m curious how extravagant it’ll be.”

“Yeah.”

“Some people say it’s being made extra grand because it’s marriage season. What do you think?”

“Y-Yeah, that could be it.”

Then, a rather clever idea struck me.

“Leoni, let’s go get new dresses made.”

Leoni, being the story’s protagonist, was breathtakingly beautiful and elegant. Her only flaw was being friends with Riverata.

If she shows up in a stunning dress, surely she’ll catch Zerelach’s eye?

“Dresses?”

“Yeah, right now!”

“Rive, I’m sorry. I can’t today—maybe tomorrow.”

Leoni touched her face, her voice a bit subdued.

“What’s wrong?”

“Actually… something strange happened to me last night.”

“Something strange?”

Leoni hesitated, then carefully began to speak.

“I woke up a little early this morning. I was sitting quietly reading a book… when suddenly, a vase fell from the shelf above my head.”

“What? Did you get hurt?”

“No, thankfully it just barely missed me.”

“That’s terrifying.”

“It dropped right at my feet. You have no idea how scared I was.”

Leoni pressed both hands to her chest, still visibly shaken by the memory.

“Thank goodness you weren’t hurt.”

If that heavy ceramic vase had hit her on the head, it would’ve been catastrophic.

Leoni was already so delicate—like she might snap in a strong wind.

I shuddered just thinking about it and reached out to comfort her trembling hands.

But that wasn’t the end of it.