TYSIV 04

Chapter – 04

As dusk settled and the evening sky dimmed, a grand party began at the Dimtel estate.

“Congratulations to Miss Luciena, the Angel of House Dimtel, on her fifteenth birthday!”

Everyone applauded and showered Luciena with congratulations.

“Luciena, aren’t you having fun? Why do you look like that?”

“At my age, birthdays aren’t really that…”

The words slipped out before she could stop herself.

Realizing her mistake, Luciena quickly looked around. The guests were staring at her with worried and puzzled expressions.

She hurriedly corrected herself.

I’m fifteen years old right now. An innocent, carefree child.

Forcing a bright smile onto her face, Luciena raised her voice.

“…How could I not be having fun? I’m so happy!”

After living through countless repeated deaths and even attempting murder in despair, pretending to be a cheerful fifteen-year-old wasn’t easy.

Closing her eyes for a brief moment, Luciena began hypnotizing herself.

An endlessly bright and cheerful fifteen-year-old girl who knew nothing of worry… So kind that no one questioned her exaggerated nickname, “Angel”… That’s me. Luciena Dimtel.

As if making up her mind, Luciena opened her eyes amid the applause and smiled deliberately.

Only then did the party—where Luciena Dimtel was the true star—truly begin.

Throughout the party, Luciena maintained her cheerful façade while accompanying her father around the ballroom, politely greeting the distinguished guests.

But where is my sister?

Just as she turned her gaze to search for Reshuna among the crowd—

Crash!

The sharp sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the hall.

Everyone’s attention immediately turned toward the source.

“…!”

There stood Reshuna.

She had dropped a plate and was frozen in embarrassment.

With her waist-length black hair and a plain black dress devoid of any ornamentation, she looked completely out of place in the dazzling banquet hall, giving off an almost gloomy impression.

Reshuna…!

Was it because she was facing the person who had cursed her to die?

For a fleeting moment, murderous rage surged inside Luciena.

Taking a deep breath, she barely managed to suppress it.

Meanwhile, under everyone’s scrutinizing gaze, Reshuna bent down to gather the broken plate and spilled food.

“Ah…!”

A sharp shard of porcelain had cut her finger.

A bead of crimson blood formed at her fingertip.

Watching from afar, Luciena slowly walked toward her.

“…Are you alright, Sister?”

Suppressing the killing intent boiling inside her, Luciena offered Reshuna a handkerchief.

I’m fifteen years old right now.

Although this was the older sister who had written a novel humiliating her and cursed her, now wasn’t the time to let those emotions control her.

If I were truly fifteen, this is what I would have done.

Repeating those words to herself over and over to remain calm, Luciena gently pressed the handkerchief against Reshuna’s bleeding hand.

“You can clean this up later. Stop the bleeding first so the wound doesn’t become infected…”

“Get away from me! I don’t need your help!”

The next instant—

Reshuna violently slapped Luciena’s hand away.

Everyone’s attention once again focused on the Dimtel sisters.

Whispers quickly filled the room.

“Who’s that girl dressed entirely in black?”

“You didn’t know? She’s the eldest daughter of this family.”

“Oh? She looks nothing like her younger sister.”

Murmurs about the sisters spread throughout the ballroom.

The unwelcome gossip made the Count frown.

“…Why are you here?”

“F-Father…”

Without another word, the Count merely glared at Reshuna.

“…I’m sorry. I… I’m not feeling well, so I’ll excuse myself.”

He never actually told her to leave.

Yet Reshuna seemed to understand his intentions from his eyes alone.

Keeping her head lowered, she quickly turned and walked away.

As Luciena immediately tried to follow after her, her mother blocked her path with a folding fan.

“Luciena, have you forgotten why all these guests gathered here today?”

“That’s right. We’ll send a maid to Reshuna. You should focus on your party. The eldest daughter can’t even fulfill her role properly, so at least you should do your duty.”

Luciena quietly listened before slowly opening her mouth.

“I don’t think that was the kind Father I know.”

The Count looked visibly startled by her sudden remark.

Pretending not to notice his expression, Luciena turned her gaze elsewhere.

Her eyes landed on Reshuna.

She had stopped just before leaving the hall and was silently looking back at them.

Now let’s find out.

What do I have to do to change the future?

No… What do I have to do to change Sister Reshuna?

After staring at Luciena expressionlessly, Reshuna abruptly turned her head and walked away.

The Count looked at Luciena in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“…Today is my birthday!”

“So I’d like everyone to forget what just happened and for you to go back to being the kind Father you always are.”

Smiling sweetly despite not meaning a word of it, Luciena decided to use this opportunity to improve her own reputation instead of letting the moment go to waste.

“And today, I hope everyone can be happy without sadness.”

“That includes my beloved sister, Reshuna.”

Even after being treated so rudely, she was showing generosity toward her sister.

The surrounding guests unanimously praised Luciena once again.

“As expected of Miss Luciena.”

Luciena turned back toward where Reshuna had been standing.

Reshuna wore an expression that seemed half surprised…

…and half utterly dumbfounded.

…Is she shocked because I defended her?

Well… no matter how much people call her cursed or a witch, she’s still just a child.

The moment their eyes met directly—

Reshuna hurriedly left the ballroom.

“Luciena, you’re absolutely right.”

“Today should be a happy day for everyone.”

Reading the reactions of the guests, the Count smiled warmly, apparently pleased with Luciena’s words.

“…Still, I wonder who Reshuna takes after.”

Her mother muttered the criticism so quietly that only they could hear.

The Count awkwardly cleared his throat and looked away.

“Ahem… Esteemed guests!”

“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to celebrate our daughter Luciena’s birthday…”

As soon as the Count resumed hosting, the chilly atmosphere disappeared, and the party quickly became lively again.

Moments later, everyone’s attention was stolen by the brilliant fireworks decorating the black night sky.

As though Reshuna had never been there in the first place.

My head is pounding…

Pretending to be the carefree fifteen-year-old version of herself—so completely different from who she really was now—had taken far more energy than she’d expected.

Needing a moment to breathe, Luciena stepped onto the terrace.

The cool night air brushed against her cheeks.

She let out a deep sigh into the darkness.

Just then—

“What are you doing out here alone?”

“Especially when you’re today’s guest of honor.”

A man’s voice came from behind her.

The moment she heard that voice—

A voice she could never forget—

Luciena’s eyes trembled.

Turning around, she saw a man standing there.

He was more than half a head taller than her, with black hair and violet eyes.

“…Erteo.”

Luciena stared blankly as Erteo slowly approached her.

For Luciena…

He had been her first…

And only love.

Erteo Elus.

But he was also the man who had abandoned her.

Perhaps…

The very person who had started this entire curse.

“Let’s break off our engagement.”

Even now, his voice from that day echoed vividly in her ears.

…I’m glad to see you again like this.

But…

Biting her lip, Luciena smoothed away her startled expression and smiled gracefully.

“I was making a birthday wish while looking at the moon.”

“A wish?”

Luciena smiled once more.

It was the angelic smile that had once made Erteo fall in love with her.

“I wished…”

“…that you’d disappear from in front of me forever.”

“…What?”

The instant Erteo reached out toward her—

Luciena mercilessly slapped his hand away.

His eyes sharpened as they locked onto hers.

His intense gaze was so overwhelming it felt as though he might devour her whole.

Just then—

“Big Sis Luciena! Sis, where are you?”

Her younger brother Kesna’s loud voice echoed as he searched for her.

“The guest of honor is busy.”

Leaving Erteo standing there, Luciena gracefully walked away.

She desperately tried to hide her trembling eyes…

…and the violent pounding of her heart.

After the party ended as planned, Luciena returned to her room.

She changed and lay down on her bed, intending to sleep.

But her mind was far too restless.

“…This doesn’t feel right.”

“I somehow returned to ten years ago, yet the day is ending without me even having a proper conversation with Sister.”

After tossing and turning for quite some time, Luciena finally sat up.

She lit a small lantern she could carry in one hand and quietly left her room.

I have to talk to Sister after all.

Whether I persuade her or confront her—it doesn’t matter.

I doubt it’ll be a pleasant conversation… but I can’t just go to sleep without doing anything.

It kept bothering her that she hadn’t managed to properly speak, even for a single moment, with Reshuna—the most important key to breaking the curse.

As Luciena organized her thoughts on what she wanted to say, she slowly descended the dark, deserted staircase.

Then—

Thud!

Something shoved her from behind.

“Huh…!”

She instantly lost her balance.

Unable to regain her footing, Luciena slipped…

…and tumbled all the way down the long staircase.

An overwhelming agony engulfed her.

So intense she couldn’t even scream.

Along with it came terror.

That familiar terror she had felt every time death approached.