“Do you mean the conversation you had with that lady yesterday?”
“Yes.”
I agreed by nodding.
I opened my mouth, but it was difficult to continue.
“If it’s hard to say, it’s okay not to say it.”
When I couldn’t speak easily, the Archduke said that. The Archduchess nodded and added as well.
“Yes. We decided to change the schedule anyway and will back to the Principality after seeing the trial. You don’t need to tell me because we’ll hear about it at the trial.”
“No, I have to tell you.”
It felt like if I hesitated more than this, I would keep quiet forever.
I couldn’t speak while looking at the Archduke and his wife, so I bowed my head.
“Actually…… I’m not your child.”
There was a brief silence.
Finally, the Archduke expressed his confusion with a puzzled expression.
“What are you on about? You are our daughter.”
“Yes. Your father proved it himself, didn’t he? In addition, you have the sacred relic.”
“Obviously, this is your daughter’s body. But I am not your daughter. That’s why I went to see the woman who tried to kill me yesterday.”
I spoke cautiously about my experiences and what I had learned from Vivian.
I awoke one day and found myself in Elena’s body.
The Crown Prince then arrived to make an offer, and I was fortunate to survive. But their daughter couldn’t, and she died in her previous life.
However, due to the power of the sacred relic, she was able to travel back in time and even change her body.
I told the Archduke and his wife everything, except that I had read the novel.
It would be confusing enough just talking about it now, but it isn’t necessary to mention that this world is based on a novel I read in a previous life.
I looked at the Archduke and his wife after we finished talking.
They appeared befuddled, as expected.
“…… So you mean our daughter and you have switched bodies, and our daughter has already been killed by the Crown Prince, but she has survived because of the sacred relic?”
“Do you mean, before she died, my daughter prayed to the sacred relic and changed her body?”
“That’s right.”
The Archduke couple shut their mouth when I nodded.
I became more anxious and nervous as the silence grew longer.
‘Would they believe me?’
Is it strange that they believe me?
What if they suspect I’m lying?
I couldn’t keep my hands on my lap and was restless at the time.
“I’d like to ask you a question.”
The Archduke’s mouth opened.
“How come you’re telling me this story? I’m not sure why you’re telling us this now.”
“At first, I couldn’t tell you. I didn’t know who your daughter was, and I couldn’t bear telling you that I wasn’t her.”
In the banquet hall, I remembered two people who hugged me and burst into tears.
“However, now that I know who your daughters are, I promised her.”
“Promise?”
“I promised to tell you both the truth if she told me why she tried to kill me.”
“But why should you keep the promise you made to our daughter?”
“That is correct. No one would have known if you hadn’t told us, so staying as our daughter would have greatly benefited you or your fiancé’s family.”
“Actually…… I wanted to. I wanted to stay as your daughter not because of the benefits that come with it, but because I despise your daughter.”
Nobody knew how frustrated I was about it until I decided to meet with the Archduke couple yesterday.
Because my conversation with Vivian surprised me more than I expected.
I only promised Vivian to “tell the truth to the Archduke and his wife” when I knew he had only tried to kill me once.
Even though I assumed she only tried to kill me once, it wasn’t an easy decision.
Vivian, however, knowing that I would die, purposefully turned away for her own benefit and even tried to kill me twice.
I felt even worse and more troubled after learning it.
For example, I debated whether I needed to keep my promise.
I didn’t want to do anything beneficial to Vivian after what she had done to me.
I wished I could keep my mouth shut forever.
Vivian will be punished following the trial.
First and foremost, I was ostensibly known as the Archduke’s daughter and Caleb’s fiancée.
Even if Vivian was the Marquis’ daughter, the crime of attempting to kill me was not something to be taken lightly.
Furthermore, the cost of her crime would have been increased because it was attempted on the Imperial hunting grounds.
‘Her life would most likely be miserable for the rest of her life.’
I would have been more avenged if Vivian had done so.
“However, as I previously stated, a promise is a promise.”
I figured I’d be no different than Vivian if I broke my promise for personal gain.
“Besides, I know how much you both missed your daughter. ”
“……”
“Even though I knew who your daughter was, you couldn’t be with her.”
I lowered my head after I finished speaking.
Everything… I’ve said everything there is to say.
Having said that, I felt I had worked reasonably hard.
It was then up to the Archduke and his wife to believe me and do what they wanted.
“First and foremost, thank you for being completely honest with me.”
Surprised by the words in my ear, I looked up.
Because, while I said everything in the hope that they would believe me, I also expected them to deny what I said.
“…do you believe me?”
“Actually, it’s still hard to believe.”
I understood.
Even I, who had been directly possessed like this after dying, couldn’t believe the story.
I wonder if anyone could believe it.
Maybe I should be thankful for not being treated like a lunatic.
“To say that the lady who tried to kill you is our real daughter……”
“In addition, she had died once.”
The Archduchess nodded from the side and added, following the Archduke.
“However, I understand. I had a hunch that there was something we didn’t know about.”
“Have I said something odd?”
“No. That is not the case. I believe it is preferable to demonstrate it…… Can you give me a moment if you brought the sacred relic?”
“Ah, yes!”
I took the sacred relic I had brought with me just in case and handed it to the Archduke.
While holding the necklace, the Archduke let out his golden auror. In response to the auror, a sentence of gold letters appeared on the gemstone.
Even though I had seen it before, it was such an amazing sight that I couldn’t avoid paying attention to it again.
‘How come you’re showing me this?’
It was when I was looking at the “real” name of Elena, which emerged from the sacred relic in wonder.
“Can you see the fine red solid line in the middle of the text?” “A solid red line?”
Is there anything like that?
I looked at the sacred relic with interest.
After a few seconds of thought, I was able to confirm the Archduke’s words.
‘It’s definitely there.’
There was a solid red line that looked like incontinence among the letters that appeared.
A solid line that is so thin that you may not notice it at first.
“Did you see it?”
“Yes, I found it here.”
“That’s why I can understand what you’re saying.”
As a result of this? I’m not sure what he means.
The Archduke began to explain slowly as I tilted my head.
“As I previously stated, it was said that our names were engraved on the sacred relic from generation to generation. And the sacred relic has never evidenced its power.”
He definitely said that before.
“However, there is one thing I didn’t tell you at the time. It’s about the signs that appear after the sacred relic’s power is released.”
“Perhaps the sign is this solid line?”
“Yes. When I first got the necklace, it was covered in gold letters. It was exactly the same after I handed over the necklace.”
“……”
“However, there is now a solid red line. That means the sacred relic has already used its power.”
The Archduke let go of the necklace’s auror and added.
“I injected auror into the necklace, so I could tell there was a danger to you based on the letters that appeared.”
“……”
“Of course, I didn’t ask because I expected it to happen when you were kidnapped.”
The Archduke and his wife’s faces revealed their mixed emotions.
“But to think something like that could happen…… That is something I could never have imagined.”
The silence fell, but I remained motionless.
Because I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
The Archduke, who appeared to close his eyes and organize his thoughts, opened his eyes and mouth again.
“So, tell me what you want to do.”
“Yes? What……”
“I’m wondering how you want our daughter to be handled.”
I blinked stupidly in response to the unexpected remark.
“You’re going to her punishment to me?”
“Yes, I will do whatever you want.”
“Despite the fact that she is your daughter?”
“She is, as you say, our daughter.”
The Archduke continued calmly.
“However, this does not make it an indulgence. The fact that she attempted to kill you will not go away.”
“What if I ask you to turn a blind eye to your daughter so she can be punished properly?”
“If you want, I can turn a blind eye.”
The Archduchess beside him nodded as well.
At the time, I couldn’t speak easily in response to an unusual offer.
What drew my attention was the Archduke and his wife, whose hands were slightly trembling.
No matter how hard they tried to hide their facial expressions and act aloof, their bodies could not help but tremble.
They’ve been missing their real daughter for over twenty years, so it’s impossible for them to remain calm.
After seeing that, the emotions accumulated by Vivian’s actions faded away like a lie.
And, as if to fill the void, sympathy for the Archduke and his wife soared.
“May I inquire as to what you two intend to do? Aside from being a victim, I’d like to know what you two truly desire.”
The Archduke and his wife exchanged a brief glance in response to my words.
They were unable to communicate with one another. However, based on their expressions and eyes, I had a feeling I knew what they wanted.
Soon after, the archduke made a determined face at me and opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, but if you don’t mind…… Regardless of the outcome of the trial, I intend to take her to the Principality.”
“And you, Your Highness Archduchess?”
“Me too…… I feel the same way.”
Expectedly.
The responses I received were consistent with my expectations.
But that’s a good thing.
It makes it easier for me to choose an answer.
After a short breath, I looked at the Archduke couple and opened my mouth.
“Do you mean the conversation you had with that lady yesterday?”
“Yes.”
I agreed by nodding.
I opened my mouth, but it was difficult to continue.
“If it’s hard to say, it’s okay not to say it.”
When I couldn’t speak easily, the Archduke said that. The Archduchess nodded and added as well.
“Yes. We decided to change the schedule anyway and will back to the Principality after seeing the trial. You don’t need to tell me because we’ll hear about it at the trial.”
“No, I have to tell you.”
It felt like if I hesitated more than this, I would keep quiet forever.
I couldn’t speak while looking at the Archduke and his wife, so I bowed my head.
“Actually…… I’m not your child.”
There was a brief silence.
Finally, the Archduke expressed his confusion with a puzzled expression.
“What are you on about? You are our daughter.”
“Yes. Your father proved it himself, didn’t he? In addition, you have the sacred relic.”
“Obviously, this is your daughter’s body. But I am not your daughter. That’s why I went to see the woman who tried to kill me yesterday.”
I spoke cautiously about my experiences and what I had learned from Vivian.
I awoke one day and found myself in Elena’s body.
The Crown Prince then arrived to make an offer, and I was fortunate to survive. But their daughter couldn’t, and she died in her previous life.
However, due to the power of the sacred relic, she was able to travel back in time and even change her body.
I told the Archduke and his wife everything, except that I had read the novel.
It would be confusing enough just talking about it now, but it isn’t necessary to mention that this world is based on a novel I read in a previous life.
I looked at the Archduke and his wife after we finished talking.
They appeared befuddled, as expected.
“…… So you mean our daughter and you have switched bodies, and our daughter has already been killed by the Crown Prince, but she has survived because of the sacred relic?”
“Do you mean, before she died, my daughter prayed to the sacred relic and changed her body?”
“That’s right.”
The Archduke couple shut their mouth when I nodded.
I became more anxious and nervous as the silence grew longer.
‘Would they believe me?’
Is it strange that they believe me?
What if they suspect I’m lying?
I couldn’t keep my hands on my lap and was restless at the time.
“I’d like to ask you a question.”
The Archduke’s mouth opened.
“How come you’re telling me this story? I’m not sure why you’re telling us this now.”
“At first, I couldn’t tell you. I didn’t know who your daughter was, and I couldn’t bear telling you that I wasn’t her.”
In the banquet hall, I remembered two people who hugged me and burst into tears.
“However, now that I know who your daughters are, I promised her.”
“Promise?”
“I promised to tell you both the truth if she told me why she tried to kill me.”
“But why should you keep the promise you made to our daughter?”
“That is correct. No one would have known if you hadn’t told us, so staying as our daughter would have greatly benefited you or your fiancé’s family.”
“Actually…… I wanted to. I wanted to stay as your daughter not because of the benefits that come with it, but because I despise your daughter.”
Nobody knew how frustrated I was about it until I decided to meet with the Archduke couple yesterday.
Because my conversation with Vivian surprised me more than I expected.
I only promised Vivian to “tell the truth to the Archduke and his wife” when I knew he had only tried to kill me once.
Even though I assumed she only tried to kill me once, it wasn’t an easy decision.
Vivian, however, knowing that I would die, purposefully turned away for her own benefit and even tried to kill me twice.
I felt even worse and more troubled after learning it.
For example, I debated whether I needed to keep my promise.
I didn’t want to do anything beneficial to Vivian after what she had done to me.
I wished I could keep my mouth shut forever.
Vivian will be punished following the trial.
First and foremost, I was ostensibly known as the Archduke’s daughter and Caleb’s fiancée.
Even if Vivian was the Marquis’ daughter, the crime of attempting to kill me was not something to be taken lightly.
Furthermore, the cost of her crime would have been increased because it was attempted on the Imperial hunting grounds.
‘Her life would most likely be miserable for the rest of her life.’
I would have been more avenged if Vivian had done so.
“However, as I previously stated, a promise is a promise.”
I figured I’d be no different than Vivian if I broke my promise for personal gain.
“Besides, I know how much you both missed your daughter. ”
“……”
“Even though I knew who your daughter was, you couldn’t be with her.”
I lowered my head after I finished speaking.
Everything… I’ve said everything there is to say.
Having said that, I felt I had worked reasonably hard.
It was then up to the Archduke and his wife to believe me and do what they wanted.
“First and foremost, thank you for being completely honest with me.”
Surprised by the words in my ear, I looked up.
Because, while I said everything in the hope that they would believe me, I also expected them to deny what I said.
“…do you believe me?”
“Actually, it’s still hard to believe.”
I understood.
Even I, who had been directly possessed like this after dying, couldn’t believe the story.
I wonder if anyone could believe it.
Maybe I should be thankful for not being treated like a lunatic.
“To say that the lady who tried to kill you is our real daughter……”
“In addition, she had died once.”
The Archduchess nodded from the side and added, following the Archduke.
“However, I understand. I had a hunch that there was something we didn’t know about.”
“Have I said something odd?”
“No. That is not the case. I believe it is preferable to demonstrate it…… Can you give me a moment if you brought the sacred relic?”
“Ah, yes!”
I took the sacred relic I had brought with me just in case and handed it to the Archduke.
While holding the necklace, the Archduke let out his golden auror. In response to the auror, a sentence of gold letters appeared on the gemstone.
Even though I had seen it before, it was such an amazing sight that I couldn’t avoid paying attention to it again.
‘How come you’re showing me this?’
It was when I was looking at the “real” name of Elena, which emerged from the sacred relic in wonder.
“Can you see the fine red solid line in the middle of the text?” “A solid red line?”
Is there anything like that?
I looked at the sacred relic with interest.
After a few seconds of thought, I was able to confirm the Archduke’s words.
‘It’s definitely there.’
There was a solid red line that looked like incontinence among the letters that appeared.
A solid line that is so thin that you may not notice it at first.
“Did you see it?”
“Yes, I found it here.”
“That’s why I can understand what you’re saying.”
As a result of this? I’m not sure what he means.
The Archduke began to explain slowly as I tilted my head.
“As I previously stated, it was said that our names were engraved on the sacred relic from generation to generation. And the sacred relic has never evidenced its power.”
He definitely said that before.
“However, there is one thing I didn’t tell you at the time. It’s about the signs that appear after the sacred relic’s power is released.”
“Perhaps the sign is this solid line?”
“Yes. When I first got the necklace, it was covered in gold letters. It was exactly the same after I handed over the necklace.”
“……”
“However, there is now a solid red line. That means the sacred relic has already used its power.”
The Archduke let go of the necklace’s auror and added.
“I injected auror into the necklace, so I could tell there was a danger to you based on the letters that appeared.”
“……”
“Of course, I didn’t ask because I expected it to happen when you were kidnapped.”
The Archduke and his wife’s faces revealed their mixed emotions.
“But to think something like that could happen…… That is something I could never have imagined.”
The silence fell, but I remained motionless.
Because I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
The Archduke, who appeared to close his eyes and organize his thoughts, opened his eyes and mouth again.
“So, tell me what you want to do.”
“Yes? What……”
“I’m wondering how you want our daughter to be handled.”
I blinked stupidly in response to the unexpected remark.
“You’re going to her punishment to me?”
“Yes, I will do whatever you want.”
“Despite the fact that she is your daughter?”
“She is, as you say, our daughter.”
The Archduke continued calmly.
“However, this does not make it an indulgence. The fact that she attempted to kill you will not go away.”
“What if I ask you to turn a blind eye to your daughter so she can be punished properly?”
“If you want, I can turn a blind eye.”
The Archduchess beside him nodded as well.
At the time, I couldn’t speak easily in response to an unusual offer.
What drew my attention was the Archduke and his wife, whose hands were slightly trembling.
No matter how hard they tried to hide their facial expressions and act aloof, their bodies could not help but tremble.
They’ve been missing their real daughter for over twenty years, so it’s impossible for them to remain calm.
After seeing that, the emotions accumulated by Vivian’s actions faded away like a lie.
And, as if to fill the void, sympathy for the Archduke and his wife soared.
“May I inquire as to what you two intend to do? Aside from being a victim, I’d like to know what you two truly desire.”
The Archduke and his wife exchanged a brief glance in response to my words.
They were unable to communicate with one another. However, based on their expressions and eyes, I had a feeling I knew what they wanted.
Soon after, the archduke made a determined face at me and opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, but if you don’t mind…… Regardless of the outcome of the trial, I intend to take her to the Principality.”
“And you, Your Highness Archduchess?”
“Me too…… I feel the same way.”
Expectedly.
The responses I received were consistent with my expectations.
But that’s a good thing.
It makes it easier for me to choose an answer.
After a short breath, I looked at the Archduke couple and opened my mouth.
