Chapter 4

She, who should have died with her head severed, was here, alive in this very moment.

‘I… I’m alive.’

She didn’t know how, or who had brought her back, but none of that mattered. What mattered was that she was alive.

The dreadful future still awaited her, but she had returned to the bountiful past.

This was her chance.

Ariana instinctively understood. This opportunity had been given to fulfill that fleeting “what if” she had thought of just before her death.

“Do you still feel unwell?”

“I-I’ll go fetch the physician right away!”

Perhaps Rosa saw it as her chance to slip away from Maia’s sharp gaze, for she raised the damp cloth she still held high in the air and spoke quickly.

But her attempt was cut short by Ariana’s sudden laughter.

“Your Highness?”

Maia’s voice was filled with concern.

Why hadn’t she ever noticed that worry before, hidden in that voice and those eyes?

The exhaustion from her recent illness was not a lie. Even laughing left her weak. Leaning back against the headboard, Ariana looked at Maia and Rosa and spoke softly.

“No. I’m fine. I’m just happy.”

“Pardon?”

The two maids exchanged puzzled looks, unable to hide their confusion. Ariana met their eyes in turn and smiled brightly.

It was that same radiant smile the King of Molbion once said he wouldn’t regret paying a fortune to see.

“I’m happy. Truly happy.”

She had been given a chance.

Then she would do what the giver of that chance must have wanted.

No, even if it wasn’t for the “what if,” it didn’t matter.

Her mind was already set.

“My birthday is soon, isn’t it? I’ve recovered now, so we can hold the banquet as planned. I’m just so glad for that.”

Maia still looked unconvinced, but Rosa, captivated by Ariana’s dazzling smile, simply nodded in silence.

The Flower of Molbion was still beautiful.

But no one yet realized that the flower had begun to harbor poison.

‘So I’ll make use of it.’

At this point in time, she had been nothing more than the youngest princess. Beautiful, but of no use otherwise.

A flower of the royal garden, posing no threat at all to her siblings locked in a battle for the throne.

No one would suspect her at this point, so this was when she needed to start spreading her poison, little by little.

“I must have been sweating too much. I’d like to take a bath.”

“You should still refrain for now, Your Highness.”

“I don’t want to.”

“…Understood. Rosa, prepare the bathwater.”

“Yes, Lady Maia.”

Knowing that no one could ever win against Ariana’s stubbornness, Rosa obediently nodded and headed toward the adjoining bath.

Once the door to the bathroom closed and silence followed, Ariana, after confirming that no sound came from beyond it, slowly turned her head toward Maia, who stood there quietly, waiting for her next order.

Unlike Rosa, who had betrayed her, Maia had done her best for her until the very end.

‘Though it wasn’t loyalty to me.’

Still, the concern and worry reflected in those violet eyes were genuine.

That much, Ariana could trust.

“Maia.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You can contact my mother, can’t you?”

“…Pardon?”

“I know you’re one of my mother’s people.”

Watching the mask crack on Maia’s expressionless face was unexpectedly amusing.

Ariana allowed herself a small laugh as she took in Maia’s rare look of alarm. Something she almost never displayed.

“So you do know how to be surprised.”

“Your Highness, I…”

“I know you were someone my mother placed by my side for my sake. Don’t worry.”

In the past, Ariana had believed her mother despised her.

Unless it was for a special occasion, they hardly ever met. And even when they did, not once had her mother spoken a kind word to her.

Only much later would Ariana learn that this had been her mother’s way of protecting her.

But the Ariana of this time could not possibly have known that.

“Tell my mother this. Her foolish daughter has something she wishes for.”

“…”

“Tell her I’ll deliver that wish to her myself when we meet. Ask her to wait just a little longer.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

“And one more thing.”

Ariana leaned in and whispered softly into Maia’s ear.

Maia’s violet eyes flickered for the briefest moment as she listened to the soft words Ariana spoke for her ears alone.

“I’ll make the preparations.”

“Don’t let Rosa find out.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good.”

With Maia’s help, Ariana stepped down from the bed, a beautiful smile resting on her lips.