Chapter 4

"Yes, it's what you're thinking. The first person to take that poison was my former husband."

A sigh erupted from Elise's voice.

His Highness David, I thought he had committed suicide, but it was Iris who killed him.

"Why did you kill His Highness David?"

Elise had felt guilty towards him. That's why she had planned to request his pardon after Chase became king.

"Because he wasn't the right person for me."

"You, you… you're insane. Completely mad!"

The one who had gone mad with greed was Iris.

"Want to know an interesting fact?"

As Elise raged, Iris seemed pleased.

"In the past few years, all the humiliations I suffered because of Elise felt like they were being washed away."

"I killed the former His Majesty, too."

"What?"

Chills ran down Elise's body.

"You need to do that much to stay by Chase's side. Understand?"

Elise was so shocked she couldn't respond.

"Elise, take that poison and die gracefully. If you don't, Regina will be the one taking my poison today."

Elise's spine chilled. Regina was Elise's maid, the only person who stayed by her side during her nightmare-ridden nights.

"If you still don't take it, then Patricia will be next."

"Why Patricia? She's always talking behind my back!"

"Because she spoke to you."

Iris was truly malicious. Realizing what Iris intended, Elise's hair stood on end.

"Are you going to kill everyone I ever knew?"

"If you don't die."

Her declaration was like a spear, a sword, and a hammer to Elise.

It pierced, sliced, and hammered at Elise's hope until it shattered into pieces.

Elise bowed her head low.

"Bring Chase to me."

"You want to beg him? To maintain your honor as Lady Warton?"

Elise wanted to ask for Regina's safety but Iris left no room for negotiation.

Elise knew what she was about to do was contradictory and shameless.

How many people had she trampled for Chase?

Most of them begged Elise to please spare their remaining family.

She always tried to fulfill their requests, but there were many times she couldn't.

Now, after living such a life… was this her just deserts?

Elise murmured hollowly.

"Don't touch Regina."

"If I see your corpse tomorrow morning, Regina will live peacefully."

Iris smirked. The deal was made. She stood up.

The lingering scent of flowers where she left felt repulsive to Elise.

Elise sensed it.

Everything was over.

That night, the sound of nails scraping stone echoed throughout the night.

It was Elise drawing a magic circle on the floor.

Without proper tools, she used her nails to carve out the magic circle.

It was a magic circle for time reversal, regarded as absurd even in the Ivory Tower.

Elise had seen it in a children's book titled .

With a straw-clutching mindset, she drew the magic circle. Without her exceptional memory and stubbornness, it would have been impossible.

By the time she barely completed the magic circle, dawn was breaking.

All ten of Elise's fingernails were worn away.

Sitting in the middle of the blood-stained magic circle, Elise murmured vacantly.

"What good is drawing a magic circle… when there's no one to infuse mana into it?"

Elise chuckled bitterly.

No matter how intricately drawn, a magic circle is useless without a mage to activate it.

From the beginning, there was nothing she could do alone. She was born that way.

Elise picked up the bottle rolling on the floor with a sense of resignation.

Yes, let's die. Accept this as my punishment. And if there is a next life,

"I won't die alone, so look forward to it."

Chase, Iris.

Elise poured the poison down her throat in one go. Her body collapsed to the side limply.

That's when she caught a glimpse of a figure in her fading vision.

Isn't that Karan, the prince of Titris? Why is he here?

"…Elise! Elise!"

Why is he calling my name so desperately?

Elise tried to move her lips, but only faint breaths came out.

Sounds gradually faded away. Next, a blindingly white light enveloped her.

'I thought it would be darkness when dying,' Elise thought as she closed her eyes completely.

"I've found out where Lady Elise Warton has been taken."

Upon hearing those words, Karan immediately left his seat and headed into the streets.

Despite Harthbin's warning of the danger, he donned a disguise and made his way to the Bedroca underground dungeon.

He effortlessly cut down the Bedroca knights who stood in his way.

Unable to retaliate, the knights of Bedroca met their ends swiftly.

By the time he arrived at the dungeon, blood that was clearly not his own dripped from his sword.

"Elise will be surprised to see this."

Nonchalantly, he wiped his blade clean on the clothes of a dead Bedroca knight.

His expressionless face showed no human emotion.

However, upon entering the dungeon, he changed.

He let out a sigh. A whirlwind of emotions shook him.

This place did not suit Elise.

The damp moss, the musty smell, and the atmosphere hinting at a dark future.

"How did it come to this…"

Karan knew all about the efforts Elise made to put Chase on the throne.

Without her, a man as incompetent as Chase wouldn't have come anywhere near the throne.

She deserved glory, yet why was she in a dungeon?

"The scandal with His Highness was the biggest impact."

Recalling what Harthbin told him, Karan clenched his fist.

She was a woman he dared not even think of touching.

Just speaking to her was overwhelming, let alone responding properly.

And now a scandal?

Chase's dark intentions were so blatant that Karan's anger surged.

To calm his rage, Karan took a deep breath and opened the door leading to the dungeon.

Focus only on rescuing Elise now. Deal with everything else after saving her.

Karan moved freely even in the darkness.

Being accustomed to the dark was a characteristic of the Titrisians.

Those born with the strong bloodline of Titris could see in the dark as if it were bright daylight.

Karan considered this a blessing of the Titrisians.

But now, the blessing felt like a curse.

"Elise! Wake up!"

The sight of Elise sprawled on the floor was painfully striking.

Her half-closed eyes, the vivid streak of blood trickling from her lips, indicated her fading state.

"Why… How…"

Karan couldn't believe it. Just four days ago, she had spoken to him about the subjugation campaign.

She had a faint smile, exuding the scent he liked, asking for Titris's help. Now she lay lifelessly.

"You should have held on a little longer! Stayed as tough as you always have been."

Karan had harbored feelings for the woman known as Chase's viper for over 20 years.

The only person who respected him, a so-called barbarian, scorned by everyone.

At the annual continental exchange meetings, she was the only one who did not disregard the people of Titris.

She was the only person who actively sought to incorporate Titris's opinions in this subjugation campaign.

Karan felt sorry for her, not receiving the respect she deserved.

That's why Karan had subtly suggested to her.

"It would be nice if Titris had someone like Lady Elise."

Elise took Karan's suggestion as a simple compliment.

Elise did not even glance at Karan. Her straight eyes were on Chase.

Karan strived not to fall behind him.

Having harbored feelings for her, he needed an equal status to hers, to at least watch her from a distance and engage in conversation.

His efforts began to bear fruit. Soon, Karan was to become a crown prince.

And by distinguishing himself in the punitive expedition, he believed he would become a hero of the continent, and she would finally look back at him.

Filled with anticipation, he lost sleep.

But just when he was a step away from his goal, everything ended.

Karan gazed down at a bewildered Elise.

No sign of life emanated from her, who always stood erect.

"Elise, don't do this. Let's go to Titris, to Titris, okay?"

Despite his earnest plea, Elise did not move.

Karan realized after a long stare.

The underground dungeon was too shabby and cold for her to be in.

He should move her to a warmer place.

Karan slowly got up and drew his sword. The blue sword aura sliced through the air, cutting the iron bars that Elise, despite her efforts, couldn't budge.

With a few swings, the bars fell to the ground.

Though it made a loud noise, Karan didn't care.

If someone came to obstruct his path, he would simply cut them down with his sword.

Karan's eyes blazed with rage, directed at those who had done this to Elise.

His eyes were filled with murderous intent.

But first, he needed to move Elise to a safe place. Karan pulled her small body into his embrace.

"It's too cold here. I'll move you to a warm place soon. Just hang in there a little longer, Elise. I need some time to eliminate those who did this to you."

He spoke to her as if she were alive, lifting her up.

Then, Karan noticed a magic circle on the floor that he had never paid attention to before.

Alternating his gaze between the magic circle stained with blood and Elise's mangled hand, he suddenly realized something. He gently laid her down.

"There must be a reason you drew this magic circle. Even as you were dying, even though your hand became like this, there must be a reason."

Karan placed his palms on Elise's magic circle.

He took a deep breath.

Though he was someone who should never use magic, he activated the magic circle without hesitation.

Excruciating pain engulfed Karan, but he did not stop.

"Elise, in the next life, no matter what happens, I'll be by your side."

Even if you don't want me to.

I won't let those who did this to you stay beside you.

I'll stake everything on it.

Karan kept his promise and collapsed to the side.

The magic circle drawn by Elise glowed golden. A white light enveloped Karan and Elise.

It was the light of the regression circle, thought to never activate, considered a child's plaything.

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 30.

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