Episode 28

【Unpredictable Heart】

I subtly glanced at the Crown Prince opposite me.

‘This man is the same.’

Even the Crown Prince, who was nothing more than a self-centered playboy, turned a blind eye to the Duke’s family’s treason once he was smitten with Aria.

‘…He cared so much for Aria that he didn’t even care about his own safety or the imperial family.’

As I thought about this, the Crown Prince suddenly turned his gaze towards me.

‘What is it?’

I raised my eyebrows slightly. The Crown Prince looked back and forth between Aria and Chris, who were disappearing into the distance.

Eventually, his lips twisted into a smile as he spoke.

“It seems I’m an unwelcome guest here, Duke Reinhardt.”

“That could never be the case!”

The Duke, who was startled as if burned, bowed his head to the Crown Prince.

‘I should feel happy seeing the Duke like this.’

But this wasn’t the situation to feel that way. I was also concerned about Aria and Chris.

“Aria, greet him properly.”

“Oh, hello. Who might you be…?”

“…This is His Highness, Crown Prince Albert Alathes, the little sun of the Empire.”

“Ah!”

Aria stood up and bowed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you!”

In truth, it was understandable that Aria didn’t know. The two of them were supposed to meet for the first time at the banquet, which was ruined by my poisoning incident.

‘In a way, it’s because of me.’

As I was thinking this, Aria continued in her canary-like voice.

“It’s truly an honor to meet you!”

Aria lifted her head and smiled brightly, even before the Crown Prince allowed it.

Though it was close to being disrespectful to the royal family…

When Aria did it, it merely seemed like an innocent display of a pure young lady. Her smiling face shone brightly.

The Crown Prince, seeing this, said,

“Of course, you’re forgiven.”

He smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.

Just as I expected.

‘This man will soon start clinging to Aria too.’

Since he’s the original male lead, it felt all the more inevitable. Seeing his smile doubled my ominous feeling.

I recalled the smile Chris had shown Aria earlier.

‘Aria received everyone’s love.’

Even passing extras couldn’t help but greet her kindly.

There were people who hated her, but they generally faced severe retribution.

‘…Just like I did.’

Plot force.

I recalled reading various web novels back in Korea. Every story had some degree of plot force.

The irresistible power that attracts people and drives the plot forward for a smooth storyline.

If such a force existed in this world, it would undoubtedly be Aria.

‘If I were to fall under such a power, it would have been better if the Crown Prince had met Aria first.’

In that case, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have allowed any other man to approach Aria. He’s a man with a strong sense of possession.

The problem is, Chris met Aria first instead of the Crown Prince.

‘If by any chance, Chris falls in love with Aria…’

While I was lost in thought, the Crown Prince spoke again. His gaze had returned to me.

“Is this young lady going to join us for tea as well?”

It was a purely formal question. With Aria in front of him, he wouldn’t have the leisure to look at another woman.

However, it seemed the Duke didn’t take it that way.

“No, Your Highness. I wouldn’t let my inadequate daughter waste your time.”

“There’s no need to say it will be wasted.”

The Crown Prince smiled, but then I received a stern order from the Duke.

“Mindia, go to your room immediately.”

The Duke glared at me with his eyes.

“Have a pleasant time.”

Feeling secretly relieved, I lightly bowed and exited the scene.

I had no interest in whatever was going to happen there. I felt my mind going blank for the first time in a long while.

“Wait…”

I heard something from behind, but I ignored it. My mind was filled with the unreadable expression on Chris’s back.

‘If Chris falls in love with Aria…’

If that really happened…

…I suddenly felt dizzy.

‘I have no choice but to persuade him, or start over again.’

It’s extreme, but there’s no other way. Meanwhile, dozens of ways I could die flashed through my mind.

“My Lady.”

Marie hurriedly caught up with me and whispered in a panicked voice.

“My Lady, what’s wrong?”

“…How did you meet Aria?”

“We found Lady Aria crying on our way… Oh.”

Marie whispered in a suggestive tone, as if understanding.

“Are you perhaps jealous…?”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

I wished it were just simple jealousy.

‘If only it were.’

Marie flinched momentarily, then carefully studied my face before whispering.

“My Lady, Lady Aria is the ‘real’ Reinhardt.”

“So what?”

I thought she was comparing me to the fake, but Marie continued with a different point.

“So His Grace won’t give his heart to her.”

‘…That’s something you can say because you don’t know about the plot force.’

I couldn’t bring myself to say that.

“Sorry. I’m tired today and want to rest.”

Thunk.

I closed the door in front of Marie. My hand was trembling. My head started to ache.

‘Should I start over?’

In a situation where Chris doesn’t meet Aria. Where I let him take the poison.

Then, I remembered the knife I used to open letters.

I frantically searched the place where I usually hid things. Under the third tile from the left on the floor.

When I pulled out the box and took out the knife, I pointed it at my neck.

Clang.

Something fell with a sharp sound.

“……”

It was the necklace Chris had given me as a gift.

“Ha.”

I sat down and held the necklace in my hand, feeling oddly warm. My hand had grown so cold that even the lukewarm metal felt warm.

The necklace, upon closer inspection, seemed like a lemon color, or maybe honey. The gem was so clear that I could see a faint reflection of my face in it.

“……”

I was startled to see my reflection. I looked almost sickly pale.

Knock, knock.

A cautious knock came from the door. I didn’t respond.

“My Lady.”

Marie’s voice was faint.

“His Grace probably couldn’t just walk past a woman who was crying.”

‘Of course not.’

He may appear cold, but deep down, he’s a soft-hearted person. I knew that much from our conversations in the prison.

Even knowing I was the Reinhardt lady, even knowing that because of me, he unjustly suffered hardships… he accepted me as someone in a similar situation.

Thinking about that made me feel nauseous.

The thought of letting Chris take the poison…

‘I could never do that.’

No matter the situation, I couldn’t let him get hurt.

‘I would take the poison again, just like before.’

It would be a repeated scenario.

“Don’t be too upset. …I’ll leave dinner at your door.”

I heard Marie leaving. Thanks to her, my rationality returned a bit.

‘Think logically.’

I can’t keep dying and resetting over trivial matters.

If I’m going to die anyway, I should endure as long as possible, gather all the possible outcomes, and then die.

That way, I can prevent it next time.

‘…What if Chris falls in love with Aria in the next round too?’

The thought made me flinch.

If that happened, nothing I did would matter. I would have to give up on Chris and find another route.

‘Then it’s even more meaningless to die now.’

Unless something catastrophic happened that couldn’t be reversed.

Thinking about it separately, my head felt hot.

I collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly exhausted. Chris’s unreadable eyes kept floating in my mind. His kind greeting to Aria too.

…Just like how he had been to me in prison.

* * *

I dreamed again. A familiar prison dream.

The difference this time…

‘Are you there?’

‘Is anyone there?’

‘Please…’

I was alone in the prison.

I remembered.

The night Chris was executed.

In the long silence and waiting, I awaited death too.

I wanted to die. I didn’t want to die.

I wanted to live. I didn’t want to live.

I just wished you were here. I didn’t want to be alone.

When I clenched my bound hands as hard as I could, someone pressed a cloth to my face. It was too rough and plain to be called a handkerchief.

‘Take care of your health.’

I looked up. Familiar deep eyes were there.

‘I think I told you.’

As I barely moved my lips to speak.

The rough cloth turned into the softest silk, covering my mouth.

The deep eyes shifted to a cold blue. Chris’s seemingly indifferent face cruelly transformed into the Crown Prince’s.

‘……!’

I felt a strong grip on my jaw, holding it in place so I couldn’t even turn my head.

‘Did you really believe?’

A familiar mocking voice echoed.

‘Did you believe it would work out this time?’

The Crown Prince tightened his grip on my jaw, making it impossible for me to move.

‘Gasp.’

‘Confess quickly.’

‘……’

‘Whatever you did, or didn’t do.’

I blinked slowly. The Crown Prince laughed and turned his body slightly.

I saw two people behind him.

…Chris and Aria, walking together and chatting warmly.

‘If it’s going to end like this anyway, confess everything.’

‘……’

‘For Aria’s sake.’

His whisper was chilling. The Crown Prince reached towards my fingers.

I was curious how long this pain would last this time.