Chapter 4
When she whispered, a voice began to echo from deep within her chest.
[Mmm… Don’t wake a sleeping artifact…]
“Nibelung, wake up. You sleepyhead.”
Cecile put a little more strength into her voice.
“We did it. We’ve gone back twenty years. So hurry up and wake up, you idiot.”
[—Gasp! What did you say? It really worked?!]
The voice named Nibelung gasped and awoke from slumber.
[Is it true, Cecile? Are we really twenty years in the past? I never thought it would actually work! This is an amazing feeling!]
“……”
[Then let’s begin at once! You haven’t forgotten, have you? Our world domination plan! The entire continent lies at our feet now!]
The voice belonged to her dark magic artifact, Nibelung.
Her rapid growth in dark magic wasn’t solely thanks to her natural affinity for mana and control—it was also heavily influenced by this artifact.
Nibelung was a ring imbued with condensed dark magical power. Before her regression, she had stumbled upon it while fleeing the imperial palace.
Had she not obtained it, she likely wouldn’t have survived outside the palace walls.
Yeah, I do owe a lot to Nibelung. But still…
Cecile curled her lips into a mocking smile.
“About that world domination plan.”
[Yes! When are we starting? Tomorrow? In an hour? Or right this moment?]
In the darkness, Cecile’s smile twisted, her teeth and eyes gleaming white.
“It’s all canceled.”
[…What?! A-Are you serious?!]
“Dead serious,” Cecile said sweetly.
“I’m no longer interested in conquering the world. Everything we planned back then? Canceled. Oh, and I don’t want to use your power anymore, either. I’d really appreciate it if you left my body. Can you do that?”
[H-How could you, Cecile?! This is betrayal! A betrayal of our ten years together!]
As Nibelung protested, Cecile’s smile grew colder.
“Betrayal? Don’t make me laugh. Who was it that made me suffer excruciating pain for ten years? Who manipulated me with hallucinations to commit atrocities?”
Thinking back, the searing pain in her chest, the splitting headaches from hallucinations—they all began after she acquired Nibelung.
Maybe it was due to the artifact’s magical influence. I never even suspected Nibelung was the cause before I regressed. But now that I’m free of its influence… it’s clear.
The pain, the hallucinations, the irrational obsession with the ring—it was all because of this cursed thing.
So Cecile didn’t care if they had been together for ten years. She didn’t see it fondly at all.
Though Nibelung had been making a fuss, it seemed even it was stunned into silence by her words.
[C-Cecile… I…]
“I don’t want excuses. Just answer the question. Can you leave my body or not?”
After a moment of hesitation, Nibelung answered in a meek voice.
[That’s… impossible. I’ve completely fused with your body. Don’t you remember? When you swallowed me so no one could take me away…]
After acquiring such a dangerous and powerful artifact, Cecile had been hunted for years.
The person who eventually killed her had done so to steal Nibelung from her.
But under the artifact’s influence, Cecile had become obsessively attached to it. In the moment before her death, she swallowed the ring to prevent it from being taken.
Nibelung wasn’t just a normal ring—once inside her stomach, it melted and fused with her body.
Judging from the flow of mana, it feels like it’s somewhere near my heart…
She couldn’t just cut herself open to get it out. And even if she did, there was no guarantee it would work.
I might be free from its influence for now, but unless I find the exact cause, there’s no guarantee it won’t return.
And she had no intention of living like that again.
That life… had been worse than death.
Her body constantly felt like it was burning. The pain made her hate everything around her. The hallucinations scrambled her judgment of right and wrong.
If Nibelung’s influence reaches me again, I’ll start committing atrocities and be killed for them—just like before. Nothing will have changed.
Knowing she could fall back into that nightmare at any moment made her deeply anxious.
Cecile stayed silent for a while. Seeing her like that, Nibelung cautiously spoke.
[Cecile, are you alright? Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.]
“……”
[I really am sorry for what happened before. I’ll be more careful from now on. Why don’t we reconsider removing me? We’re the best team, aren’t we?]
Cecile, who had been half-listening, suddenly muttered,
“It’s fine.”
[…! R-Really?! You’re so generous, Cecile. You truly are my best partner!]
“It’s fine. I might not have a way to remove you now… but I’ll start looking. I was the most powerful dark mage on the continent. There’s no way I can’t figure out how to remove a ring from my stomach.”
[So that’s what you meant by ‘it’s fine’…]
Ignoring Nibelung’s dejected tone, Cecile nodded. It was too early to give up. She was sure she’d find a way.
And I will free myself from Nibelung’s influence. This time, I’ll live a different life.
She was tired of living as a notorious dark mage—always on the run, always fighting.
Now, all Cecile wanted was peace.
A life without being hunted, without being tormented, without risking her life. A life where she could love and be loved.
A simple, happy life.
I have no intention of returning to world domination or repeating my past atrocities. Not just because it’s wrong, but… let’s be real—doing those things makes life too unstable. Not to mention the nightmares.
Cecile didn’t consider herself particularly moral or conscientious. Having lived as a dark mage, she had her limits.
Even if much of it was done while she was half out of her mind, she had spent ten years immersed in evil.
I won’t hesitate to do what’s necessary to achieve my goals—as long as it doesn’t leave too much of a mess or a bad aftertaste.
Cecile’s violet eyes glinted in the darkness.
I’m a dark mage. Even if time has been turned back, and all my crimes erased, I’ve still done unforgivable things. I don’t expect salvation. I just want to live in peace until I die.
Having reached her conclusion, Cecile let out a long yawn and stretched.
“Being up late in an eight-year-old’s body is exhausting. I’m going to bed.”
[Y-Yes! Good idea. You should sleep if you’re tired.]
She crawled into bed and snuggled under the blanket. The goose-down quilt was soft and smelled clean.
[Sweet dreams, Cecile.]
As soon as her head hit the pillow, Cecile fell into a deep, sweet sleep.
The first in a very, very long time.
✦✦✦
The next day, Duke Bartholomew instructed Anne to have clothes tailored for Cecile.
She had brought a few outfits and personal items from the palace, but they were all old and worn—and not many in number.
It wasn’t even enough to fill a single travel bag.
“It’s so wonderful the Duke is taking care of you like this, my lady,” Anne said cheerfully, as if it were her own good fortune.
“With such a generous budget, we could get your clothes made at the most famous children’s boutique in Eliza Street!”
Eliza Street was the capital’s most affluent district, filled with the finest boutiques and restaurants.
But to Anne’s surprise, Cecile shook her head.
“I’d rather go to Greenwich Street.”
“What? Greenwich?”
The tailors in Greenwich weren’t bad, but they certainly didn’t compare to those in Eliza.
“But my lady, the boutiques on Eliza Street are truly amazing. Once you see their dresses, I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”
Anne tried to persuade her again, but Cecile remained firm.
“I still prefer Greenwich. Let’s go there.”
Cecile had two reasons for avoiding the luxurious boutiques of Eliza Street.
At this point, it’s better not to give anyone a reason to criticize me. A freeloading child splurging on expensive things? That’s a perfect excuse to judge me. Who knows, maybe this is all a kind of test.
She still didn’t know how long she would be allowed to stay here.
Whether it was the Duke himself or one of his retainers, Cecile didn’t want to give them any reason to dislike her.
And… while this mansion isn’t bad, it’s still not comfortable enough for me.
Cecile looked around.
Anne was diligently cleaning wherever Cecile’s gaze landed, but thick dust still covered the furniture like rugs, and cobwebs hung between the shelves.
My goal is to live this second life as comfortably as possible. And for that, improving the environment of this household could help. Earning the Duke’s trust while I’m at it wouldn’t be bad either.
And the first step in her home improvement plan… lay in Greenwich Street.
