Chapter 01
It seems His Majesty has made a decision.”
“What do you mean?”
“About the successor to the throne of this kingdom! The birthday celebration today is so grand—His Majesty must surely be planning to appoint Princess Rellina as the heir to the throne!”
Today was the birthday of Rellina, the second princess of the Lavantra Kingdom, the continent’s reigning power.
Everywhere she looked, only splendid sights met her eyes, prompting the nobles who supported her to share hopeful predictions.
“And she’s exceptionally wise! At just twelve years old, she has mastered kingship, history, politics, mathematics, economics, administration, and even creativity—is she not the perfect genius of this era?”
“Exactly! I’ve taught many, but I’ve never seen anyone as brilliant as Princess Rellina!”
But those who looked unfavorably upon the birthday girl and her faction lit a spark.
“Hmph. Just because they threw a lavish birthday party, does that prove favor? Princess Shailyn is also sufficiently beloved by His Majesty, I believe.”
“That’s right! Princess Rellina hasn’t shown anything, has she? On the other hand, Princess Shailyn has more than enough qualities befitting the next monarch!”
“She has excelled in her studies of kingship, and she regularly accompanies His Majesty on inspections. Not only that—did His Majesty not appoint her to the position of royal代理 (acting monarch) as a sign of trust?”
The role of royal代理 was exactly what it sounded like—acting on behalf of the king to carry out state affairs.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was a position where heirs to the throne could experience their duties before ascending.
Since the king had indeed entrusted Princess Shailyn with such a heavy responsibility, the nobles of Princess Rellina’s faction could only gnash their teeth in frustration.
But they couldn’t back down.
They immediately launched a counterattack, and in no time, it escalated into a war of words.
They praised the princess they supported and attacked each other.
And then…
“I have no idea what they’re up to when no one’s even thinking about cutting the cake.”
One of the parties involved was watching the whole farce.
Shailyn Lavantra.
The first princess of the Lavantra Kingdom, and the very one caught up in the fray.
Leaning against a pillar at the edge of the banquet hall, Shailyn watched the argument unfold.
It was the best spot—shaded, so no one noticed her.
Though there was another reason the nobles didn’t recognize her.
Instead of her usual glamorous, revealing style, she had covered her entire body and pinned up her hair. To put it bluntly, with her sensual image (for a princess) toned down with light makeup, her appearance had completely changed.
“It’s intense, I suppose…”
The nobles’ power struggle was rather fierce, but Shailyn just found it amusing.
Her golden eyes watched the fight as if she were enjoying a grand orchestral performance.
After all, the future winner was already decided.
‘If I become king, this kingdom will fall.’
She knew from experience. During her time as queen, the Lavantra Kingdom had not only been in jeopardy—it had been destroyed.
Having returned to the past, Shailyn couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip away.
“I’m never becoming king again. My future dream is to be a bum, a bum.”
Back when she was a princess, she had desperately wanted the throne…
But the position—endless work from dawn till dusk, the immense pressure of deciding the kingdom’s every affair—was a glorious trap. It had been a clear mistake in Shailyn’s life, born from her craving for the dazzling light of the crown.
If only she had done well. But after decades of failure, Shailyn knew better than anyone that she urgently needed to place her younger sister on the throne.
Above all, she wanted the title of “bum.”
“Hmph. His Majesty’s intentions are perfectly clear, aren’t they? It’s Princess Shailyn. Why can’t you see that?”
“Is that so? When has His Majesty ever directly praised Princess Shailyn’s qualities?”
“…Hmm. I’m getting tired of this bickering.”
When should she step in?
They kept repeating the same things like a broken record; just listening was exhausting.
Sipping her champagne, Shailyn was waiting for her family to appear when—
“If Princess Shailyn were a proper role model, I wouldn’t object. But look at her usual attire. Isn’t it rather inappropriate for a royal? Anyone would think she’s a street…!”
“Do you realize that what you just said constitutes defamation of the royal family?”
A somewhat brusque child’s voice cut into their argument.
“P-Princess Rellina?!”
“How…?”
Unlike Shailyn, Rellina—dressed in a cute, adorable yellow gown to match her appearance—glared at the nobles.
“I’ve looked around this banquet hall, and you lot act more like children than I do. I don’t know why you’re so caught up in such childishness.”
Rellina’s gaze toward the nobles was filled with contempt.
To receive such a look from a mere twelve-year-old—and one they were championing for the throne—made their faces flush red.
Moreover, caught up in their verbal swordplay, they hadn’t realized that most of the banquet hall was now whispering and watching them.
Having so thoroughly sunk her own faction, Rellina shook her head and continued.
“And when did I ever say I was aiming for the throne?”
“Huh?”
‘…Huh?’
A strange instinct made the back of Shailyn’s neck tingle. Without thinking, she rushed out.
No. Absolutely not. In this life, she would never, ever be queen…!
“I have no intention of that. Rather, my sister is—”
“There you are, Rellina.”
Shailyn covered her little sister’s mouth and smiled broadly, her lips curving wide. Her long-honed skill at controlling her expressions was on full display today.
“Mmgh?”
Rellina’s voice was muffled.
Realizing her mistake, Shailyn quickly withdrew her hand and smiled at her sister. Lowering herself to eye level, she gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear with her finger, like a mother tending to her daughter.
Rellina’s eyes sparkled. The child was delighted by her sister’s appearance. Her voice naturally filled with affection.
“When did you get here, Sister? I didn’t see you.”
“I’ve been here for a while. I wanted to surprise you, Rellina.”
“Aww, you didn’t have to.”
Even so, Rellina beamed. Her face bloomed like a flower, the pure smile of a child her age.
And that was precisely why Shailyn had to make her sister queen.
“S-Save me…”
“Ah, Rellina. For me to get what I want, you have to die.”
Because that was the only way Shailyn—who, consumed by curses and brainwashing, had taken her younger sister’s life—could atone.
To turn back time.
Shailyn had thought that was an impossible wish.
It was nothing more than a confession she had uttered at the moment of death, full of regret.
‘…But this is far too vivid for a mere flashback.’
The sight of her princess-era room, the way people treated her… It felt more real than a dream. Unreal thoughts crossed her mind.
Perhaps, just before dying, her wish for regression had come true.
And then…
Without even noticing what she was wearing, Shailyn began running down the hallway.
“Oh my, Princess! Where are you going—!”
“At least change out of your nightgown!”
People shouted from both sides, but she didn’t hear them. She was too busy running toward her destination.
‘If it’s this time, they’ll still be alive.’
The family she hadn’t seen in so long.
Memories of sleepless nights spent weeping with longing surfaced, and she bit her lip.
She had to hope.
Yes, surely they were still alive and breathing.
Shailyn headed to the dining hall. She recalled from memory that this was around the time her family gathered for meals.
“So, Father, this time…”
“My, what a clever daughter. Our kingdom is blessed!”
“Everyone who speaks of her lately sings her praises…”
From inside, voices as sweet as birdsong drifted out. Shailyn flung the dining hall door open.
Three startled pairs of eyes turned to her.
Silence fell.
It made sense—after her biological mother passed away, she had tended to avoid family gatherings.
“…”
Step by step, she walked inside.
The fragrant perfume that always lingered on her stepmother, the scent of ink that clung to her father, the floral aroma that perpetually surrounded Rellina.
It wasn’t a dream. Shailyn approached where Rellina was sitting. She knelt down.
Golden eyes, identical to her own, shone with surprise.
Before she knew it, Shailyn was crying. In an instant, her tears soaked Rellina’s dress.
“S-Shai!”
“Are you alright?”
The king and queen rose in alarm. They sat on either side of her, restless, then patted her back, trying to calm her.
But as if that were the trigger, Shailyn burst into loud, childish sobs.
A moment later, face red, she lifted her head.
She composed her expression. Cleared her throat. Her voice still trembled slightly.
Then, looking at her family, she declared firmly:
“Father!”
“Yes?”
“I’m not becoming queen. I won’t do it!”
“…What?”
“I don’t want to. My dream is to be a bum—a bum! As a royal, my dream is to do nothing and live off the land!”
Now she intended to live lazier than anyone else, parasitizing off her younger sister.
It was the moment the former tyrant, in this life, resolved to become a sycophantic idler.
