Episode 8
All three previous restarts had started in the same room as before, so Eleonore thought the restart point was fixed.
I already solved the issue with Katarina, and I planted doubt in Hekit’s mind. I even secured a guard. I can’t do any better than this at this point in time.
Eleonore quickly thought it through.
Then would it be better to save this moment?
Her eyes wavered.
But once again, she didn’t think about it for long.
Yes… I should do it. I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to save again.
Even if she saved now, the restart point would only move forward by a few hours, so it didn’t seem like a big loss.
Yes, yes! I’ll save it!
Ding.
[Save complete!]
[Save Point (1): First “Thank you”]
[Rehabilitation Rate: 1%]
Rehabilitation rate? Does that mean I have to fill it to 100% to finish?
Eleonore tilted her head in confusion, but the strange notification didn’t give any more information.
“Miss? Are you okay? Why are you staring at the air like that?”
“Huh? Oh… it’s nothing.”
Eleonore shook her head.
This is my weapon. I shouldn’t tell anyone about it, not even Becky.
She had no intention of sharing things like “rehabilitation” or “restart” with anyone.
“I’m tired today, so I want to rest alone.”
“Yes, Miss! What about dinner?”
“I don’t need dinner.”
Eleonore dismissed Becky with a simple excuse.
Even though Becky looked worried about her skipping dinner, she couldn’t disobey Eleonore’s order and left the room.
“Phew.”
Now alone, Eleonore leaned back against the headboard and let out a long sigh.
Even when she was alone, she didn’t lie down carelessly or relax her posture. It was a habit she had developed over time.
First, let me organize everything in my head.
Eleonore didn’t plan to write anything down or leave any records of what she knew.
When she lived under her uncle, she had almost no privacy.
First, this rehabilitation and restart… they aren’t things I can fully understand. So I’ll have to survive by adapting with the information I have.
Eleonore lightly bit the inside of her lip.
The only thing I can use is my knowledge of what will happen in the future.
Just like in her previous life, Katarina had tried to steal the sapphire.
So it was likely that most future events would also happen the same way she remembered.
But the more I change, the more the future will change too.
So what should she do exactly?
This question eventually led to another one: What should be her goal? What should she try to gain?
What I want is…
Suddenly Eleonore’s gaze moved toward the closed window.
She stood up and walked toward it.
When she opened the thick window shutters meant to block the cold, a chilling northern wind blew inside and scattered her black hair.
Eleonore slowly closed and opened her eyes.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could see the faint moonlight revealing the view of the Grand Duke’s castle.
The huge castle surrounded by cold stone walls naturally made people feel small.
Even though it was summer, half of the mountains visible from the castle were still covered with snow.
Places where sunlight didn’t reach were also white with snow.
I don’t want to live here. In such a cold and barren place.
The southern region where Eleonore grew up had warm weather all year.
She had grown up surrounded by beautiful scenery and flowers, so the harsh northern landscape felt unfamiliar.
The indifferent face of Walter appeared in her mind.
But that doesn’t mean I want to return to my uncle who treated me like livestock.
Now she remembered her uncle who abused her without hesitation.
Then where should I go?
Eleonore thought about it.
But the answer didn’t come easily.
I can’t get divorced right now. And even if I somehow divorce and run away to a remote place, my angry uncle would find me.
She had no one she could ask for help and no power she could rely on.
I… have nowhere to go. I’m completely alone.
That reality felt even colder than the northern wind.
Eleonore lowered her head.
Her hair slipped over her shoulders and blocked her vision.
“Then I…”
She murmured and slowly raised her head again.
In the purple eyes of the villainess who had once died, there was now a strong determination and desperate desire.
“Then I have no choice but to create it myself. My own power… and a place where I belong.”
Eleonore tightly gripped the window frame.
The icy cold feeling cleared her mind.
“I will divorce with my own strength, defeat my uncle, and then go somewhere peaceful and quiet where I won’t have to see those disgusting people again. I’ll live there alone.”
If Becky wanted… Becky could come along.
“Now then, let’s make a specific plan.”
Eleonore closed the window without hesitation, pulled the curtains, and returned to the bed.
With her eyes closed, she began carefully planning everything.
***
A day passed quickly.
After spending almost a day and a half making her future plans, Eleonore finally finished and let out a long sigh.
“Miss, I brought lunch.”
Knock knock.
Becky’s voice came from outside the door.
“You’ll eat this time, right?”
Her voice sounded full of worry.
During the time Eleonore was planning, she had eaten only very little.
“Yes, come in.”
“Oh my, are you finally going to eat properly?”
Becky happily placed the food in front of Eleonore, even though she wasn’t the one eating.
“And Head Butler Hekit assigned a knight for you.”
“Who?”
After setting the table, Becky reported the news, and Eleonore immediately asked.
My plans will change a lot depending on who becomes my guard.
She had spent so long planning because she had to consider every possible variable.
“It’s Sir Benjamin! He’s the one who has been guarding your door since yesterday.”
Benjamin. That wasn’t bad.
Actually, that’s even better. I hoped it would be Sir Benjamin or Sir Event. At least those two didn’t dislike me.
After thinking about it, Eleonore smiled lightly.
“Miss, since you’ve eaten lunch, how about taking a short walk? You haven’t left your room since yesterday.”
After finishing her report about Benjamin, Becky asked carefully.
She was clearly worried about Eleonore.
“Alright.”
Eleonore nodded without resistance.
Now that she knew the identity of the knight Hekit sent, it was time to start moving.
“Will you walk in the garden? Then I’ll prepare warm clothes!”
“Yes, we’ll walk in the garden… and I also want to go outside to the outer castle for a moment.”
“Huh? The outer castle?”
Becky’s face darkened when Eleonore suddenly said this.
“By outer castle… you mean the town, right?”
Becky asked carefully.
The Grand Duke’s castle of Pertitz was divided into two parts.
The inner castle, where the lord’s family, priests, and important people lived, and the outer castle, where the citizens of the duchy lived.
“Yes. Why? It’s not forbidden, right?”
“Well… it’s not forbidden, but…”
Becky trailed off.
It wasn’t forbidden, but for Eleonore—who hadn’t even had her wedding yet—to go to the outer castle would definitely attract attention.
I know. It’s not behavior suitable for the future Grand Duchess.
But Eleonore had a very important reason to go there.
I need to meet Walter before anyone else can interfere.
Today was the day Walter would return.
He will return in an unusual way, and people will only realize he’s back after he goes to the outer castle.
Walter would secretly return to handle an important matter and wouldn’t show himself for a while.
After finishing that task, he would leave the castle again without even seeing Eleonore.
This time, I’ll use that situation.
Eleonore tightly clenched both of her hands.
