Chapter 5
I had heard that Leandros’s birthday parties in past lives were always a mess.
Even though he had already declared his intention to devote himself to the temple, the royal family had gone ahead and hosted a banquet in his name without consulting him. For someone who wanted nothing to do with power, this banquet was extremely displeasing.
Later, I heard from a cardinal I had contact with that there had been some agreement between the royal family and the temple, and that Leandros had been forced to attend.
‘They agreed to give donations to the temple in exchange for his participation, didn’t they?’
Since it was done without considering Leandros’s opinion, it made sense that he behaved that way.
“My, some things never change, do they?”
As if someone’s whispered comment had started the rumor, people began speaking about Leandros.
“Perhaps because he carries royal blood, his beauty remains unchanged.”
“Then what of it? He insists he’s not part of the royal family, as if to make that clear.”
“Wouldn’t the temple, crumbling as it is, be pleased? A noble bloodline is choosing the temple itself to revive it.”
“I wonder if he’s even interested in temple revival. I heard he just follows temple activities without taking part in anything special.”
Their words were subtly directed toward me.
“If it weren’t for the royal family, he would have gone somewhere far more interesting than this boring party.”
The guests holding wine glasses, tended by the roaming attendants, laughed coquettishly at their own remarks.
Even while listening to them, my eyes remained fixed on one place.
Leandros, unable to refuse the wine offered to him, was holding a glass as well.
“I don’t know why Your Highness is so angry, but as a friend from the academy, I want to offer some comfort. Of course, congratulations too.”
When I said I would leave the area, everyone looked at me and smiled awkwardly.
“My, how kind you are.”
Though they said this, everyone likely thought I was trying to stir trouble, as always.
“Well then, everyone, enjoy the rest of the time here.”
After they obediently responded to my words, I turned away.
Opening the terrace doors, I saw a visitor. The person who had been enjoying the blue moon sensed my presence and slowly turned his head.
A familiar, cool scent brushed past my nose, carried by the early summer night breeze.
At the same time, the last image I had tried to erase from my memory came to mind.
A horrendous death, blood, and the eyes we had met for a fleeting moment.
It felt like my breath was stuck in my throat.
“Miss Aperdita?”
But all of that seemed like an illusion, as a pleasant voice awakened my senses.
“Why are you here…?”
Meeting those wide, startled eyes, the horrific memory of blood vanished, and I instinctively breathed freely.
Unlike my last memory, the radiant Leandros approached swiftly, checking if I was okay.
It was then that I truly realized I was alive in the present.
‘What a fool.’
I quickly composed myself and smiled brightly.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness. Or should I call you Sir Leandros?”
“What brings you here?”
“Of course, I came to celebrate Your Highness’s birthday.”
“You? My birthday?”
Despite his confused expression, I smiled.
“Is that strange?”
“To be honest, yes. We aren’t in a position to celebrate each other’s birthdays, are we?”
“You’re still honest, aren’t you? That’s right. Until yesterday, that was true.”
Leandros fell silent for a moment, perhaps unsure of what I meant, so I quietly waited.
“It seems you came because you wanted to tell me something. Am I right?”
“Correct.”
I clapped my hands to affirm him. His reaction wasn’t great, but it didn’t matter; the shocking stories to come would naturally get the response I wanted.
“I came to share a secret with Your Highness.”
Closing the terrace doors, I whispered softly.
“A secret? With me?”
Despite his still-distrustful face, I continued.
“Yes. It’s an important secret that must be told only to Your Highness.”
Pretending to hesitate, I finally said,
“Your Highness, I’m currently experiencing a regression.”
“Regression?”
“Yes. Every time I turn twenty, I die suddenly, for any reason, and return to my eighteenth birthday.”
Anyone in my position would be curious.
Why reveal this regression at all?
Even if I had to save Leandros, we were in a neutral relationship, and revealing that my life was tied to his would be like exposing a weakness.
I could answer confidently about this.
Having clashed with Leandros often, I knew him well.
“I see. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to help, so let’s pretend I didn’t hear it.”
Leandros knew me too well to doubt that I would not lie about something like this.
‘He’ll think it’s a prank or mischief.’
There was only one way to move such an upright man.
“Even though every time Your Highness dies, I die and repeat the regression?”
I would use his sense of responsibility against him.
Leandros did not react immediately. I wondered what he was thinking with that serious expression.
“That’s a mischievous joke.”
“Oh? You don’t believe me?”
“Yes. I have no reason to trust you. If my mood was spoiled by this birthday party, I apologize. But please, don’t play such a prank on anyone else… or better yet, don’t do it at all.”
Even his polite speech made me silently laugh.
Apparently, he thought my actions were simple mischief caused by whim.
‘As always.’
In moments like this, it was clear Leandros was human like everyone else.
“You knew it was my birthday? How delightful.”
He lifted the corners of his mouth gently, but perhaps because his eyes didn’t smile,
“Suspicious expression.”
“Huh?”
“You always made this face when you had some hidden agenda.”
He called me out directly.
“Hmm. Shall we continue then?”
It was indeed better to speak bluntly than to soothe him unnecessarily.
I placed the wine glass I had brought on the railing and picked up the ornate glass offered to the birthday guest.
“What are you doing?”
“I told you that every time you die, I die too, right? So I won’t die until you die.”
“An unamusing joke.”
When the joke didn’t end, his face twisted as if I were insulting him.
Even that expression was divine—could such a person truly be blessed by the gods?
Perhaps I felt a bit irritated and twisted inside because I am naturally a wicked person.
“As I said, only if you die will I die and start the regression again.”
I lightly shook the wine glass and raised it.
“In other words, as long as you are alive, I cannot die. Shall we test it?”
“What are you saying…?”
Before he could finish, I made a clinking motion in midair.
“Cheers.”
Then I immediately drank the wine.
The liquid went down my throat, and a burning pain followed.
Soon after, I vomited a crimson liquid.
“Miss Aperdita?”
As the other liquid flowed out, different from wine, he froze in place.
The sharp, unpleasant smell was unlike any alcohol.
Once he noticed that the crimson liquid staining my blue dress was not wine, he quickly approached.
“My lady?”
Despite clutching my throat and coughing from the pain, I looked at him and smiled.
Tears welled naturally in my eyes, blurring my vision, yet I could clearly see his pained expression.
“Grace!”
I didn’t understand why he looked that way when I was the one in pain.
I watched him, who had discarded all formalities, and slowly closed my eyes. Darkness followed.
Thrown into a burning agony, gasping as if I might collapse, and engulfed in a black void that allowed no sight ahead.
[Foolishness.]
My unconscious self, cast in the midst of a negative collective, clung to the unfamiliar voice as if it were a lifeline, and soon my eyes opened.
