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The lady who has gone back in time, will not grant you forgiveness!
I, Luluna Bosric, the daughter of the Duke, have been betrothed since the age of 7. As my 18th birthday approaches, we were discussing the marriage with my fiancé, Countess Casaro Crispy, who is two years older than me. Today, during the tea party, he was supposed to discuss the wedding arrangements, but he seemed absent-minded and unable to talk about it. However, I am not in a rush because I understand the reason behind his behavior.
This engagement was decided 11 years ago when my childish self, attending a tea party at the Duke's family, developed a fondness for Kasaro, the eldest child of the Earl. Father Balol showed kindness to me as the only daughter, and in exchange for the Duke's support, the engagement was arranged. At that time, Kasaro was expressing his dislike for it, as he had a childhood friend, Meili Lauritte, the daughter of a Baron.
However, both families were facing financial ruin. When they received the engagement proposal and support from the Duke's family, Kasaro's parents, delighted by the prospect, accepted the engagement due to their desire for wealth.
"Casaro, Lady Lilina is in love with you. Make good use of it."
"I understand."
Following his parents' advice, he took advantage of my feelings for him.
"Thank you, Lily."
"I love you."
"You are my lovely princess."
Before rewinding, I was captivated by Kasaro's words, and I happily bought various things for him as he suggested and gave them to him. The demand gradually increased. However, I failed to realize that I was falling in love because I would eventually marry him. I even transferred the ownership of lands and a villa bestowed upon me by my father to him.
"I'm happy. Thank you, Lili."
"It's alright since it belongs to both of us."
Thanks to my foolishness, both the Earl and Baron families became wealthy. Though on a small scale, they even acquired their own territories. Time passed, and Meili and Kasaro reached the age of marriage. The topic of marrying me arose, but it became an obstacle for the two of them who now had money.
However, despite their desire to break off the engagement, they couldn't refuse due to the Duke's high status. I thought it would be advantageous to marry into the Duke's household and eventually inherit it. Meili didn't want me to marry her beloved Kasaro.
"Casaro will only marry me."
"Even I want that, but... I can't dissolve the engagement."
"That's right, if you can't break off the engagement with her, then you should just kill her."
It was a naïve idea. However, Meili's suggestion seemed appealing to the desperate couple. During our monthly tea party, it was decided that Meili would make me consume poisoned cookies.
On that fateful day, I consumed the tea sweets cookies brought by Kasaro. The consequences were severe as I vomited blood and suffered a painful death. My father, Balor, became furious and apprehended Kasaro, who was present, subjecting him to interrogation. Without delay, my father filed a lawsuit against the confectionery store for producing poisoned cookies. Naturally, the innocent store owner must have denied any involvement. However, given the authority of a grieving father who lost his only daughter, the owner would likely face imprisonment or, in the worst-case scenario, the death penalty.
Interestingly, the unsuspecting owner of the confectionery shop caught up in this situation happened to be Chasha's shop. Chasha was the younger sister of the country's most renowned wizard, Lauren. (I had requested Lauren to show me the moments leading up to my death, as I desired to understand their plan to kill me.) Unfortunately, I had been oblivious to the scheme due to being consumed by love. It was the same day we were discussing our wedding, and I naively delighted in the cookies brought by my beloved.
However, when I regained consciousness next, I found myself back in my bedroom, lying in my bed. I was puzzled, thinking, "Wait, shouldn't I have died in agonizing pain by now?" As I glanced at the nearby mirror, I was taken aback to see that I had been transformed into a child. It became clear—I had been sent back to when I was seven years old.
Why was I sent back? It would have been ideal if I could have been engaged to Kasaro again, but I was already committed to him. The necessary contractual and engagement documents had already been submitted to the royal family. Breaking off an engagement for an aristocrat is a difficult task that requires providing reasons and petitioning the royal family. Once an engagement is established, it becomes arduous to nullify it. However, there is one exception that facilitates an easy annulment—when one of the engaged parties dies.
Kasaro and Meili were aware that they couldn't independently dissolve the engagement with me, so their plan was to expedite their marriage... by killing me. Revenge immediately surfaced in my mind as I regained my memories.
I resolved to boldly consume the poisoned cookie, surprising them and catching them in the act. As a child, I initiated a resistance to poison, ensuring my parents wouldn't suspect anything. Perhaps this engagement had been imposed upon me, and though it may be my fault for tearing apart two people who loved me, I will not forgive them for wrongfully blaming an innocent confectionery store.
During our monthly tea party, Kasaro sat across from me, appearing disinterested, while the maid poured tea into his cup.
"I've prepared the tea that Kasaro likes."
"Yes, thank you."
Before rewinding... it was always me who initiated conversations. Being in love, Kasaro responded with only a few words like "Ah" or "I see."
"Meili, today is another wonderful day."
"Kasaro is wonderful too. Let's meet at our usual spot when we're done."
The two of them seemed to communicate telepathically.
As expected of Kasaro, who possessed magical abilities. However, I had been striving to catch up. That's why at this moment, I could hear their conversation and understand what they were discussing.
"Ugh... I hope this boring tea party ends soon. I want to be alone with Meili as soon as possible."
"Kasaro, don't be impatient. Let's skillfully kill her and take her money."
"I don't want to marry such a foolish woman. But... even when I told her what I wanted, she only provided the bare minimum."
"Isn't she stingy? Well, when she collapses in pain, I'll take advantage of the confusion and steal jewels and gold from her room. So, wait for me."
"My dear Meili."
"Fufu, dear Kasaro."
I was the one who tore apart the two lovers. However, it was unnecessary to blame and kill an innocent person. Well, this time, I won't die.
"Dokakuro grass... it tastes terrible. Mikal grass... bitter..."
At the age of 10, after becoming accustomed to various poisons, I moved on to the next plan. I wrote a letter to Lauren Select, the country's top wizard and a reclusive stranger, and arranged to meet him.
"Lauren-sama, this may sound strange, but what if I told you that I can go back in time?"
I, a 10-year-old girl speaking in a mature manner, presented an unusual proposition to Lauren. Initially, he didn't believe me, but a month later, he contacted me, saying, "I want to see you."
"Lady Lilina, what you said was true. I want to assist my sister, so I am willing to cooperate."
After our tea party, he mentioned that he had observed me before using magic to rewind time. Being able to perform such an act showcased his skills as the country's top magician.
He continued, expressing his dislike.
"You possess magical power that rivals mine... but when you fall in love, even with your abilities, you become powerless."
I couldn't deny his statement because it was true.
"Perhaps that's true. Typically, noble daughters don't learn magic, let alone use it. Moreover, the story you just heard occurred before the rewind. I'm not in love with him anymore."
"Hey, you were so infatuated with him before, but now you're no longer in love? Hehe... There's also the matter of my sister, but you're an intriguing woman."
He found Lulu to be an intriguing woman and decided to provide her with magical training. Thanks to Lauren's help, she could now even hear the telepathic conversations between Kasaro and Meili.
"Now then, shall we conclude this tea party?"
"...Casero-sama, have you read the book I gave you earlier?"
"A book? Oh, yes, it was a very good book."
What a liar! He sold it as soon as he received it. Before the rewind and this time, he converted all the gifts I gave him into money and bought presents for both families' parents and Meili, didn't he?
Before going back, I spent my own money, bought expensive things if they desired, and gave them excessive encouragement. It made me happy for a moment, but the items I gave were quickly sold and became a source of support for the Baron and Earl families. This time, I'm only providing them with the bare minimum. Neither the Earl family of Kasaro nor the Baron family of Meili have become wealthy, and their debts keep mounting as they remain poor.
If I were keeping an eye on him to see when he would awaken... it seems he planned to kill me during today's tea party, steal my money, and escape the country.
"Hurry up and make her eat the cookies."
"I understand."
"Lulu, this cookie is from a famous shop in town. You love sweets, right? Give it a try."
"Yes, I'll eat it."
In reality, it's not from that store... it's Meili's homemade poison cookie. He thinks I'm confined to the mansion and unaware of the truth. Well, I didn't know that before going back.
At the moment, I'm consuming numerous cookies from the confectionery store that I obtained from Lauren's younger sister, Chasha. The cookies she bakes don't look that bad.
"Eat quickly."
"Eat and die."
How frightening. It's quite bothersome, so I'll eat it as they expect.
"It looks delicious, I'll have one."
I took one of the cookies given to me by Kasaro and consumed it. Fufu, please don't gaze at me with such hopeful eyes.
Does this type of poison no longer affect me? But I'll still act...
"Uh, uh, cough... huh, huh."
I pretended to be in pain and vomited blood... or rather, even if I claim to have some resistance to poison, poison is still poison, so vomiting blood is inevitable.
"Lulu? What's wrong? Someone, please come!"
"Meili, hurry!"
I won't let you escape. This charade ends here.
Upon hearing Kasaro's voice, the duke's knights hurriedly approached. As soon as I caught sight of them, I ceased pretending to be in pain, stood up, and burst into laughter.
"Oh, it tastes awful... it's like Dokuroku grass, Syneroku grass, and Mikal grass... Could it be? They're all poisonous weeds."
Even though I consumed the poisoned cookies, I calmly stood up, forgetting to speak through telepathy, and exclaimed aloud.
"Huh? Why isn't the poison working? Meili, did you mix it incorrectly?"
"I didn't make a mistake! I mixed it properly!"
Oh my, they inadvertently revealed themselves before I even had to pursue it... What a pair of foolish individuals.
"Wait! I would never do such a thing to my beloved fiancé! It was this woman who did it!"
"Eh, Kasaro? What are you talking about? You were the one who told me to kill him first!"
The two began arguing and were apprehended by a knight, engaging in a verbally abusive altercation. It was a repulsive fight that was unbearable to witness.
"Which one of you used the poison? Does it even matter? Father, please administer the appropriate punishment."
Prior to the tea party today, I had informed Father Balor that something would happen during the event. Father nodded skeptically and observed the tea party.
――You must have been greatly surprised to see me vomiting blood.
I hurried to the garden, glared at the two, and raised my voice.
"Kasaro, what have you done... Throw these individuals into the dungeon! Send an investigator to their homes immediately!"
"I understand!"
"You have an investigator at your home?... Wait a moment. Kasaro? You like me, don't you? Help me."
Kasaro pleaded with a pitiful voice, as if clinging to me. I don't know how I would have responded before the rewind, but... nothing reaches me now.
"Why should I help you? You tried to kill me, and I don't appreciate you scheming behind my back."
"Huh?"
"I have recorded all of your telepathic conversations on this pendant."
"W-Why, Lulu? Can you hear our telepathy?"
"Fufu, it's quite simple. Could it be because I possess more magical power than you and I'm a stronger magician? It's regrettable that I was forced into this engagement."
"The previous Lily?"
I removed the "Necklace-type magical tool" that I borrowed from Lauren and handed it to my father, saying, "This will serve as evidence."
"Luluna!!"
With this, they cannot escape, and the Earl and Baron, who are secretly involved, will not be able to evade justice.
"Father, I'm tired, so please excuse me."
"Oh, get some rest."
I looked down at the two disappointed and humiliated figures and smiled. I left the garden, returned to my bedroom, and collapsed onto the bed.
"Ha, ha... I'm exhausted. My body feels heavy, and I'm burning up... Perhaps I have a fever. After all, allowing a body without any resistance to poison to become accustomed to it... If it's like this, I should have prepared an antidote."
I took a deep breath.
"Well, it's all over now... If only I could sleep peacefully for a few days. The poison should dissipate..."
[Are you foolish? Healing is so simple!]
[Big sister Luluna, that's right.]
When I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, a magic formation appeared in my room. From within it, a disgruntled Lauren and his astonished sister emerged.
"...Lauren-sama, Chasha-sama."
"Truly, you only worry about me."
"Calm down, brother! Hurry, I need to make Luluna-oneesama drink the antidote."
"That's correct... No, if you ask me to 'come,' will you drink it?"
"Well, that's a shame. Brother, I believe it's still too early. You must wait a little longer before capturing one-sama's heart..."
"What?"
He may have a pleasant face, but he's unfriendly, displays an arrogant demeanor, and uses offensive language. You should be kind! That's what Chasha tells her brother, Lauren.
The two siblings cease their argument and exchange smiles.
"Really? Will Luluna bec
ome my wife?"
"Truly? Onee-sama Luluna, you're going to be my brother's wife!"
Oh, huh? I was initially meant to be Lauren's apprentice. Well, would it be acceptable if I became his wife? I smiled at them and nodded.
"The End"
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