The First Prince

The carriage journey seems to be serene the entire time. It is tranquil and soothing. This event filled my first existence to the brim. It is peaceful, but such tragedy occurred.

The noble ladies desire to be relaxed. They incorporated luxury into their title. Despite having experienced a fair amount in the past, I don't want to repeat the same mistake. When I consider the silly things I've done, my eyes narrow.

Later, I sigh.

I look out the window and recognize the location immediately. Even after I did everything I could for that person, the area remains unchanged.

The horseman led me to the front of a sizable residence as the carriage came to a stop.

The imperial family never runs out of popularity with the populace, much like a powerful monarch. As the servant lets go of my hand, I grinned at him. The smiling imperial servants there grin back at me and direct me to his highness, Prince Casper.

But before I can put my feet on the door's threshold, my carriage has already departed the imperial residence when I turn to look at it. Good. As I had anticipated.

The maidservants are abruptly interrupted by a tall man with nicely coiffed raven hair and a single-lens eyeglass. "Lady Isabella, this way please," he says. He wears a uniform that is unique among servants. He appears to be young. I never saw this man during the period I was able to reside in this home. I briefly narrow my eyes before nodding and grasping his extended hand.

Crimson recollections keep eluding my memory as we move down the deserted hallways. Their surfaces are covered in the dead bodies of servants.

I slap my forehead.

"Lady Isabella, is there a problem?" I give the young servant a smile and tighten my hold on his hand.

"Sir, there's no need for concern. I only seem to remember having a really awful nightmare last night,” I assure the young butler. He didn't appear to buy my explanation, though.

He gives me a serious look. His eyes continue to close while mine open wider. Then, all of a sudden, I hear him sigh. I tried to think of this young man from my past, but I couldn't think of anyone with his face.

Is he a new servant that I didn't know about before? Or perhaps he passed away before I ever met him in the past? Maybe I wouldn't have been able to meet this stunning servant if I hadn't made the decision to write the crown prince a letter.

"...Milady," his form catches my attention before my hand. My brows furrow in an instant. This is what? I don't understand what he has said.

The young butler guided by hand in closing it, and I can feel that it's a small pillow that a hand can hold, saying, "Just don't forget to always press this, if you ever feel lonely, or depressed, or you tend to overthink things, and perhaps dream of a nightmare, I hope it will help you ease the shock or pain somehow."

The fact that it is pink is just amusing. I've never seen a servant guy hold a pink-colored object unless their bosses gave it to them, gave them the command to do so, or paid for the item. The noblemen I am aware of have this trait as well.

I was unable to contain my laughter. Holding the tiny pillow, I chuckle for a whole minute before realizing that the young butler has been staring at me for some time.

I raise both of my eyebrows while grinning and shaking my head.

The young man had brown eyes, which are the same color as mine, I realize now. Then all of a sudden, I feel as though I haven't remembered my traumatic first existence at all.

I remark, clutching the tiny pillow he gave me, "Thank you, you let me forget the ridiculous things I've gone through." He laughs, and I hear it, but it never registers how his eyes briefly narrow before he blinks them open.

"Milady, I sincerely apologize this time."

“Why?”

"I couldn't introduce myself initially, Milady -" I stopped him.

“Nothing needs to be apologized for, Sir. You didn't do anything wrong, " I add. I then give him a smile. This time, I can clearly see how bright his brown eyes are, and his cheeks and ears have become very pink in tone.

Just as I had done in the past, I touched the young servant's forehead to check for fever, but there was none. I sigh as I realize that he appears to have gone backward by a few paces.

“Do you have any problems this time, Sir?”

“Milady, t-there’s n-none."

I add, "Then it's settled, you owe me an introduction," but all he does is swallow and nod while staring at the ground.

Before the young butler could finish his sentence, the hall began to resound with the sound of footsteps. I tense up at that moment. I would have almost let the small pillow I was holding fall to the floor if the servant hadn't told me to move aside.

After seeing that man again, the only sound I can hear is my heart thumping. I clench my hand. I can feel how soft the little pillow is, and it does help to lessen my current feelings a little. I experience so many different feelings at once—anger, misery, obsession, remorse, manipulation, and betrayal—that I was unable to look directly at the young man who passes us.

I was beginning to believe that I have already entered the royal household out of his sight when I realize I was mistaken. He is the second prince, and he will use any opportunity to betray anyone. I am the same as everyone else.

I was his pawn from the beginning of my existence, and I also met the most horrific end ever.

After a few moments of holding the little cushion, my hearing suddenly became clear, "Wait, Sebastian, isn't that my elder brother's visitor?" Then I overheard him asking Sebastian, his butler, who has been the first person who perished at his hands after turning twenty in the past.

I jerk my head because I keep contrasting the present with the past. However, I was unable to conceal my poor habit of biting my lower lip whenever I anticipate a negative outcome. Not only is it something awful, but it also portends danger.

Because of the terrible monster that is hiding behind a gentle face in that person's second life, the second prince would always employ deception to seduce his prey.

The servant beside me approaches the second prince and extends his greetings. I study his form as I watch him appear to smile while disguising his viciousness in the darkness with his narrow eyes.

He has a wistful appearance that always makes my heart to beat quickly. I adored everything about him, including his golden blonde hair, ocean blue eyes, fair skin, incredibly brilliant aura, constant grin, and piercing look while examining someone. Now though, I despise it.

The servant standing next to the prince answers, "Yes, your highness," and takes a step back. Unconsciously, I clutch the soft object in my hand as the servant next to me did the same thing, and as I stood before the young man who would later kill me, I did the same.

Then I put on an effective façade that I have previously utilized. The only distinction is that I utilized this against his enemies rather than him. However, he was already one this time.

“Apparently, Lady Isabella. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Charles Elmier. I presume you've heard of me through my brother,” he says in a cordial manner.

He takes my free hand and leans in to kiss the back of it as he does so. He probably recognizes me before I even enter this home. Whom am I fooling here? I had never stopped stalking him until this week, the week of my rebirth.

This young man I once loved believed I would act like a typical noblewoman who would stammer and blush like anyone would in my current circumstance, but he was mistaken.

I bow and curtsy, saying, "It is really a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness." I then give him a smile. He is surprised, and I can see it in his eyes, but he then manages to smile after a second.

He releases his grip on my hand and moves backward by one step. Until he sighs, his gaze fixed on my figure.

"I'm curious how my brother met such a stunning woman,” he smiles and continues, "Lady Isabella, next time I'll personally invite you instead," and then makes excuses.

Until he vanishes, my eyes follow his figure, but I can't stop my hands from clasping together and my eyes from getting smaller.

I didn't even realize I was unconsciously looking at the place he faded until I heard the young servant say, "...Milady."

“I apologize, I wasn't paying attention.”

“Milady, don't be.”

I chuckle as he introduces himself, "Also, I'm Rever Briane, the main butler of his highness Prince Casper,” allowing his light aura to influence me.

"I believe I'll still take it even if you're already ten minutes late from the time of your introduction. Additionally, aren't you Prince's Casper trusted servant?”

He responds, "I'm happy you understand, Lady Isabella," and leads me in that direction until we get to a large entrance door room.

The imperial seal is placed in the center of the door's decoration, and an arc is placed above it. Rever opens the door and lets me enter. Charles-like familiarity materializes in front of me. He is writing some documents at his desk right now, possibly approving and rejecting some of the nobles' plan proposals.

He has recognizable ocean-blue eyes and blonde hair. Maybe if it turns out that he is the person I first met and not his brother, things will be different from how I used to pursue Charles back then. Charles and he both have the same appearance. The only distinction is...

“I'm so glad Lady Isabella is here! Thank goodness I need a break from this paperwork!” Prince Casper is a cheerful person. "Oh, and Rever, I hope you're honoring my visitor this time," he says. He doesn't have a suspicion about anyone.

 Instead, he exhibits the exact opposite behavior and attitude from Charles in that he is too trusting for his own good.

He is now grinning at me and throwing some of the papers he was carrying. The brilliant person standing directly in front of me whom I can't speak to for a second remains in my sight as the papers fall to the earth.

Although he is the crown prince, his gullibility caused him to perish at my hands in my previous life. "Your highness, I did nothing improper to Lady Isabella,” Rever pleads with his majesty as though he were a close aide, and Prince Casper just pouts before smiling in response.

Prince Casper widens my eyes and adds, "Alright, I believe you since you handed the lady one of your homemade creations."

Rever blushes a little as I try to look at him and turns his head away to avoid meeting our gaze. Prince Casper is already standing close to me when I start to chuckle. He replies, "So will you kindly leave us alone, Rever so that I may have a long discussion with the lady?" But he keeps staring directly into my eyes. Rever gives us a full ten seconds of his attention before sighing and walking away without saying anything.

Invoking royalty

"Lady Isabella, please continue to refer to me as Casper from now on. In addition, I have to share a piece of crucial information with you.”