Birds chirped in the wide square. Beneath the clear sky, the faces of passersby all looked happy.
At that moment.
"What is this nonsense! Do you want to die?"
A noise that didn't match the peaceful square scenery echoed through the air.
A young boy, perhaps just seven years old, with a pretty face for a lad, was throwing a tantrum, unable to contain his anger, stomping his feet.
Before the boy, a woman in a maid's uniform knelt and begged, but no one stepped forward to intervene.
The ongoing commotion made the strolling people stop and watch.
"Oh my, what should we do about that? Shouldn't someone stop them?"
A warm-faced woman said sympathetically, but who would dare step in?
The boy was clearly a well-bred noble's child to anyone's eyes.
You could tell from the fabric of his suspenders and shirt, and from his attitude of yelling loudly in a public place like the square.
That arrogant and audacious personality was something that someone raised to be mindful of others couldn't possibly possess.
From what could be heard, it seemed something had gotten on his clothes... but making such a fuss over a stain that was barely visible seemed excessive, yet everyone avoided eye contact without saying much.
"He's a child of Duke Rogato. There's nothing we can do."
At the mention of Duke Rogato, even those who had felt sorry fell silent.
Duke Rogato was counted among the nobles in the capital that one must never provoke.
In the end, everyone present turned their backs on the maid.
"I-I'm sorry, Young Master Vincent. I'll clean it right away."
The maid sniffled and carefully opened her mouth, but Vincent's anger didn't subside. In the end, the boy raised his small fist.
No matter how small, a hit from that tightly clenched fist would surely leave a bruise. If it struck the eye, it could be dangerous.
But all the maid could do was tightly shut her eyes and wait for the young master's fist that would soon fly at her.
That was when.
The sound of dignified footsteps echoed through the square.
Clack-. Clack-. Clack-.
So unwavering was the sound that even Vincent, with his fist raised, was startled and turned toward the direction of the footsteps.
"...What?"
There stood a girl about Vincent's age.
Within her daintily pursed lips, one could sense a certain stubbornness. Meeting her emerald eyes that stared fixedly at him, he unconsciously found himself checking his surroundings and shrinking back.
It wasn't an aura that should come from someone his age. It was more like the great elder of a household...
Feeling humiliated, Vincent thought, Who does this little squirt think she is!
"Who are you! Get lost!"
Vincent pushed the girl to get her out of his sight, but her body was so solid that it was his hand that stung. It had made quite a dull thud too.
'What is this?'
While he was unable to properly direct his gaze, trying to hide his momentary embarrassment, the girl's lips parted.
"That won't do."
"What?"
The girl seemed to ponder for a moment, then raised her fist just like the boy had done. It was a much smaller fist than Vincent's.
Vincent chuckled, about to mock her when—
CRAAAASH—!!
The fist the girl threw struck the wall behind where Vincent stood, and the wall that took the small fist squarely crumbled disastrously.
"If you do bad things, you'll get scolded by me."
Vincent fainted on the spot.
The little girl calmly left the scene.
"Regression isn't so bad."
She muttered to herself.
Everything began before Adel's regression.
〈I will curse you even in death.〉
There was a man who glared with bloodshot eyes and said those words. His name was Vincent Rogato. A traitor who had joined hands with a foreign nation to bring down their homeland.
And the one who drove a sword into the neck of the one everyone hated and despised was Adel, whom everyone respected.
He hadn't seemed like the type to know curses at all, but perhaps... she really had been cursed back then. Adel had continued to think that ever since Vincent's death.
Otherwise, why would that one scene alone, among the countless deaths she had witnessed, keep resurfacing when she and Vincent weren't even close?
While Adel was lost in thought about Vincent, someone stood before her and saluted. It was her subordinate.
'What was his name again...?'
As she tried to recall the name of her subordinate, whose face was also hazy, he spoke to her with an excited expression.
"Commander! I heard you're being granted a territory today."
"...That's right."
"Wow, I'm envious."
What exactly was there to envy? Even seeing those eyes sparkling with admiration, Adel's heart remained calm.
It felt like even if she received something, it wouldn't really matter.
"Want me to give it to you?"
"Pardon? You're joking!"
'I'm not joking.'
"Have you decided on the surname you'll receive?"
At that moment, why did Vincent's hair color flash through her mind?
"...Gray."
"Adel Gray? Isn't that a bit too hastily made up?"
Leaving her laughing subordinate behind, she headed to the audience chamber to meet the king.
Today marked exactly one year since the war ended. Although Adel had achieved the greatest merit in the war, the recognition of her accomplishments had been delayed all because of the deceased Vincent.
The recovery had been slow because the war had lasted for two full years.
However, the people's resolve was strong. As of yesterday, the last dam had been fully restored. If only the heavens would cooperate, farming would proceed without issue and everyone could live comfortably.
'A comfortable life. What does that even feel like?'
In the audience chamber she arrived at, the king and queen sat together. Even to Adel, who had little interest in others' appearances, the two were a remarkably well-matched beautiful couple.
If life were a novel, surely those two would be the protagonists.
With flowing golden hair and blue eyes that seemed to hold all the light of the world, the queen with rose-petal pink cheeks was the first and only love of Vincent, who had died by Adel's hand a year ago.
'Oh dear, thinking of Vincent again...'
At that moment, the king, who had been Vincent's longtime rival, spoke.
"Why that expression? You know why I summoned you, don't you?"
His charming smile that could bewitch people had instead earned him Vincent's hatred.
'Oh, please. No more thoughts of Vincent...'
Adel shook her head slightly to shake off the thoughts and answered the king's question.
"I am aware."
"Good. What do you plan to do once you receive that vast territory?"
"I plan to retire and rest on the estate."
At the sudden mention of retirement, silence permeated the hall. The one who broke the silence was the queen.
Her eyes glistening, she descended from her seat and grasped Adel's hand. Her skin was soft and tender, unlike Adel's rough hands that were always gripping a sword.
"No, you can't, my proud friend. Please don't leave me behind."
At her plea, Adel began to wonder since when the queen had been her friend. She didn't remember, but come to think of it, perhaps they had been.
'Something feels off...'
"What would I do without Sir Adel? The nation has found such stability all thanks to Sir Adel!"
"Since there's no one left to threaten the peace, it seems I won't be needed anymore."
"That's not acceptable. A bright future awaits our dear friend, and you'd throw that away?"
When had she become friends with the king? Adel tried to recall, but she and these two hadn't been particularly close.
'Or were we... close?'
In the end, unable to resist the persuasion of the two who insisted they were close, Adel left the audience chamber without even getting to show her resignation letter.
Even after another year had passed, Vincent's specter continued to torment Adel.
Why did Vincent Rogato keep coming to mind?
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Adel eventually headed to the noble archives inside the royal library.
Surely there would be records of Vincent's life there. Perhaps she could even find out if he truly could have cast a curse. She planned to find a solution and then never think of that tiresome brat again.
"Oh my, Sir Knight! It's an honor to see you."
The librarian recognized Adel and beamed. She was already accustomed to such welcomes everywhere she went lately.
"I'd like to see materials on Vincent Rogato."
Vincent Rogato. At that name, the librarian's face turned pale.
She seemed curious why someone would seek out the one who had spread the seeds of disaster throughout the nation.
"It's confidential."
Not wanting to explain, Adel whispered in a low voice. The librarian's face flushed slightly, her eyes widened, and she nodded repeatedly.
The place Adel followed the librarian to was a bookshelf containing organized materials on the House of Rogato.
