“Please accept my late but heartfelt congratulations! I hear you delivered a baby girl.”

“Thank you, Lady Monique. I appreciate the baby products you sent me. I’m using them well. ”

“I’m flattered. By the way, I don’t see the baby. Can’t you show her to outsiders yet?”

“Oh, not really. It seems like my baby is too hot, so I had her nanny take care of her in a cool shade…”

“Oh I see. I’m afraid the sweltering weather will affect you and your baby’s health. Please be careful.”

I didn’t say that out of courtesy, but I was genuinely concerned. They made their love come true by overcoming lots of difficulties. Besides, their baby was a disaster to the Lisa kingdom, but she was a lucky charm to the empire because the crown prince could acquire a part of the Lisa kingdom without shedding blood, which had been trying to invade the empire.

“What is the baby girl’s name?”

“I haven’t named her yet.”

“Really? Why? ”

“In fact, I would like to ask the emperor or the crown prince, our savior, to name my baby, but they are so busy. So, I have hesitated to give her name until now.”

I understood her position. In particular, she must have felt it too trifling to ask the crown prince, who was so busy these days, or the emperor, whose health was failing, such a favor. She might have feared that if rejected, she might be talked about in social circles, where she was out in the cold.

Princess Lisa was shunned in social circles because she was from a foreign country and she betrayed her home country to become a citizen of the empire. It would have been a bit easier if she had not been married, but she was now a baroness. There were certain manners and customs in the noble women’s social circles. So, there was a certain limit as far as I could help her.

I was looking for someone to support her, but I couldn’t find one. The best candidate would be Princess Frincia, a foreign princess like her, but she was the daughter-in-law of Duchess Lars, who also rejected Princess Lisa.

‘Maybe I think I have to tell Lady Genoa about this.’

She said she would have a wedding ceremony with Sir Alexis, the eldest son of Duke Verita this summer, so Princess Lisa might be in a better position with Lady Genoa’s protection.

Thinking about that, I lifted the teacup, filled with a fragrant scent.

Carsein returned after sparring with Sir Feden when I was done chatting with the princess after a long time.

As it was already late, I stood up as soon as Caresin came back, saying goodbye to the princess. Then, I climbed a horse instead of a wagon and rode to the dark street with Carsein.

“I see few on the street today.”

“Right. Of course, it’s natural there are few walking on the street at this time, but I don’t even see wagons.”

I nodded. It was natural that the nobles’ district, where not many people lived, was quiet, unlike the commoners’ district, usually crowded with people.

“Hey.”

“Ugh? Carsein? ”

“I hear Allendis won’t come back for a long time?”

“Ah…”

I suddenly came to recall what I had forgotten until now, such as the reason why God sent me back to this world, and my feeling sorry for Allendis, whose fate changed because of me… ‘Carsein, how twisted was your fate because of me?’

I felt guilty. My only memory of Carsein in the past was that he was a genius of swordsmanship, who was appointed as a knight as soon as he came of age, and that there was a dispute over who should succeed his family in place of Sir Lars, his elder brother. That’s why I didn’t know what his fate was like, or how twisted it was now because of me.

“Be careful, Tia!”

While I was deep in thought, he alerted me by calling me sharply.

A black shadow quickly passed over me.

I instinctively lay down on the back of the horse. I felt goosebumps at the sharp chills that swept overhead. I tried to get out of the place by putting spurs to my horse, but somebody already threw a dagger.

“Heehaw!”

The wounded horse galloped like crazy.

Clenching my jaw, I let go of the reins. I felt it would be better to get off the horse with the least possible impact rather than trying to appease the galloping horse, then deal with the unidentified assassins.

“Wouch!”

I could not help but moan from the impact when I got off the horse. I felt sharp pain in my back, but I didn’t have time to hesitate. I quickly stood up, rolling my body half a turn to avoid the dagger flying at me. At that moment, another black shadow attacked me again.

‘Damn… ! ‘

“Ugh! damn it!”

Carsein, who already hugged me from behind, cursed at them. I saw a dagger stabbed deeply in his left shoulder. In a moment, his white shirt was stained with blood.

Clenching my teeth, I drew my sword. Although I was worried about Carsein’s injuries, it was imperative for me to stop the assassins’ attack.

The streets grew dark and the tall walls created a shadow. Where are they hiding?

“Are you okay, Carsein?”

“I’m okay, so be careful.”

As soon as Carsein said that, black shadows began to appear from all directions. When I saw them surrounding us in an instant, my mouth dried out. I felt sweat on my palms. I felt my back go cold at their murderous intent.

A black man threw a dagger at my neck, but I blocked it.

I felt a tug at my wrist when I knocked it away. At that moment another man wearing a mask wielded a sword at me.

My black uniform was cut out. Blood flowed out from where the sword cut through.

Turning half a turn to the right, I cut the third man lunging at me deeply. I felt like something stuck at the tip of the sword. Blood gushed from the masked man from the deep cut.

I stepped back after taking a deep breath. I shook off the blood flowing over the tip of the sword and stared at Carsein. I saw his shirt completely stained with blood.

‘I wonder if he is okay. ‘

“Ugh!”

When I failed to stay alert for a moment, a black shadow stabbed me in the waist. The cut was shallow, but I saw blood flowing down my uniform.

There were still fourteen assassins out of 17 left.

‘Can we really stop them?’

Bending forward, I avoided a dagger aiming at my neck and cut the other party’s chest diagonally.

I quickly wiped off the hot blood splashing on my face and lifted my sword.

Now thirteen.

“Uhaaaaah!” As if he was raging with anger, Carsein shouted, fighting with somebody.

Now twelve. I didn’t feel good about his shouting, though.

I stroked back the other party’s piercing sword, drawing my brows together.

‘No way! I can’t believe Carsein is using his left arm.’

After taking a deep breath, I caught my breath. I was on edge because their attacking style was completely different from what I experienced when sparring.

What’s his next target?

While avoiding the sword targeting my chest, I stabbed him in the chest. At that moment, I felt creepy. Now I was being attacked from both sides, as my sword was entangled with his.

‘Dang it!’

I let go of the sword and quickly bounced back. I avoided his attack by a close call, but my hand was cut.

‘Am I done here?’

I noticed the attacker’s sword that fell one step ahead of me.

‘If I can pick it up, I can hold out somehow.’

But if I leaned forward to grab the sword now, it was clear that I would be killed immediately.

While I was hesitating for a moment, I felt several swords touching my body.

I felt blood rolling down my body with burning pain. I thought about lots of things as the shadow of death was approaching me slowly.

‘Is this the price I have to pay for rejecting my fate?’

At that moment, many faces flashed through my mind. When I thought of my father, I was choked up with tears.

‘He said he was living because of me. What about my father if I lose my life here?’

Was I destined to be a bad girl again to him, who I deeply hurt in my past life?

No, I should not lose my life here.

I bite my lips tightly. I couldn’t end my second life for no purpose.

‘Let me hold out to the end. I have to be ready for some wounds.’