……Is this person joking right now?

Acelia’s face turned grim. Joachim remained composed, as if he had expected this reaction.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s the truth.”

“You’re young but already confused about your age. Isn’t that serious?”

“I have been living the same life dozens, hundreds of times repeatedly. I found out it’s called a loop.”

“……!”

“When I reach a certain point, I inevitably die and return to the past. Then I start again. The last time I counted was the twenty-first time. After that, I deemed it meaningless and stopped counting.”

“What are you……”

Acelia couldn’t hide her shocked expression. Loop? A loop? Could it be that’s why he asked before if she had regressed? Like him.

If he had infinitely repeated regression, how old was he now? Finally, Acelia understood Joachim’s expression full of weariness.

If he had repeated so many regressions, he must be sick of living. Even living once was tiresome enough.

“What’s the reason?”

“I wish I knew. I’ve investigated in various ways but couldn’t find a clear answer. Then Your Highness caught my eye.”

“Why me?”

“Your Highness has always been the same. Except in this life. I was curious about why you suddenly changed. Variables cause changes, and I needed to find out if you might hold the key to stopping my loop.”

Joachim exuded a pressure that ordinary people would find difficult to bear. He was clearly saying he needed her help, yet it felt like she was being threatened.

“Your Highness has already changed the fate of several people.”

In that moment, something flashed through Acelia’s mind. The notification about twisting the fates of Gale and Liliana. Was that literally true?

What would have happened to them according to their original fate? Though she didn’t know about Gale, Liliana probably would have… died if Acelia hadn’t been there.

Acelia felt a chill run down her spine, realizing she had accomplished something bigger than she thought.

So Joachim knew everything but had done nothing until now?

Acelia’s hands grew cold. The question of “why” kept circling in her mind.

“So have you found the answer?”

“I still don’t know. I’m revealing the loop fact to seek Your Highness’s cooperation.”

“Let me ask one thing. Having lived so long, wasn’t there a way to prevent people’s tragedies? Why didn’t you do it?”

“Because nothing changes.”

“Nothing changes?”

Like someone who had been asked this question countless times, Joachim answered without hesitation.

“There’s a common misconception. I wouldn’t have done that, if I had the chance I would be different, what could be more important than a human life……”

“……”

Acelia felt a pang of guilt because he was reciting her exact thoughts.

“But one cannot change predetermined fate. That’s why Your Highness is unusual.”

“……”

She didn’t know. Since she couldn’t know what kind of life Joachim had lived, she couldn’t easily judge. Acelia ruffled her hair.

“Fine. I’ll cooperate in finding a way for you to escape the loop. But I have a condition.”

“Please tell me.”

“I want to return to where I belong.”

“Where you belong. You don’t mean the imperial palace, do you?”

She had indirectly said she wasn’t from this world. Since the damn roulette had placed some kind of prohibition, this was all she could say.

Fortunately, Joachim, having experienced the phenomenon of loops, understood quickly. He nodded.

“I will also do my best to help Your Highness achieve what you want. I look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise.”

With that, the two shook hands. It was an alliance between Acelia, trapped in a crazy world, and Joachim, trapped in a loop.

“It’s good that you know the future. What should I do now?”

“I would like you to participate in the upcoming temple event.”

“What? A temple event?”

Joachim looked at Acelia with weary eyes.

Can you change that too?

“Yes. I would like you to see what happens there and make your own judgment.”

* * *

‘That person. He said he’s been living the same life dozens, hundreds of times.’

Acelia belatedly mulled over Joachim’s words.

She was the type who, after having fun with friends, would come home and carefully think about whether she had made any mistakes.

The statement that he would inevitably die and return to the past when reaching a certain point.

He said the last time he counted was the twenty-first time, so even taking the minimum cycle, Joachim had long passed the age of returning to dust.

Then he must be beyond feeling weary of living—wouldn’t he have gone mad?

Acelia felt sympathy for Joachim. She now understood his suspicious behaviors and could imagine how he felt when he discovered her, a variable.

He probably suppressed himself, fearing disappointment if she wasn’t the answer.

Though incomparable to his experience, Acelia understood because she had similar experiences.

The feeling when you hope someone you have a crush on might like you back, and then your heart sinks when you see them happily chatting with another classmate.

A feeling she naturally let go of when her senior went to the military after the semester ended, but she wondered how he was doing now.

‘What caused Joachim to start looping?’

She had been dragged here by a roulette after accidentally entering a random website, but she was curious about how he got trapped in a loop.

Moreover, for a person who serves God. What kind of future did he know?

Above all……

‘Why did he willingly reveal that to me?’

The loop was Joachim’s big secret, just like Acelia’s transmigration. She found it strange that he so easily confessed it, even if it was to seek cooperation.

‘Could it be because if things go wrong, he can just start over again……?’

Was that thought too extreme? Acelia couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity.

But on the other hand, anxiety bloomed.

What if… she might not even exist in the next cycle.

“……Highness, Princess!”

“Huh? Oh, sorry. What were we talking about?”

Currently, Acelia was at a dessert café strongly recommended by Liliana. Across from her sat not only Liliana but also her fiancé, Windsor Baum, the young marquis.

Caught daydreaming during the conversation, Acelia made an embarrassed face. Windsor, who had been staring at her, grinned mischievously.

“You were thinking about High Priest Joachim.”

“……! No, I wasn’t. What are you saying?”

Is he psychic? Inwardly terrified, Acelia outwardly maintained a calm act.

Windsor, with green hair and gray eyes, was calm and serious, unlike the fluttery and cheerful Liliana.

He was like the perfect son-in-law material. But seeing his slightly mischievous side, he seemed to be on Liliana’s team. Especially in terms of making her uncomfortable.

Liliana, who had been pouting just moments ago, now leaned forward with sparkling eyes.

“Oh my! You were thinking about the High Priest? What was it, what? Something like ‘I miss him♥’?”

“Cough! Why would I miss someone I’m not even close with?”

“But he said you were getting to know each other? That’s usually what people say before they start dating~”

“……”

That mouth, that mouth. Acelia felt cold sweat running down her back.

Why had Joachim played along and made things worse? He seemed like someone who couldn’t stand losing.

“I think you’ve forgotten, but I have a fiancé. For now.”

Acelia sighed briefly. Among those who heard about the scandal, some found it interesting or didn’t believe it, but others whispered behind her back, questioning the princess’s chastity for cheating on her fiancé.

Honestly, she had expected this. The unfair part was that Liam was the one who had cheated! It was absurd that he had become the victim in this situation.

Why were they silent when he was spreading rumors with Ensia but now preaching morality?

This was unjust. While Acelia was inwardly grinding her teeth, Liliana, who had heard her words, flared up.

“Such a man doesn’t suit Your Highness! He’s vulgar, rude, and arrogant on top of that. Your Highness deserves someone kind, warm, and mature with many admirable qualities!”

……She has quite an eye for people? Acelia’s eyes widened.

Since Liam pretended to be a good person in public, few people knew his true nature. Yet Liliana had recognized it immediately.

Acelia had to control her rising smile.

“Ahem, hem. Then what do you think of High Priest Joachim?”

“The High Priest? Actually, I’m not sure.”

Liliana tilted her head.

“He’s like an old tree standing in the cold wind. The land is barren, the bark is all cracked, and there are no leaves, but you can still feel a strong life force that refuses to give up. Deep anguish and sorrow…… He seems to be living with such burdens.”

Once again impressed by her accuracy, Acelia was surprised when Liliana added with a bright smile,

“But spring will come eventually, and flowers will bloom on the tree too. So it’s okay! Your Highness will become such an existence for him.”