The Prince Is Dead, So Let’s Start Over Everything Again! - Chapter 1.1 -1. Hariella Lurupel\\\'s world turns back

If someone were to ask me my age, how should I answer?

‘Oh, me? I’ve been twenty once, and eight to sixteen years old three times. I guess I’m about forty-four years old.’

Since I can’t answer like this, it’s a problem I should consider at least once.

“Lady Hariella, happy birthday!”

“Sincere congratulations on turning sixteen!”

“Oh, young miss. Why such a gloomy face on this wonderful day?”

“That’s right! It’s your one and only sixteenth birthday! Don’t worry. It will surely be a joyful day.”

I’m sorry to the maids trying hard to cheer me up, but there’s no way today will be a good day.

It’s not even my only sixteenth birthday.

Hariella Somethin Lurupel, age 16.

The youngest daughter whom Viscount Lurupel dotes on excessively, and the only villain in this third-rate romance novel.

And for some reason, an ill-fated character who returns to eight years old every sixteenth birthday!

That’s me.

“Hariella! My little canary!”

“Oh my! It seems Your Grace has returned!”

Suddenly, a voice so loud it seemed to shake the entire mansion was heard from somewhere.

I turned my head towards the source of the sound.

In the distance, I could see Viscount Lurupel approaching, riding his horse eagerly to attend his beloved youngest daughter’s birthday party.

This was already the third time I had seen those undignified gestures.

“We should start preparing the cake soon.”

“Would you like to put the candles on yourself, young miss?”

“No, do it yourselves.”

“Oh! Then may I put the candles on? If it’s not too presumptuous, that is. Please?”

“Sure, sure, do as you like.”

It was also the third time seeing the young-faced maid so eager to put on the candles.

Having received my permission, the maid couldn’t hide her excitement, her cheeks turning bright red.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. All were relishing in my birthday.

Except for one person, the birthday girl herself.

Third regression cycle.

There was no way I could be pleased with experiencing my sixteenth birthday party for the third time.

“Hariella! My lovely honeybee! See what your father has brought for you!”

Still, this birthday party wasn’t entirely boring.

This seemingly peaceful party had a few elements of tension.

For instance, like this.

Hariella bla-bla-bla Lurupel! Can you successfully receive Viscount Lurupel’s gift this time?

“Your Grace! An urgent letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace! It’s a red ribbon!”

Of course, that was still unlikely to happen.

A knight, raising a cloud of dust as he rode, dismounted hurriedly.

In the knight’s hand was a pigeon. The bird, with a red ribbon tied to its ankle, was a magical carrier pigeon.

The color of the ribbon tied to the carrier pigeon’s ankle indicated the importance of the letter it carried.

A red ribbon was used only when sending letters deemed ‘of utmost importance’.

“A red ribbon, you say? Hand over the letter at once!”

Excuse me, what about my gift…?

Viscount Lurupel, forgetting about giving a gift to his adorable youngest daughter, hastily took the envelope.

The belly of the envelope began to split open bit by bit.

At the same time, my heart, which had been indifferently asleep all this while, started to beat rapidly.

After all, the moment I had been waiting for eight long years was unfolding before my eyes!

“Oh. I. Accidentally. Spilled. The tea. Ouch. It’s hot.”

I showed off my acting skills, honed through my three past lives, naturally spilling the tea.

The servants, completely fooled by my perfect acting, approached me in alarm.

Viscount Lurupel also rushed over, putting aside what he was doing.

Now’s the time!

The moment the Viscount came close, I pounced on him with nimble movements.

I had only one goal.

The imperial letter in Viscount Lurupel’s hand!

“Hariella! What are you doing!”

Viscount Lurupel, who had the letter snatched away in the blink of an eye, became angry.

It was clearly illegal for anyone other than the designated recipient to open an imperial letter.

Even if it was his beloved youngest daughter, she couldn’t escape punishment.

Viscount Lurupel, turning pale, tried to retrieve the letter.

But I was someone who had been eagerly waiting for this one letter for 8 years. I had no intention whatsoever of returning such an important letter.

“To Viscount Lurupel. There’s no time. The 3rd Prince’s safety is in danger. As soon as you read this letter, secure the 3rd Prince’s safety and……”

Just as I managed to read that far in the chaotic situation, my vision suddenly began to blur.

Ah, wait! Why! Why now of all times!

Let me at least know what to do after securing the 3rd Prince’s safety!

I tried hard to keep my eyes open to read the rest of the content, but it was all in vain.

My vision quickly faded to black. And then silence followed.

The meaning of this silence was crystal clear.

Hariella bla-bla-bla Lurupel, 16 years old until just a moment ago.

Once again, without fail, returning to eight years old.

***

“This is a nightmare……”

As soon as I woke up, I lifted the blanket to check my body.

My hands and feet had shrunk compared to yesterday.

The fourth time of being eight years old had begun.

To be honest, I had somewhat anticipated this would happen.

After all, both my first and second lives ended around the same time.

But that experience didn’t lessen the shock I received.

Regression, well, no matter how many times I went through it, I couldn’t get used to it.

“Sigh…… How long will it take to grow up again?”

Looking at my hands which had become as small as fern leaves, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“……Young Miss? Are you awake?”

Just then, I heard a voice calling me from the maid’s room attached to one side of the bedroom.

The owner of the voice, thick with sleep, was clear.

It was Anna, a lower-class noble who bore the empty title of dedicated maid to the Count’s youngest daughter, but in reality, was my conversation partner, body servant, and general handywoman… taking on all sorts of miscellaneous tasks.

It seemed my muttering had woken Anna from her deep sleep. Loyal Anna had quite sharp ears.

“No, I’m going back to sleep. You sleep more too, Anna.”

“Yes. If you need anything, please be sure to call me… absolutely…”

Having confirmed her young mistress’s well-being, Anna quickly fell back asleep.

It was understandable.

The first day of my eight-year-old self always started late at night. It was a time when everyone in the mansion would be asleep.

But I alone couldn’t leisurely go back to sleep.

‘What on earth could be the problem? Why can’t Hariella reach sixteen years old?’

My mind was utterly confused.

If my memory wasn’t wrong, there was no such setting in the original story.

Actually, it was ridiculous to even discuss the original story. This was a time before the original story had even begun.

Hugging my pillow tightly, I mulled over the contents of the novel I had entered, <That Northern Grand Duke and the Baron’s Daughter Do Not Love Each Other>.

Of course, I couldn’t remember many details.

It had been over 20 years since I last read that novel.