From dawn until night, Estelle remained alone in her bedroom, organizing her thoughts.
Then she began writing down everything she could remember—memories from her past life and information from the novel—into a thick diary.

The Star God Astera, said to have once bestowed all knowledge upon the world. True to the Astria lineage, believed to be descended from that deity, her exceptional memory proved a great help.

Using that information, she set her goals and formed her plans.

First and foremost, she had to protect Aeir from the Black Sea Plague.

“The cure for the plague was developed the year after I died.”

How envious she had been of those who survived thanks to that medicine in the novel.

She had wished every moment to return to the past.
How could she have saved Aeir?
What should she have done to raise him more happily?

She had asked herself those questions hundreds of times.

Back then, it had been nothing more than a cruel, empty hope—but now that a second chance had finally come like a miracle, it did not take her long to reach the optimal answer.

‘I have to leave. Before Kaian learns of the child’s existence.’

Even if she could protect Aeir from the Black Sea Plague, the imperial palace itself was a dangerous place for him.

‘If things follow the novel and Kaian cherishes Diana’s child and tries to name him Crown Prince… I can’t guarantee Aeir’s safety.’

After all, Kaian himself had eliminated the First Prince and ascended the throne—and the one who had contributed the most to that outcome was Estelle.

Knowing the future, she could not let Aeir grow up in a palace where his life would always be at risk before the throne.

‘First, I need to secure funds by finding the mana-stone mine that will be discovered in the southern mountains.’

Using information from her secret guild, Estelle had originally deduced the mine’s existence only the following year.

‘I’ll use that as a foundation to run a merchant company and secure funds to invest in developing the Black Sea Plague cure.’

She was confident she could accumulate enough wealth to raise her child comfortably even on her own. In her second life, she had majored in trade and successfully led a startup at a young age. And during her free time, she had even enjoyed watching childcare programs on YouTube.

‘I’ll settle in Aren, find Sordan, and advance the development of the cure by at least a year.’

Unfortunately, the novel did not reveal the exact formula for the cure. Still, it did briefly mention some ingredients and the man who developed it.

“A young physician from Aren, Sordan, was skilled in herbal medicine from childhood and devotedly cared for his mentally unwell grandmother, Greta…”

The plague had not yet appeared, but she intended to begin research as soon as possible using every piece of information she had.

‘It would be best if Aeir never falls ill, but I have to prepare for the worst. This may be my last chance.’

Estelle had also already considered how to leave the imperial palace.

Disappearing while pregnant and evading the imperial knights’ watch would be nearly impossible. The most certain way to end their pursuit was to fake her death.

‘It won’t be easy… but next month marks the 500th anniversary of the Empire’s founding.’

It was the very day she had gone missing for a month in her previous life.

Back then, she had fallen into a treacherous ravine during a sudden monster attack. Fortunately, the water broke her fall and saved her life, but she lost consciousness. Without the herbalist couple who rescued and nursed her, she likely would not have survived; she hovered near death for an entire month.

Later she heard that even the imperial palace had believed her dead. Funeral preparations had already been completed under the leadership of the Empress’s palace and the Duchy of Astria.

‘If I use it well, I can escape perfectly. It would be even better if I deceive the Duke himself, just in case.’

Estelle knew the Duke better than anyone. Once, that knowledge had been the lingering trace of a child who only wanted her father’s love.

Now, it was merely information to construct a flawless trap.

“Margaret.”

After hiding her diary, Estelle called the maid waiting outside the door.

“Send word to the ducal house. Tell them I wish to meet my father… the Duke.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The title father felt unbearably awkward on her tongue.

***

“Ha…”

That night, Estelle could not sleep until long past dawn. Though her mind had made the perfect decision, the storm of emotions within her heart refused to settle.

In the end, Estelle wandered into the rear garden to calm her restless heart.

At such a late hour, no one passed by, and in the deep cold of mid-January, the garden—more desolate than in any other season—was utterly silent.

After walking for a long time, she arrived at the Florance Palace.

Now unused, it had once been the residence of the late Imperial Consort, Serena.

The garden of Florance was filled with pure white winter roses called Prose.

They were flowers that bloomed despite the frozen air of winter; in the entire imperial garden, this was the only place where flowers could still be seen during the cold season.

In truth, the Prose had been obtained with great effort by the young Kaian and Estelle and planted by their own hands for Serena, who loved flowers.

‘Back then… we were both so innocent. Even as we replanted these thorny bushes with our tiny, freezing hands in the middle of winter, instead of thinking about how painful and exhausting it was, all we could think about was how surprised the Imperial Consort would be…’

…with nothing but excited anticipation at how surprised she would be.

Of all places, this was the one filled with the peaceful memories of their innocent childhood that lingered most in her mind.

They had been the happiest days of Estelle’s life.

And yet—she, a traitor who had driven the mistress of this palace to her death without knowing gratitude, had never dared step foot here after entering the palace as a consort.

But now that she had decided to leave, she wanted to see it one last time.

Just then, as Estelle moved deeper into the garden, a familiar figure caught her eye.

‘Kaian?’

Even in the darkness without a single lamp, she recognized him instantly.

Golden hair that still held a brilliant glow beneath the cold moonlight.
Sharp features that even the darkness could not conceal.

He looked as though an omnipotent god had sculpted him with utmost care—so exquisite and captivating that no statue in this garden, no, in the entire Empire, could compare.

For some reason, his eyes carried a rare trace of sorrow tonight.

Even that sight shook the resolve Estelle had struggled to harden.

She hurriedly turned away. She neither wished to face him in her unsettled state nor reveal that she had dared to come here.

But she could not deceive the keen senses of a Swordmaster.

“Estelle—.”

Kaian’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
And he had called her by name—not “Lady Astria,” nor “Consort.”

It was the first time since the Shavennen Lake incident.

Perhaps it was because she stood in a place that stirred memories of those longed-for days—her heart pounded wildly.

He had only spoken her name.
Yet within the freezing winter dawn air, she almost felt the scent of spring from that distant past.

“—Astria.”

But the five syllables that followed dragged her back to reality.

The weight of that name, overflowing with Kaian’s hatred, crushed down on her whole body.

That was the kind of existence Kaian was—
someone who could give her hope and despair at the same time just by speaking her name, as if he ruled her emotions themselves.

Perhaps leaving the imperial palace was not only for Aeir, but also for herself.

For she had no confidence she could stop loving him while remaining at his side.

“How dare you set foot in this palace? With what shame?”

Kaian’s eyes, filled with hostility, pressed upon her.

The one who had once been salvation now seemed desperate to give her h*ll.

“Did you come to mock a palace that has lost its mistress?”

“No, Your Majesty. My thoughts were unsettled, and as I walked—”

“A place you should not even reach by accident. How convenient.”

“……”

“Is stirring people’s emotions your hobby as a consort?”

It was unfair. She swore she had never intended that. And she had never expected to meet Kaian here at this late hour. If she had known, she would never have done anything that might invite misunderstanding.

“That would not be so. The peace of Your Majesty and the Empire is what I desire most.”

She felt like she might go mad from the injustice, yet the voice that left her lips remained dry and calm.

Perhaps it had been around the time Serena was executed—
when the Duke had begun periodically administering drugs that suppressed her emotions.

She had not originally been like this, but the side effects left her unable to easily show expression or feeling.

“Ha! Peace?”

With a twisted expression, Kaian strode toward Estelle. At the same time, a sensual musk scent swept over her, dizzyingly brushing past the tip of her nose. It reminded her of the perfume she had once given him.

“My peace, you say… Consort.”

They now stood close enough for their breaths to mingle. Estelle struggled to steady her wavering mind and answered calmly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How unfortunate. You are not someone who could ever bring me peace.”

His red eyes blazed fiercely, as if they might swallow her whole.