Side Story 3

Alice opened her lips slowly, still dazed.

“But still… a wedding here…”

Helios frowned and asked bluntly.

[Why, is this place not to your liking?]

Alice opened her eyes wide and waved her hands.

“Not to my liking? To be able to have a wedding that I’ve only seen in masterpiece paintings—I’m absolutely thrilled! It’s wonderful, but…”

Alice let her words trail off.

It was certainly wonderful, but… part of her felt uneasy, wondering if this was really acceptable.

This was where Sienna and Alvin had been married, after all.

Of course, that was in the original story she had read before transmigrating into this world.

So she had never once thought about getting married here herself.

Though the chapel was familiar to her, she was not meant to be its protagonist.

[If you like it, why hesitate?]

When the deity spoke as if he couldn’t understand her reluctance, Alice struggled for a moment before answering honestly.

“Before the regression, Sienna and Alvin got married here. They were the special protagonists chosen by Lord Helios.”

[And?]

“Well, I’m wondering if it’s right for me to stand here… I mean, I’ve already changed many things from the past, but… the main pillars shouldn’t be shaken, right…”

Before Alice could finish speaking, Helios’s expression changed to one of seriousness.

[Child.]

“Yes?”

[The past is nothing but the past. Now that a new world has dawned, you are the main pillar of this world.]

“…”

[You saved me and my world. Without you, this world would have already been devoured by terrible darkness. So do not belittle yourself. You deserve the best this world has to offer.]

Because you are the protagonist of this world and my child. The deity’s tender voice resonated in Alice’s heart.

She had thought her self-esteem had improved considerably compared to her previous life, thanks to Kylus, but she had been unconsciously denying herself.

As Helios said, even though she had saved this world, she had only thought of it as setting things right, not as being a hero.

In her previous life, after going through all manner of hardships, she had only focused on survival, never experiencing what it meant to be a protagonist.

She had thought being with Kylus was enough, but… Helios was telling her otherwise.

That beyond love and happiness, she should feel pride in how remarkable her achievements were and how precious she was.

Just like a real father.

No wonder this felt like her true family home…

As Alice struggled with the surge of emotion rendering her speechless, Helios approached her. He wiped away the tears forming in her eyes with his fingertips and said:

[And a father always wants to give only the best to his child.]

At those words, Alice’s composure crumbled.

Just as she was about to burst into tears like a child, Helios waved his hand slightly.

A cold wind struck her face.

[Don’t cry. You look ugly when you cry.]

Of course.

Alice’s moment of emotional vulnerability shattered completely, and her tears stopped abruptly.

Cradling her now-chilled cheeks, Alice glared at Helios before slowly saying:

“…Thank you, Father.”

Helios’s luminous purple eyes trembled subtly. However, he quickly returned to his composed demeanor.

Yet he didn’t pretend not to have heard her words.

[Yes. Congratulations on your wedding, child.]

Alice forced back her reddening eyes and pulled out a handkerchief to blow her nose with a sniff.

Helios’s face wrinkled slightly, but Alice blew her nose once more and raised her head.

Simultaneously, the handkerchief in her hand burst into flames and turned to ash. Helios, unable to tolerate the filth, had destroyed it.

That was silk…

Alice felt a bit regretful, but she ignored it and looked at Helios.

“Well, I should be going now. I have somewhere to be.”

[Going to deliver the last invitation? It doesn’t seem like you brought it just to compare.]

Helios’s gaze settled on the invitation in Alice’s hand. Alice looked down at it and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. This invitation has an owner. It’s a gift for Alice, who was the original owner of this body.”

[What?]

Helios looked at Alice as if she were speaking nonsense. But instead of answering, Alice gave him a mischievous smile.

“You’ll see at the wedding. Who the last guest is.”

Alice carefully placed the invitation back in her bag and smiled brightly.

“Well, I really must go now.”

[…Don’t cause any trouble.]

Helios’s concern reached Alice’s back.

“I won’t!”

Contrary to Helios’s worry, Alice responded cheerfully as she left the chapel.

With a somewhat excited heart, she headed toward the Fordley Barony, her body’s original family home.

Alice Fordley’s youngest sister, Eva Fordley.

She had begun to dream of Eva, someone she had never thought of before, about four days ago.

‘I’ve been accepted into the Academy entrance examination. You don’t need to pay for my tuition. I received a full scholarship for being the top candidate.’

Eva, holding out her Academy acceptance letter.

‘Absolutely not! Do you think a full scholarship means no expenses?! What about food, lodging, and clothing? The Academy? Out of the question!’

Baron Fordley, throwing the acceptance letter to the floor.

That was the first dream featuring Eva.

In truth, when Alice first had this dream, she didn’t take it too seriously.

Thanks to Baron Fordley’s appearance, she dismissed it as a random dream. But the dream continued the next day.

‘How long will you stay at home claiming to be ill? I hear they’re conducting interviews for a governess at the lord’s castle today. Go there.’

This time, it was a conversation between the Baroness and Eva.

‘I told you I’m going to the Academy.’

‘Can you please stop talking about the Academy?! You know better than anyone that it’s beyond our means! Your insane sister has already ruined your brother’s future, so at least you should start earning money! Instead of plotting to escape like your sister… I’m truly disappointed.’

‘My sister didn’t escape—you sold her. And brother was bound to fail the knight’s exam anyway. Please just accept that he has no talent. Stop wasting money on hopeless ventures!’

When she woke from the second dream, Alice began to seriously consider that there was something strange about these dreams.

And then the third.

‘We’ve been so gentle with you because of your weak constitution, and now you dare to challenge your heaven-sent brother?!’

‘I’ve never challenged him. I just said I want to follow my own path. How is asking him to move aside challenging—’

Slap!

Eric Fordley striking Eva’s cheek forcefully. Eva finally collapsed to the floor with her small suitcase.

And then Eva’s solitary confession that followed.

‘I’m sorry, sister. I turned away in fear when you were suffering… Now that I’m in the same situation, I understand. How difficult and lonely it must have been for you… I’m truly sorry.’

Eva sobbed, and Alice woke up crying.

In that moment, Alice instinctively knew. This wasn’t just a dream, but something actually happening to Eva Fordley.

The tears she shed weren’t Lien’s tears, but tears remembered by this body—Alice’s tears.

Honestly, it didn’t make much sense. Alice’s soul wasn’t even residing in her anymore, so it was strange to suddenly start seeing visions related to the Fordleys.

But the dreams were too vivid to ignore, so Alice made a decision. Though strange, the dreams’ message was clear.

Save Eva Fordley.

So now Alice was heading to the Pieta territory in the western countryside, where the Fordley Barony was located.

Of course, the territory didn’t belong to the baron’s family. It belonged to Baron Pieta.

As her contemplation ended, Aileen, who was sitting across from her in the carriage, spoke.

“My lady, I believe we’ve arrived at the Pieta territory.”

“Already? These magic circles are quite efficient.”

Alice murmured softly and leaned her head toward the window that Aileen had opened.

Farmers tending their fields and a dog herding a flock of goats. A tranquil countryside scene.

“It feels somehow soothing to the eyes.”

Aileen said with a languid smile, but Alice maintained an expressionless face throughout.

Alice Fordley hadn’t been particularly happy amidst this tranquil scenery.

Faced with the passing melancholic memories of Fordley, Alice turned her head away.

Seeing her somber mood, Aileen quietly closed the window and carefully asked Alice.

“You said you’re going to meet your youngest sister, right?”

“Yes.”

“Were you… close with your youngest sister?”

Aileen was well aware of Alice’s turbulent family history. After all, there had been quite an uproar at the duchy.

That’s why Aileen was surprised when Alice suddenly announced she was going to give a wedding invitation to her youngest sister.

In fact, she hadn’t even known there was a youngest sister.

Alice found Aileen’s cautious curiosity endearing and let out a small chuckle.

“Not particularly close, no.”

“Then why suddenly…”

“I just feel like that’s what Alice would want.”

“Pardon?”

Aileen tilted her head in confusion at Alice referring to herself as if she were someone else, but Alice said nothing more.

After entering the territory, the carriage continued for about thirty more minutes.

Eventually, the carriage began to slow down and finally came to a stop.

“My lady, we’ve arrived at the Fordley Barony.”

“Aileen, wait here. It won’t take long. Probably…”

“But still…”

“It’s fine.”

Alice made Aileen, who was about to get out first, sit back down and disembarked from the carriage alone.

The familiar scent of goat droppings that her body remembered. Walking past the poorly maintained animal shed, Alice strode forward without hesitation.

Toward a house so small it was embarrassing to call it a baron’s residence.

As Alice entered the yard, Baroness Fordley, who had been sweeping the ground, looked up.

“Who… You!! Why are you here?!”

The moment the Baroness recognized her, her eyes widened, and Alice smiled brightly.

“It’s been a while, Mother. I’ve come to take Eva.”