Chapter 46

When I came to my senses, I was surrounded by deep darkness.

 

I felt as if my body were floating in midair, all warmth draining from me until only a chill remained.

 

“I’m scared…”

 

The oppressive void overwhelmed me. I feared that my life as Lilithia had been nothing but a dream. That if I woke up here, I would return to the life I used to live.

 

“I don’t want that…”

 

Terrified, I curled into myself. It was the first time I had ever felt like I was truly alive—like my heart was racing because I wanted to live.

 

In my previous life, I’d had no regrets only because I had no one beside me.

 

I had no reason to live. I was an empty can, hollow inside.

 

A voice I never wanted to remember echoed in the darkness: “Do you really have time to rest like that?”

 

“Are you only going to live your life and ignore everyone else? You’re so selfish.”

 

As the eldest daughter, I had given up so much. I had always been forced to sacrifice, and that life of endless demands had been unbearably painful.

 

I used to think I was nothing more than a cog in a machine.

 

But as Lilithia, I learned differently.

 

I learned that living meant having a pounding heart, feeling excitement.

 

I learned what warmth was, and what love felt like.

 

It wasn’t forced sacrifice anymore—I could choose for myself. I could help because I wanted to, and that made me happy.

 

“I don’t want to go back like this.”

 

I didn’t want to return to that hamster-wheel fate.

 

I wanted to live a life that was mine—not a life centered around caring for someone else.

 

If I returned to my original world, would the fate I changed remain changed?

 

Had I stopped Freyer’s sad ending?

 

“I hope so…”

 

Freyer was my favorite because I wanted him to escape his fate.

 

I wanted the author—the creator of the story—to give him a different ending.

 

[Author, what will happen to Freyer now?]

 

When the novel ended, a wave of emptiness washed over me.

 

I clutched my phone and left a comment:

 

[I want to see Freyer after the ending!]

 

The reason I wanted to buy merchandise was because I wished for a happy side story of him.

 

I had hugged him, thinking it was a dream, because I had seen that pitiful version of him in the ending.

 

Changing his destiny felt like my mission.

 

Then, a warm hand touched my shoulder.

 

“Who’s there?”

 

The touch was unfamiliar but comforting—gentle, as if meant to reassure me.

 

“Wh-who are you?”

 

「……….」

 

“Please speak again!”

 

「………. Not… yet—…」

 

“Not yet?”

 

「…It’s… not… time….」

 

The voice receded, growing more distant.

 

‘I can’t hear them…’

 

The warm touch disappeared.

 

A sudden flash of brilliant light swept across the space, and I lost consciousness again.

 

 

***

 

 

Faintly, I began to wake.

 

A voice—wet with tears—reached my ears.

 

My heavy eyelids slowly lifted. Light seeped in through the narrow slit, and the world brightened.

 

“Lady Lilithia…”

 

I immediately knew the voice.

 

Nazlee was beside me, crying.

 

“…Lady Nazlee?”

 

“Lady Lilithia, are you alright?”

 

Hearing my voice, Nazlee snapped her head up. Her eyes brimmed with tears.

 

“I-I’ll bring a priest right away!”

 

Nazlee shot to her feet in panic.

 

“Lady Nazlee. Calm down.”

 

A flat, emotionless voice came from the side.

 

When I turned, I saw Diara standing with her arms crossed.

 

Only then did I understand where I was—a tent interior.

 

“B-but, Diara—”

 

Nazlee stomped her feet anxiously, but Diara sat at my bedside and asked: “Lady Lilithia, do you remember?”

 

“…Wh-…what?”

 

My throat was too dry to speak.

 

Nazlee quickly brought me a cup of water.

 

“Here—water!”

 

Diara helped me up and handed me the cup.

 

After I wet my throat, speaking became easier.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome…”

 

Nazlee wiped her tears with her sleeve.

 

Diara continued gravely: “How much do you remember?”

 

“Ah…”

 

The moment I collapsed during the gate transfer returned to me.

 

“I fainted during the gate movement, didn’t I?”

 

“Good. So you do remember.”

 

Diara took the cup from me and set it down.

 

“The mage transferring you also fainted, so the camp fell into commotion.”

 

“Did they figure out what caused it?”

 

“Strangely enough, no. The mages are still trying to find the reason.”

 

Their eyes were on me—too intently.

 

Something felt off.

 

“Has the hunt festival not started yet?”

 

“It started a little while ago!” Nazlee replied.

 

“…Then why are you both here instead of participating…?”

 

“Because we were worried about you, of course!”

 

Nazlee snapped, then ducked her head.

 

“I’m sorry…”

 

“I’m alright now. Let’s go to the hunting grounds together.”

 

I tried to rise, but Nazlee rushed to stop me.

 

“You fainted at the banquet last time too… And with all the work at the trading company… Your stamina must be low. You need to rest.”

 

She must’ve meant the moment I touched her bracelet and nearly collapsed.

 

Diara nodded in agreement.

 

“She’s right. Lady Lilithia Baimery, it would be best if you stayed inside until the hunt festival is over.”

 

“I’ll stay with you too!” Nazlee said.

 

But Diara shook her head.

 

“No, Lady Nazlee. Lady Lilithia needs rest.”

 

“But…”

 

I nodded to support Diara.

 

“Yes. I’d feel bad if you missed the festival because of me. It’s alright, Lady Nazlee.”

 

“If… if you say so.”

 

Nazlee fidgeted, looking dejected.

 

In the end, Diara led her out of the tent.

 

“I’ll visit you in the evening! Please rest well, Lady Lilithia!” Nazlee called out.

 

At the entrance, Diara half-turned and added quietly: “When you return, I’ll make sure this matter doesn’t spread.”

 

Her words were too meaningful. I tilted my head.

 

“And you’ll definitely need rest.”

 

I wanted to ask what she meant, but she vanished.

 

Left alone, my eyes grew heavy.

 

“I’m tired…”

 

 

***

 

 

Nazlee looked toward the tent where Lilithia was resting.

 

“She still hasn’t come out…”

 

When they first arrived for the hunt festival, she had watched Lilithia collapse at the gate and had fallen to her knees in shock.

 

“I wish I could’ve stayed with her…”

 

If Diara hadn’t insisted she would disturb Lilithia’s rest, Nazlee would’ve stayed by her side the whole time.

 

After leaving the tent, Diara had taken her bow and disappeared into the forest.

 

‘Should I go check…?’

 

Nazlee wrung her hands.

 

‘She might need help…’

 

Even sitting up had seemed difficult for Lilithia.

 

Nazlee glanced back at the tent.

 

‘But what if she finds me annoying…?’

 

She wrestled with her thoughts when—

 

“Lady Nazlee!”

 

Lady Lauren called out.

 

“Yes?”

 

“There’s an adorable little rabbit near you!”

 

“A rabbit?”

 

Nazlee looked down.

 

A small rabbit was hopping nearby—its fur white with a faint reddish tint.

 

“A pink rabbit?”

 

The rabbit tilted its head and hopped closer.

 

Nazlee crouched, watching as it sniffed her clothes.

 

The surrounding young ladies squealed.

 

“Kyaa! So cute!”

 

“It seems to like Lady Nazlee!”

 

“Try offering your hand! Maybe it’ll jump on!”

 

Pressed by their encouragement, Nazlee extended both hands.

 

The rabbit hopped—and landed right in her palms.

 

“It’s warm…”

 

She gathered it into her arms; the rabbit stayed still, eyes half-mooned in contentment.

 

“So cute…”

 

Lauren smiled.

 

“I heard wild rabbits don’t like human touch. It must really like you.”

 

“Really?”

 

Nazlee took out the carrots she had brought for feeding animals and offered one.

 

The rabbit grabbed it and began eating.

 

Crunch, crunch—

 

The girls melted.

 

“So precious…”

 

“I’d take it home as a pet if it were me.”

 

One girl suggested:

 

“Lady Nazlee, why don’t you take it in and raise it?”

 

“Oh, good idea! You should take it home!”

 

“This little thing must live here though… Would that be alright?”

 

“I’m sure it’d be fine! It clearly likes you.”

 

The rabbit rubbed its head against her chest.

 

Nazlee’s cheeks turned pink.

 

“If you want… do you want to come with me?”

 

The rabbit’s nose twitched as if saying yes.

 

“It looks like it wants to!”

 

“I like you too… little rabbit.”

 

Nazlee stroked its head gently.

 

Suddenly—one of its ears twitched sharply.

 

The rabbit’s eyes widened, and it sprang from her arms.

 

“Huh?”

 

It hopped past the fence—straight into a tent.

 

Nazlee gasped and hurried after it.

 

“Oh no…”

 

It had entered Lilithia’s tent.

 

Nazlee fidgeted anxiously outside, then decided she had no choice.

 

“Excuse me, Lady Lilithia. I’m sorry to disturb your rest. The rabbit came in here…”

 

Clutching her hands, she stepped inside.

 

But Lady Lilithia was nowhere in sight.

 

Only the pink rabbit sat on the bed.

 

“…Where did she go?”