"You deserve this."
The Crown Prince's voice was colder than the executioner's blade.
Alesia de Vronte clenched her teeth as the crowd jeered.
'Pathetic.'
She had spent her life clawing for power, only to be discarded like trash. Her family abandoned her. The saintly heroine, Liena, played the victim perfectly. And the man she once loved—Prince Cedric—was the one who signed her death warrant.
'If I had just killed them all first…'
The thought flickered, bitter and unbidden.
Too late now.
The blade fell.
[System Activation: "Fate's Redemption Protocol" initiated.]
Pain.
Alesia's consciousness shattered like glass.
'Am I in hell?'
Golden text seared into her vision.
[Welcome, User: Alesia de Vronte.]
[Regression in progress…]
'Regression?'
Memories surged—her childhood, her schemes, the way Liena's smile never reached her eyes.
'No. This is a trick. Some final torment before—'
[Warning: Resistance detected.]
[Compliance advised unless User prefers annihilation.]
Alesia went still.
'…Fine. Let's see what game this is.'
Soft sheets. The scent of roses.
Alesia's eyes flew open.
'This is… my old bedroom?'
She touched her neck. No wound. No chains. Just the familiar weight of her hair—long and unburned, unlike the charred ruin it became in the palace dungeons.
[Regression complete.]
[Current Timeline: 1st Year of the Imperial Social Season.]
Her breath hitched.
'Five years. I've gone back five years.'
The year her engagement to Duke Kael Estermont was announced.
The year everything went wrong.
[Main Quest: "Survive the Year Without Dying."]
[Reward: ??? ]
[ Penalty: Eternal Erasure.]
Alesia's nails dug into her palms.
'Eternal erasure? Dramatic bastard.'
The System's voice was toneless.
[This System exists to correct fatal errors in User's original timeline.]
[Complete missions to alter fate. Disobedience will result in termination.]
She laughed, sharp and humorless.
'So I'm a puppet now?'
[Would User prefer the executioner's axe?]
…Point taken.
A knock at the door.
"Lady Alesia, His Grace the Duke of Estermont has arrived."
Her stomach twisted.
'Kael Estermont.'
In her past life, she'd mocked him—a cold, battle-scarred duke with no patience for court games. She'd thought him beneath her.
Then he uncovered her crimes.
And he smiled as they dragged her away.
[Sub-Quest: "Impress the Duke (Affection +5)"]
[Failure Penalty: "Duke's Suspicion +20%"]
Alesia exhaled slowly.
'Alright. New rules, new game.'
She rose, smoothing her dress.
'This time… I'll make sure it's their necks on the block.'