CHAPTER 515: IF STORY - ROSWYN ACCEPT THE FLOWER (4)

0% I... I don’t understand.

When Rifael regained consciousness, she was utterly shocked by the state of the world she had awakened into.

Why am I a member of the Sunset family...? And why have I traveled back to the past...?

She, who had once been a proud member of the imperial bloodline, was now the eldest daughter of the Sunset family. To make matters worse, she had been sent back several years before the coronation ceremony.

And why can’t I move...?!

Even worse, as time passed, her body began to move on its own, completely disregarding her will.

It was as if her consciousness was trapped inside this body.

The Magic Tower Master... did he deceive me?

At first, Rifael assumed that the Magic Tower Master had betrayed her.

I should have known better when that senile old bitch started this whole scheme...!

The agreement had been simple: if she cooperated by manipulating Clana and interfering with the coronation ceremony, the Magic Tower Master would help her steal Clana’s body.

That was their deal.

But that deal had been broken.

Instead, she had ended up trapped in this strange world.

Despite being remarkably perceptive, Rifael had never imagined that the Magic Tower Master would dare to disregard an Oath of Death—and that was her fatal miscalculation.

...Am I really going to be trapped in this bizarre world forever?

Despair settled over her.

She had spent years weeping tears of blood in that prison, treated as less than an animal.

And when she had finally escaped, she had sworn, with unwavering determination, that she would reclaim her place at the top.

But now, that resolve had been shattered by the betrayal of an old man.

With her ambitions crumbling, so too did her will to fight.

At least... this is better than rotting in a cell for eternity.

Soon, she began to justify her predicament.

However—

Her aimless, powerless time in this world did not last long.

...Huh?

Within minutes, long-forgotten memories started resurfacing.

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“What... What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

Rifael Solar Sunset.

She was the daughter of the Sunset family, one of the three ducal houses that supported the Empire and a proud line of the Hero’s Helpers.

At least, that had been the case until just moments ago.

“You are no longer my daughter.”

“What...?”

“The legal wife has given birth to a child today.”

“.......!”

Rifael’s eyes widened at the shocking words her mother had just spoken.

“That... But how could that be possible?”

Her mother had been the duke’s concubine.

For years, the legal wife had failed to conceive.

Meanwhile, Rifael’s mother had successfully given birth to a child, tipping the family’s power dynamics in her favor.

“B-But she was regularly given medicine to prevent pregnancy...!”

“.........”

Of course, beneath it all, her mother had harbored a far more sinister ambition—to seize control of the entire Sunset family.

Rumored to rival the beauty of the Starlight Duchess, she had the eyes of a venomous serpent. But due to the limitations of her birth, she had been forced into the role of a mere concubine.

Thus, she had devised a scheme to change her fate.

-SLAP!

“Kyaa!?”

However, that scheme had crumbled the moment a legitimate heir to the Sunset family was miraculously born.

“Shut your mouth.”

“M-Mother...”

“Don’t call me that.”

Having lost everything in an instant, her mother coldly glared at her daughter, whose cheek was now red and swollen.

“From now on, no matter where we meet, you must act as if we are strangers.”

“But... But—“

“If you don’t, I will use everything in my power to destroy you.”

Rifael looked at her mother with a dazed expression, but her mother simply spoke in an icy tone.

“Consider this your final mercy—I’m leaving you untouched.”

With those parting words, her mother left the Sunset family.

And a few years later—

She displayed remarkable cunning and, despite her status as a former concubine, successfully entered the imperial family.

There, she finally executed her grand scheme.

She drove out Clana’s mother, Clarina Solar Sunrise, along with Clana’s elder brother and sister.

And in doing so, she rose to the highest position that a woman could achieve.

She erased all traces of her past ties to the Sunset family in a single day.

She silenced anyone who knew the truth.

Her name was—

Ramie Solarl Sunrise.

“...It’s all your fault.”

And so, years later—

“If only you hadn’t existed...”

Rifael, now trapped in a limbo-like existence within the family, gritted her teeth as she stared at her newborn half-sister.

“Roswyn...”

The girl named Roswyn was already receiving boundless affection from the family.

Unlike Rifael, who had been cast aside.

-Twitch...!

As Rifael glared at the smiling baby, her hand instinctively reached forward.

“...Fwaah?”

“I-Impudent little—!”

At that moment, as Rifael’s trembling hands gripped the infant’s fragile neck—

- My child...

“...!”

A soft voice echoed in her ears.

- Are you truly going to end a life... for such a reason?

“W-Who’s there...?!”

- Will you really make such a misguided choice in a moment of anger?

As an ominous black aura swirled around her, Rifael’s eyes widened in shock, and she stumbled backward.

- You were simply... unlucky, my child.

Yet the voice continued.

- So let me grant you fortune.

A mysterious eye appeared in the air and met Rifael’s trembling gaze.

- Let’s make a deal.

Rifael didn’t understand what was happening.

But at that moment, there was one thing she did understand.

A tempting offer had just been placed before her.

“I... I was just unlucky?”

- That’s right, clever child. Like your mother, you were meant to rise to the top.

“R-Really...?”

Their conversation continued for quite some time.

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“Hu... Huhu...”

Several years later—

“T-This is the last time...”

In that same room, Rifael stood over Roswyn’s bed, a twisted smile on her lips.

“Ugh... Uuuh...”

Her younger sister, Roswyn, was writhing in pain, gasping for air.

“Once this final ritual is complete... at last...”

With a wicked grin, Rifael forcibly shoved a crimson seed into Roswyn’s mouth.

- Twitch...!

Moments later, a delicate rose bloomed from Roswyn’s heart.

Quickly, Rifael ripped it away before anyone could see.

“Yes... Huhu... It’s finally done...”

The “Eye” had told her that this ritual would instill jealousy and malice into Roswyn while slowly draining her life force.

But—

“Now, at last... the power of the sun is mine...!”

Rifael, drunk on power, no longer cared about any of that.

- SPARKLE...!

“Kh...!”

She devoured the stolen rose whole—

And golden sparks erupted across her body.

-Crackle... Crackle...

“......”

Then, moments later—

“Ha... Haha...”

Rifael suddenly maniacally laughed as she saw the mirror.

“Haha! HAHAHAHA!”

As she gazed at her own reflection, her eyes and hair shone with a brilliant golden light.

Just like the imperial family.

No, even brighter than them.

“I did it!! I really did it!!!”

One day, the Eye appeared and spoke of a secret method to obtain the power of the imperial family.

Even when it was explained that the key to this method was none other than stealing the power of her half-sister—the strongest Sunset in history, Rifael hadn’t truly believed it.

She had merely clung to a sliver of hope. She hadn’t cared how it worked; she had simply wanted revenge on the sister who had taken everything from her.

But now—

She never imagined that such a miraculous thing would actually happen.

“This isn’t the time for this.”

Rifael, who had been grinning ear to ear, quickly schooled her expression into something cold and approached the messenger falcon sitting by the window.

“Deliver this letter. Make sure no one sees you.”

That letter would restore her to her rightful place.

Her negotiations with her mother were already complete.

Rifael had agreed to conceal her mother’s secrets and testify that she was a hidden imperial princess—a result of her mother’s relationship with the Emperor during a party.

In exchange, her mother would ensure that she was officially recognized as an imperial princess.

If Rifael had not fully obtained the power of the Solar Mana, this deal would have been impossible.

Even so, she had already endured multiple assassination attempts and political attacks.

But like mother, like daughter—

Rifael was more adept at political schemes than anyone.

“If the emperor hadn’t agreed to the arrangement... this never would have been possible. How lucky.”

And now, luck was on her side as well.

I will send a carriage.“Heh... Hehehe...”

A reply arrived within minutes, confirming everything.

Rifael’s future was now assured.

Her mother had already reduced the Sunset family to nothing more than a puppet, so they would never dare reveal her secret.

And if they ever tried...

She could always use harsher methods.

“Goodbye, little sister.”

As the sound of a carriage approaching echoed from downstairs, Rifael put on her cloak and prepared to leave.

Just before stepping outside, she turned back and gazed at the room she was leaving behind.

“Thanks for everything.”

“Ugh... Uuuuh...”

Her younger sister, drained for years of her vitality, gasped for breath.

“Well, don’t blame me even in the afterlife.”

Feeling only mild guilt, Rifael sighed and added one final remark with a smirk.

“Blame your own bad luck.”

With those final words, she left the Sunset estate forever, a bright smile of triumph on her lips.

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“A-Ack...!”

“......”

The carriage Rifael was riding in flipped over, its wheels spinning off into the darkness.

“W-What the hell...?”

Moments ago, she had been ecstatic about becoming an imperial princess.

Now, before she could even process what was happening, she staggered upright, her voice dazed and disoriented.

“Y-You... Who are you?”

Clutching her bleeding forehead, Rifael’s voice trembled as she questioned the figure standing before her.

“C-Could it be? Did my mother send you? Is she trying to kill me before I reach the palace?”

The masked girl who had overturned the carriage simply stood there, silently staring down at Rifael with cold eyes.

“Are you insane? If you kill me, my mother’s secrets will be exposed to the entire empire!”

“......”

“I-I’m not bluffing! I already sent a letter to the press this morning! It’s enchanted to be retrieved only at my command!”

Desperate, Rifael drew the sword from her waist, speaking rapidly.

“S-So you’d better stop now! If you don’t want to be executed by your master—“

“Rifael Solar Sunset.”

The masked girl cut her off with a cold voice.

“You’re the one... who did this to Roswyn.”

“...!!!”

At those words, Rifael’s pupils shook violently.

“W-What are you talking about...?”

“Using such a vile curse... I should have realized it sooner...”

She tried to feign ignorance, but the girl already knew everything.

How?

Where had the information leaked?

No—

Who even was this girl?

Wait... she’s tiny.

Observing her assailant more closely, Rifael noticed just how small the girl was.

Maybe... I can actually win.

She didn’t know why a child was attacking her, but the thought crossed her mind—Perhaps she could overpower this girl.

Now that I’ve fully awakened the Solar Mana... this could be the perfect chance to test it.

Quietly biding her time, she carefully raised her fingers toward the girl—

- CRACKLE!

And unleashed her Solar Mana with all her might.

- Schlick!

“AAAAAH!!!”

A sharp pain shot through her shoulder.

“Ugh... Aack...!”

Her attack had completely missed.

“W-Wait... this energy...?”

Staring at her wound, Rifael’s eyes widened.

A glowing white energy was piercing her shoulder.

As she followed the source of the attack, she saw—

“Ack.”

“......”

A figure glaring at her with murderous eyes.

It was Ferloche.

“W-Wait, this must be a misunderstanding—!”

- Shing...!

“WAIT!!”

As Ferloche drew her sword, Rifael’s trembling hands shot up in surrender.

“I-I was forced into this! I didn’t want to exploit my sister...!”

“Hmmmm? Weren’t you the one who told her...  to ‘blame her bad luck’?”

Ferloche’s voice was icy.

“Even now, you still refuse to admit what you did.”

“W-What...?”

“Because of you... Roswyn... our one and only Helper...”

Ferloche suddenly clutched her head, staggering.

She was clearly not in a stable state.

“...Damn it. I need to erase this memory if I’m going to execute the final plan.”

The Saintess recently underwent an evaluation by the Church... did something go wrong? Did she lose her mind?

Watching Ferloche muttering to herself, Rifael’s mind raced.

No matter what, I have to buy time. I can’t let it end like this.

The carriage had been sent by the imperial family.

By now, the alarm magic placed on it would have alerted the guards to an anomaly.

Help would arrive soon.

All she needed to do was—

“I-I never wanted this either!”

“......”

Stall for time.

“I-If I had been given everything from the start, I wouldn’t have done this! I would have been just like you—righteous and kind!”

Ferloche’s gaze turned colder.

“If I had been born lucky, I wouldn’t have needed to do any of this!!”

“......”

“Am I wrong?! Tell me I’m wrong!!!”

“...You’re crossing the, line, kid.”

Just as Rifael was screaming in desperation, she suddenly noticed—

Ferloche’s aura had changed.

“I was originally going to throw you in prison.”

She pulled out a scroll.

“Wh-What...?”

“But after hearing what you just said... there’s no way I can let you off that easily.”

The moment Ferloche tore the scroll, radiant light flooded the surroundings.

“If you had truly been given everything from the start... maybe you wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

“W-Wait! What are you—“

“Let’s find out.”

Her mind began to blur.

Her memories began to fade.

Her very identity was being erased.

“You... You...!”

“If you fail this test—“

Ferloche’s sentence was final.

“Your end... will be more miserable than anyone’s.”

“Ah...”

And so—

Rifael’s past was completely rewritten.

“Somebody... help me...”

- SLUMP...

“I-I’m a princess of the empire...”

Now a child who had always had everything, she trembled and mumbled in fear.

“Please... someone...”

“H-Hey! Who’s there?!”

“Huh?”

Ferloche, who had been coldly glaring at Rifael, quietly disappeared from sight.

“Are... are you okay?”

“...”

At that moment, young Frey, who had been on his way to see Roswyn, stumbled upon the accident scene and rushed over in a panic.

“...H-Here, climb on my back. Let’s go to the hospital together.”

That was the day Rifael began her obsession with Frey.

“...T-Thank you.”

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“Ah...”

Rifael, lost in the sudden flood of memories, snapped back to reality.

— Step, step...

Her body, now beyond her control, marched forward with bloodshot eyes, heading somewhere with a dark, menacing presence.

T-Then... is this... my original self—?

“If I can’t have him... I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him with my own hands...”

Wait... what?

Startled by the horrifying words spilling from her own lips, Rifael turned to the window beside her.

In the reflection, she saw the light-colored hair and pale eyes she had always despised.

Shocked, she barely had time to process it before noticing the dagger clutched in her aura-covered hand.

— Creeeak!

“Kyaah!?”

“R-Rifael?”

At that moment, the door burst open.

Inside, Frey and Roswyn, who had been intimately embracing each other, sat up in shock.

“Die...!!!”

Without hesitation, Rifael lunged at them, dagger raised.

N-No...!

In that fleeting moment, she saw Frey’s expression harden.

He activated Stellar Mana.

This isn’t—this isn’t me!!

“I never expected you to resort to dark magic.”

No! Frey, I—!

Before she could even finish her desperate plea, Stellar Mana surged toward her throat.

I am...

She reached out with all her might.

But her hand did not find Frey.

It found Roswyn.

I am...!

And just as her consciousness began to fade, a cold voice echoed in her ears.

— If you had truly been given everything from the start... would you still have turned out this way?

As her horrific fate unfolded, Rifael’s expression twisted into one of pure devastation.

This isn’t fair...

And then—

her mind went blank.

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“Roswyn, this isn’t the first time we’ve faced an unexpected variable, is it?”

“......”

Frey, having coldly dispatched the blood-spewing Rifael, spoke casually to Roswyn, who sat dazed beside him.

“Something feels off. We might need to delay the plan a bit—“

“Hey, Frey.”

“Hm?”

Roswyn, still looking absentminded, cut him off and instead asked a question of her own.

“...When did the coronation end?”

“What?”

Frey tilted his head at the bizarre question.

Roswyn scanned the room, then suddenly her eyes gleamed.

“By the way, you did defeat the Eye, right?”

“......?”

“And what about the Magic Tower Master and Rifael...”

Her voice trailed off mid-sentence.

Helper System

You have received a new message.

“...Huh?”

As she stared at the floating text in midair, a giant question mark formed in her mind.

Glare: Are you there?

“...Wait, I lost the Helper System, didn’t I?”