Chapter 1

In the grand setting of "The Wedding of the Beautiful Prince," where the bride Dia should be the happiest person, she stood with an empty expression.

As she ascended the majestic steps of the temple that stretched before her, she knew there was no escape. For at the top of the steps, the prince of this country, Arnold Wilsenstein, awaited. Once she reached him, Dia would have to marry Arnold.

On either side of the steps, unmarried women holding flower baskets lined up to bless the bride. Dia recognized many of them; they were the prince's lovers. They gazed at Dia, dressed in a white bridal gown, and giggled.

Dia had been mocked as a "marriage of convenience without love, a mere figurehead fiancée" by these women.

(At last, I thought I could leave that cold house...)

The Payford Duke's family, where Dia grew up, was known as the "Ice Clan" for their lack of emotional expression. Even so, when her mother was alive, life was very enjoyable. Her mother, a former duchess, was a bright, smiling, and warm woman. However, she died of illness when Dia was ten, and the duke's family changed.

Dia's father, the Duke of Payford, never even looked at her, and of course, there was no conversation. Her brother, Bael, glared at her every time they met. Eventually, Dia withdrew into her room and spent her days reading books.

The world of books was enjoyable. Heroes, wizards, and princes. She particularly loved stories where princes and princesses lived happily ever after. Then, five years later, when Dia was fifteen, a marriage proposal came. The suitor was the third prince of the country, Arnold Wilsenstein.

(Am I going to marry a prince?)

Dia's heart leaped with the thought that leaving the cold house might lead to a storybook happy ending. But what awaited her was hell. The beautiful Prince Arnold was always surrounded by multiple women, and he enjoyed it. At parties, Dia would watch from a distance, feeling lonely as Arnold spent time with other women.

Moreover, Arnold, who was kind to women, was inexplicably cruel to Dia. Every time he smiled at other women, Dia felt miserable, thinking, "He has never smiled at me."

Today, Dia's sixteenth birthday, her wedding to Arnold was taking place.

(I don't want to...)

With each step, Dia's heart felt as if it were being torn apart.

(What is my life all about...?)

She was almost at the top of the temple steps when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of Arnold's lovers stepping on the hem of her long dress. Dia's body was pulled back, and she lost her balance. She could have stopped herself by putting out her foot, but she didn't.

Slowly, her vision rose, and she saw the clear blue sky. Her body felt as if it were floating, and her long veil fluttered in the wind.

(I want to see Mother...)

If she fell from the steps, she might meet her mother in heaven. With this thought, Dia slowly closed her eyes. A loud impact was heard, and screams rose from the crowd as Dia's consciousness faded.

Thus, Claudia Payford, the daughter of the duke, died at the age of sixteen on her wedding day.

*

When Dia came to, she found herself in front of a large gate, being questioned by a man with glasses. The young, handsome man, dressed like a priest, was flipping through a thick book and reading out Dia's life story.

(Am I dead? If so, is this heaven?)

The priest-like man asked, "Is there any discrepancy?" Dia replied, "No."

"Miss Claudia, I have some difficult news to tell you. You have passed away."

That's probably true, Dia thought. However, the man said something unexpected.

"We cannot accept you into the heavens."

"Why not? Is it because I wanted to die?"

When Dia questioned the man, he slowly shook his head.

"Actually, your soul has been bound to the mortal world by an ancient evil god through a resurrection ritual."

"Resurrection...?"

When Dia repeated the unfamiliar word, the man explained, "It is an ancient evil magic that resurrects the dead in exchange for a large amount of blood as a sacrifice."

"No way... Who would do that? For what purpose?"

There was no one who would want to resurrect Dia so badly as to offer a sacrifice. However, when the man pointed to her feet, Dia saw a heavy, black chain wrapped around her ankles.

"Is this the evil magic? Then, I can't see Mother?"

The man nodded solemnly.

"Moreover, unless you break this chain, your soul will wander and suffer for eternity."

(Even in death, I can't find peace...)

Dia covered her face with her hands and began to laugh. At that moment, she was enveloped in a divine light. She saw warm light leaking through the cracks of the closed gate.

The priest-like man murmured, "Lady Aldifia." This was the name of the goddess worshipped in Dia's country.

-- Dia.

The voice from the light was weak and about to fade.

-- With my last strength, I will turn back your time.

-- Please save the kingdom's future.

Dia's body was enveloped in light. The priest-like man hastily spoke.

"As a blessing from other gods, you will be granted the memories of your past life and the ability to hear the thoughts of those who have feelings for you. Please use the power of love to avert the disaster that threatens even the heavens."

"What...?"

Before Dia could ask what he meant, her consciousness faded.

*

When Dia woke up on a luxurious bed, she muttered, "Seriously?"

Now that she had recovered her past life's memories, she understood that this world was the setting of "The Aldifia Chronicles," a historical novel. In her past life, Dia was a very ordinary working woman named Yukiko Mifune. Yukiko's hobby was reading novels, and "The Aldifia Chronicles" was one of her favorites. This was because, despite being a historical novel, it was a story of a hero and a princess falling in love amidst turmoil.

The root of all evil in "The Aldifia Chronicles" was the bloodthirsty king Arnold Wilsenstein, who plunged the entire continent into war.

(Wait, Arnold is the third prince, but he becomes the king of this country in the future?)

This would only happen if the first and second princes were somehow eliminated. Moreover, after becoming king, Arnold waged war after war, leading a life befitting his title as the "Mad King."

(Oh no... My fiancé's future is terrifying... He must have been the one who cast the evil magic on me!)

To have made her suffer so much even in life and to continue tormenting her even in death was absolutely unacceptable.

(Heavens? Save from disaster? I don't know anything about that!)

Dia got out of bed and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She appeared to be around 13 to 15 years old.

(I'll check how far back the goddess turned back time later... But there's only one thing I need to do.)

Dia clenched her fist and struck her palm. A satisfying sound echoed in the room.

"I'll make Arnold pay thoroughly!"