Chapter 01
Click.
Suddenly, so many memories started flashing through my mind. It was like time was moving backward all at once.
As I finally let out the breath I had been holding—
“Hah!”
—my vision changed.
“Huff, huff…”
I saw a grand dining room, a long table filled with delicious food, and maids running toward me in panic.
“Lady Bania! Are you okay?”
“Oh my, what’s going on?!”
There was no pain.
I was just shocked—this was my first time coming back in time.
“…I’m okay.”
This place…
‘Windsor Castle?’
This was the castle where my father gathered all his illegitimate children.
The place where I spent my childhood.
‘I look way too young. How many years have I gone back?’
I had a rough idea, so I grabbed a maid I recognized.
“…Maria?”
“Yes, my lady. Are you alright?”
“Yeah. But… When can I see my father?”
This question wouldn’t seem strange. Back then, I was always asking it over and over again.
Just as I expected, Maria looked sad and replied without any doubt.
“Once you awaken your power, you’ll be able to meet the Duke right away.”
“What if I don’t?”
In this family, if a child doesn’t awaken their special ability by the age of twelve, they are labeled “useless” and kicked out.
So, I had two options: awaken my ability and see my father… or be kicked out and see him for the first and last time on my 12th birthday.
“…My birthday party?”
Maria hesitated, then answered softly.
“After two more birthday parties, the Duke will come see you.”
“I see.”
So even without my powers, I would see my father after two more birthdays.
‘That means I’m ten right now.’
I looked at my hand. It was small—familiar, yet unfamiliar.
‘I’ve come back ten years.’
Ten years.
Just a moment ago, right before dying, I returned to the past by ten years.
***
The House of Duke Bassenberg.
A family so powerful that even the Emperor bowed before them.
Bania was the cherished daughter of that great house.
Her father, the Duke, treasured her and made her one of the leaders of the family.
It was all because of her rare and powerful ability.
“Bania, we have to run.”
But the powerful house fell one day, suddenly and completely. Her father and all her siblings were killed.
That horrible morning—
All by one person.
“He’s going to kill you too.”
Her lover held her hand tightly and ran.
As she ran, Bania saw the bodies scattered throughout the mansion.
Her half-siblings.
Her older brothers, sisters… and even her father.
It was hard to believe.
How could someone kill all those powerful ability-users?
“Are you Bania Bassenberg?”
Then she faced him.
The man said to be powerless. The one the family had kicked out.
Ryan Bassenberg.
“Hey, Prince. If you don’t want to die too, let go of her and move away.”
Ryan waved his hand lazily toward her lover.
“I don’t like killing innocent people. Bad dreams, you know?”
“Please spare her.”
Her lover immediately begged for Bania’s life.
“She didn’t know anything. She’s young and innocent…”
“Pfft! Really?”
Ryan laughed, then his eyes turned cold.
“She’s the precious princess of the Bassenberg family. She didn’t know? All this time?”
“……”
“Everything you ate, wore, and enjoyed—don’t tell me you didn’t know it was all because of dirty power?”
Of course, she knew.
Bania knew very well.
Power meant control.
The Bassenberg family, the only one that produced people with special powers, naturally held all the power in the empire.
And with no one to oppose them, their power had become corrupt.
“Please… she had no choice. She couldn’t escape her father or go against him. Please spare her.”
Her lover begged again, trying to save her.
“Look, Prince. I’m not here to weigh who’s more guilty or less guilty. That’s not my job, and I don’t care.”
Ryan was cold.
“I’m going to count to ten. If you don’t let go of her by then, you’ll be guilty too—for protecting her.”
“……”
“Understand? I’ll kill you both if you don’t let go.”
Bania held her breath in fear.
She tried to pull away, but her lover held her tighter.
“If you want to live, let go and step away before I finish counting. 10, 9…”
Her mind went blank.
What should she do?
Bania also had powers. She could fight back.
But she didn’t know what Ryan’s power was, and she couldn’t take that risk.
Even her powerful siblings and father had all died.
What kind of power had Ryan been hiding?
He had killed all of them so quickly, without any damage or signs of a fight.
No blood. No wounds. Just open eyes and lifeless bodies.
“Ah.”
Suddenly, Bania understood.
And the moment she realized it—
She despaired.
‘We’re going to die.’
If she was right about Ryan’s power, there was no way to survive.
“6, 5…”
At that moment, her lover gently cupped her cheek.
He wasn’t saying goodbye.
“Listen carefully.”
He whispered.
“When you go back… stop that man’s revenge, Bania.”
“…!”
Bania was shocked. She knew what he was about to do.
“No, don’t. If you do that…”
He smiled, tears in his eyes, and touched his forehead to hers.
“And… don’t look for me. I’ll only ruin your life again.”
“……”
“Let’s never meet again.”
Bania couldn’t say anything.
Tears fell down her cheeks.
“3! 2!”
Ryan’s mocking voice echoed closer.
At the last second, her lover smiled sadly.
“Let’s never fall in love again.”
***
“My lady?”
“Ah.”
“Do you not like the food?”
I looked at the fork in my hand, still untouched.
“Are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor?”
“No, I’m okay.”
I shook my head and thought about someone.
Ryan Bassenberg.
The brother I had met for the first time right before death.
He was the fifth son of the Duke—the true heir—but labeled as “powerless.”
He had been kicked out at age twelve and falsely accused of being a killer by our own father. He was sent to prison.
All of this happened before I was even born.
‘So… this really is revenge.’
Ryan must have held deep hatred for our father, who abandoned him and ruined his life.
“Sigh…”
I quietly set down my fork.
“My lady?”
“Sorry. I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later.”
Right now, Ryan was still in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
No one knew where he went after his release.
So if I wanted to find him, I had to do it as soon as he got out.
‘He was sentenced to the maximum punishment at age 12.’
I quickly did the math and ran out of the dining room.
‘Two years left until he’s released.’
There was no time to waste.
I was the only one who knew what terrible thing Ryan would do in ten years.
