The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 70 - Once More, From Here 3

—I can hear voices. The kind and gentle voices of people I love.

“Good morning. I planted your favorite flowers in the garden.”
“Yeah. You’ve loved them since you were little, haven’t you?”

“Today Neil tried to buy every cake at the café just because they’re all your favorites!”

“Sadie, listen! I finally got the license I wanted so badly! I wanted you to be the first to know, so I came straight here!”

“Even my little brothers said they want to see you. We made a charm together to help you wake up faster, so let us hang it up.”

I want to say thank you, I’m happy, and congratulations—but I can’t even open my eyes.

And every time, in the end, they call my name in a sad voice. That makes me feel helpless, hurt, and heartbroken.

“Sadie.”
“…I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

The voice I hear most is Rufus’s. I can feel how much he cares for me and how worried he is.

Even though I try so hard to scream and reach out from the darkness, no sound comes out.

When I wish with all my heart to go back to them, I suddenly hear laughter from somewhere.

Right away, I realize—it’s my own voice.

—Really? You don’t want to go through pain anymore, right? Isn’t it easier to just stay like this?

It’s true that my life has been harder than most.

I spent most of it trapped in someone else’s body like a slave. And even after I got my body back, I was treated like a hated villain, betrayed by people I thought were my friends.

Even so, I’ve never once regretted being born as Sadie Arclight.

I was born to kind parents, surrounded by people who cared for me, helped by friends I could trust—and best of all, I met Rufus, the person I love the most. That made everything worth it.

“Please… wake up.”

Again, I hear Rufus’s voice.

I’m sure he’s crying right now. And I know it’s because of me.

“…I love you. I truly love you.”

His honest words of love made me feel so happy, I wanted to cry.

I want to say I’m sorry for making you worry. I love you too. I want to tell him that. I’m sure that if I’m with Rufus, I can get through anything.

—That’s why I’ll be okay now. I’m sure of it.

At the very moment I clearly decided I wanted to return to everyone, light filled my vision.

◇◇◇

I slowly opened my eyes, but the brightness was too strong, and I had to close them again. Still, after doing that a few times, my eyes started to adjust, and I could finally see clearly.

“—Sa…die?”

Even with my blurry and shaking vision, I immediately knew who was standing in front of me.

“Are you… awake?”

My throat was dry, and I couldn’t speak, but I wanted to tell him I was okay. So I gently squeezed the hand that was holding mine.

I could feel Rufus’s warm hand in mine. That warmth reminded me—I’m alive, and I’ve returned to him.

“Sadie…! Thank goodness… really…!”

Tears fell from his eyes and landed on the back of my hand, one drop after another.

I still couldn’t speak properly, but when I slowly smiled, Rufus hugged me tightly, crying like a child.

I want to apologize for making him worry so much. I want to thank him for waiting all this time.

And I want to tell him over and over how much I love him—from now on, little by little, with all my heart.