The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 1.19

Upon returning to the party hall, the two princes were still engaged in a silent battle of wits.

Arnold’s eyes were green, while Siegbert’s were blue. Both possessed undeniably beautiful eyes, yet they were ordinary compared to Ariadne’s gemstone-like eyes.

(A symbol of royal bl00d…?)

It was not the mark of a disgraced imperial lineage but the proof of a true royal bloodline.

Whether the current royal family had lost their gemstone eyes or whether they were merely nobles who usurped the throne was unclear. However, history had long buried the truth about the royal lineage, and yet, here in the present, a daughter of the true king, one who possessed those legendary eyes, existed.

At this point, the actual truth no longer mattered.

— If someone were to boldly proclaim that the girl possessing the true royal symbol was the rightful ruler, no one would be able to refute it.

Thus, in the previous timeline, Siegbert had sought to claim Ariadne in secret. If he could father a son with her, it would provide a solid justification for his ascension to the throne.

However, Ariadne had only ever seen Siegbert as her brother. That meant he would have had to imprison her under some pretense and force her to bear his child—but that had proved difficult.

Simply put, Ariadne had become too powerful.

In high society, she reigned as the Crimson Rose, the undisputed queen of the social scene. In the shadows, she was a formidable schemer, known as a peerless villainess. She had grown too famous for anyone to confine her under false pretenses.

And yet, as previously mentioned, Ariadne had gone too far. Her machinations had either eliminated or significantly weakened Siegbert’s rivals.

Even without the true royal symbol, there was no longer anyone left to challenge Siegbert’s claim to the throne. If there was one remaining threat, it was Ariadne herself—the sole bearer of the true royal lineage.

That was why, in the previous timeline, Siegbert had betrayed her.

(Will I… be able to survive this time?)

Looking back, she recalled Raphael’s question: “Do you not see her as a sister?”

Siegbert had evaded answering with a simple, “I may have gone too far.”

Even in this timeline, he still sought to make Ariadne his own.

But Ariadne had no intention of yielding to him. And because of that, Siegbert would inevitably try to kill her one day.

Likewise, she would never forgive him.

It was either kill or be killed. The moment Siegbert murdered her in the previous timeline, that fate had been sealed.

Thus, she had to acquire the strength to oppose him as soon as possible. As she steeled her resolve, Siegbert, having noticed her gaze, approached her.

“Ariadne, what did Father say?”

She could never reveal the truth about her gemstone eyes.

Knowing that secret gave her an advantage over Siegbert. The moment he realized she was aware of it, he would undoubtedly try to eliminate her.

“…Ariadne?”

“Oh, um… He reaffirmed that I will not bear the Grandheim name.”

“I see.”

“Yes. However, he does not object to me relying on you, Prince Siegbert. He even said I may call you my brother… Will you be kind to me?”

She would have her revenge.

She would never forgive him for betraying her.

But—

(As long as I can deceive him, I will do so with everything I have.)

She wondered what expression he would make when he finally realized he had been tricked. Concealing her true intentions, she flashed him an affectionate smile.

For a brief moment, Siegbert’s face twisted slightly.

“Of course. So… if you hear anything like what we discussed before, let me know.”

“Of course. You can count on me, dear brother.”

With a bright smile, she bid him farewell, not letting even a shred of her murderous intent show.

As Siegbert departed, Arnold approached with a concerned expression.

“Princess Ariadne, are you all right?”

“Thank you for your concern, Prince Arnold. Thanks to your support, I was able to navigate the situation. I will never forget this kindness.”

“There is no need for gratitude. But if you are truly thankful…”

He placed a hand on his chest and bowed gracefully.

“Would you grant me a dance?”

“…Yes, with pleasure.”

With Arnold escorting her, Ariadne stepped into the dance hall.

Under the glow of the grand chandeliers, guests swirled across the floor. At the very center, she and Arnold faced each other.

They took synchronized steps, moving closer before seamlessly falling into hold. As he led, she matched his rhythm, gliding effortlessly across the floor.

All eyes were on them.

At first, their movements were small, as if testing each other’s intent. Then they grew bolder, pushing boundaries to assess each other’s limits. Gradually, Arnold’s steps became more intricate.

(…This isn’t a routine I recognize?)

A waltz followed a three-beat rhythm, allowing for improvisation within its structure. However, dancers typically adhered to established routines.

Different regions and cultures had their own variations, but even after experiencing another life, Ariadne did not recognize this one.

(Are you testing whether I can keep up? You underestimate me. The Crimson Rose carves her own path!)

Matching his lead flawlessly, Ariadne suddenly took the initiative, reversing their roles.

Traditionally, the man led. But she shattered that norm, and for a split second, surprise flickered in Arnold’s eyes. Yet, rather than falter, he adapted without hesitation.

Ariadne executed a simple routine—an unspoken declaration of her desire for an ordinary life. He understood instantly and followed her lead without question.

She smiled and ceded control back to him. With an elegant and well-known sequence, he guided her through the dance, showcasing his skill.

Through each step, his sincerity reached her.

“…Princess Ariadne, what did Emperor Raphael truly say to you?”

“Why do you ask as if I was lying?”

“Because I have danced with you.”

He was learning her nature through the dance itself.

That made her smile softly.

“Well… When I lie, I weave small falsehoods into the truth.”

“So, what you said was mostly true?”

“Yes. To be precise, he told me that I would not bear the Grandheim name. That I should live as I please.”

“…Indeed. That is not a lie, though it conveys a very different impression.”

As the waltz ended, Arnold stepped back and knelt before her.

“Princess Ariadne, I will protect you. Please, marry me.”