The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 1.7

Sybilla Myers.

Her chestnut-colored hair was tied back, and she wore a modest dress, plain for a lady’s maid. At twenty-two years old, she was the daughter of a poor baronial family.

Ordinarily, a baron’s daughter serving as a lady-in-waiting in the royal princess’s palace would be highly unlikely. However, the House of Restoul was a fallen royal family—the remnants of a lineage that had foolishly dared to defy Grandheim.

Because of this, very few sought to serve there, and Sybilla had been fortunate enough to secure a position.

(Fortunate…? That’s debatable.)

Her golden eyes wandered as she muttered inwardly.

She was Princess Ariadne’s personal maid.

Seven years younger than her, Ariadne had always been an independent child. She learned quickly, absorbing knowledge from various tutors with remarkable ease.

A brilliant girl, yet one whose mother never even called her by name and whose father she had never met. A child who grew up knowing no love.

No matter how talented, one could not rise without a powerful patron. Serving Ariadne held little promise for the future.

Even so, Sybilla had never minded being her attendant.

That was, until a few years ago.

“Sybilla, what did they discuss at the tea party?”

Shortly after Princess Ariadne’s tea with Prince Arnold, while Sybilla was cleaning up, two other maids approached her.

Delilah and Louise.

Both were daughters of viscounts and held higher status than Sybilla. Because of her family’s circumstances, she could not afford to defy them.

“Are you listening?”

“I hear you, but I cannot share my lady’s private conversations without permission—”

Before she could finish, Delilah struck her across the cheek.

“What was that? Are you talking back to us?”

“How insolent. Do you care what happens to your family?”

“P-please, anything but that!”

Under their threats, Sybilla had no choice but to submit.

Satisfied, Delilah looked down at her with a smirk.

“Then be useful and answer properly.”

“Y-yes. The servants were dismissed early, so I couldn’t hear much. However, Prince Arnold seemed annoyed and said, ‘I only came to offer my thanks for my mother’s sake.’”

“Hmm… So it was merely a courtesy visit, then. Good work.”

“…Thank you.”

She gave the appropriate response, but there was no joy in her expression.

Sybilla lowered her head to hide it.

This routine had become part of her daily life.

But today, it did not end there.

“Also, the merchants are coming to make their deliveries. You will attend as well, Sybilla.”

“…Understood.”

It was not unusual for merchants to enter the royal palace. Normally, maids handled deliveries, but when it came to goods intended for the royal family, the ladies-in-waiting oversaw the transactions.

One of these merchants served as a contact for Prince Siegbert.

She dreaded whatever instructions they might be given this time. But refusing was not an option. Reluctantly, she followed behind Delilah and Louise.

Outside the back gate of the palace, the usual meeting place for those handling deliveries, Sybilla and the others waited for the merchant in question.

Soon, a figure appeared, but something was off.

“Oh? You’re not the usual one.”

Delilah tilted her head.

Their usual contact was a young man, but today, the person standing before them was a woman.

“I’m Anis. I’ll be acting as the intermediary today.”

“…An intermediary? And why should we believe you?”

Delilah narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

However, in the next moment, Anis bared her fangs.

“Oh? Are you sure you want to question me like that? Have you forgotten what happened during the last incident? If you intend to betray him—”

“W-wait! We’re not betraying anyone!”

“T-that’s right! We only questioned you because you’re not the usual contact!”

Sybilla had no idea what they were talking about, but both Delilah and Louise visibly panicked.

Their faces had gone pale.

“You doubt me? What more proof do you need beyond this conversation? If I were an imposter, your situation would be quite dire, wouldn’t it?”

“Y-you’re right… You must be the real contact.”

Delilah reluctantly acknowledged it, and Louise nodded rapidly in agreement.

“Good. Now, let’s get to business.”

“R-right. First, regarding…”

Delilah began reporting on Queen Ariadne’s condition, Princess Ariadne’s recent activities, and Prince Arnold’s visit, including their conversation.

But after listening, Anis scoffed in disapproval.

“Do you truly believe this level of information is satisfactory?”

“What? Do you have any idea how much we risk to gather this?!”

“Silence. Have you forgotten your orders?”

“N-no, of course not!”

“Then prove it. Recite the instructions you were given.”

“Prince Siegbert ordered us to find information that could help ensnare Princess Ariadne.”

“Then do so. You don’t have much time.”

Having issued her orders, Anis turned on her heel and left.

The moment she was out of sight, Delilah clicked her tongue in frustration.

“Ugh, that woman! Who does she think she is?!”

“Seriously! Does she even realize how much danger we’re in?”

“B-both of you, please, let’s not talk about this here—!”

Sybilla couldn’t even finish her sentence before Louise struck her across the cheek.

“Why are you acting like this doesn’t concern you?! Delilah and I serve Queen Ariadne. You’re the only one serving Princess Ariadne. Yet, because you fail to gather any useful information, we’re the ones getting reprimanded!”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Sybilla apologized, but Louise wasn’t satisfied.

“If you’re sorry, then get some real information already!”

“That’s right. Sneak into Princess Ariadne’s room right now.”

Delilah spoke as if she had just thought of a brilliant idea.

“That’s a great plan. Sybilla, we’ll keep watch for you. Go and search her room.”

“I-I can’t do that!”

“Huh? Did you just say ‘can’t’?”

“Surely, the ever-so-family-oriented Sybilla wouldn’t refuse us, right?”

As the two closed in on her, Sybilla clenched her fists tightly and nodded.

She waited for the moment when Princess Ariadne was away for her lessons. Under the watch of Delilah and Louise, Sybilla was forced to sneak into her room.

“A-Are we really doing this?”

“Of course. Didn’t you see? Princess Ariadne was carrying a letter earlier. Go check what’s inside. There might be something interesting.”

“That’s right. Sybilla, you know what to do.”

“…Ugh, fine.”

Arguing would only make things worse. Accepting her fate, Sybilla stepped into Princess Ariadne’s bedroom.

(How did it come to this?)

As her lady-in-waiting, she could justify entering the bedroom. But if she got caught reading the princess’s personal letters, she wouldn’t just be dismissed—she might not even leave unscathed.

(Please, let me get away with this…)

Praying silently, she reached for the desk Ariadne frequently used. The first drawer was empty. She opened the second one and found a single unfinished letter inside.

Luck was either on her side or cruelly against her—because the envelope had not been sealed.

Summoning her courage, Sybilla pulled out the letter and unfolded it.

There was only a single line written in Ariadne’s elegant script:

“If you utter a single unnecessary word, you will die.”

“—Ah!”

A horrified gasp escaped her lips.

Why would such a thing be written in a letter? There weren’t many possible explanations.

(T-This is meant for me!)

A message left for anyone foolish enough to pry.

She felt like a helpless insect caught in a spider’s web. Panic surged through her, and with trembling hands, she shoved the letter back into the drawer and turned around—only to find herself frozen in terror.

“N-No… How…?”

Right in front of her stood Delilah and Louise, both pale as ghosts, bound by the grip of the knights restraining them.

And behind them, standing with an enigmatic smile, was Princess Ariadne, with Heinous at her side.