The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 2

There is one thing to note: starting from this chapter, the names of some characters have been adjusted to match the published version. However, I have taken care with the descriptions in the text, so even if you don’t memorize them, you should still be able to follow along.

Name Changes:

• • Aria → Marianne
    Marianne is Ariadne’s mother and a former imperial princess of a fallen nation. Currently, she remains in a deep sleep due to poisoning.

• • Amelia → Isabelle
    Isabelle is Arnold’s mother and the former queen. Even after the death of the previous king, she continues working to secure Arnold’s position.

• • Anise → Sonia
    Sonia is the daughter of a fallen noble family who swore vengeance against Marquis Wilfried. She is a member of the underworld guild and currently serves as Ariadne’s maid.

These are the only changes.

Ariadne, Arnold, and Ashley remain unchanged.

“How did it come to this…?”

Murmuring into the empty air was Ariadne.

Once, she had trusted her brother—only to be betrayed. Branded as history’s most infamous tyrant princess, she was executed. However, by the whims of the gods, she was granted another chance at life. This time, she vowed to take revenge on those who tormented her and seek atonement for those she had wronged.

Thus, upon her return, she turned her back on her half-brother, Siegbert, and instead approached the first prince, Arnold.

To secure his victory in the battle for succession.

As a result, she became engaged to Arnold. However, before her return, Arnold had been the very man she poisoned to death. To say she harbored no lingering doubts about the engagement would be a lie.

That being said, it was Arnold who proposed the engagement. Ariadne had not sought it out for political maneuvering. So, despite any lingering unease, there was no real issue.

The real problem was the fact that, at this very moment, Arnold was carrying her in his arms like a princess.

This was the kingdom of Granheim, located slightly west of the continent of Ermine.

A grand engagement ceremony was currently underway in the royal capital’s palace ballroom.

The evening’s heroine was none other than Ariadne.

Her platinum blonde hair, tinged with a faint blue hue, shimmered under the light. Her gemstone-like amethyst eyes gleamed, accentuated by the crimson dress adorned with scattered jewels. And in front of the gathered audience, she was being cradled in Arnold’s arms.

Right in front of everyone.

“Please… put me down already…!”

Ariadne, her cheeks flushed red, protested in a hushed voice.

Though it was true that Arnold desired this engagement, there was undeniable political significance behind it. To the onlookers, it could only be perceived as a strategic marriage.

The fact that Ariadne’s jewel-like eyes were proof of her royal lineage remained a secret. Even without that knowledge, her engagement to the first prince carried tremendous weight.

Rumors swirled.

Some speculated that she was a spy sent by the second prince’s faction. Others whispered that the current king had declared his intent for Arnold to be his successor. Still, others claimed that Arnold and Siegbert had reached a truce.

The guests in attendance all sought to uncover the truth.

And what they saw was Arnold carrying Ariadne in his arms as they entered the ballroom.

A shocking engagement ceremony, unlike any before.

Arnold himself showed no hesitation, and though Ariadne’s face burned red, she did not appear entirely displeased.

Many guests, witnessing the scene, began to suspect this was not a mere political arrangement but a genuine love match.

At the very least, the spectacle had made enough of an impression to convince them.

Of course, not everyone was so easily fooled.

No matter the reason for their union, the political implications would not simply vanish. Those with keen insight immediately began analyzing how this marriage might reshape the balance of power.

And naturally, their first targets were the couple themselves.

As soon as the ceremony ended, the guests began to approach Ariadne and Arnold one by one.

It went without saying that not all who gathered came with goodwill.

Veiled warnings, barbed remarks, and manipulative questions laced with hidden malice were thrown their way.

A heavy burden for two young people.

However, Ariadne had once ruled the social scene as the Red Rose, and Arnold had been rigorously trained as a prince. Neither would falter so easily.

With skilled diplomacy, they deflected prying inquiries while subtly extracting information from their questioners.

After fending off several rounds of guests, a particular man approached them.

A man of average build with an unsettlingly smooth demeanor.

His sharp blue eyes, however, failed to mask his greed.

(Wilfried, Marquis of House Wilfried…)

Ariadne’s thoughts locked onto his name with sharp focus.

Wilfried was a powerful noble in the second prince’s faction.

Before her return, he had been an ally—but an ambitious and troublesome one.

That meant he was neither someone she needed to take revenge on, nor someone to whom she owed atonement.

And yet, he was a true villain.

Unlike Ariadne and Siegbert, who had committed cruel acts in the name of a greater cause, Wilfried was a man who lived only to indulge his desires.

His destruction of Sonia and Keith’s family was proof of that.

Wilfried had attempted to take Sonia as his concubine, and when she refused, he crushed Baron Canto’s house in retaliation.

That was why Ariadne had already decided—Wilfried must die.

She had sworn to help Sonia and Keith take their revenge.

For her atonement to be complete, she had to bring him down.

Moreover, Wilfried remained a key figure in the second prince’s faction.

Until now, he had focused on internal power struggles, secure in the belief that Siegbert’s succession was inevitable.

But with Arnold’s faction now positioned closer to the throne, Wilfried would undoubtedly join forces with Siegbert to strike against them.

Which meant—

(You are my next target.)

“Marquis Wilfried, I believe this is our first time meeting.”

Hiding her intent deep within, Ariadne greeted him with a graceful curtsy.

Her platinum blonde hair cascaded from her shoulders down to her chest.

Wilfried, upon seeing the sight, curled his lips into a lecherous grin.

“My, my… You are even more beautiful than the rumors say. I never expected that Prince Siegbert’s dear sister would become Prince Arnold’s betrothed.”

His gaze roamed over her, lewd and unashamed.

Ariadne’s amethyst eyes narrowed in response, yet before Wilfried could leer any further, Arnold stepped forward, shielding her with his presence.

“I would appreciate it if you refrained from looking at my fiancée with such passionate interest.”

“…Oh? And here I was wondering who had spoken—Prince Arnold, was it?”

The moment Wilfried shifted his gaze toward Arnold, his expression darkened with open hostility.

It was only natural.

For a staunch Siegbert supporter like Wilfried, Arnold was the enemy.

Of course, by that logic, Ariadne—Arnold’s fiancée—should also be his foe.

And yet, his lustful gaze remained fixed upon her.

Even as Arnold blocked his view, Wilfried continued to leer.

Seeing this, Ariadne stepped out from behind Arnold’s back.

Arnold looked as if he wanted to say something, but she merely smiled and brushed him off.

Then, turning to Wilfried, she offered him a knowing, enigmatic smile.

“Marquis Wilfried, my deepest condolences for Count Astor.”

“—!”

Wilfried’s eyes widened in shock before he turned his furious gaze toward Ariadne. However, he quickly masked his anger, burying it deep within his expression.

“…I’m not sure what you mean, Princess Ariadne. Are you perhaps unaware that the House of Astor belongs to the First Prince’s faction?”

“Oh, of course, I am aware. The current Count Astor is, without a doubt, a supporter of the First Prince.”

The previous Count Astor had been stripped of his title for engaging in the illegal slave trade. The current Count was a relative who had taken over the position.

And yes, the new Count Astor was indeed loyal to the First Prince’s faction.

However, the former Count had only pretended to be a supporter while secretly serving as Wilfried’s informant.

Ariadne had just subtly hinted at her knowledge of this fact.

“Surely… You’re not saying that Prince Siegbert had a hand in this?”

His gaze silently accused her, demanding an answer.

But Ariadne did not respond.

She simply smiled, carefully leading Wilfried’s thoughts toward a misunderstanding.

Soon enough, his blue eyes darkened with rage.

“…So that’s how it is. But don’t think for a moment that this means you’ve won.”

With those words, Wilfried turned sharply on his heel and walked away.

As Ariadne watched him leave, she felt a slight tug on her sleeve—Arnold.

“…Why did you provoke him like that?”

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“Princess Ariadne, you know I am neither angry nor demanding an apology. I’m asking because I’m worried about you.”

Arnold saw through her attempt to deflect immediately.

Ariadne sighed with a wry smile.

“Your Highness sees right through me. But if you realized I provoked him, then surely you understand why I did it as well?”

“That is—”

Arnold hesitated, but before he could answer, a new guest approached to offer greetings.

Their conversation was put on hold as both returned their attention to the guests.

After attending to several visitors, the much-talked-about new Count Astor finally arrived.

Arnold and Ariadne exchanged pleasantries with him.

After some time, Count Astor hesitated before addressing Arnold.

“Your Highness…”

Clearly, there was something he could not discuss openly.

Ariadne understood immediately.

“I shall take a short walk in the night air,” she said, giving him the space he needed.

However, just as she took a step forward, Arnold caught her by the arm.

“Princess Ariadne, take my guards with you.”