The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 2.7

The day after returning from the orphanage to the detached palace,

Ariadne summoned Ashley to a private room, ensuring there were no other attendants present. Seated in a grand chair across from her desk, Ariadne gazed silently at Ashley.

“Princess Ariadne, I heard that you summoned me…?”

Ariadne had surrounded herself with only the most trustworthy individuals. Yet, she had dismissed everyone else from the room. That alone was enough for Ashley to realize how important this conversation must be.

Her twin tails swayed anxiously.

“As you’ve probably guessed, I called you here because I have something important to discuss. But before that, let me confirm one thing.”

“Yes, please ask whatever you wish.”

Ashley pressed her lips together firmly.

At that moment, Ariadne, maintaining her calm demeanor, posed her question.

“Are you capable of keeping a secret from former Queen Isabelle?”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Exactly as I said. What I am about to ask of you must not reach anyone in the First Prince’s faction. You must carry it out in complete secrecy. Can you do that?”

Ashley was the daughter of Count Granis, a loyal supporter of the First Prince’s faction, and she had been assigned as Ariadne’s lady-in-waiting under Isabelle’s orders.

In other words, she was Isabelle’s eyes and ears. And now, Ariadne was asking her to shut them.

Startled, Ashley’s emerald-green eyes widened in disbelief.

“I-I serve under former Queen Isabelle. While I do respect you as my mentor and rightful mistress, Your Highness… that is…”

Her gaze wavered, revealing her deep internal conflict. Seeing this, Ariadne allowed a small smile to form on her lips.

“I apologize, that was a rather mean-spirited way to ask.”

“…Princess Ariadne?”

“I’m not telling you to betray former Queen Isabelle. I am simply asking whether you can close your eyes and ears—for the sake of both her and Prince Arnault.”

What Ariadne was orchestrating was a scheme.

To ensnare her enemies in a trap while securing benefits for her allies. Though her position had shifted, the nature of her actions remained unchanged from before her execution as the ‘Tyrant Princess.’

Thus, she could not allow this plan to reach Isabelle’s or Arnault’s ears. Otherwise, should it fail, they too would be caught in the fallout.

Ashley seemed to understand this now.

Her eyes widened before she took on a more solemn expression.

“Your Highness… what exactly are you planning this time?”

“I intend to eliminate Marquis Wilfried and weaken the Second Prince’s faction. And I need you to play a crucial role in that.”

Ariadne’s piercing gaze locked onto Ashley, silently demanding her complicity. Ashley swallowed hard.

“…If this is for the sake of the First Prince’s faction, then I will close my eyes and shut my ears.”

“Good resolve. When we first met, you were nothing more than a yapping little pup.”

“W-What do you think I am…!”

“A highly capable and reliable subordinate. At least, for now.”

Ariadne answered matter-of-factly, causing Ashley’s face to flush red.

“Y-You’re such a charmer…!”

“I know.”

Ariadne might have been oblivious to romantic feelings, but when it came to winning people over, she was a master.

Ashley groaned in frustration at Ariadne’s cool composure, but after sighing in resignation, her expression turned serious once more.

“…So, what exactly do you need me to do?”

“That practical side of yours is truly admirable.”

“Please, don’t tease me.”

It seemed she would not let herself be toyed with anymore. Ariadne gave a slightly disappointed shrug before finally revealing her plan.

“I need you to mass-produce Purification Potions.”

Purification Potions.

They were commonly used to cleanse miasma from monsters. However, that wasn’t their only purpose. They were also an effective remedy for illnesses caused by exposure to miasma.

“I can make them, but how many will you need?”

Ashley tilted her head in curiosity. Ariadne raised a single finger.

“At least three thousand. The deadline is… about one month.”

“At least three thousand? I believe I can meet that deadline, but… you do realize that those potions don’t have a long shelf life? In two or three months, their effects will diminish.”

“That won’t be a problem.”

Ariadne smiled quietly. Ashley shuddered.

“Could it be… Princess Ariadne, you…”

Ariadne did not answer.

This was her method of disaster prevention—without revealing the future. If taking precautions would lead to accusations of staging a crisis herself… then she would simply turn those accusations into reality.

“Your Highness, people will suspect you of orchestrating this yourself.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t have accounted for that?”

“…There was no need to ask. Understood. I will have three thousand Purification Potions ready by the deadline.”

After issuing her instructions to Ashley, Ariadne took a stroll through the courtyard.

It was there that she encountered Lucia, accompanied by Sybilla. Upon spotting Ariadne, Lucia immediately hid behind Sybilla.

At fourteen years old, she was only a year younger than Ariadne, but her appearance made her seem even more childlike.

“Lucia—”

Sybilla was about to scold her, but Ariadne held up a hand to stop her.

“Hello, Lucia.”

The moment she spoke, Lucia flinched behind Sybilla. Then, hesitantly, she peeked out from behind her guardian’s back.

“That voice… Are you the lady from that time?”

“Hm? Ah, yes. I was wearing a hood back then, wasn’t I? That’s right. I am Ariadne, the one who promised to reunite you with your parents.”

The moment she referred to herself as “onee-san,” Sybilla briefly turned her face away—but that was beside the point.

“Is there anything troubling you?”

“No, I’ve been treated extremely well. Honestly, it’s almost unbelievable… But, um, where exactly is this place? This is a very grand estate, isn’t it?”

Hearing that, Ariadne turned her gaze to Sybilla, silently asking, “Have you explained things to her?”

“I planned to do so today since she fell asleep immediately last night.”

“Ah, I see.”

When they rescued Lucia, she had been suffering from a severe cold and had slept through the entire carriage ride. She seemed to have recovered now, but she had likely been busy cleaning up from her journey this morning.

Judging by her neat and elegant attire, that assumption seemed correct.

“This is the royal retreat of the Restour Imperial Family.”

“The I-Imperial Family? Then… I should probably offer my greetings to the residents here, shouldn’t I?”

“Yes, indeed. Hello, Lucia. I am Ariadne.”

“…? But I already heard your name earlier, didn’t I?”

Lucia tilted her head in confusion. The thought that the lady before her could be a princess had not even crossed her mind.

As Ariadne chuckled softly, Sybilla remarked, “You’re rather mischievous, Your Highness.”

At those words, Lucia blinked in astonishment.

“Ariadne… Your Highness? W-Wait, you’re the princess!?”

“Fufu, I apologize for not introducing myself sooner.”

Considering the social hierarchy between royalty and commoners, Lucia had been terribly disrespectful. Under different circumstances, such a situation could have easily cost her her life.

Yet Ariadne seemed entirely unbothered, simply smiling as she suggested, “Shall we have some tea?”

They moved to the garden, where a tea table was set beneath the dappled shade of a tree. Lucia sat stiffly, as if she were a borrowed cat, hesitant to move.

However, the silence soon became unbearable for her. After some time, she finally looked up.

“U-Um… I apologize for my rude behavior earlier.”

“There’s no need for you to apologize.”

Even if someone were to object—Ariadne silently mused.

The sensation of her sword piercing through Lucia’s heart resurfaced in her mind, vivid and undeniable.

Just as before, Lucia gazed up at Ariadne with uncertain eyes.

“So… why was I brought here?”

“I heard rumors about you.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes. You helped someone who was injured, didn’t you?”

“Ah, well, that was…”

Lucia averted her gaze, her discomfort evident.

As Ariadne had suspected from the way she had been treated at the orphanage, Lucia had been concealing her ability to use healing magic.

“Did someone tell you to keep it a secret?”

Ariadne met Lucia’s eyes directly.

For a moment, Lucia hesitated, then finally nodded in resignation.

“My father and mother did.”

“…I see. So that’s how it is.”

It was important to clarify: healers were rare, but not unheard of.

One could find several within the temple, and most noble families employed at least one. However, healing magic required proper education. Even commoners could learn it if they were from moderately wealthy families—but that was typically only after they had turned ten years old.

Yet Lucia had been kidnapped at an age when she could barely form memories. This meant that her parents had told her to hide her abilities even before she had fully understood what they were.

That should have been impossible.

And yet, there was only one precedent for such a case.

The descent of a Saint.

A maiden blessed by the gods, born with holy magic, capable of wielding healing powers without ever being taught.

It was a legend known to all who lived on this continent.

Realizing this, Sybilla, who stood behind them, let out a sharp breath.

Noticing her reaction, Lucia shifted uneasily.

“U-Um…?”

“It’s nothing,” Ariadne reassured her. “You don’t need to worry about anything while you’re staying here. Also, keep your ability to use healing magic a secret for now.”

“Y-Yes, I understand.”

As Lucia nodded, Ariadne smiled gently.

“Good girl. If you continue behaving, I’ll make sure you get to see your parents someday.”

“R-Really!?”

Lucia leaned forward eagerly, placing her hands on the table.

The tea in her cup clattered, the surface rippling with small waves.

“O-Oh, I’m sorry!”

Flustered, she hurriedly sat back down.

Ariadne, however, merely chuckled.

“It’s all right.”

“Now then, tell me everything. I’ve already done a bit of research, but you were taken from the Holy Kingdom of Avelia, correct? Do you remember your parents’ names?”

“That is… um…”

Lucia’s face twisted as she bit her lip.

Having been kidnapped at a young age, she did not remember her parents’ names. Ariadne was well aware of this, yet she had feigned ignorance and asked the question anyway. Lowering her gaze slightly, she let out a quiet sigh.

“…I see. We will conduct our own investigation, so later, tell Sybilla anything you might recall. Don’t worry. I will make sure you meet your parents.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

There were probably many more things Lucia wanted to ask. However, now that she knew Ariadne was a princess, she hesitated, unable to voice her questions.

Knowing this, Ariadne silently finished the tea in her cup.

She then rose from her seat and instructed a maid to escort Lucia back to her room. Watching the girl disappear down the corridor, Ariadne finally turned her gaze toward Sybilla.

“I trust you understand—what you heard just now is to remain strictly confidential.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Then, for the time being, take care of her. I will assign a tutor to ensure she learns the necessary basic education—and healing magic.”

Ordinarily, one could not learn healing magic without the proper aptitude. However, Lucia was an exception—she was a Saint. She would soon be able to wield conventional healing magic with ease.

Once she could do so, it would be possible to disguise her abilities while honing her divine power as a Saint.

“Understood. I will make the arrangements immediately.”

“Good. The goal is to have her create a purified potion infused with holy magic within a month. Bring the completed potion to me.”

“A purified potion imbued with holy magic… Understood.”

As Sybilla turned to leave, Ariadne called out to her back.

“Wait. One more thing—start preparing to establish contact with the Snowwhite Baronial House.”

“…The Snowwhite Baronial House?”

“Yes. It’s Lucia’s family home in the Holy Kingdom of Avelia.”

“…Ah, I see. Lucia’s… Wait, what!?”

Sybilla instinctively covered her mouth with both hands. Even so, the shock had yet to fade from her expression. She leaned forward, flustered.

“Is that true—wait, more importantly, how do you know this?”

“Victoria—the orphanage director’s daughter—was wearing a necklace. The crest engraved on the back of it belonged to the Snowwhite Baronial House.”

Ariadne spoke as if it were the most natural conclusion.

However, in reality, Victoria had not been wearing a necklace at that time. Ariadne could fabricate such a statement only because Sybilla had not been present.

That said, it was indeed true that Lucia’s family was the Snowwhite Baronial House—and that Victoria had the necklace in her possession.

When the knights raided the slave traders, they seized the necklace, intending to return it to its rightful owner. However, the orphanage director embezzled it and passed it on to her daughter, Victoria.

Ariadne had learned the truth of this in her previous life.

(In my past life, I could only deliver a memento… But this time, I will make sure—)

Clenching her fist tightly, Ariadne vowed to atone for the suffering she had once inflicted upon the kind-hearted girl.