With The Fifth Loop, The Third Prince Has Been Added To The Cast. - Chapter 1.1

Ah… It starts with this scene again.

The view in front of me is very familiar. This is the fifth time I’ve seen it.

It might sound unbelievable, but I’ve lived the same life over and over. This is my fifth time.

***

I am Cheryl Atley, the eldest daughter of a count’s family. I have a fiancé.

His name is Franz Eldred. He’s the only son of a Marquis family, and he’s the same age as me.

Right now, I see Franz and my younger sister, Claire, smiling and talking over tea.

No matter how many times time goes back, it always starts on this day.

This is the day Claire, who is one year younger than me, joins the royal academy where Franz and I already study.

Because Franz is my fiancé, Claire calls him “big brother” and asks him to show her around the school.

Then they walk around holding hands like lovers, and when they finish, they drink tea together happily in the garden.

I always stand far away, just watching them.

***

In my first life, I tried my best to study because I believed that, as his fiancée, I needed to be helpful to Franz in the future.

I never doubted that.

But Franz never looked at me. He became closer to Claire, and we became more distant.

When we were about to graduate, Franz asked to break off our engagement. He said he wanted to marry Claire.

My parents were disappointed. Other noble girls laughed at me and called me useless for losing my fiancé to my sister.

I couldn’t take it anymore. On the day of graduation, I ended my life.

***

In my second life, I was filled with despair because I couldn’t even die.

Still, I believed this was a chance from God, and I tried hard to make Franz love me.

I worked on my appearance, followed fashion trends, and practiced social skills.

People started calling me the perfect lady. I truly believed Franz would choose me this time.

I stayed close to him and tried to be a good fiancée.

But Franz didn’t want that. On graduation day, he got angry and said I was getting in the way of his love with Claire—and he killed me.

***

In my third life, I stopped trying to improve myself. I focused only on separating Claire and Franz.

Because of my past memories, studying wasn’t hard. Fashion and social skills also came easily.

I made sure they didn’t spend time alone or grow closer.

In the end, Franz never asked to marry Claire, and I was relieved.

But then, Claire got angry and asked if she wasn’t allowed to be close to her future family. On graduation day, she stabbed me with a knife, and I died again.

***

In my fourth life, I was tired of repeating everything. I just wanted to end this cycle, no matter how.

I didn’t expect happiness anymore. I just wanted it to stop.

So I avoided Franz and Claire as much as I could. I had no expectations for Franz.

Instead, I focused on being a good daughter and building a good relationship with Franz’s parents.

I even tried to hint to both families about Claire and Franz’s relationship, hoping the engagement would be reconsidered.

It worked. After one year, my engagement was broken, and Claire became Franz’s fiancée.

I thought I could just graduate peacefully.

But on graduation day, someone sent me a letter asking me to come somewhere—and I was pushed and killed.

***

Now, I’m in my fifth life.

Maybe saying “I’m living my life again” is too much. It’s only the two years between Claire entering the academy and my graduation that keep repeating.

But those two years are the hardest and most painful time of my life.

I want it to end so badly, but I no longer know how to stop it.

When I felt completely hopeless—

“Is it okay to just watch? Isn’t he your fiancé?”

A voice spoke to me.

It was Prince Camus Reinfeldt, the Third Prince of this country.

This was strange. In all my lives, nothing changed unless I acted differently.

“Prince Camus…? I… I…”

“Lady Cheryl Atley, right? We’re in the same year, so no need for formal greetings.”

He smiled kindly as I immediately bowed my head.

We were in the same grade but different classes. We had never talked before.

We had only exchanged glances when passing each other. That was all.

So I was surprised he knew my name.

“So, is this okay with you?”

He looked at Franz and Claire as they laughed and talked.

But now, I don’t even know if that scene is good or bad anymore.

All I feel is despair because I can’t stop the cycle.

“I don’t know anymore.”

“What?”

“But I think… it can’t be avoided.”

I said that and bowed again.

I didn’t want to stay there. Watching with the prince only made me feel more miserable.

I knew it was rude, but I ran away.

***

“I’m sorry for what I did yesterday.”

“Huh…?”

The next day, I was in the library looking for a book.

Like in my first life, I didn’t know what to do yet, so I went to the library after class.

I had done the same in my second, third, and fourth lives.

So I thought nothing new could happen here.

But again, Prince Camus came and spoke to me.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. Actually, I…”

“No. I shouldn’t have stepped into matters between fiancés. I’m sorry.”

“Please, raise your head. I’m not upset, so don’t worry.”

He bowed deeply. I was shocked.

Even in school, where everyone is equal as students, he’s still a prince.

I’m just a count’s daughter. This made me nervous, and my heart raced.

“I’m glad.”

He looked honestly relieved.

Even though it wouldn’t hurt him if I were angry.

“Do you like books?”

“Eh? Yes… I think I do.“

Maybe he asked because I was holding one.

His question surprised me.

Why would he care if I liked books?

He didn’t need to keep talking. He could have left after apologizing.

“I’ve often seen you in the library. Would you tell me your favorite book?”

“What!? M-my books aren’t very interesting, Your Highness…”

“No, I really want to read your recommendations.”

What… is happening?

Talking to the prince about books? I couldn’t imagine that in any of my past lives.

“U-Um, well then…”

It would be rude to refuse him too firmly.

That’s what I thought—so I decided I’d just recommend one book and end it there.

But that’s when I noticed something for the first time.

Ever since I first saw that scene in my first life, I hadn’t read a single novel I used to love.

Before Claire entered the academy, I truly loved reading novels. I always stopped by the library to search for new books I hadn’t read yet.

Books were like my only friends. I was completely absorbed in the world of stories. That’s why I wasn’t good at socializing, didn’t care much about anything else, and was just seen as a plain girl.

But after that scene, the only books I picked up in the library were ones that would help me with studies, social manners, or my future.

I hadn’t felt the joy of reading in a long, long time.