After her death, the emperor declared a three-year mourning period for his beloved wife. During these years, no one was permitted to celebrate That’s birthday. However, with the mourning period ending, Marfa had prepared a small celebration in the storehouse.
Marfa smiled at That, her expression identical to the girl’s memories. During That’s first life, Marfa was executed when That was five. Of course, Marfa hadn’t been alive in the subsequent loops.
According to imperial custom, on their fifth birthdays, princes and princesses had the chance to become full-fledged members of the royal family. By overcoming the Naming Trial, they were recognized as official members of the royal family, granted the last name Xin Lei, and permitted to live within the palace. Those who didn’t receive this recognition would take their mother’s last name. Likewise, they would become retainers to the emperor as part of their mother’s family.
At five, That hadn’t even been given a first name, much less a last name. Instead, she’d been given a dagger—the one her grandmother had used to commit suicide. “I won’t kill you, but if you wish to end your life, go ahead and do so,” Feilong’s gift had implied.
Having fully understood this, Marfa protested the emperor’s mercilessness. She was an honest, unaffected woman raised in the countryside. She’d never given much thought to inner-court politics. Thus, she’d been executed for disrespect.
Before her death, the empress had been the lone survivor of a family slain by the former emperor. Since That had no relatives on her mother’s side, she hadn’t been blessed with a second home. Even so, abandoning a five-year-old girl would have adversely affected the emperor’s reputation. Instead, she’d been left to fend for herself in a forgotten storehouse.
After That’s fifth birthday, all but one of the palace ladies who’d looked after her had been dismissed. As the one in charge of That’s upbringing, the woman had begun to abuse the girl. The bare minimum number of people had provided her with the bare minimum of care. In fact, looking after That implied a demotion or punishment.
“Should we even refer to her as Princess?” the palace lady had asked a guard once. “She wasn’t acknowledged as a member of the royal family, after all.”
The servants had spoken to each other without any concern about That overhearing.
“The emperor won’t kill her, but he doesn’t care if she lives either,” the palace lady had said on another occasion. “I hope she dies sooner rather than later.”
No, That had never lived the life of a princess, but after the age of five, her existence grew even harsher.
“Well then, shall we get you ready, Princess?” Marfa asked.
After sitting That in front of a mirror, she combed out the girl’s tangled hair gently and carefully.
“I brought you a present today!” Marfa cried, revealing a white, one-piece dress. Due to the empress’s three-year mourning period, That had only been permitted to wear shabby clothes until now. However, because today marked the three-year anniversary of the empress’s death, Marfa brought That a new dress. A lacy petticoat gave the skirt more volume, which That found adorable. This style was common in the remote nation of Yule—her mother’s homeland.
Yule and Jinlong had vastly different cultures. In Jinlong, women wore long skirts over robes with belts tied around the bodice. In Yule, women wore one-piece dresses similar to That’s gift. Marfa hailed from Yule as well. With the mourning period ended, she’d made a dress similar to what the empress had worn in her youth.
Despite being brand new and crafted from fine materials, the dress sported subdued ornamentation. The budget for That’s upbringing was kept to the bare minimum. Thus, Marfa had sewn the pink embroidery herself. Additionally, she wasn’t allowed to use anything other than white cloth. To avoid incurring the emperor’s displeasure, she’d taken great care to keep the dress inconspicuous. At the same time, she’d tailored the best possible garment for That.
During That’s first life, even this paltry budget had been misappropriated after Marfa’s death. Before long, That’s clothes had become even shabbier. The materials had worsened, and she’d received fewer replacements. Of course, no one had washed or ironed her clothes either. Abandoned, she only received enough food to survive.
Due to her lack of education, That simply accepted her circumstances. She hadn’t known anyone else to compare herself to either. And so, as she’d grown increasingly unsightly, people had regarded her with increasing contempt.
During her second life, That fled the coup to live in the lower city. Only then did she realize the strangeness of her circumstances. By studying and learning to groom herself, she’d finally become human. Likewise, she’d learned of the love between parents and children by interacting with Ming Ming and the common folk. Though she’d previously felt unloved, she’d finally been confronted with the full scope of her neglect.
She made so many precious memories in the lower city. Sadly, the aftermath of the coup had disturbed the lives of the common folk. Eventually, fiends attacked the bar where she’d lived and worked. In the end, violence and disease proliferated. Though people were always dissatisfied with the government, the empire had always guaranteed them a certain quality of life until then.
If only I could have stopped the rebellion, That had begun to think.
The maidservant placed breakfast atop the table. The meal even included a small cake, which Marfa must have baked. Only a few people in Jinlong knew how to make a Yule cake.
Palace ladies and knights had gathered in the storehouse to celebrate That’s birthday. It was a meager celebration, not befitting a princess. Regardless, it was still That’s first ever birthday party. Joy swelled in her chest. After having lived so many lives, she cherished this day all the more.
But I can’t celebrate. My mortal enemy is on her way. The one with connections to the fiends.
As soon as this thought occurred to her, That bit her lip. The memory of this day was seared into her young mind. Mion—her long-time abuser—would soon arrive. Within moments, she would declare this meager celebration blasphemy against the emperor. The empress’s mourning period was scheduled to end three years after her funeral, not three years after her death. Having been raised in the countryside, Marfa didn’t know about this custom. The unfortunate consequence was that she’d planned an unsanctioned birthday party for That.
After witnessing this event, Mion would spread malicious rumors throughout the palace. “That was celebrating her own mother’s death,” she would say. “She’s a natural-born demon.” The palace ladies who defended That would be labeled demons as well.
Learning about these events in her past life had saddened That. However, what grieved her the most was Mion using the empress’s death to speak ill of the palace ladies.
Speaking of which, didn’t Marfa hold this celebration in the morning to avoid drawing attention? That thought. Even so, Mion still showed up. That’s weird, right? This must be a trap.
“Thanks,” That said while smiling at Marfa. “But I don’t want to get the dresh dirty, so I’ll wear it later.”
When she accidentally slurred the word dress, That’s cheeks flushed. Ugh, three-year-old kids aren’t very articulate, are they?
“But Princess, this is a special occasion,” one of the palace ladies said with a beaming smile. “Don’t you want to wear this dress as soon as possible? If it gets dirty, we can wash it! You shouldn’t eat in your pajamas!”
That narrowed her eyes at the palace lady. This woman had abused her in a past life. During That’s toddler years, she hadn’t shown signs of being violent, which had led to That’s misplaced trust in her.
I bet she’s the one who leaked information to Mion.
That cocked her head. “But if you wash it, I won’t be able to wear it until it dries, right?”
“Just today, you can eat in your pajamas,” Marfa said with a laugh. “Well then, shall we have breakfast first? Everyone, come sit down!”
At Marfa’s urging, everyone sat at the table, where she’d placed a meager meal and cake for everyone present. As That began eating her cake, the door creaked open.
And so the original scene played out. After being rejected, murdered, and looping for the third time, That had to face off against Mion—the root of all evil.