Heidi sat in the carriage, her hands gently resting on her lap. She thought to herself, "I've already sent the letter to the king. I'll give my reply to his marriage proposal on the crown prince's birthday… but what exactly should I say? I told him in the letter, but now…"
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently, as if someone—or something—had attacked it.
"What… what is happening?!" Heidi gasped, her heart racing.
No sound came from outside. The carriage remained eerily silent, but the shaking continued. She leaned forward and peered through the small window, only to realize that the carriage wasn't being pulled forward at all. Her eyes widened in shock. "Was this… a trap? Are they trying to kill me?"
Before she could react further, massive jade-colored vines shot up from the ground and wrapped around the carriage with immense force. The thick, glimmering vines twisted tightly, as if some invisible magic were controlling them.
A loud cracking sound echoed, and the carriage lurched violently. Heidi's stomach dropped as she realized with horror that it was being lifted and thrown off the path. The ground below rushed up toward her…
After the carriage crashed, Heidi's eyes suddenly flew open. She found herself lying on her bed.
She quickly sat up, breathing heavily. "That… that was a terrible dream," she murmured to herself.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Her maid entered and bowed slightly. "Young lady, the Duke is calling for you."
"The Duke?" Heidi replied, still a little shaken. "Alright… I'm coming."
As she walked toward the Duke's room, a strange feeling crept into her mind. Everything around her felt oddly familiar, as if this moment had already happened before. But she couldn't understand why.
When she reached the Duke, she greeted him politely, and soon the same conversation began again. Heidi listened, but the confusion in her mind only grew stronger. Why does this feel like I've already lived through it? she wondered.
A few days later, she once again found herself sitting inside a carriage, heading to the Crown Prince's twenty-first birthday celebration.
And then… the same thing happened again.
The carriage was attacked.
The vines wrapped around it.
The carriage fell down the ravine.
The next moment, she woke up in her bed again.
This strange cycle continued for three days straight. Every day the same events repeated—the same journey, the same attack, and the same fall.
Heidi finally realized with growing fear that something was terribly wrong.
Why does the same thing keep happening?
On the third day, when Heidi opened her eyes again and found herself lying on the same bed, her heart began to pound.
"No… this can't be happening," she whispered.
She slowly looked around the room. Everything was exactly the same—the curtains, the sunlight coming through the window, even the quiet sound of footsteps in the hallway.
Then there was the same knock on the door.
"Young lady, the Duke is calling for you," the maid's voice came from outside.
Heidi's eyes widened.
The same words… again.
At that moment, she finally understood.
"This… this is repeating," she murmured to herself. "The same day… the same events… over and over again."
Her hands tightened into fists.
"The carriage… the attack… the fall into the ravine…" she said slowly. "I've already died three times."
A cold shiver ran down her spine, but instead of fear, determination began to grow inside her.
"Alright," she said quietly, taking a deep breath.
"If this day keeps repeating… then that means I have a chance to change it."
She stood up from the bed, her eyes sharp with resolve.
"This time," she whispered, "I won't let that carriage fall."
For the first time since the strange loop began, Heidi felt a spark of control over her fate.
And this time…
She was ready.
The scene started just like before.
Heidi was sitting with the Duke. He was calmly drinking his tea, while Heidi silently watched him.
I hope what happened five days ago doesn't happen today, she thought to herself. This time I will change the topic completely. Now that I know who the enemy is, I'll let everything happen just like before until the right moment.
The Duke placed his teacup down and looked at her.
"So, Heidi," he said gently, "tell me, how are you feeling?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Daddy," she replied with a bright smile.
The Duke froze in surprise.
"Daddy?" he repeated.
Heidi tilted her head slightly. "Yes… is there any problem?"
The Duke shook his head slowly.
"No… it's just that ever since you lost your memory, you haven't called me 'Daddy' even once. So I was a little surprised."
"Oh, that's nothing to worry about," Heidi said quickly, smiling warmly. "Some of my memories are slowly starting to come back."
Her bright smile filled the Duke with happiness.
"That's wonderful," he said softly. "Then let's talk about the reason I called you here."
He straightened his posture.
"I called you because the King has asked for your hand in marriage… for the Crown Prince."
Inside her mind, Heidi sighed.
Last time, I said I would give my answer at the Crown Prince's 21st birthday celebration, she thought. But this time… I'll meet him earlier and clear everything up.
Outwardly, she smiled calmly.
"That's fine, Daddy," she said. "If you believe this marriage with the Crown Prince is right, then I'm willing to accept it."
The Duke looked at her carefully.
"No, my child," he said gently. "If you don't want this marriage, you can refuse. We can decline the King's proposal. You don't have to force yourself."
Heidi shook her head.
"It's alright, Daddy. I'll be fine," she said with confidence. "But I would like to speak with the King tomorrow."
The Duke nodded slowly.
"Alright."
Heidi stood up gracefully.
"Then I should go now and prepare for tomorrow. Please send a letter informing them that I'm willing to meet the Crown Prince tomorrow."
She bowed politely.
"Goodbye, Daddy."
With that, she turned and walked out of the room.
But as she left, her expression changed slightly.
This time, she thought, I will change my fate.