Jennifer quickly lowered her gaze the moment Alexander looked in her direction.
Her heart was beating too fast.
Too loud.
Why...?
Why was she suddenly unable to look at him properly?
In the previous life—
Alexander terrified her.
Not because he was cruel.
But because he was untouchable.
Cold.
Unreadable.
A man who only looked at Sabrina.
Always Sabrina.
Even while dying—
It was still Sabrina.
Jennifer's fingers slowly tightened against her sleeves.
That kind of love...
She had never received it before.
Not from Charles.
Not from anyone.
Meanwhile—
Sabrina quietly observed Jennifer from afar.
Something truly felt strange.
Jennifer kept glancing toward Alexander.
Then quickly looking away whenever he noticed.
Almost nervous.
No...
More than nervous.
Uneasy.
As though she was seeing him differently now.
Sabrina's chest tightened faintly.
Then suddenly—
Jennifer stepped forward.
"Princess," she greeted softly.
Sabrina immediately straightened slightly.
Polite smile.
Calm posture.
Just like before.
But now—
Sabrina could see through it completely.
"Lady Jennifer."
Jennifer's gaze briefly shifted toward Alexander standing beside her.
Then back toward Sabrina.
"I heard the royal banquet will be held tomorrow night," she said carefully.
Sabrina nodded once.
"Yes."
Jennifer hesitated briefly before speaking again.
"...Will the Duke attend as well?"
Silence.
Sabrina froze slightly.
Why was Jennifer asking about Alexander?
Beside her—
Alexander himself looked mildly confused.
Meanwhile—
Jennifer realized her mistake immediately.
"I-I mean..." she quickly forced a small laugh. "Since His Grace rarely attends events like this..."
Alexander answered calmly.
"His Majesty requested my attendance."
Formal.
Short.
Cold.
Jennifer quietly stared at him.
And somehow—
That only made her chest tighten more.
Because even now—
Alexander still carried himself with dignity.
Despite everything waiting for him in the future.
Meanwhile—
Sabrina noticed it again.
That look in Jennifer's eyes.
Different.
Something was terribly wrong.
Before Sabrina could think further—
A servant suddenly approached quickly.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is requesting your presence."
Sabrina blinked slightly before nodding.
"I'll come immediately."
The servant bowed before leaving.
Sabrina slowly looked toward Alexander.
"I'll only be gone briefly."
Alexander immediately answered calmly.
"I'll accompany you."
Jennifer froze slightly.
That quickly?
Sabrina noticed too.
And warmth spread faintly inside her chest again.
Because Alexander always did this.
Quietly placing himself beside her naturally.
Protecting her without asking for recognition.
Sabrina smiled softly.
"It's alright. You should rest a little too."
Alexander hesitated briefly.
As though genuinely considering whether leaving her alone was acceptable.
Then finally—
"...As you wish, Princess."
Jennifer silently watched the interaction.
And suddenly—
Another memory surfaced violently inside her head.
Flash.
The dungeon.
Alexander chained down while blood covered the floor beneath him.
Charles laughing cruelly.
"Tell me, Duke... was she worth it?"
Alexander coughing blood.
Then smiling weakly.
"I'd choose her... again."
Jennifer's breathing suddenly became uneven again.
Because now—
For the first time—
She truly understood how terrifying Alexander's love was.
Not obsession.
Not possession.
Devotion.
Absolute devotion.
And somehow—
Jennifer found herself envying Sabrina.
Painfully.
---
That night—
Rain quietly poured outside Jennifer's bedroom windows.
The room remained dark except for the candlelight flickering softly near the bed.
Jennifer sat silently while staring at her reflection again.
Her thoughts felt chaotic.
Messy.
Unstable.
Everything changed.
No—
Sabrina changed everything.
Jennifer slowly lowered her gaze.
In the previous life—
She wanted Charles because he became king.
Because he had power.
Because he promised her things.
But now that she remembered everything clearly—
Jennifer realized something horrifying.
Charles never loved anyone except himself.
Not Sabrina.
Not her.
No one.
Meanwhile—
Alexander—
The man everyone feared—
Was the only person who truly loved until the very end.
Jennifer suddenly laughed weakly to herself.
How ironic.
The entire kingdom feared the wrong man.
Then slowly—
Another thought entered her mind.
If Sabrina remembered the previous life too...
Then wouldn't Sabrina eventually realize Jennifer betrayed her?
Jennifer's face slowly paled.
Fear crept back inside her chest immediately.
No.
No no no.
If Sabrina knew—
Then Jennifer's future was over.
Unless...
Her thoughts suddenly stopped.
Alexander.
Jennifer froze.
Then slowly looked toward the rain outside the window.
If things were changing already...
Then perhaps—
People could change too.
And for the first time—
Jennifer wondered what would've happened...
If Alexander had looked at her the way he looked at Sabrina.