The rain finally stopped two days later.
But the heaviness surrounding the palace remained.
Servants moved more cautiously now.
Royal knights increased patrols around the palace grounds.
Even the nobles became quieter during gatherings.
Because everyone could feel it.
Something was coming.
And somehow—
That uneasy atmosphere only made Jennifer's thoughts spiral further.
---
Inside her chambers—
Jennifer stood silently in front of the mirror while staring at her own reflection.
Pale.
Restless.
Uneasy.
Ever since recovering her memories from the previous life—
Nothing felt normal anymore.
Especially not Sabrina.
Jennifer slowly clenched the edge of the table.
Because the more she watched Sabrina lately—
The more terrified she became.
The Princess changed too much.
The way she looked at Alexander now.
The way she avoided Charles.
The way she reacted during the council meeting.
It wasn't normal.
It was as though—
Sabrina already knew the future too.
Jennifer's breathing quietly became uneven.
No.
That couldn't happen.
Because if Sabrina truly remembered everything—
Then eventually—
Charles would be exposed.
And Jennifer herself wouldn't escape either.
Panic quietly swallowed her whole again.
Then slowly—
Alexander's face surfaced inside her mind once more.
Cold crimson eyes.
Calm voice.
Gentle hands that only softened around Sabrina.
Jennifer froze slightly.
Because lately—
She kept thinking about him more and more.
And it frustrated her.
In the previous life—
Alexander terrified her.
He was cold.
Untouchable.
A war monster covered in blood.
But now—
After remembering everything—
Jennifer realized something painful.
Alexander was never cruel first.
The kingdom made him cruel.
Sabrina made him lonely.
Charles made him suffer.
Yet despite everything—
He still loved Sabrina until the very end.
Jennifer slowly lowered herself onto the chair.
Her heartbeat became uneven again.
Why...?
Why would someone love another person that much?
Enough to die for them?
Enough to forgive them endlessly?
It didn't make sense.
And somehow—
That only made her obsession grow worse.
---
Meanwhile—
Inside the royal training grounds—
The sound of swords clashing echoed loudly beneath the afternoon sun.
Clang!
Several knights immediately stumbled backward after Alexander effortlessly disarmed them once again.
"Again," Alexander said calmly.
The young knights immediately straightened nervously.
Strict.
Cold.
Perfect.
Jennifer quietly watched from afar beneath the shaded walkway.
And for the first time—
She truly paid attention to him.
Tall.
Sharp shoulders.
Scars faintly visible beneath his gloves and collar.
Even standing still—
His presence alone overwhelmed everyone around him.
No wonder people feared him.
But somehow—
Sabrina no longer did.
Jennifer slowly tightened her grip against her fan.
Then quietly—
She walked forward.
The surrounding knights immediately noticed her arrival.
"Lady Jennifer."
Alexander turned slightly before lowering his sword calmly.
"...Lady Valmont."
Formal.
Distant.
Jennifer forced a soft smile.
"I apologize for interrupting."
Alexander nodded once.
"What do you need?"
Straightforward.
No warmth at all.
Jennifer felt strangely irritated by that immediately.
Because Alexander spoke to Sabrina differently now.
Softer.
Gentler.
Even his eyes changed whenever he looked at her.
Jennifer slowly stepped closer.
"I simply wished to speak with Your Grace."
Alexander handed his sword toward another knight before speaking calmly.
"...About?"
Jennifer hesitated briefly.
Then softly—
"About Princess Sabrina."
Alexander visibly stiffened slightly.
Small.
Almost impossible to notice.
But Jennifer noticed.
And suddenly—
Something twisted painfully inside her chest.
Because Alexander reacted immediately whenever Sabrina was involved.
Jennifer lowered her gaze slightly.
"...Your Grace," she began carefully, "forgive me if this sounds disrespectful..."
Alexander remained silent.
Jennifer continued softly.
"...But don't you think the Princess has been acting strangely lately?"
Silence.
Alexander's expression didn't change.
But his eyes quietly darkened.
Jennifer carefully observed him before speaking again.
"Everyone in the palace noticed it." She forced a weak laugh. "She suddenly spends all her time beside you now."
Alexander's jaw subtly tightened.
Jennifer noticed immediately.
And quietly continued—
"...Almost as though she's trying to make Marquis Evermont jealous."
Silence.
The air suddenly became heavier.
Alexander slowly looked toward her.
Expression unreadable.
Jennifer's heartbeat quietly quickened.
Because for the first time—
She thought she saw pain flicker inside those crimson eyes.
Just briefly.
Then gone again.
Jennifer stepped closer carefully.
"I only say this because I'm worried for Your Grace."
Lies.
Half lies.
Even Jennifer no longer understood her own intentions anymore.
She just—
Wanted Alexander to look at her too.
Even once.
"The Princess adored Marquis Evermont for years," Jennifer continued softly. "Feelings like that don't disappear overnight."
Every word quietly struck deeper.
Because Alexander knew she was right.
He remembered the letters.
The smiles Sabrina reserved for Charles before.
The way she used to look at him like he was the center of her world.
And Alexander—
Had watched all of it silently from afar.
Jennifer slowly reached inside her sleeve.
Then carefully pulled out several folded papers tied neatly with ribbon.
Alexander froze immediately after recognizing the handwriting.
Sabrina's handwriting.
Jennifer lowered her gaze sadly.
"...I found these while helping organize old documents."
Lie.
She kept them intentionally.
Every single one.
Love letters Sabrina once wrote for Charles.
Alexander quietly stared at them.
And suddenly—
The warmth Sabrina recently gave him felt fragile.
Dangerously fragile.
Jennifer softly continued—
"Maybe... the Princess simply feels guilty toward you now."
Alexander's fingers slowly tightened slightly.
Jennifer took another careful step closer.
"...Or perhaps she's only trying to use Your Grace to hurt Marquis Evermont back."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Alexander slowly accepted the letters from her hands.
And somehow—
That hurt Jennifer more than she expected.
Because even now—
Alexander still didn't look at her properly.
His thoughts were entirely on Sabrina.
Always Sabrina.
Jennifer slowly smiled bitterly.
"...I just didn't want Your Grace getting hurt."
Alexander stared silently at the letters for several seconds.
Then quietly—
"...Thank you for your concern."
Polite.
Cold.
Distant again.
Nothing more.
Jennifer's chest tightened painfully.
Because even after all this—
Alexander only cared about Sabrina.
And somehow—
That realization made her obsession grow even worse.