After the ceremony, I was guided to the Chief Mage's exclusive balcony.

This balcony is located at the highest point of the royal palace, offering a view overlooking the entire royal city square. When I pushed open the heavy oak door, the evening sunlight fell gently on my face, warm and soft.


I slowly walked to the railing of the balcony, tightly gripping the Chief's staff that symbolized supreme authority. The gems on the staff sparkled in the sunset, as if narrating the sacredness and solemnity of this moment.

When my figure appeared on the balcony, the tens of thousands of citizens gathered in the square below erupted into cheers.

"Lady Eliana!"


"Long live the Archmage!"

"Thank you for saving us!"


The deafening cheers surged toward me like a tidal wave, the sound almost shaking the entire palace. I looked at the faces gazing up at me below—there were commoners, nobles, merchants, scholars, and all their eyes sparkled with the same light.

It was reverence, gratitude, and genuine recognition.

I am no longer anyone's vassal.

I am no longer Prince Theo's fiancée.

I am no longer a tool for the House of Ethelgard's political marriage.

At this moment, I am simply myself—Eliana von Ethelgard, the kingdom's Archmage, the symbol of power and wisdom.

I raised my staff, acknowledging the people below. In that instant, the cheers grew even more fervent, as if they would pierce through the clouds.

"Chief Eliana."

A familiar and gentle voice came from behind. Without turning around, I knew who was speaking—it was Karen.

I could sense him standing just half a step away behind me. He was wearing a brand-new assistant's uniform, a deep blue robe embroidered with silver magical patterns, with the Deputy Chief's badge pinned to his chest.

"Congratulations, Chief Eliana," his voice carried undisguised pride and admiration.

Even without turning around, I could imagine his expression at this moment—those deep blue eyes must be shining with gentle light, lips curved in a subtle smile, just like how he always looked at me.

"Thank you, Karen," I answered softly, my voice partially carried away by the wind, but I knew he could hear me.

Among the crowd, I could also see other familiar faces.

The Knight Commander's son, Edrick, was at the front of the crowd. He took off his helmet and held it high, offering me the most enthusiastic applause. That always-serious future knight now had his face beaming with genuine joy.

My junior schoolmates were there too. Little Marcus was almost jumping up and down, his face flushed red as he waved frantically at me. Beside him, Lilith applauded elegantly, her eyes filled with admiration.

Even the foreign prince from the neighboring country was among the crowd. He bowed to me with an extremely formal etiquette, showing respect that transcended national boundaries, pure and sincere.

All these people were offering me their most genuine blessings.

In my previous life, when I walked toward the guillotine, I was greeted with mockery, curses, and stones. Everyone thought I was a malicious woman, a wretch unworthy of living in this world.

And now, they offer me their highest respect through applause and cheers.

This enormous contrast stirred powerful emotional waves within me. I gripped my scepter tightly, struggling to control my breathing.

I did it.

I really did it.

I rewrote my destiny with my own power, proved my worth, and earned everyone's recognition.

"Eliana..." Karen called softly behind me.

I slowly turned around to face this man who had always stayed by my side.

When our eyes met, I saw the undisguised admiration and pride in his gaze. That excitement and joy of watching someone you love receive their deserved honor, that firm trust saying "I knew you could do it."

In my previous life, no one had ever looked at me with such eyes.

When Prince Theo looks at me, his eyes show only disgust and impatience. When Father looks at me, his eyes show only disappointment and resignation. When others look at me, their eyes show only mockery and contempt.

Only Karen, only this man, has looked at me with such warm and genuine eyes from the very beginning.

He sees the real me deep inside who yearns to be acknowledged, yearns to be understood.

He sees the scarred yet still beating heart beneath my cold mask.

He sees the part of me that deserves to be loved.

I feel the expression on my face changing. That layer of cold mask I carefully maintained is melting bit by bit.

I give Karen a smile—a heartfelt, no longer cold smile that truly belongs to Eliana von Ethelgard.

In that moment, Karen's eyes light up, as if seeing the most beautiful sight in the world.

"You look beautiful when you smile." He said softly, his voice trembling slightly, "I've always hoped to see you smile like this."

My heart began to race. This unfamiliar feeling of warmth left me somewhat at a loss, but I didn't dislike this feeling.

Perhaps... perhaps I could try to believe that there really is such a thing as kindness without expecting anything in return in this world.

Perhaps I could try to believe that Eliana von Ethelgard deserves to be loved.

I turned my head, my gaze moving past the cheering crowd toward the distant horizon.

The sunset was slowly sinking in the west, painting the sky a brilliant orange-red. The distant mountains appeared dark blue, the clouds like cotton, the entire world bathed in this warm radiance.

I remembered the cold touch of the steel blade on the guillotine at midnight in my previous life.

I remembered that complex mixture of emotions: despair, anger, and reluctance.

I remembered that moment when I swore in the darkness to change everything.

But now, all those dark clouds have completely dispersed.

The fear of the guillotine no longer binds my hands and feet, death's shadow no longer looms over my heart. Instead, there is this infinitely bright future—a future that belongs to me, one I've carved out with my own hands.

I no longer need to struggle desperately to avoid a tragic ending.

I no longer need to fight alone to prove myself.

I now stand at the pinnacle of this world, having gained power sufficient to protect myself and those I love.

And I am no longer alone.

With Karen's protection behind me, the people's support beneath me, and friends accompanying me by my side.

This is the meaning of rebirth, isn't it—not just changing fate, but finding one's true self, finding people and things worth cherishing.

I took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sunset and the gentle caress of the breeze.

From now on, Eliana von Ethelgard will no longer be a pawn manipulated by fate.

I am the master of my own life, the writer of my own destiny.

And my story is just beginning.