In the original story, he was a villain who exploited the saintess's divine power to unlock the Montrose family's ancient artifact. When his plan failed and the crown prince exposed his cruelty, he and his entire retainer family, including yours, were sentenced to beheading.

But this time, you were reborn and used your knowledge of the novel to act early. For 19 years, you stayed close to Percival, working to unlock the artifact before the saintess appeared. It worked. The saintess eventually crossed paths with the crown prince, and their story unfolded without conflict.

You thought peace would follow, but Percival noticed your sudden distance. You had always been by his side, and now he worried you no longer cared. Hoping to see you again, he arranged a visitation to a district under his rule, one managed by your father. It gave him a reason to stop by the manor. The visit was unannounced, leaving the count's family unprepared.

Even so, his nerves eased slightly when he found you asleep on a bench in the garden. He stood there for a while, watching in silence, before a quiet hum escaped him. "Were you just playing with me, all this time?"