With Green’s departure, clarity slowly returned to Dolores.
Though it was reason, the current state was no more than a period of contemplation—just enough for Dolores to realize the many contradictions between her thoughts and her actions.
Perhaps the role Dolores was meant to play in this story was exactly this—the punished one.
But that was the plot that belonged to the original owner.
Dolores could not, and would not, allow herself to be manipulated so easily.
Having experienced death already, how could Dolores possibly give up her chance to keep living so lightly?
Continuing to live meant more to Dolores than anything else. By comparison, even her Rebirth as a girl seemed trivial now.
Although Dolores still felt unfamiliar with this body, and her gaze would instinctively avoid anything that might reflect her appearance.
When it came to Green’s revenge, what Dolores feared most was actually the existence of the system.
If, one day, she truly forgot her past and lost her sense of self, then even if she remained alive, it would be no different from death.
Even if she confessed her identity as a transmigrator to Green, she would not be able to stop him from using the system. That would only put her in an even more passive position.
Yet the Dolores of now was already deeply trapped in passivity.
As a princess, she enjoyed all sorts of benefits from the royal family, but accordingly, she was also subjected to severe restrictions.
If she and Green had transmigrated at the same time, half a year ago, perhaps she could have struggled, resisted; getting familiar with this world and how it worked would take time, and so would using its rules to plan and scheme.
But what Dolores lacked most was time. Green moved too fast, unbelievably so—in just three days, he had used his system to gain two stages of favorability.
And what about Dolores? During those three days, she had been passive the whole time, making no progress at all.
Yes, she was a princess, but what—could she actually do?
Dolores put a question mark on her own future. Still, she had to struggle a bit, if not for anything else, then simply to “live a little longer…”
In the tranquil garden, insects chirped from time to time, flower petals swayed in the wind, and the sun gradually moved past the center of the sky.
“Prepare a carriage to take me to the Royal Library.”
Dolores ordered. The maid beside her nodded and went to make arrangements. Only then did Dolores realize that several hours had already passed.
Dolores had to consider a very practical question.
Her predicament required help from others to resolve. If she needed help, then first she had to think about what she could offer others.
Power, status, wealth.
She was a princess, not a Prince with succession rights. Her older and younger brothers, at the very least, would receive a steady share of the kingdom’s lands after the King’s Death, while her best outcome would be a Political Marriage to someone who loved her.
So the leverage she could promise was far less than others. No one would stay by her side—except for those suitors.
At this moment, the purple-haired maid suddenly appeared beside her, informing her that they could set off.
In the blink of an eye, Dolores arrived at the Royal Library once again. A familiar figure had just come down from the second floor. Seeing her, he quickly waved in greeting.
“We meet again! Miss Lis~” Albeco greeted her cheerfully, as if seeing an old friend after a long time.
Dolores invited him, who had just come down from the second floor, to go upstairs to chat. As he turned, she caught a glimpse of the church emblem stamped on the books he was carrying—just as he’d said when he’d asked for them.
The two sat across from each other. Albeco scratched his head a little sheepishly.
“Actually, before, I had the maid ask the staff to make me a six-month second-floor access card. Research and reading take so, so much time… I didn’t think they’d agree, but Miss Lis, your status must really be high.”
“To be able to speak with you is my honor.”
Albeco’s flattery was heartfelt, since even students of the High Academy had no borrowing rights to the library’s second floor. Anyone with an eye for such things could guess Dolores’s noble status from this alone.
Dolores suddenly took the initiative to tell him her true identity: she was the Second Princess, Dolores.
For a moment, Albeco’s expression froze. His gaze drifted slightly to the side, then returned as he stood up and bowed. “Your Highness the Princess, please allow me to once again express my respect.”
After Albeco finished his bow, Dolores spoke again: “You don’t seem too surprised.”
“You noticed that… In fact, when I first met Your Highness, I noticed your eyes. Only those related to the royal family have such clear green eyes. Mine are green too, but compared to yours, they look much duller, since I’ve never attended the Blood Rite—after all, I’m just a country boy.”
Dolores couldn’t compare her eyes to his; in her previous life, she’d never seen anyone with anything but black eyes—of course, mostly because she’d never really observed herself closely.
“I guessed you were most likely the daughter of some noble, but I never imagined you’d actually be the Princess herself.”
Albeco answered honestly, then asked in confusion, “But I never expected Your Highness to tell me your identity directly. I’m truly flattered.”
“But please forgive me, Your Highness. I’m just an ordinary college student; at most, I can only offer a little emotional support.”
It seemed Albeco had a clear understanding of his own position. As for personality, Dolores, who carried no airs, actually preferred interacting with people like him.
“No need to be so formal. I just happened to see you here and wanted to chat… I remember you came up to the second floor to look up religious texts—are you planning to apply to the Seminary?”
“No, I’m planning to apply to the Mage Academy. I’ve always been curious about magic since I was little, but applying to such a demanding discipline takes strict knowledge and talent. I’ve spent all four years in the Arts Academy preparing for it. As for reading religious texts, it’s because…”
Here, Albeco’s expression grew a bit guilty, but he still explained to Dolores: “Honestly, I’ve always been short on money. College tuition is so expensive. The Natives on the lands of the Land Kingdom once resisted the Cross Army’s conquest. My friend found a Relic related to this, and I’ve been looking up information for our exploration.”
The corners of Dolores’s mouth twitched. Well, she’d always thought he was the bookish literary type, but apparently, tuition was a huge burden for most people here.
Albeco continued, “The church once had a Saintess who died in that conquest. Her legacy is still missing to this day. I was wondering, what if it happens to be in that Relic?”
That’s basically like winning the lottery. Still…
Saintess… Hearing Albeco mention that word, Dolores instinctively pictured the classic Japanese Saintess with a staff. But in her memory, the Saintess of this world—the one who was a target in the protagonist’s conquest—was more of a Joan-of-Arc type.
In the game’s setting, the Saintess didn’t just have “Divine Revelation”; she also had a suite of exclusive Holy Arts, specializing in protection and warding.
Suddenly, Dolores thought of something.
That “Saintess” should be in the royal capital, Urgresh, at this point in the game’s story.
Could the Saintess’s Holy Arts help her resist the system’s control? If she remembered correctly… yes, they could?
It involved the Saintess’s vengeance arc; Green had to destroy everything she protected before he could exploit her emotional vulnerabilities and use the system to interfere with her favorability after imprisoning her.
Later, many characters had their own means to resist the system’s interference—a mechanic designed to “extend game time and add new restrictions to slow player progression,” as Dolores now recalled.
This was the only thing she could use—the only possible way to resist the system.
“Your Highness… why did you suddenly go silent? Was my motivation too worldly…?” Albeco fidgeted anxiously, wondering if he’d overstepped somehow… right?
Tuition was just too expensive. Who’d have thought in another world, she’d almost not be able to attend college because of tuition!
“No, I really appreciate talking with you. You’ve solved a problem that’s been bothering me for a long time.” Dolores shook her head.
Albeco looked relieved, then gave Dolores a bright smile. “It’s my honor to be of help, Your Highness.”
Dolores got up to leave. Albeco picked up his stack of books, ready to return them to their original places on the second floor.
After putting them away, Albeco pulled out another book and sat down. This one was a history of another nation.
Albeco was a Vas, and he was reading about the history of the Old Vas Kingdom.
“So strange… Dolores is so different from how I remember—she’s not ladylike, not gentle, and definitely doesn’t feel like a mother at all.”
“Did she really get interested in the Relic I mentioned? No, she didn’t even follow up. Guess I made up a friend for nothing.”