Chapter 3

I can’t keep up with the sudden change in attitude.
　
“What on earth is going on?”
　
Ever since I got labeled as a false saint, I’ve been forgotten by everyone.
And yet, they were worried enough to call a doctor…
　
“Hm? The room… is clean…”
　
There shouldn’t be any servants cleaning my room, and dust should’ve piled up everywhere.
It was dusty enough that just walking would leave footprints…
　
“Did someone clean while I was asleep?”
　
It’s way too strange for their attitude to change so drastically in just two days.
Something must’ve happened while I was asleep.
Something that made everyone change how they treat me…
　
“Saintess judgment?”
　
Could it be that they acknowledged my saintess judgment as correct?
That’s the only explanation I can think of.
The way I’ve been treated stems from the suspicion that I’m not a real saintess.
　
“…But if I’ve been acknowledged… then what about Solene?”
　
I sit up from the bed.
　
“Onee-sama!”
　
The door bursts open without even a knock, and the one who comes running is…
　
“Solene?”
　
“Onee-sama… I was so worried about you.”
　
“You… you’re Solene… right?”
　
“Onee-sama, did you forget about me?”
　
“No… I remember… you’re my little sister… Solene…”
　
“That’s right. Thank goodness. I thought you forgot me. You didn’t wake up for two whole days, I was so worried.”
　
“I-I see…”

“Onee-sama, please listen. Dad and Mom are so awful, they suddenly started being cold to me and said they won’t buy me any dresses or shoes. I’ve been invited to Michel-sama’s tea party, and it’s so embarrassing not to have a single new thing to wear. Please, big sis, convince them for me too.”
　
I know this conversation.
And Solene’s appearance too…
But still, that can’t be right…
　
“Nnngh…”
　
Maybe all of this is just because of the fever.
　
“Onee-sama! Are you listening?!”
　
“…Solene, I’m still not feeling well…”
　
“You’ve been asleep for two days and you’re still unwell? I’m suffering here, and you don’t feel sorry for me, big sis?”
　
“I’m sorry, just let me rest a bit…”
　
“Even Onee-sama is being cold to me… everyone’s so cruel!”
　
Solene left the room, still full of dissatisfaction with my lack of sympathy.
More than that, I was feeling something off — a sense of disconnect between the Solene I remembered and the Solene I just saw.
　
“Solene… did she look younger?”
　
The Solene I just saw seemed like she was twelve or thirteen years old.
I sat up in bed and looked at myself.
　
“…Time’s gone back? No, that can’t be… This is… a dream.”
　
A dream I see just before I die.
To regret my past mistakes right up until my final moments…