Kill the Author, Then to Hell - Chapter 18.2

Nothing had changed with Jane’s removal.

“It’s time for… bridal training for our Edith.”

Simon brought up bride lessons at exactly the same timing.

“Ah! My friend at the academy has a sister who’s being educated by a governess.”

Peter’s dialogue was the same, too.

The only difference was the governess hired through a referral.

“Good day. I am Barbara Ernest, and starting today, I will be your governess for your bridal lessons.”

Even the book Barbara handed me for pre-study was the same <Lady’s Conduct>.

Curious, I asked if she knew Jane, but Barbara shook her head.

“Jane… Eyre, you say? I know quite a few people who work as governesses, but I’ve never heard of that name.”

Barbara, who had spent some time in a convent, talked more about religion, probably because of that.

“Miss, do you know what great power Father Marsh has bestowed upon us women?”

But in the end, what she said was… the same as what I had heard thousands of times from Jane.

“The ability to please men! To bear children, to nurture them, and to care for the household, these are essential skills needed in the world!”

I used [Affection of One’s Blood and Flesh] to ask for a better room for Barbara, and while I was at it, to improve the conditions for all the employees of the mansion.

It was more for my own satisfaction than for Barbara’s.

“…You really do take after your mother.”

After a long silence, Simon left with only those words, instructing Samuel to change the rooms.

It was the only time Simon mentioned my mother after her death.

Not that it changed anything, really.

I confirmed that the employees were receiving better treatment and then used [Fast Forward] to skip everything.

Right up to just before the assassin would appear.

‘To avoid the assassin…’

There wasn’t a lack of methods.

Returning to the estate immediately after the debutante ball.

Suddenly claiming stomach pains and checking into a hospital.

Following Johan wherever he went.

Asking Simon to strengthen the security, and so on.

I tried everything.

Some methods failed.

And some were quite effective.

Each time, I lived a little longer.

But that didn’t mean I avoided death.

Because those trying to kill me were always one step ahead of me.

If the person who wanted me dead couldn’t send an assassin, they sent something else.

“Look, a surprise gift from His Highness the Crown Prince! Miss, open it quickly!”

“A gift, all of a sudden?”

“Yes! A handsomely dressed guard brought it! What could it be?”

The moment I opened the box I received,

Boom—

It exploded, killing everyone in the house, including me.

“Hmm? This sandwich tastes slightly bitter.”

“Ha, our Edith is so sensitive. Chef Harriet is on vacation, so the temporary chef made this especially for you.”

“Ah, I see… Wait, something’s… blergh—”

There was also a time I died from eating a poisoned sandwich, my stomach twisting in knots.

‘Creative, aren’t you?’

There was a time I tried to avoid all dangers.

So, I barely drank water and holed up in my room under strict security for more than a week.

But then, after drinking poisoned water and dying, well…

As time went on, it became difficult to remember all the potential threats of death that might come my way.

Gradually, I stopped counting my deaths.

And in the end, I only wished not to suffer in my next death.

Living adrift like seaweed on water,

At some point, everything became dim.

The will to find out why someone keeps killing me and to fight back.

The desperation to marry the Crown Prince and escape from my family.

The goal to discover why my mother died.

And above all, the dream of learning magic to become a mage.

“Miss Edith, you must feel like you’ve achieved your dream!”

At some tea party somewhere, asked by some young lady of some household, her eyes sparkling,

“Dream…?”

The word felt so foreign.

“Yes! Marrying the Crown Prince is something every girl dreams of at least once!”

Was that so?

What I dreamed of when I was younger was something more…

Well, it didn’t really matter anymore.

—Ding!

It sounded like something I had heard a hundred times.

‘This time was somewhat fresh.’

It was the first time seeing the repertoire where Delia, jealous of my impending marriage to the Crown Prince, poisons the tea to kill me.

Anything new was good, but it was too painful.

I could still feel the bitter liquid coming up from my stomach.

‘Haah, I should skip that tea party next time. The cake was delicious, what a waste.’

That was about the extent of my thoughts.

‘Hmm?’

I was pondering where to use [Fast Forward] next.

Going right up to the moment before my previous death made me overthink, so lately, I preferred to stop quite a bit before anything significant?

‘Hmm… The food at Peter’s birthday party was to die for. Should I go right before that?’

While I was mulling over this,

For some reason, the status window opened on its own before I even called it up.

A popup window was blinking painfully, as if insisting it needed to be dealt with immediately.

‘Eh?’

T/N: Unfortunately, I’ve decided to drop this novel. Other translators are free to pick up this project! If you’re interested, I can send you the raws, just contact me via discord at the CA discord server.