After a knock, a maid hesitantly entered, waiting for Gloria's reply. It was Kyla, Gloria's mother, who had betrayed her in her first life.
Seeing Gloria standing firmly in front of the full-length mirror, Kyla was taken aback. Gloria's frustration rose; showing emotions like that made her incompetent as a maid in a noble household.
Had she been herself before the "regression" that A-ko spoke of, she would have unhesitatingly lashed out with a whip. But now, she understood that it was those actions that led to the guillotine in the end.
It wasn't because, as the ghost had said, she hadn't been kind to others.
The real issue was that by resorting to the whip so openly, she had sought to punish one, setting an example for all.
Gloria believed that it was the duty of someone in a position of power, a noble, to personally punish those who failed. If she showed leniency to the failures of the lower class, it would lead to arrogance.
In the cutthroat world of high society, reputation determined the rise and fall of families. If public opinion could be shaped to follow certain norms, she thought, showing an example was necessary.
On the other hand, the Saint was like a woman dipped in lukewarm sugar water from Gloria's perspective.
She would change her expression with ease, never voicing discomfort or dissatisfaction, but instead pretending to cry, saying, "It's my fault…"
Despite being of the highest rank in the class system, the Saint was a daughter who promoted "equality," making her ill-suited to noble life.
Yet, the Crown Prince and his close attendants sympathized with her and took action to punish anyone who made the Saint cry. And so, Gloria was executed.
The Saint, with her sugary attitude, had captured the hearts of those stronger than her, made them dependent on her, and manipulated them like pawns.
In other words, the Saint was the spiritual master of the Crown Prince and his advisors.
According to A-ko's world, sometimes social death can be an even harsher punishment than physical death.
It was the same in this world. Gloria now reflected that despite knowing this, she had always chosen physical punishment over other methods.
Luckily, she had been given a second chance with the reversal of time, and she knew that she needed to change those parts of herself.
While Gloria hated those who had driven her to death and longed for revenge, she understood that physical death was not the only form of retribution.
The Saint's method of wielding kindness, which resulted in far more severe punishment later on, was something Gloria felt she could learn from, having been ensnared by it.
Gloria swore that she would carefully guide each individual to their fitting conclusion, subtly making them aware of her presence, just as the Saint had done.
Even lukewarm sugar water could kill, if applied with the right amount and method.
Gloria had learned that from experience.