Episode 2
Jet‑black hair that didn’t reflect even a speck of light, and vivid red eyes glaring straight at me. His cheek was wounded, but for a ten‑year‑old, he had an astonishingly beautiful face.
No matter how many times I looked, the boy in front of me was definitely Carsian Raumdicell—the male lead of the novel I reincarnated into.
And the very boy I had mercilessly tormented.
I turned my head and looked at my reflection in a nearby mirror.
Clean, honey‑blond hair. Violet eyes. Peach‑colored cheeks without a single scar…
Completely different from the filthy, haggard appearance I had on the day of my execution after long imprisonment. So I really did come back.
This… is this regression? I reincarnated into a book, died, *and then regressed*? Then exactly when did I return to?
“Young Lady…?”
Susan called cautiously.
Right, Susan is still here.
Our family didn’t torment Carsian at first when he arrived.
No—**we couldn’t**.
Too many people were curious about the “son of the foolish count who ventured into pirate‑infested seas to trade.”
Public curiosity turned into money, so Father treated Carsian well for a while.
But it didn’t last. When people’s interest faded and the money stopped, Carsian became a burden.
That must’ve been around six months after he came to our house.
Susan tried to protect Carsian from bullying and was later kicked out for “hypocrisy.”
And after that… Carsian suffered even more.
But since Susan was still here, that meant we hadn’t yet reached the seventh month—the point where the bullying became severe.
What should I do?
No—wait.
What do you mean *what should I do*?
I should apologize to Carsian!
Just then, Carsian asked sharply,
“Why did you call me?”
Judging from the situation, I must have summoned him to torment him again.
If it were my past self, I would’ve done it to get praise from Mother. But I know the future now: Carsian’s father—whom everyone thought dead—returns triumphantly.
And because of that, *I* get executed.
In other words, if I don’t torment Carsian, I can live.
I cleared my throat.
“I… called you because I heard you were hurt.”
“……”
“So I wanted to give you some ointment.”
But before I finished, a maid behind Susan suddenly stepped forward.
“Young Lady, what are you saying?”
“Hm?”
Startled at her angry tone, I looked at her.
Freckles dotted across her cheeks, green eyes, and dark reddish hair tied tightly—this maid was none other than **Betty**.
In my previous life, after Susan was dismissed, Betty and I became inseparable partners in tormenting Carsian. She had been executed before me, so I had felt a vague sense of nostalgia.
I was about to greet her warmly, but Betty snapped sharply,
“Young Lady, are you in your right mind?”
“…What?”
“Giving expensive ointment to that leech? Why are you suddenly acting like an idiot?”
What? Idiot?
I widened my eyes in shock.
But thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising. Before we bonded over bullying Carsian, Betty would sometimes verbally abuse me like this.
For a moment, a sharp chill ran down the back of my neck.
So—you knew too.
You knew I was a bastard child, that I could never truly belong in this family!
If Betty, a maid, knew I was illegitimate, then the entire household must have known.
I was *nothing*.
I lived my whole life believing I belonged, but they had all been mocking me. The realization choked me. The truth I only learned before death was now strangling me all over again.
I stared blankly at Betty, unable to even blink from the pain, when Susan shouted,
“Betty! How dare you speak such insolent nonsense to the Young Lady! Apologize at once!”
Her hands trembled with fury. She was angry at Betty’s actions—at how she treated me.
It seemed Susan was the only person who had truly been on my side.
I squeezed Susan’s trembling hand, rose from my seat, and glared at Betty. Then, in the coldest voice I could muster:
“Idiot? Did you just call *me* an idiot?”
My voice didn’t sound like that of a seven‑year‑old. Both Susan and Betty flinched.
But only for a moment. Betty hardened her gaze and said,
“Well, it’s true. Ointment? You want to give *him* ointment? Young Lady, you must not know because you only stay in your room—”
She spoke as if lecturing me.
“Do you know how rare the herbs for ointments are? You can’t waste them on just anyone!”
She glared at me fiercely.
Well, well.
I let go of Susan’s hand and stepped toward Betty, staring directly into her venomous green eyes.
Before we grew close, Betty would often hit me when Susan wasn’t around—calling it “discipline.” Even now, my body still tensed whenever she moved her hands.
But I couldn’t let that stop me.
I remembered the feeling of the execution blade striking my neck. If I stayed like this, I would die again.
I had to show Carsian—clearly—that I was on *his* side.
That I wouldn’t follow Betty and torment him anymore.
“Betty.”
I spoke coldly.
“Do you think I’m giving him ointment because I’m ignorant? How much more do you know than the Marquis’ eldest daughter, that you dare lecture me?”
Betty’s eyes trembled.
“How rude.”
“R—rude?!”
She shrieked, but I answered calmly,
“I am the Young Lady of this household. I could drag you out this instant and have you fed to wolves.”
Betty’s lips twitched.
As if thinking, *‘As if a bastard like you could do that.’*
I was beyond disgusted, but kept my face neutral.
“Betty. You know this too. Just one of the jewels on my vanity is enough to make a dozen people take care of a mere maid from the Marquis’ house without leaving a trace.”
Even if I was illegitimate, I was still officially the Marquis’ eldest daughter—complete with jewels.
I stepped closer.
“If you want to live long, know your place. I won’t warn you twice.”
At my icy warning, Betty darted her gaze around for someone to back her up. But there was only Susan, Carsian, and me.
Finally, she crumpled. Her body, once stiff with arrogance, collapsed to the floor. Her sweaty, pale face showed shock—humiliation at kneeling before the bastard she once despised.
I looked down at her.
“Now you’re finally in the right position, Betty.”
“……”
“From now on, serving me like *this* will be best for your wellbeing.”
I grabbed her shoulder. My small hand could only pinch more than grip, but Betty paled even further.
“Understand?”
She bit her lip hard and nodded slowly.
“Yes… Young Lady Latia.”
She ground her teeth, clearly unwilling to let this go quietly.
Well, I’ll deal with that later.
For now, it felt good.
“You may leave.”
I dismissed her and turned to Susan.
“Susan, go bring ointment for Carsian’s wound, please.”
Betty’s interference delayed things, but my top priority was still Carsian.
My illegitimacy was widely known, our family was doomed anyway…
There was no real reason for me to stay here.
Even if I fled with my nanny, it wouldn’t matter.
Our entire family was destined to be executed.
Father had collected too many nobles’ secrets—and angered someone he never should have. On top of that, running an illegal fighting ring and abusing a hero’s son were perfect excuses to wipe out our house.
No matter how well I hid, I would die.
My only way to survive was for Count Raumdicell to return and hear Carsian say, *“She was a bit kind to me.”*
I reminded myself of that and decided to tend to Carsian’s wound first.
But then—
“What’s your scheme?”
Carsian, already distrustful from being bullied, narrowed his eyes.
“What are you plotting this time?”
He must have been deeply hurt when his father’s friend, who once treated him kindly, suddenly turned abusive.
“What, are you gonna drag me to another charity party?”
Having figured out his position in the household, Carsian sneered coldly.
I looked at him quietly, then said,
“Nothing.”
“…What?”
“I’m going to stop.”
“…Stop what.”
He frowned like a wary cat. I shrugged.
“You’ve noticed, haven’t you?”
“……”
“That I’m not really accepted as family here.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say “bastard.” Even a maid like Betty acted that way toward me; Carsian must’ve seen and heard things in the six months he’d been here.
He stayed silent.
I would be sticking close to him from now on.
Sharing a common enemy would help.
“Mother made me do it.”
“……”
“If I did what she said, she wouldn’t hit me. She said she’d love me if I did.”
“……”
“But I’m going to stop.”
I gave him the most harmless smile I could manage.
“Susan told me… that’s not love.”
Right?
When I looked at Susan, she nodded with teary eyes.
Carsian, however, stared coldly at my “harmless” smile.
“Disgusting.”
“……”
“Your mother made you do it?”
“……”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
He spat the words like venom.
“Cut the crap. I won’t use your ointment—not even if you kneel.”
Then, before I could stop him, he stormed out.
As expected… he won’t forgive easily.
But I wasn’t hopeless. He’d given me a hint.
He said he wouldn’t use it even if I knelt.
Which meant—if I bow my head even lower, maybe he will?
I was ready to bow again and again.
I want to live.
While Susan approached me anxiously, I began thinking about how to apologize to Carsian.
