Episode 4
“Let’s go.”
The carriage carrying me and the Duke started moving.
It’d only been an hour since that rude guy — who’d said my test performance was “okay” — announced he’d adopt me. And now we were leaving.
Wait, seriously? We’re just leaving it like that?!’
What about the adoption paperwork? Isn’t there usually a month of formalities and training after an adoption is decided? I glued myself to the carriage window and watched the teachers who came to see us off. They all looked surprised; some even looked like they were going to cry.
“You sad to see them go?” the Duke asked.
“No, not at all,” I replied quickly with a bright smile while turning away.
‘No time to run.’ There wasn’t even time to think about the dead-flag vibes. It’s not fair.
Oh — I remembered why this man dies later. His sickly wife dies, and he loses control of his green power. During a royal hunting event, his power goes berserk, and he almost kills a member of the royal family. Whether by accident or not, attempting to kill royalty is a huge crime. He ends up dead at the hands of Duke Alf Argo, the ruler of the Blue faction he respected. After that, the green power is sealed, and the whole house gets destroyed.
But five years after he dies a heroine with green powers shows up, and the story continues.’ Wait — why did I think of a heroine? Weird. Maybe it’s just a side effect of the experiments. I rubbed my forehead.
After the experiments, strange stuff kept happening — maybe this is one of those. It’s funny. I died, came back to the past, but the experiment’s side effects are still around. And I have a time limit on my life too.
“Before we arrive, I’ll tell you a few rules and precautions,” he said.
“Yes, Your Grace,” I answered, snapping out of my thoughts.
‘Be a good kid.’ The adoption was already set. I couldn’t change that, so for now I had to play the model kid.
“From the moment you reach the mansion, call me ‘Father.’”
“Yes.”
“And in the mansion, there’s my wife. She’s frail and not well. Call her ‘Mother.’ If she prefers another name, use that.”
“Yes.”
I already knew this stuff. She dies in about five or six years, and he dies soon after when his power explodes. Sad that medicine came later, but missed their timing — I remember reading that a commoner woman later developed a cure for that illness.
“As I said, my wife and I lost a child long ago. You’re going to be a stand-in for that lost daughter. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand. May I ask one thing?”
The Duke folded his arms and tilted his head, very smug.
“You said you lost a child — why didn’t you look for them?”
“Do you think I didn’t try? Of course, I searched.”
“Then why—?”
“She was dead. I couldn’t tell my wife.”
Even this arrogant man softened when talking about his wife. He warned me not to ask more questions about it.
“Yes, I understand.”
“You just need to act like our daughter. We’re adopting you to help my wife’s mental and emotional stability.”
“Yes.”
So basically, they’re going to pretend they found their lost child. If you lose a kid when they’re small, it’s believable the child won’t remember things. He added that the DNA test documents would be forged on his side, so I should play along.
“Yes.”
“You have a brother here who already knows you’re adopted. If you need help when I’m not around, tell him.”
“Yes.”
“Education will be arranged, but remember: for five years, you’re the only daughter of the Aubrey household.”
“Yes.”
“If anyone discovers you’re fake, think of being sent back to that orphanage.”
“Yes.”
Hearing myself say “yes” over and over made his fine brow crease a little.
“Is ‘yes’ the only thing you know how to say? Listen — my daughter was bright, innocent, and kind, a little genius.”
Right. How does he know about her personality? Whatever — I smiled and played along.
“She must be like that if I say so,” I said.
He made a little scoffing sound and looked away. I closed my eyes slowly. An innocent, sunny genius — yeah, I can act that. I’d practised imitating whatever the mad scientist wanted back in my other life, so pretending came naturally.
“We’ve arrived. This is your future home — the Aubrey estate.”
As I rehearsed scenarios in my head, the carriage stopped, and the doors opened.
“Remember: from now on you’re not Anisha — you’re Anette Aubrey.”
“Yes.”
I took a deep breath and stepped out after the Duke. One of his guards reached me first.
“I’ll help you down, miss,” he said.
“Thank you…” The guard lifted me down.
“Rosana, why are you outside?” the Duke asked.
“You said you found our child.” The woman who approached had pink hair and black eyes, and looked so pale her veins showed. She wore a thick shawl even though it was warm. When she saw me her eyes widened.
“My goodness — you’re An… Anette? My baby…”
I froze and hugged the Duke’s sleeve, hiding behind him. No child would instantly be comfortable with strangers acting like their parents — so I clung to him like a nervous child.
The Duke looked surprised, as if I’d performed the role convincingly. I hoped my acting had fooled him — I wasn’t a born genius, but I’d worked hard to survive.
“…Mother?” I said cautiously, voice trembling as if afraid of being rejected. Each time I clung to him, his body stiffened a little.
“Ah… my baby… my precious Anette…” Rosana collapsed into tears and hugged me tight.
“Am I — really yours?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m your mother.” She sobbed and held me.
Her embrace felt warm, but it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t take it as my own. Still, I had to act. I pretended to be overwhelmed with joy, laughter, and tears — like a child who’s happy but also crying at the shock.
“Mother…!” I reached out and hugged her. “Are you really my mother?”
“Yes, I am.”
Rosana’s weeping gave me an odd pang. I thought about the past — the times I couldn’t escape, the hurts and betrayals and the final abandonment. Tears rolled down my cheeks anyway.
‘Good, I did cry for show.’ I lifted my head slightly and even managed a faint smile. “I’ll be useful,” I thought. If I had value in this house, I could later get revenge.
The Duke seemed surprised that I could cry convincingly. He looked at me like someone impressed.
“Rosana, you should go rest. You’re not well. I’ll show her to her room,” he said gently.
Rosana nodded sadly and went inside.
“I’m sorry, I’m so foolish,” she murmured.
“It’s fine, Mother,” I said, rubbing at my wet cheeks.
“Go rest, and tonight let’s have dinner together, okay?”
“Yes, Mother!” I beamed, the perfect little daughter the Duke wanted.
“See you later.” Rosana looked back several times with longing as she entered the house. I waved and smiled widely.
‘Did I really get lucky?’ A prickly, arrogant voice — the Duke’s — came at me with a little hint of caution this time.
