Episode 1
My real name is Stacia Atherion.
But right now, someone else has stolen that name
and is using it.
Right in front of me.
“That is Lady Stacia!”
“Everyone, kneel!”
“She is the precious daughter of the Atherion Ducal House. Show respect!”
A pretty girl stood before me.
Dressed beautifully like a flower, like a true princess—
that girl stood in front of me.
I suddenly stood up.
“What is she doing?”
“What’s wrong with her?”
Shocked murmurs spread everywhere.
That girl and I looked like complete opposites.
I was a dirty orphan with messy hair like a broom
and ragged clothes.
Anyone could tell—
She was the noble lady.
And I was just a filthy orphan girl.
But in reality, it was the opposite.
‘No one knows except me. For now.’
The situation was simple.
The noble lady had graciously visited the orphanage.
And a lowly orphan dared to block her path.
Everyone except me was flustered.
I stared straight at the girl.
Her brow twitched slightly.
‘Ah… she’s really angry. As expected.’
I could read even the smallest change in her emotions.
Especially anger or irritation.
Because whenever she got angry,
my suffering would last longer.
She asked in a gentle voice:
“Why are you just standing there like that?”
Meaning—kneel.
But I had no intention of obeying.
The orphanage director and teachers rushed toward me.
They grabbed my head and tried to force me to kneel.
But I resisted.
Even as they pushed me down, I lifted my chin proudly
and glared at the so-called noble lady—
so she could clearly see my face.
“Is she crazy?”
“Why aren’t you kneeling? This is someone you can’t even dare look at!”
“We’re so sorry, Lady Stacia. It’s our fault for not properly educating this lowly orphan!”
The fake “Lady Stacia’s” maid frowned at me.
“What a rude child. I suppose it’s because she’s low-born, daring to act like this toward Lady Stacia…”
Then suddenly, the girl smiled sweetly.
Her expression changed so quickly it felt eerie, like a mask.
“It’s fine. If she doesn’t know any better, it can happen. Let her go.”
“Y-Your Ladyship!”
“But she committed such rudeness—!”
“I said let her go. Someone might think I ordered her to kneel by force.”
In the end, they hesitantly let go of me.
I sprang back up like a released spring.
The maids clicked their tongues.
“Our lady is too kind.”
“When servants act out, they need to be punished sometimes…”
“What will you do in the future if you’re this soft-hearted…”
“Enough. Just leave her.”
Saying it was fine, the girl walked past me.
Her silk-covered shoulder lightly bumped mine.
And then—
One of her maids suddenly grabbed my shoulder
and shoved me—
straight into the lake.
“Oh my, what a mistake.”
“Ah—!!!”
As my vision shook, I saw it.
The “lady” smiling wickedly—nothing like her reputation.
Splash!
Cold water wrapped around my entire body.
And just like that, right after returning to the past,
my second life didn’t begin by drowning—
everything started exactly as I expected.
‘Good. Now she definitely hates me!’
I smiled confidently underwater.
***
Long ago, there was a prophecy:
“The owner of the sacred relic will be born with Atherion blood
and descend to the world with a star.”
The sacred relic—
the only trace left by the goddess.
Its power was the only hope
to purify the curses and corruption of demons.
So naturally, its owner was humanity’s hope.
Because of this, the Atherion ducal family was extremely important, even to the imperial family.
The royal family had suffered from a curse for generations due to war with demons.
A blessed child born in Atherion was their desperate hope.
Naturally, demons targeted Atherion bloodlines first.
Then, on the day the current Atherion lady was born,
something strange happened.
A meteor fell.
And for the first time in 100 years, demons attacked the capital.
During that chaos, all direct members of Atherion were killed.
Except one—
the newborn “Lady Stacia.”
Both the imperial family and the empire were grateful
that the bloodline hadn’t ended.
And since a meteor fell on her birth day, people said:
“She really came with a star!”
“She was born on the day of a comet!”
“And she even survived a demon attack as a baby!”
“The goddess must have sent and protected her!”
The entire empire rejoiced.
The “prophesied lady” had finally appeared.
The saint who would save the war-torn world.
The “Lady Stacia” who survived—
was the girl who just pushed me into the water.
But actually…
that’s not true.
‘It’s me!’
I am the real Stacia Atherion!
‘Not her—I’m the real one!’
Tiseriel Sellos.
That is the real name of the girl pretending to be me.
The Sellos family is a collateral branch of Atherion.
After the tragedy, they lied
and presented Tiseriel as “Lady Stacia.”
Right now, no one knows that.
Except me.
And if I die now?
The truth will be buried forever.
Just like before I returned.
I struggled desperately in the water.
I had already died once—horribly—after being used by Tiseriel.
Even if I provoked her on purpose,
I refused to die a second time.
I barely grabbed onto the grass by the shore
and crawled out.
No one helped me.
I didn’t expect it anyway.
I was used to this.
Cough, cough!
Spitting out water, I lifted my blurry gaze.
In the distance, I saw Tiseriel and her group walking away.
I could vividly recall everything.
Her noble and luxurious appearance just now.
And also—
the blessed life she had lived before I returned.
“Lady Stacia!”
“The last noble blood of Atherion!”
“The saint who will save us!”
She was loved and treasured even by the imperial family.
Every step she took was met with admiration.
All of that…
her entire life before my return…
‘Everything she had was stolen from me!’
And yet, before I returned,
Tiseriel and her family called me this:
“You thief!”
“If you hadn’t been born, Tiseriel would have been the rightful lady!”
It was ridiculous.
They imprisoned and tortured the real heir—me—
while putting a fake in my place.
Back then, all I could do was cry and protest:
“I’m not a thief!”
Of course, it didn’t work.
They only laughed.
I was powerless, trapped like livestock,
having my blood taken.
But now—
things are different.
I opened my hand.
A small hand like a maple leaf.
Dirty and scarred—
but still capable of many things.
I once heard this:
If someone hates you—
‘Give them a reason to hate you.’
This time, I’ll give her a reason before she even starts.
‘Strike first and win!’
Clenching my small fist, I made a silent vow.
This time, I won’t just cry and say I’m not a thief.
Crying solves nothing.
It only makes you look weak.
‘This time… I’ll become a real thief.’
A very great one.
‘I’ll steal the duchy back.’
Taking back what’s mine—
that can be called a righteous theft.
I remember clearly.
In the Atherion mansion’s main hall,
there were portraits of past dukes—
including my grandfather and my mother.
Thinking of the family I only knew through paintings,
I prayed:
‘Please allow me to become a righteous thief—
actually, no, just cheer me on!’
No, even that wasn’t enough.
I corrected my prayer:
‘No permission or worry needed—
just unconditional praise and support, please!’
I couldn’t see them—
but I was sure my mother and grandfather
were clapping enthusiastically for me.
