CHAPTER 01
“Starting today, this child will be living with you.”
Even though her whole body was covered in dirt and her hair was a tangled mess, she was as pretty as a doll.
“You should say hello too.”
At the orphanage director’s words—a large, middle-aged man—the frightened child flinched, her shoulders trembling. Sniffling, she greeted everyone in a loud voice.
“H-hello… I’m Dana!”
After greeting them, unlike the other children at the orphanage, she lifted her chubby arms and waved her maple-leaf-like hands.
The situation was exactly the same as in my memories. Not a single detail was different.
‘Am I dreaming?’
No. This wasn’t a dream.
I shook my head to myself as I stood there with my mouth slightly open, blinking.
Hadn’t I spent the entire day fighting hunger, painfully aware that this was reality?
Faced with a truth I couldn’t deny, I froze and thought,
‘…Why does it have to be today?’
The first day I returned after dying in the House of Elard… and it just happened to be the very day Diana, the youngest princess of the House of Elard, entered Tesar Orphanage.
It was already hard enough to accept that I had gone back to my childhood. Seeing Diana right in front of me threw me into complete panic.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying somehow to understand this situation.
“Sniff… hic.”
At the faint sound of crying, I quickly opened my eyes and lowered my gaze.
I met the clear blue eyes of the child clutching my sleeve.
“Ah…”
For a moment, I was flustered by the sight of her tear-filled eyes.
Then, without realizing it, I stared blankly into them.
Naturally, I was reminded of a man with eyes the exact same color—icy and cold.
And of the moment I met my death.
***
One day earlier.
The headquarters of the information guild, Terenchium.
Catching my breath, I rushed up the stairs two at a time and threw open the massive closed door.
Then I froze.
‘W-what is this?’
The guild executives who had been seated around a round table all turned their heads at once, as if on cue, and stared at me.
I tilted my head, wondering why they were all gathered for a meeting—then I realized.
‘The full moon is coming soon.’
Around this time, the guild’s executives, including the Master, were especially busy and would often be away for a while.
Since I wasn’t close to my colleagues outside of the executives, it was always a lonely period for me.
“Ria, didn’t you see the sign on the door?”
The Master spoke.
Unlike the older executives, he sat at the head of the table and looked no older than twenty-five or twenty-six.
‘Though I don’t know his exact age.’
He was the head of an information guild that collected every scrap of intelligence imaginable, yet no one knew anything about him.
My superior was a complete mystery.
Sighing, he brushed back his loose black hair.
“I told you to check it before entering my room.”
“Sorry. I was in a hurry and forgot.”
Avoiding his red eyes, I answered awkwardly. He chuckled and shook his head.
Immediately, the executives pounced.
“Master, is that something to laugh about? You always let her off so easily; that’s why Ria never fixes her habits.”
“Exactly. You even had to hang a sign outside because of her. Wouldn’t it be better to just teach her to knock?”
“Knock or not, who on earth barges into the master’s room like that? For a second, I thought this was Ria’s room.”
“That’s right. Master, you’re too lenient with her.”
They all wore mischievous expressions as they criticized me.
It was all teasing.
‘Lenient As if! The Master looks down on me all the time!’
I grumbled inwardly.
‘Do they still think I’m the ten-year-old street urchin I used to be?’
I prided myself on being the most capable member of this guild, yet my face twisted into a frown.
And of all my skills, my best was “concealing my presence.” Telling me to learn how to knock when entering a room?
I had only forgotten because I was in a rush. If I wanted to, I’d never forget something like knocking.
‘Other information guilds are still desperate to recruit me…’
As I puffed out my cheeks in annoyance, the master gestured for me to come closer.
“So, what is it?”
The other executives also turned their heads as if to say, Go on, let’s hear it.
Only then did I remember why I had come.
“A mission! A mission! It’s already been over a week since I’ve received any requests!”
“Has it been that long?”
Seeing how leisurely he spoke made my temper flare.
Some people were desperate to move beyond just being called a first-class agent and actually be recognized by everyone.
“Master!”
I shouted, but he only smirked and lightly tapped my puffed-up cheek.
I was just about to feel hurt by the way he treated me like a child again when—
“Fine. I’ll give you a mission. Finish it before I return. Can you do that?”
“Really?”
I brightened instantly, forgetting my pride.
“You’ll give me a proper mission this time, right?”
Not something like finding out what color handkerchief Butcher Nick likes for the bakery owner Susan!
“A proper mission, huh…”
The master looked at me with a strange expression, then slowly nodded.
“Wow, Master, you’re the best! The most handsome man in the world!”
Excited, I quickly gave him a thumbs-up, just like the executives had taught me.
The master burst into laughter, and the executives tried to suppress their own smiles.
I had only done what I’d been taught, yet their reactions were odd.
‘Did his hand just reach toward my neck a moment ago…? Was I imagining it?’
While I tilted my head in confusion—
“Go back and wait. I’ll assign your mission soon.”
At his words, I forgot my earlier thought and nodded eagerly before leaving.
Only a few hours later—
“…Where? The House of Elard?”
I blinked at Jade.
“You’re saying the Master assigned me a mission to infiltrate the House of Elard?”
As if to confirm I’d heard correctly, Jade shrugged while continuing to explain the precautions.
“Yeah. You handled the infiltration as a maid really well last time. That’s probably why he assigned you again.”
“But back then! I was the only woman among the first-class agents, so there wasn’t a choice!”
The House of Elard was the most heavily guarded noble family in the Empire.
It was as difficult to approach as the imperial palace itself. Being entrusted with an infiltration mission there meant the Master acknowledged my abilities.
But instead of joy at finally receiving an important mission, I was more shocked by Jade’s unusually gentle attitude. He had always belittled me.
Then he said something even more astonishing.
“Honestly, no one among us thinks you’re anything but the most skilled.”
“…What?”
“We all know. We just didn’t admit it because we were jealous. We thought the Master favored you.”
My mouth fell open.
Hearing him praise me so openly left me dazed.
To be honest, I was so happy I felt like dancing.
But I pretended to stay calm.
“I told you, I’m not favored.”
Normally I would’ve snapped at that irritating remark, but maybe because I was in such a good mood, my voice came out softer.
I could barely hold back a smile.
Then—
“But didn’t you say you knew someone at the House of Elard?”
“…What? W-when did I ever say that?”
“Don’t remember? The first time you drank after coming of age. You said something about your time at the orphanage.”
Gasp. Did I say something like that while drunk?
I blinked in panic.
Earlier this year, when I turned eighteen, the executives had arranged a gathering to celebrate and try to bring me closer to the others.
Everyone had looked reluctant to attend, which made things awkward. To ease the tension, I foolishly kept drinking the alcohol in front of me.
After that, I remembered nothing.
I later heard that the master had arrived late, wrapped up the gathering, and taken me back to the dormitory.
‘He said I was sleeping quietly!’
I had no idea I might have talked about my past. My face turned pale.
“W-when you’re drunk, you can say anything! There’s no way I’d have ties with some grand noble family!”
I raised my voice as if it had all just been drunken bragging and then hurriedly left my seat.
Because I left so hastily, I failed to see it—
The sly smile that formed on Jade’s lips.
