Episode 5
“A— this was acting.”
“…Acting?”
“Yes. Your daughter’s description was: bright, cute, innocent, sweet little genius, right?”
I smiled up at the Duke of Aubrey with eyes that were still a little wet, and he looked completely baffled.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
He immediately scrunched his face and turned around sharply.
“The young lady has returned. Make sure she is treated with utmost care.”
“Yes, my lord.”
I carefully stepped into the mansion. A long line of servants bowed deeply.
The man walking confidently and arrogantly through the hall suddenly felt… strangely gigantic.
“Welcome back safely, young lady.”
Everyone greeted me.
I stood there awkwardly, unsure how to respond, when two maids approached me.
They were twins—so alike I wondered how it was possible—but the atmosphere between them was different.
“I’m Mary! I’ll be serving you from today on. Please take good care of me!”
“And I’m Gold. I’ll also be attending to you, though I may be lacking. Please take care of me.”
“Ah—yes, y-yes…”
Everything felt unfamiliar, so my voice shrank like a scared child’s.
While climbing the stairs, I noticed the Duke watching me.
“Oh! You can just call us Mary and Gold! And you can speak comfortably to us—like you would to a friend!”
“Ah…”
After opening and closing my mouth like a fish, I bowed my head and nodded.
“Mm-mm… okay…”
“You did great!”
“Let us show you to your room now.”
Mary cheered while Gold guided me calmly.
By the time we reached the upper floor, the Duke had disappeared.
Well… that should be enough of an impression for now.
A smooth start.
…Or so I thought.
Right now, I am facing the worst crisis of my life.
“I—I can do it alone!”
I pressed myself flat against the wall while holding my clothes tight.
“But, my lady, bathing is something we must assist with…”
I quickly lowered my gaze, biting my lower lip just slightly.
“I-I’m embarrassed…”
I absolutely could not let anyone help me bathe.
There were ancient letters etched on my arm—dark, inky patterns like tattoos.
If the Duke ever saw them, he’d throw me out immediately.
Who would keep a child who might drop dead any day, whose body had creepy old runes crawling across it?
Even worse, as time passed, the markings would spread.
And what excuse would I give then?
The twins exchanged looks. Then both nodded.
Mary approached with a gentle smile.
“Then we’ll just draw your bath and set the temperature. We’ll wait outside the room. Will that be alright?”
“Yes. But I’ll dress myself too…”
Mary laughed softly as if she found me adorable.
It’ll work for now… but I can’t hide this forever.
Once I settle in, acting like this won’t be an option.
How am I supposed to hide it?
Fear crept up my spine. My life could fall apart from day one.
Right—there was that disguise product made from chameleon slime.
Stick it on your skin, and it mimics the colour like camouflage.
But the problem was…
That thing won’t even be invented for several years…!!
Chameleon slimes exist now, yes. But nobody knows if they have any special properties yet.
It’ll be discovered years later by a certain eccentric scientist.
…I can’t wait years. I don’t even know how much time I have left.
While despairing, Mary and Gold finished preparations and left the bathroom.
I sank deep into the warm water and let out a long sigh.
The heat melted my body pleasantly.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had a proper bath—in my previous life or this one.
There’s only one solution.
1. Kidnap that eccentric scientist.
2. Tell him all about future monster-related discoveries ahead of time.
3. Let him develop the invention early.
Half a year at most—he’d manage it.
The problem?
I was adopted and wouldn’t have had freedom for a while.
Plus, that scientist lived FAR away—near the monster zones close to Rotting Forest, in the Duchy of Argo in the north.
It’s way too far for me to go.
So I had two options:
Hire someone to find him
Write him a letter
Hiring someone required money I didn’t have.
So letter it is.
Luckily, I know exactly how to bait him.
He doesn’t know me, but I know him.
The mad scientist who raised me always came home annoyed because of him.
If my mad scientist was a prodigy, then this eccentric man was the only one he hated but still had to acknowledge.
Thanks to his constant grumbling, I knew exactly what that genius liked and hated.
Alright. I’ll do it.
I finished my bath, put on the clothes Mary and Gold prepared, and immediately felt better. The fruity scent from the soap clung to me.
After drying my hair, I stepped out. The twins greeted me with bright smiles.
“Great job, my lady! It’s almost dinner time. Would you like to rest in your room? Or we can give you a tour of the mansion if you’re not too tired!”
I was tired… but being useful meant learning the place quickly.
I beamed.
“Can I look around the mansion?!”
Mary clapped her hands.
“Of course!”
“Are you sure you won’t rest? You must be exhausted.”
“I’m okay!”
I followed them out.
Later, at dinner
“Annette.”
“Yes, Mother.”
I immediately put down my spoon and smiled at the duchess.
Mary and Gold had finished showing me around, so I had arrived right as dinner was served.
“Um… does the food suit your taste?”
“Yes, it’s really delicious!”
It truly was. In my past life, I lived on nutrient fluid, and after reincarnation, I ate orphanage food.
Compared to what? Noble cuisine was heavenly.
“I’m glad. Try this too. It’s very sweet.”
“Yes!”
“And this, and this as well.”
Duchess Rosanna Aubrey kept piling food onto my plate.
“Ah, thank you, Mother.”
I shovelled everything into my mouth.
Dessert was pudding topped with ice cream and drenched in chocolate syrup.
Heaven.
“Annette.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Please don’t call me ‘mother’ so stiffly. I know it’s shameless, but… could you call me ‘mom’? Only if you want to…”
“Mom.”
The word felt unfamiliar on my tongue.
The duchess’s eyes widened.
“…Oh, sweetheart…”
Tears instantly filled her eyes again.
Next to her, the Duke looked… weirdly conflicted.
“I’m your mama—no, what am I saying, do I even deserve—sniff…”
“Rosanna, stop crying. You’ll get dehydrated.”
The Duke clicked his tongue, gently wiping her tears.
She buried her face in his chest, and he hugged her, patting her back tenderly.
That arrogant man… showing a face like that?
Maybe the sky really was falling.
“Mom, please don’t cry.”
I approached and gently tugged on her clothes.
“If you cry, I’ll want to cry too…”
My wobbly voice made her pull herself out of the Duke’s arms and hug me tightly.
“Just meeting Father and Mother like this feels like a dream. Thank you for not giving up on finding me.”
I hugged her tight and glanced at the Duke.
He looked… stunned.
He stared blankly at me for a moment, which surprised me more than him.
When I tilted my head in confusion, his face instantly twisted into a scowl.
Seriously? I helped him score emotional points, and THIS is the reaction?
Ungrateful man.
“Tsk.”
The duchess coughed suddenly.
The Duke hurried to hold her upright.
“We should go back to your room.”
“But the child… my child… cough cough!”
He carried her out of the dining room.
Watching them leave, I turned to Mary.
I guess I should help.
I couldn’t cure her illness yet, but I knew something that could soothe it.
“Mary.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Can you bring hot water, sugar, and powdered rye-flower?”
“Oh… rye-flower? You mean that weed growing everywhere?”
“Yes. Toast it lightly, dry it a bit, and grind it into powder.”
Ideally, it should be sun-dried, but we didn’t have time.
Mary brought everything quickly. I mixed the hot water, sugar, and rye-flower powder and smiled at the warm cup.
“Thank you! I’ll bring this to Mother!”
“Yes, my lady!”
I bowed gratefully and hurried down the hallway.
The servants were frantic because of the duchess.
Well, this should earn me some points.
Rye-flower would later become one of the key ingredients in her cure.
Not the full treatment, but enough to help her breathe easier.
I carefully carried the mug into the room.
“Father! I’m here!”
The Duke looked at me like I had sprouted a second head.
It’s your fault—I’m playing the “bright, innocent genius” you wanted.
Honestly, the man was impossible to understand.
Still, I gave him the purest, brightest smile I could.
I was the picture of adorable innocence.
