“I’m sorry, Your Grace… but it seems your time is limited.”
I was fifteen when I was given a terminal diagnosis.
It was only a month after my entire family—including my father—had died from a sudden fever.
I stared blankly at the physician as he spoke.
“At most, ten years. And during the final six months, you won’t even be able to move freely.”
“But… if you continue treatment, you might improve—”
“Don’t bother. It’s a waste of effort.”
The doctor’s face twisted in confusion, but I only chuckled.
Because I already knew.
I was destined to die in ten years.
After all—I had regressed.
In my past life, I hadn’t known my death was coming. I had wasted those precious ten years desperately groveling for affection from my wretched relatives who only sought to exploit me.
“Siena, even though you’ve inherited the Duke’s title, you’re still just a clueless little girl, aren’t you? That’s why your great Uncle Marshall is going to borrow—no, take a good chunk of it all, hmm?”
Even as he openly embezzled from me, I couldn’t say a word.
Because I was so starved for love. I had tried to fill the hole left by my family with hollow, counterfeit affection.
And so, five years later, when I was twenty—
“Siena is a Stability Wizard.”
“You are officially recognized as one who can stabilize powers.”
A Stability Wizard’s duty was to help keep those with special abilities, called Authorities, from spiraling out of control.
Most Stabilizers could only calm those whose Authorities matched their own affinity.
But I was different.
“Oh my goodness! She can stabilize anyone! Siena is the savior of this world!”
Yes, I alone possessed the ability to stabilize all Authorities.
But that gift brought me no joy.
Those so-called “gifted” people lived only for their own selfish indulgences, and not a single one ever thanked me.
Used and discarded by them all, I died.
And when I opened my eyes… time had turned back.
I don’t know why I was sent back.
If my family had been revived with me, I would have thrown myself into research, searching desperately for a cure to the fever.
But…
They’re gone. This time is different.
I had no reason to live as I once did.
I needed to live differently.
I smiled at the doctor.
“Then I’ll live wildly for the next ten years, and die the coolest death imaginable at twenty-five.”
There was no need to prolong my life. No way to prolong it even if I wanted to.
So I decided—I would live short, but live full.
There was only one problem.
How exactly does one ‘have fun’ for ten years?
“Oh, the weather is nice today.”
The first thing I did after accepting my fate was open my window to feel the breeze.
In my previous life, when I used to stand by the window like this, my brother would shout from the garden below.
“Siena! Do you want me to fly a kite?”
“What kite?”
“Why, the commoners say it’s all the rage right now!”
“Please. I’m already thirteen, practically an adult. I don’t do childish things like that anymore!”
If I had known I’d never see that face again…
I should have told you I loved you more.
Closing my eyes, I let the wind tickle my lashes.
The open window carried the sound of laughter from the gardens, where the maids were chatting merrily.
Noticing my gaze, they looked up and greeted me with nervous smiles.
“Oh! Your Grace—hello!”
“Yes, hello.”
At my reply, their faces lit up with surprise.
In my past life, I hadn’t yet recovered from losing my family. For months, I had been shut away in my room, drowning in grief.
But now that I’d accepted my coming death, everything felt lighter.
“What’s so funny? I want to laugh too.”
Strangely, my words made their eyes fill with tears.
“We’ll help you, Your Grace!”
From that day, my maids filled my days with entertainment—taking me traveling, teaching me painting, writing, foreign languages.
They held tea parties, hired musicians, even arranged small circuses for me.
But… after only a month—
“Ugh. This is all so boring.”
Tea parties were predictable, dresses were dull, traveling was repetitive, and studying… definitely not my thing.
“I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”
So, what options were left?
…Should I become a delinquent?
But I disliked alcohol, smoking, and gambling.
What fun exists within the law?
Then it struck me.
What if I, a greenhouse flower who had never left the capital, went somewhere new?
I opened a map, scanning it idly—
“…Found it.”
Yes. That would do.
I walked slowly through a drizzle that soaked the ground.
Being caught in the rain isn’t so bad.
Eventually, my gray robe grew heavy with damp, and I came to a stop.
“You’re finally here.”
Shadows loomed around me.
The Duke of Vietri’s mansion lay in the wealthy Avenue of Affluence, south of the capital. But after over an hour’s carriage ride, I had arrived here instead—the infamous Avenue of Shadows.
I had once read that the district thrived on commerce due to its sheer population.
But there isn’t much to see here either.
I paused under the eaves of an old, crumbling storefront.
Maybe I came for nothing.
I was just about to turn back when—
“Eh… ehhh-choo!”
A tiny sneeze caught my attention.
There, huddled under the eaves, was a very small boy, coughing miserably.
I looked down at him and muttered indifferently:
“What’s this? A squeaky little mouse?”
His bright yellow raincoat hid his face, but judging by his size, he was seven or eight at most.
The child lifted his head sluggishly—then froze when his eyes met mine.
“Gh-ghost! You’re a ghost!”
Ah. He meant me.
Since I was wrapped head to toe in a gray robe, I must have looked ghostly to him.
I was about to correct him when—
“H-help… Save me…”
Panicking, he stumbled backward and landed in a puddle with a loud splash.
Water sprayed all over me.
The boy’s trembling body froze. I acted quickly, speaking first.
“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize.”
“H-how… how did you know what I was going to say…?”
Pulling his hood lower to hide his face, the child stammered.
I gave a faint laugh.
“Tell me, kid. Are you sitting in that puddle because you don’t know how to stand up?”
His little fists clenched around his raincoat.
Hmm. Maybe I teased him too much.
I extended my hand.
“I’m not a ghost. I’m human. Take my hand—I’ll help you up.”
I wasn’t very good at sounding gentle, but I tried.
“M-my… my parents told me… never to hold hands with strangers…”
“Then you’ll just stay there, soaking wet like a drowned rat?”
“I-I can get up by myself—”
“Hmm.”
The puddle was too deep. He didn’t look strong enough to lift himself out.
“I’m not the kind of person who’d abandon a child in the mud. Take my hand.”
It was just a small gesture of kindness—something so minor, I’d probably forget it in a day.
“Well? Aren’t you going to take it?”
“…”
“I’ll leave for real if you don’t.”
His small shoulders trembled.
“I’ll count to three. Three… two… one.”
But even after counting, he didn’t move.
Stubborn little brat.
“…Half.”
“…”
“…Half of half.”
Even in the rain and dark, I could feel his defiant eyes glaring at me.
Sighing, I withdrew my hand.
“Fine. Then I’ll really leave.”
I turned as if to walk away.
And that was when it happened.
The boy—barely ten at best—suddenly flung his hand upward. His fingers twitched, reaching for my robe, then froze awkwardly midair.
“D-don’t go.”
“Don’t go?”
Without waiting for permission, I grasped his tiny hand firmly and pulled him to his feet.
“There. I won’t leave. Where’s your home?”
“S-s-someone… s-s-someone held my hand…”
“Yeah. I did. And since I’m already holding it, I’ll walk you home.”
“H-how could you just…”
What was with this kid?
Seriously—what on earth was he so flustered about?
