OKMCRF Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“A-An imperial messenger has arrived!”

The butler shouted in haste.

“Lord Gerard is alive!”

Anais, who had been trimming herbs, froze in place.
It was news that her husband—presumed dead on the battlefield—was still alive.

But that wasn’t all.

The imperial messenger solemnly declared,
“Gerard Valdif has achieved remarkable military feats and elevated the empire’s prestige. He is hereby granted the title of Count.”

The members of the Valdif family embraced one another, shedding tears of joy.

The messenger glanced at Anais, the only one remaining composed, and couldn’t help but admire her inwardly.

‘She’s as remarkable as the rumors say.’

Her golden hair shimmered brighter than sunlight, and her deep violet eyes glistened like glass.
Her elegant nose and full lips held any passing gaze captive.

Even in the capital, her beauty was rare—but that wasn’t the most notable thing.

The Valdif estate was terribly impoverished.
So much so that the young lord had gone to war on his own wedding day just to be exempt from paying imperial taxes.

But the bride, who hadn’t even shared a wedding night, had accomplished something extraordinary.
She had successfully cultivated rare wild herbs.

The estate, once begging the emperor for relief, was now faithfully paying its taxes.

The messenger sighed unconsciously.
‘She must’ve gone through so much…’

Even though her husband—once thought dead—had returned as a victorious general and was now granted a countship, Anais remained calm.

When the messenger thought of her composed demeanor and the events currently unfolding in the capital, a wave of pity for her washed over him—so strong it was nearly unbearable.
But what could he possibly do?

Suppressing his uneasy thoughts, the messenger approached Raymond Valdif, Gerard’s father and the current head of the family.

“I need a private word with you.”

“Of course. Shall we go to my study?”

Raymond puffed out his belly proudly and took the lead.

The study smelled faintly of mildew, as though it had been left unused for some time. The layer of dust, untouched and thick, told a clear story: while his daughter-in-law worked tirelessly, the family head had done little but idle.

The messenger frowned and handed over a letter written by Gerard.

“The contents of this letter are for your eyes only.”

“But of course. I understand completely.”

With pudgy hands, Raymond took the letter. Compared to Anais’s calloused hands, the difference was striking, and the messenger couldn’t help but grimace.

The next day, Raymond demanded Anais hand over management of the estate.

“You’ve done well enough until now. But when Gerard returns, we’d like to be the ones to present it to him. I trust you understand.”

With a single sentence, he swept away the blood, sweat, and years of hard work Anais had poured into the estate over the last three years.
Yet, not even a flicker of resentment crossed her face.

Three months after the messenger’s visit, Gerard finally returned.

Under the family’s banner came a seemingly endless procession of knights, infantrymen, and lavish carriages.

At last, the grand parade came to a halt in front of the castle.

Gerard leapt down from his horse and strode toward his parents.

“I’ve returned.”

His sharply defined jaw and bold mouth remained the same, but the jet-black hair had faded to a dull gray, and his once-soft brown eyes now looked sunken like deep, weary wells.

“How much hardship you must’ve endured…”

His mother, Josephine, shed tears, while Raymond clapped him on the shoulder with a hearty laugh.

“My son! Welcome home!”

His younger sister, Tonya, threw her arms around his neck.

“Brother, I’m so glad you came back safely.”

Finally, Gerard stood before Anais.
He looked at her with a complicated expression he couldn’t quite put into words, then barely managed to speak.

“My lady…”

It was then.

The carriage door opened, and a languid voice drifted out.

“How dreadfully plain.”

With raven-black hair and eyes like the night sky, porcelain skin, and lips like red petals, she was an undeniably striking beauty.

A nearby knight extended a hand to help her down, but she ignored him. Her burning gaze stayed fixed on Gerard and Anais.

When she stubbornly refused to descend, Gerard walked over and offered his hand. She pouted her crimson lips.

“You’re so mean, Jérôme. You know I won’t accept anyone’s help but yours.”

“It’s been years since I saw my family.”

“How cruel. If someone’s waited years, what’s a few more minutes? I have no patience, you know.”

She beamed and opened her arms. Gerard embraced her and, still holding her in his arms, introduced her.

“This is Princess Shaiya Cordiar of the Kingdom of Lanta.”

Everyone but Anais stood frozen in shock. Tonya let out a strangled whisper.

“Lanta… That’s our enemy nation. And he’s with their princess? Has he lost his damn mind…?”

Gerard gently set the woman down, then turned and walked toward Tonya.

Slap!

Tonya staggered from the force of the slap.

“Watch your mouth.”

Gerard’s warning was nothing short of chilling.

Shaiya, watching the scene unfold, let out a delighted laugh.

“That’s your little sister? She’s kind of cute. She really does have quite the temper, just like they said.”

She shrugged, then continued casually.

“But the war’s already over, isn’t it? His Majesty arranged our union. We’re a symbol of reconciliation now.”

With a faintly shy expression, Shaiya gently touched her stomach. Gerard, in turn, wrapped an arm around her waist with an affectionate look.

“No way…”

Tonya couldn’t even finish the sentence.

Meanwhile, Raymond and Josephine looked away awkwardly, as if they had already known the truth.

Shaiya shifted her gaze to Anais, scanning her from head to toe.

“I was curious what kind of woman his first wife would be, especially since they never even spent a wedding night together. Not bad-looking.”

Then, clinging to Gerard’s thick arm, she whined playfully.

“Honey, say something, will you? She’s just glaring at me. It’s scary.”

Gerard looked at Anais with a conflicted expression before finally speaking.

“…Please be kind to her.”

A suffocating silence fell.
Even the cheering villagers had gone quiet. The horses, as if sensing the tension, stopped their restless stamping and pricked up their ears.

Heh.
A light, scoffing laugh shattered the stillness.

Anais, whom everyone thought would burst into tears at any moment, instead let out a bitter chuckle and said:

“How consistent of you.”

The welcome ceremony for the returning heir, three years in the making, had become a complete disaster.

My name is Anais de Laville.
I am now living my third life.

In my first life, I was truly a fool.
Even when my husband returned with another woman, I held on for a while—hoping Gerard would have a change of heart.
More than anything, I couldn’t bear to leave behind what I had built.

But not a single one of my desperate hopes came true.

Abandoned by my husband, the people I trusted slowly turned their backs on me.

Reduced to a servant in my own home, I was used and discarded, eventually driven out in disgrace with nothing but false accusations.

Misery didn’t let go of me so easily.
Trying to get back on my feet, I wandered the mountains in search of medicinal herbs, only to be killed by a monster.

And so, I was granted a second life.

This time, I was born into a different time and space—South Korea.

Some things don’t change. I lived diligently once again.

After graduating from a college of Korean medicine, I started out as a salaried doctor and eventually opened my own clinic.

Just when I was finally ready to enjoy life, I died from overwork.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in my first life.
A dizzying, unbelievable return.

If only I had come back before the marriage…
Unfortunately, it was three months before Gerard would return with Shaiya.

Still, it could be worse.
For whatever reason, I retained the memories of my past life.

I still had all the wisdom and experience that time had given me.

I quickly assessed the situation and began moving with urgency before their arrival.

“This time, I won’t let them trample me!”

The head maid let out another deep sigh.

“At this rate, we’re doomed.”

Ever since Gerard came back, the manor had been thrown into chaos.

Ever since the family head, Raymond, took over the estate’s management, nothing had functioned properly.

When Anais was in charge, not a single coin went to waste—but now money was being thrown around carelessly, and the household was already feeling the strain.

Tonya and Shaiya fought every day.
Just meeting each other’s eyes was enough to start a brawl, making the entire manor feel like a frozen lake—ready to crack at any moment.

The troops Gerard brought back were another headache.

The servants spent their days constantly preparing food and drinks and tending to petty demands, disrupting crucial winter preparations.

Worse still, those soldiers would drool at the sight of female staff, making the maids too frightened to even walk around.

Finally unable to take it any longer, the head maid went to see Josephine.

“My lady, I apologize for speaking so bluntly, but… there are some issues due to the knights’ behavior…”

But Josephine coldly cut her off.

“And who do you suppose should endure them, if not you?”

She had changed.
Or rather, she had reverted—to the days when all she cared about was her beloved son, Gerard.

Josephine had become more brazen than ever.

Just a few days ago, the head maid had caught sight of her by chance—

Josephine was smiling brightly while stroking the pregnant belly of Princess Shaiya.
That radiant smile used to be reserved only for Lady Anaïs…

Meanwhile, Anais had withdrawn completely from the manor, always out and about, leaving the place empty of her presence.