PLTSVA 21

Terry was stuck to me like gum. Like a baby koala, you could say.

After suddenly showing up yesterday and announcing he would become a servant of the ducal house, Terry seemed to have adapted quite well to the mansion in just a day.

‘Too… too cute!’

‘I even baked cookies for the baby!’

He had become a celebrity among the maids.

‘A young lady taking care of an even younger child? How adorable is this scene?!’

‘Spring has finally arrived at the cold and dreary House of Rayes…’

‘I heard she’s taking care of a younger brother she used to raise.’

I glanced at Terry, who was clinging tightly to my back, as I overheard the murmurs coming from behind the pillar. Still, it was commendable that he came back saying he missed his sister, so I gently patted his head.

Then I picked him up with both arms and set him down on the floor.

Terry looked up at me with a sulky expression, clearly displeased that I’d put him down. I spoke firmly.

“The Duke has summoned me. I need to go. You play with the maids for a little while, okay?”

At that, Terry whimpered like a tragic heroine and ran off to the maids hiding behind the pillar.

Leaving the idol of the maids behind, I continued on my way to see Father.

I hadn’t seen him even at breakfast. Still, despite how busy he was with the matter regarding Luca, he always tried to make time for me.

This was one of those moments. Usually, I’d tell him fun stories from the orphanage and he’d listen, but today he said he had something important to tell me.

‘I can pretty much guess what it’s about…’

As expected.

“Drehan is arriving tomorrow.”

My father’s office was exactly what one would expect of the workspace of the head of the empire’s top noble house. The subtle scent of coffee lingered in the air.

Meanwhile, I was drinking a strawberry yogurt smoothie.

‘So good! Chef Shrimp really is a genius.’

Sipping the smoothie, I responded quietly, “I see.”

So he’s finally coming, the eldest son of House Rayes.

In the original story, he was one of the characters who rejected Raberia the most. He even interfered with her trying to reclaim her real name. From my perspective, he was just another unwelcome blood relative.

It’s not that I couldn’t understand Drehan, though.

He was born completely without magic—a “null.”

Even outside of mage families, most people are born with at least a small amount of innate magical power. Drehan, however, was completely empty.

Such people are called “non-magic bearers,” but since they can’t really do anything with their faint powers, it usually doesn’t matter.

But for Drehan, it was practically a curse.

It’s why he didn’t recognize his own sister.

Those who had met young Raberia before she was kidnapped had felt her overwhelming magic and instinctively remembered her.

The Duke and Miller were examples. What they once dismissed as a mere feeling turned out to be the only thread connecting them to Raberia.

It was practically this world’s version of a DNA test.

But Drehan couldn’t sense it. He only remembered what she looked like as a child. To him, I was just a complete stranger.

He had graduated at the top of his academy and was returning now to begin heir training. After that, he’d probably start making his debut in social circles.

It wasn’t impossible to avoid crossing paths with him entirely, but…

‘Easier said than done…’

I sighed deeply.

Father looked at me with a faint smile and said,

“Nervous? Drehan does have a cold personality, but he’ll open his heart to his family. Don’t worry too much.”

“Will he really see me as family? As you can see, I don’t exactly scream ‘pureblood Rayes.’”

His expression visibly hardened at my words.

“Don’t tell me someone actually said that to you.”

I quickly shook my head.

“It’s just what I think. But I’m sure once I go out to social events, people will definitely—”

“If anyone dares say such things to you, then not just them but their families, their retainers—everyone associated with them will become enemies of Rayes. I’ll make it so they can’t even stand in this world.”

His deep blue eyes were so full of conviction that I couldn’t help but believe him.

It surprised me how much the story had changed just through my presence. One major difference was Father’s behavior.

In the original novel, the Duke tried his best in the beginning to get along with Lia.

But his clumsy affections only hurt her, making her believe he saw her as a mere replacement.

Even when he asked her to tell him what she wanted, she only ever shouted the name of the crown prince—who already had a lover.

He must have been left only with deep regret and self-loathing for finding his daughter too late.

Not the loving gaze he gives me now.

Even when Lia’s wickedness had peaked and she tried to poison Senia, it was Father who fought to save her amidst Count Kablos’ onslaught.

The place he sent her for exile—under the guise of punishment—was Tranze, the warm southern region where the Duchess had been born.

He surely prepared everything for her without lacking a thing.

He couldn’t have known she’d die there from a mysterious illness.

I smiled brightly at Father.

“I feel so reassured. Even if it’s just words, thank you so much, Dad!”

Somehow, seeing him like this gave me a small hope that even Drehan might change. Even that despair described in the second side story—“Drehan’s Regret.”

That night, after playing with Terry all day, I was finally rescued by Sister Serin.

She carried away the child who insisted on sleeping with me, and I waved goodbye. Then, lying in bed, I began to think deeply—and fell asleep.

“Why is this happening to me?!”

A childish voice rang out from somewhere, jolting me awake.

‘…What is this scene?’

It was like I had turned invisible. The children of the orphanage ran straight through me.

A younger version of myself was huddled in a corner of Troy Orphanage, clutching her head. She looked to be about seven years old.

But I had no memory of this ever happening.

There’s no way I’d forget a moment of such pain.

I was a complete outsider in this space-time. I reached out toward the young Lia left behind in the room, but my hand passed right through her.

“I miss you… Mom, Dad…”

The emptiness in her eyes pierced my heart like a needle.

‘What is this feeling…?’

I pressed a hand to my chest, and suddenly the scene began to shift.

The large window in the ceiling of the orphanage changed with the passage of countless days.

The sun set, the moon rose, the sun rose again—over and over. Then, it all stopped.

“This is Luca. He was abandoned by his parents and became a stray. He got a head injury while being chased by bandits in the forest and lost his memory, so I want you to take care of him, Lia.”

It was the voice of Miss Rayola, who was already dead. She wasn’t speaking to me, but to another Lia standing behind me.

That Lia still had despair and emptiness in her green eyes—but when she looked at Luca, a flicker of emotion finally appeared.

Maybe curiosity, maybe surprise.

Time passed again. I still didn’t know why I was stuck in this space-time or whether someone was controlling the flow.

The next scene was dim. In the darkened library corner of the orphanage stood Luca.

More precisely, Luca was being threatened by Miss Rayola.

Rayola looked like she was being controlled by something.

Her movements were like a puppet on strings.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and a glowing symbol shone on her forehead.

In that moment, I realized she was under Duke Kablos’ curse.

He must have planted some kind of insurance to control Luca. I didn’t expect he’d use Rayola like this, though.

In his young body, Luca had no way to resist.

My thoughts froze.

The floor of the library was open. It was a secret passage Luca might’ve thought led outside—but it had always been sealed.

‘Why is the “Library Escape Attempt” scene unfolding before my eyes? Am I watching the original story play out?’

Then, Rayola suddenly transformed into a monster.

It happened in an instant—her human form melted into a grotesque creature.

‘What the hell?!’

Had she always been a monster in disguise? Or had Duke Kablos turned her into one?

It was a high-grade monster. Its sheer presence was terrifying as it lumbered toward Luca, glowing red eyes gleaming.

Luca, collapsed on the floor, looked up at it with resigned eyes.

‘No!’

If I interfered, I would die—or end up crippled.

Even so, I ran at the monster. I didn’t hesitate. Even I was surprised by my decision.

Of course, my body passed right through.

I fell beside Luca, curled up just like him, and looked up at the approaching monster.

Its killing intent felt almost tangible on my skin.

Even knowing it wouldn’t do anything, I hugged Luca tightly. I could feel his small heart racing.

“Miss Rayola, stop!”

A voice rang out from somewhere. Both Luca and I looked up.

It was shaky but strong, a girl’s voice full of resolve.

“Punish me instead. Luca is my responsibility.”

Even in the darkness of night, her silver hair shone like starlight—it was another Lia.

The look in Luca’s eyes in that moment—pure awe, as if he were witnessing a god.

It was the very definition of salvation.

“Then I’ll break your legs instead!”

The monster stomped toward the resolute Lia.

Despite his battered body, Luca lunged forward, trying to stop the creature.

But he was too weak. He was flung into a wall with a sickening thud.

“No! Please…!”

His voice, spoken just before he lost consciousness from the pain, never reached anyone.