Chapter 02
“Huff! Huff!”
I can breathe.
“Huff… huff!”
It’s rough, but I’m breathing out.
‘What happened…?’
When I opened my eyes, I saw a new place.
A wide room filled with warm sunlight and a gentle breeze. Pastel pink wallpaper, clean white furniture, and cute yet luxurious toys spread out before me.
There was even a baby mobile hanging on one side. It looked like a newborn’s room.
While I was trying to understand the situation—
Click.
The door opened and someone who looked like a maid entered.
“Oh my! Young miss, you’re awake?”
‘Young miss?’
My head tilted at her words. As I blinked in confusion, the maid came closer and gasped.
“My goodness… look at all this cold sweat! Young miss, are you in pain? Why are you sweating so much? Please wait a moment!”
After checking my condition, she hurried out of the room.
‘Young miss? Was I born into a noble family?’
It seemed I had been born into a noble house.
‘Who am I? Should I look in a mirror?’
Curious, I tried to get up and look at a mirror.
Or at least, I tried.
“Uwaa!”
‘Why can’t I move!’
I tried to sit up in one go, but my body wouldn’t obey me. The more strength I used, the more I just flopped back down.
Frustrated, I snapped—
“Bu! Abu!”
‘Bu? Abu? What was that? Is there a baby nearby?’
Confused, I looked around. No one was there.
“Abu?”
‘I clearly heard a baby’s voice… where is it?’
The babbling echoed again.
‘Did that just come out of my mouth? No way!’
Trying to deny reality, I said random words in my head.
‘Apple, pear, banana!’
“Abu, bu, abubu!”
But no matter what I tried to say, only baby sounds came out.
Despair hit me.
‘I’m a baby?! A baby?! I thought I’d at least return as someone a bit older! What is this!’
If someone heard me, they would probably call me childish. They would say I should be grateful just for being reborn instead of complaining about being a baby.
I know that.
I know being reborn itself is something to be thankful for.
‘But still… then when am I supposed to get my revenge?!’
That’s right. I returned for revenge.
I wanted a loving family, yes—but more than that, I wanted revenge. That’s why I planned to grow stronger as soon as I got a new life.
But look at me now.
A tiny body that can only babble. A baby who can’t even hold a bottle without help. When will I walk? When will I speak properly?
‘Can I even take revenge like this…?’
Now that I understood reality, it felt hopeless.
At the same time.
In a dark basement filled with a foul smell.
A man trembled as he stepped backward.
“P-Please spare me, Your Grace! Please, spare me!”
The shabby-looking man stared at someone in terror, as if he had seen a ghost.
Following his gaze, there stood a handsome man looking down at him calmly.
“Spare you? Anyone would think I was about to kill you.”
The duke curved his lips slightly as he looked at the man sitting on the floor. His appearance was beautiful enough to make anyone gasp—but inside, he was cruel.
“Y-Your Grace! Please, have mercy!”
“Mercy…? A man caught while running away dares to speak of mercy. Baron Humtin, don’t you find that funny?”
“Please! If you spare my life, I’ll do anything!”
The baron hurriedly knelt and rubbed his hands together, begging. Though the duke wasn’t choking him, he gasped as if he couldn’t breathe.
The duke let out a mocking laugh.
“If you hadn’t stolen our supplies in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened.”
That was right. Baron Humtin had been caught stealing supplies from the Granato ducal house.
“T-That is… I didn’t want to steal them… but I had no choice…”
After stammering for a while, the baron finally confessed.
“It was Aquamarina! They ordered me to do it! The marquis threatened to ruin my business if I didn’t! I had no choice, so please forgive me!”
He lowered himself completely to the ground, begging desperately.
“If you spare my life! I will never forget this kindness!”
The duke’s expression changed slightly.
“Oh? Then you won’t mind losing a hand, right?”
“Pardon?”
“You said you only want to live. Then losing one hand should be fine.”
His voice was gentle—but the meaning was cold.
“Y-Your Grace…”
“Let’s start with the wrist.”
The duke grabbed his arm.
Just as he was about to strike—
“Your Grace, something terrible has happened!”
The basement door burst open, and a maid rushed in.
The duke frowned slightly.
“What is it, Flynn?”
“The young miss is unwell!”
“What?”
His face instantly hardened.
“She broke out in cold sweat! It seems her body has grown weak again!”
“Cold sweat? Where is she in pain?”
“I—I’m not sure. She was born frail to begin with…”
“Ha, this is maddening.”
The duke loosened his tie impatiently.
At the same time, he twisted Baron Humtin’s arm.
“Ahhh!”
The baron rolled on the ground in agony, but no one helped him.
The duke hesitated for a moment.
Punishing a traitor was important.
But his daughter was important too.
After a few seconds of silence, he spoke.
“I’m going. Deal with him later.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
And so, the duke left with Flynn.
‘It’ll work out somehow. First, I need to adjust.’
After calming myself, I decided to adapt to reality.
I didn’t know which family this was, but the house looked luxurious.
Expensive-looking furniture. Soft blankets. Spotless toys.
It was clear someone had put great care into this place.
‘What are my new parents like?’
If they prepared all this, maybe they are kind people.
Just thinking about my new family made my heart beat fast.
Bang—
“Allegria!”
Someone rushed into the room.
“Allegria! Why are you sweating so much? How much pain must you be in, my daughter!”
A strikingly handsome man hurried to my side, looking at me anxiously.
“What are you all doing?! Has the physician arrived yet?!”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Servants hurried away.
“Allegria, please don’t be sick.”
He gently stroked me with trembling hands.
‘Allegria? Is that my name?’
I looked at the man carefully.
Bright red hair like a rose. Pink eyes that were charming yet sharp. He looked cold at first glance, but elegant and trustworthy.
“The physician has arrived!”
Soon, the physician came in.
“Examine her at once.”
“Yes, Duke. I will examine the young lady.”
‘Duke?’
The physician carefully checked my body.
After a while, he spoke cautiously.
“It seems she had a nightmare.”
Everyone gasped.
“A nightmare? My daughter had a nightmare?!”
“Our young miss must have suffered so much!”
“Find out the cause immediately!”
“Make sure she only has good dreams!”
The room turned chaotic.
‘Duke…?’
They were making such a fuss over just a nightmare.
‘Wait. A duke? Red hair? There’s only one person like that.’
Red hair. Handsome. A duke.
Lucero Granato, the Duke of Granato.
Then…
Did I just reincarnate as the youngest daughter of my enemy family?
