Episode 9
The brat threatened to expose Marco’s identity if he didn’t help.
Surprisingly, what the child said was true.
Marco was actually a spy sent by someone of high status in the imperial family to monitor the Atherion Duke’s house.
“If my identity is exposed here, it’ll be a serious problem.”
So in the end, Marco had no choice but to go along with this suspicious child’s plan.
Ridiculous as it was.
Everything went exactly according to Tii’s plan.
Tii desperately pretended to be dead (and had actually fainted at first).
The summoned doctor (Marco) falsely declared her dead and secretly removed the “corpse” (Tii).
Tii trembled with excitement at her second successful escape and jumped up and down.
“And now! Escape success! Yes!”
Marco stepped out of the box and asked the girl, who was exercising:
“Is your cold better?”
“The medicine you gave me works really well. I thought you were a quack doctor, but I guess not.”
Marco’s eyebrow twitched.
“You rude little brat!”
He looked like he wanted to smack her, but Tii knew he wouldn’t.
That’s exactly why she chose him.
Marco sighed and asked:
“What if I tried to kill you to keep you quiet?”
“Because I know you wouldn’t.”
Tii had found out by chance that Marco had been secretly helping her in the mansion.
The reason was simple.
She had met Marco before her regression, in the imperial palace.
Back then, he was a kind royal guard who helped even a lowly maid.
Marco sighed again at her words.
“You really don’t know how scary people can be.”
“There’s probably no one my age who hates and fears people more than I do.”
“……”
Marco hadn’t been at the mansion long.
But even so, he had seen how badly Tii was abused, so he couldn’t deny it.
And yet, the girl was smiling brightly like sunshine.
Seeing that, Marco was momentarily speechless.
How can she smile like that after everything she’s been through?
His chest felt uneasy.
Then Tii said something even more surprising:
“Thank you for leaving medicine, food, and heated stones in my room sometimes.”
“…You knew?”
“And thank you for helping me this time too.”
“So where are you going now?”
“Secret.”
Marco let out a baffled laugh and searched his pockets as he gave advice:
“Well, wherever you go, it’s better than that mansion. But the streets are harsh—”
At that moment, Tii gave him advice he never expected:
“If you ever try to save a maid named Nena with brown hair and your identity gets exposed… don’t relax—be suspicious at least once.”
“…What?”
You said you wouldn’t have lost an eye if you hadn’t made that mistake.
When Marco looked up—
The child had already disappeared without a trace.
It felt as if he had just seen a ghost.
Leaving Marco behind, Tii quietly moved away.
She had used the ring’s second ability: invisibility.
The duration is too short to use it for escaping the mansion…
But it was enough for this.
The reason she used it was simple:
Even Marco can’t be fully trusted.
He seemed like a good person.
But right now, he was still an active knight—and a spy.
And even after regression, she didn’t know who his superior was.
It feels a bit wrong to doubt someone who helped me…
But she had given him helpful advice, so it was fine.
Alright, phase one of the plan is complete!
Steal Astreia from Tiseriel.
Fake her death and escape.
Everything had gone perfectly.
Now, onto the next step!
She would use Astreia to find and awaken the sealed holy relic.
After that, she would negotiate with the imperial family, reclaim her identity, and take revenge on the collateral relatives who stole her family.
Tii lifted her head firmly.
In the distance, she saw sharp golden rooftops shining.
The imperial palace.
The stage for phase two was the palace.
The reason was simple.
That was where her next target was.
The holy relic.
Many people would find this strange.
Why go to the imperial palace to find a holy relic?
As far as everyone knew, the relic—“The Tear of the Goddess”—was kept in the Grand Temple and shown to the public during annual ceremonies.
But Tii knew the truth.
That one is fake.
The “Tear of the Goddess” held by the temple was a fake.
Before her regression, the former Pope—the current one at the time—was the only person who knew the truth (besides Tii).
Tiseriel had complained that he stayed silent to test her.
Only after the Pope changed did she finally find the real relic hidden in the imperial palace.
This time, that won’t happen.
Tii would find it before Tiseriel.
First, I need to enter the palace as a maid!
Before her regression, Tii had worked in the imperial palace.
There was no one who knew the palace—or the work of a palace maid—better than her.
And maids can move around the palace freely without suspicion.
Also—
It’s easier to build connections with nobles and royalty.
In fact, she had once served under a royal.
That connection would definitely help when negotiating with the imperial family later.
***
The Pulos Orphanage was as peaceful as always—
Until news arrived from the Atherion Duke’s house.
The director heard it first, and soon it spread among the children.
“Hey, did you hear? Another one died!”
“She lasted just over a month? I wish she lasted longer… we’ll have to draw lots again. I’m scared.”
“She left smiling like it was a good opportunity… idiot. I knew this would happen.”
The boy mocking her was suddenly grabbed by the collar.
“Huh?”
—Smack!
A powerful blow crushed his cheek.
“Aaaagh!! My teeeeeth!!”
The one who knocked out his teeth—
Lindel.
With a terrifying expression, he asked:
“What did you just say?”
“H-huh? Lindel?”
“I said, what did you say?!”
“She… I heard she died… the director told the teachers…”
Lindel’s face turned pale.
He looked toward the direction of the duke’s house and clenched his teeth.
Tii!
This was the day before the boy planned to rescue her.
After beating up several kids who insulted Tii, Lindel fell into despair—
Until the orphanage director called him.
At the mention of the director, fire returned to his dull eyes.
That man… the one who sent Tii to her death.
The boy touched the sharp awl he always carried in his pocket and headed to the office.
But he heard something unexpected.
“They said the duke’s house wants you.”
“…What?”
“Seems she only lasted a month. Considering she was specially chosen, that’s actually long.”
Lindel bit his lip.
“I heard you all said you wanted to go in Tii’s place. It must’ve reached the young lady’s ears.”
“……”
“You shouldn’t have done something you weren’t told to do.”
The director clicked his tongue and opened the ledger.
Inside was the monthly subsidy sent by the duke’s house.
The price of Tii’s blood.
Every orphan knew more than half went into the director’s pocket.
Lindel glared at him with burning eyes—
Then smiled softly.
“Alright. Send me.”
As he put his hand into his pocket, Lindel stepped closer to the director.
***
One year later—
I successfully entered the imperial palace.
I hid my real identity, and the fact that I had once been sent to the duke’s house.
Of course, I also changed my name.
“Tina Haas.”
“Yes.”
Tina Haas was an alias.
But since “Tina” shortened to “Tii,” it still sounded similar.
And since “Tii” was a common name, no one would connect her to the orphanage girl.
But—
“How are your hands so skilled? I was always making mistakes at your age.”
“At this rate, you’ll become an official palace maid in no time!”
“Well, that’s obvious. That person has already taken an interest in her. She might even be chosen as a personal attendant.”
I didn’t intend to stand out this much…
