IAVAGVH Chapter 03

Chapter 03

 

 

In the story, Jacquette had also been bullied by the orphanage children.

“I can’t believe I forgot this.”

Daphne recalled those orphanage days, realizing for the first time how fragile human life could be.

In the original story, it wasn’t Daphne who saved Jacquette.

There was even a line that went: “Those cold, deep purple eyes I met back then still haunt me. Eyes that didn’t care whether I lived or died.”

This time, Daphne felt she had to save Jacquette herself.

“Ah!”

As soon as she reached for the door knob, the door swung open.

Daphne was pulled forward by the sudden movement and stumbled.

But before she could fall completely, something solid stopped her.

“Are you alright?”

A young man’s voice snapped her back to reality, and she quickly stepped away.

“Thank you. I wasn’t looking properly…”

“How could you have expected the door to suddenly open? If that’s a mistake, then I made one too.”

The man spoke kindly. Looking at him, Daphne grabbed the hem of her dress and gave a small curtsy.

“I didn’t expect to be caught so soon.”

The man removed his hood.

Golden hair shined under the light as if made from melted gold.

“I’ll skip formal titles since you seem to be out on a secret visit.”

 

So she hadn’t been mistaken earlier.

Helio Athanasius.

The Crown Prince of the Empire.

Why was he here?

But there was no time to dwell on that. Right now, saving Jacquette was more important.

“That silver hair… are you the Lady of Himonas?”

“Daphne Himonas, at your service.”

“Raise your head, Lady.”

When Daphne looked up, she saw a man with a kind expression.

But she knew better.

He was someone who could be firm and decisive when needed.

And incredibly sharp.

“But why are you here, Lady?”

She couldn’t just say she was here to adopt a child.

“It’s a very minor family matter, nothing worth your concern.”

Perhaps understanding that she wouldn’t reveal more, the prince smirked.

But his eyes didn’t smile.

She couldn’t waste time in a power struggle with him now.

She had to go save Jacquette.

“I hear Himonas supports this orphanage a lot.”

“My father takes great interest in children.”

“Yet rumors say that some of those children often disappear.”

Daphne simply maintained her polite smile.

A meaningful remark. Did he know something about the Marquis’ experiments?

When she didn’t respond, the prince seemed to let it go.

“You seem to be in a hurry to go somewhere.”

“Yes, I have urgent business to attend to.”

“Then go ahead.”

Daphne gave another curtsy and quickly walked down the hallway.

Helio watched her retreating figure until she completely disappeared.

Following the footprints she had seen from the window, Daphne hurried outside.

The footprints led toward a forest path.

As the snowfall grew heavier, the tracks began to fade.

She couldn’t lose them.

Her instincts screamed that she had to find Jacquette.

She quickened her pace, then broke into a run.

“No… no! The footprints…!”

The snow covered them too quickly.

Just as despair set in, she heard a faint voice.

“No! Stop it!”

Daphne ran toward the sound, pushing through the trees.

She reached a large, frozen river.

A hole in the ice—likely the only unfrozen spot—lay ahead.

Children were dragging Jacquette toward it.

Could this be how she nearly died in the original story?

If she had fallen in… surviving would have been a miracle.

“Stop right there!”

She couldn’t reach them in time, so she did the only thing she could—yelling with all her might.

The children flinched at the sound of an adult’s voice and turned around.

Daphne marched toward them.

“Are you insane? Do you want to die?”

The terrified children let go of Jacquette and stepped back.

“Stay right where you are.”

Just a few more steps, and they could have fallen into the freezing water.

Daphne helped Jacquette up and lowered her voice.

“Were you trying to kill her?”

“N-no! We just wanted to scare her…”

“If someone falls into that water, they die. Do you understand?”

At her harsh words, the children cowered.

“Go back to the orphanage. We’ll deal with the rest there.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the children ran off.

Jacquette was trembling.

Daphne placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she flinched.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yes…”

She looked like she was holding back tears.

She simply nodded.

“Can you walk?”

“I-I think so…”

But her feet were purple with cold.

If she kept walking, she might lose her toes.

Unlike the other children, she wasn’t even wearing a coat.

They must have dragged her out without letting her grab her things.

If she kept walking in this weather, she wouldn’t make it.

“Hold still.”

Daphne removed her cloak and wrapped it around her, covering even her feet.

Then, she picked her up.

Will this erase that tragic memory from her future?

“Huff…”

Carrying a child through deep snow was exhausting.

The cold air burned her lungs.

Just when she thought she couldn’t take another step, the orphanage came into view.

The director and teachers were outside, searching with lanterns.

When they saw Daphne, they rushed over.

“You need to warm her up first.”

“Y-yes, right away!”

She handed Jacquette over to a teacher.

Her displeasure was obvious—now they wouldn’t dare mistreat her.

“Jacquette, once you’re warm, pack your things and meet me where I was earlier.”

“O-okay…”

Jacquette looked completely drained.

She awkwardly patted her head before letting her go.

Then, she headed for the reception room.

“My deepest apologies, Lady. This was my fault.”

She wanted to shut him up.

“It was your fault. Did you not know the children would act this way, Director?”

“I… I am truly sorry.”

Daphne wanted to scold him further, but instead, she sighed and shook the snow from her hair.

“If you want to keep your position, do your job properly. My father dislikes even minor disturbances.”

“I will remember that. Absolutely.”

“Good. Now go.”

The director hurried out.

Daphne pressed her fingers to her temple.

If she hadn’t regained her past life’s memories, would she have rushed to save Jacquette?

Probably not.

People might criticize her for thinking this way.

But she had to use everything at her disposal to change the future.

She had to survive.

Just like always.