‘Please, I hope this isn’t a dream.’
That was the first thought that came to Sephiel’s mind every time she woke up these days.
“Hoaamm.”
Sephiel yawned and got out of bed.
The warm sunlight tickled her cheek, making her feel good. She rubbed her face against the bed and giggled.
“Are you awake?”
“Oh…”
“Here, have some water. You must be thirsty after just waking up.”
A yellow chick-themed cup with a straw was placed in front of her. It was the first personal belonging Sephiel ever had.
Sephiel drank the water in gulps. When she finished, she let out a satisfied sigh, Phaah.
“You drank well,” Berry said with a smile.
Sephiel looked at Berry and grinned back.
Berry and Marie, the two maids assigned to the annex to look after Sephiel.
Berry was the one with blue eyes. She was said to be Marie’s older sister.
They looked so much alike that it was hard to believe they weren’t twins. Sephiel found that fascinating.
“Thvank ywou, Beyyi.” (Thank you, Berry)
“Oh my, how sweet you are. It seems like tonight will be a bit chilly, so let’s take your bath before dinner.”
“Okay.”
“Then shall we go out to the garden and play?”
“Yes!”
Sephiel nodded vigorously.
‘Yeah, I’m so glad I can go out to the garden every day.’
Sephiel was moved to the annex after the last procedure of verification.
It was a small building prepared for the child who would become the bride of the young master of the Grand Duke family.
The annex was a well-built building, but with Old furniture, worn curtains, and an eerie floor that occasionally creaked.
It wasn’t exactly a building that children would like. It was located away from the main house and was surrounded by a quiet forest.
‘Maybe Mitara, the child chosen as a bride in my previous life, would have found it lacking. After all, she was a real noble…’
But for Sephiel, who originally lived in a damp underground prison, life there was nothing short of paradise.
‘Yes, this place is my own honey pot.’
It was clean, had no bad smells, and— No one suddenly barged in to hit her dozens of times.
‘But I found an old, small ball in the annex, and I also found some colored pencils and a sketchbook.’
Overjoyed with her newfound treasures, Sephiel celebrated her success by creating a new Death Note, completely filled with colorful scribbles.
‘Even in peace, we must not forget our wickedness.’
After all, recalling the past now and then was necessary for happiness.
Although she wished she had a doll…
‘No matter how evil I may become, excessive greed is not allowed.’
Wanting a doll would be more than greed—it would be ambition.
Besides, Berry and Marie were still very kind.
“Alright, it’s time to get clean.”
“Yes, clyean tyime.”
Sephiel soaked in the bathtub, humming the song she had learned from Marie and Berry, “Let’s get clean and squeaky clean.”
Soaking in the old marble tub and splashing around made her lose track of time.
‘In my past life, I was only allowed to bathe once every two weeks.’
‘Looking back, the criticism I received wasn’t without basis.’
‘If it were me, I wouldn’t like a dirty, smelly kid either.’
But then Sephiel quickly shook her head.
‘So what? I’m going to be a clean person now. And it wasn’t even my fault back then.’
With that thought, any sadness faded quickly.
“Alright, you’re all clean now.”
Berry put a cute bear-eared towel on her head and wrapped it around her whole body.
“Just your head, peek out.”
Then, after lifting off the hood slightly, she carried Sephiel into the warm room and gently towel-dried her hair.
“Miss Baby is still weak.”
“Yes, even a little chill can make you sick.”
Afterward, new clothes were given to her.
‘A new clothes again!’
Marie came in holding a new, white, fluffy baby dress that she had gotten from somewhere.
‘It even has lace!’
Sephiel reached out her tiny hands and touched the lacy hem.
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, I like the clwothes that Mayyi pickved owut for me.” (Yeah, I like the clothes that Marie picked out for me)
“How adorable.”
Another compliment.
Sephiel hesitantly asked,
“Then… I dwon’t smyell bwad anymvore, wight?” (Then, I don’t smell bad anymore, right?)
Marie and Berry looked at each other and said.
“Not at all.”
“Yeah, you smell like flowers.”
“Your white skin and hair make you look like a baby silver fox—you’re just beautiful.”
“But you’re so small.”
“Compared to the growth rate of human babies in books, you’re developing much slower. You need to eat well and sleep a lot, okay?”
Sephiel nodded shyly, as it was rare for someone to treat her that warmly.
“Alright, now you’re all dressed.”
On top of that, Berry and Marie also taught her how to express gratitude.
“Thavnk ywou for mavking me so clyean.” (Thank you for making me so clean)
Without saying a word, Berry and Marie covered their mouths and laughed loudly, then patted Sephiel’s head.
“You don’t have to be so formal with us.”
“Yes, just greet the family elders properly when you see them.”
“Though that probably won’t happen…”
‘Was it just my imagination, or did Berry’s voice sound bitter at the end?’
Sephiel tilted his head.
Next was Sephiel’s favorite time.
It’s mealtime!
Every meal has meat…
Steaming roast chicken, tender roast beef, colorful three-layered pies, and sweet seasonal fruits.
“Miss Baby, try this too.”
“Mmm…”
Sephiel in her previous life had never eaten so much meat.
‘When I was young, I only ate dried meat occasionally. And as I grew older…. because I grew up eating so little, I always had stomach problems as an adult. Even a slightly bigger meal would make me sick.’
And since she had to survive on leftovers, she never even touched meat.
“Mmm……”
She put a juicy, perfectly cooked piece of meat into her mouth. It melted instantly.
They even added a little honey to soften the seasoning, ensuring it wouldn’t be too strong for a child.
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes, it’s rweally delicyiowus….” (Yes, it’s really delicious)
Berry and Marie’s expressions softened as they watched Sephiel eat happily.
“Eat slowly.”
“But, What abwout Mayyi and Beyyi?” (But, What about Marie and Berry)
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you eating?”
“We’ll eat after you’re done.”
“What will ywou eayt?”
“We’ll have your meal as well.”
“Is that enyough?”
Marie and Berry glanced at each other.
“Don’t worry about us and eat as much as you like.”
“So kind.”
“Mmm…”
Sephiel nodded. Then the door opened and Elton came in.
“Miss Baby, how’s your meal?”
“It’s delicyiowus.”
Sephiel put down her pie to answer.
Berry gently wiped her small, soft hands with a warm towel.
The sensation tickled, making Sephiel giggle softly.
Elton chuckled.
“Haha, really, Miss Baby is cute.”
”Did ywou covme juyst to say that?” (Did you come just to say that?)
Sephiel glanced around.
It’s already been ten days since Sephiel arrived.
For the first three days, doctors examined whether there were any health issues. After that, Sephiel replenished energy that had been completely drained from the journey, sleeping deeply and eating plenty.
“No way. I brought a gift.”
“Gift?”
Sephiel’s ears perked up.
“Would you like to take a look around the Grand Duke’s house?”
To be honest, Sephiel did want to. Wasn’t this the famous Remdragon Grand Duchy, whose gates hadn’t been opened for nearly a hundred years?
In a previous life, Sephiel had been locked in a room, working tax evasion reports for her siblings and translating state secrets into ancient languages.
Among those secret documents, there were also records of an inspection of the Remdragon Grand Duchy.
‘Compared to the other two monarchs, the information on that place was incredibly limited.’
“For the time being, none of our ‘masters’ are in the Grand Duke’s house. Tomorrow, I’ll show you around inside.”
“Mastyers?” (Masters?)
“Yes, the clan of half-dragons. The direct family members of the Grand Duke.”
“Who’s thyere?”
“Hmm, first, there’s the First Grand Duke, the grandfather. He’s very old and spends most of his time traveling and indulging in his hobbies.”
“He travvels too?” (He travels too?)
“Yes, of course. Dragons are very interested in human affairs. Then, let’s see… There’s also the current Grand Duke, the father of young master Erga. He is the Grand Duke… and if you marry into the family, he will become your father-in-law. But he’s just…..”
Elton’s expression became strange.
“If you ever run into him, never, ever approach him. That man is… dangerous.”
“Hmm…”
“And then, there’s young master Erga. No need for an explanation, right?”
Sephiel shuddered for a moment.
Even though everything about the Grand Duke’s estate seemed fascinating, the fear of Erga couldn’t be ignored.
“Yeah, he’s a gyood gwuy…” (Yeah, he’s a good guy)
Elton held back a laugh.
“Do you like it here?”
Sephiel nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Do you think you can keep living here?”
“Yes.”
Sephiel spoke with courage.
“I waynt to swtay here….” (I want to stay here.)
Then Elton bent down and looked into Sephiel’s eyes.
“There’s nothing particularly difficult you need to do here. But surviving until adulthood might be the hardest task.”
“What do ywou myean?” (What do you mean?)
“It means you have to endure without upsetting the temperamental dragons.”
“……”
“In the end, the most important thing is…”
“Uh?”
“To listen to our masters. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Sephiel nodded.
“But….”
“Yes?”
“If I dwon’t liysten to them, will they really syend a wild bveast to bwite me and kyill me? Are they rearly that bayd-tempweryed?” (If I don’t listen to them, will they really send a wild beast to bite me and kill me? Are they really that bad-tempered?)
Elton chuckled at Sephiel’s innocent question.
“No. They just can’t tell the difference between prey like rabbits or deer and people.”
Sephiel nodded.
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Of what?”
Sephiel blinked nonchalantly.
“They wouldn’t kyill a rabbvit or a dyeer for no reyason, wight?” (They wouldn’t kill a rabbit or a deer for no reason, right?)
Not that the dragons weren’t scary, but Sephiel was certain that, at the very least, she was needed.
‘They’ll need my name!’
Even pet animals in a household weren’t killed carelessly. If someone was needed, they’d at least hesitate before killing them.
“Hahahah.”
Elton burst out laughing as if he couldn’t hold it in.
“You are very intelligent. That’s a wise answer. But if you are talking about death, that is almost never the case.”
“Why?”
“Because of the peace treaty between the Four Monarchs. As the child is a direct descendant of Allegro, you’re protected by an agreement that ensures you won’t be harmed without a valid reason.”
“Hmm…”
Sephiel knew well about the promise the Remdragon Grand Duchy had made with humans.
“Pyeace trewaty?” (peace treaty?)
But Sephiel pretended not to know and asked.
“The Oath of the Four Monarchs. A pledge that they will not invade each other’s territories without a proper cause, nor harm the direct lineage of another ruling family. And that they will abide by the kingdom’s laws.”
“But what abwout that laydy?” (But what about that lady?)
“Which lady?”
“The onye that gyot byitten by Blwack. Was that okay?” (The one that got bitten by Black. Was that okay?)
“Ah. How can someone like that be of the same status as you, Miss Baby? A mere noblewoman or a knight….. well, the masters see them as nothing more than playthings.”
Elton made a slicing motion across his neck.
“They’re insignificant. The masters are a superior race, after all.”
Sephiel stared at Elton like that and nodded her small head.
‘Elton is being honest with me, even though I’m just a child.’
Was he trying to teach survival skills? Sephiel didn’t mind it.
“Marie, take Miss Baby to her room. I think she’s had enough.”
“Yes, Miss Baby, let’s go to your room and play tea party.”
“Yes.”
Sephiel nodded obediently and followed Marie back into the room.
‘Oh, that’s right. I left my handkerchief in the dining room.’
A large handkerchief that you must always wrap around your neck when going outside because it is cold.
It was a bright chick-yellow color, embroidered with large flowers.
Marie was on her way to get some cookies for their playtime.
Sephiel walked back to the dining room.
Standing on tiptoe to grab the doorknob, Sefiel overheard a conversation between Berry and Elton through a small gap in the door.
“The Miss Baby is pitiful. At this rate…”
Elton said something, but his voice was too quiet to catch.
“The masters don’t care about human circumstances.”
“……”
“A child at this age should be properly educated. If they grow up isolated in a separate house, how will they ever become a proper adult?”
“Usually, it is the role of the parents to send out private tutors or the necessary educators.”
“That’s true. But that’s not possible in this case. She doesn’t even have a chaperone.”
Sephiel pricked up her ears.
‘Oh, they’re talking about me.’
‘So this is how others see my situation.’
‘I have a strange feeling.’
Elton and Berry continued their conversation.
“There’s no choice. Miss Baby is from the Allegro family. We have to hide Miss Baby’s existence for the time being.”
“The young master’s personality is really something. Knowing the history between the Allegro royal family and our family…”
“Still, thanks to that, we got a very adorable little guest.”
“Oh, that’s true.”
Berry answered seriously.
“Anyway. I hope Miss Baby can win the hearts of the servants. If the servants support her, maybe….”
“Hmph. Our servants aren’t like human ones. You should keep that in mind. She’s still young, so don’t expect too much.”
“You’re so relaxed about this, Elton. This is someone’s life we’re talking about. And she’s such a kind and lovely child.”
“More importantly, be careful when introducing the servants.”
“Yes… We wouldn’t want another dead one to show up like before….”
Berry and Elton lowered their voices a little.
At that moment, Elton casually turned toward where Sephiel was.
Sephiel quickly stepped back from the door.
Then she turned her back and quietly returned to the room.
“Miss Baby, where have you been?”
Marie quickly greeted her in the room.
“Let’s play quickly!”
Sephiel said with a smile.
‘At least the servants here don’t seem like bad people.’
Avoiding the dragons and winning over the servants.
Sephiel thought with a sly smile.
‘This place is a goldmine for me. Don’t worry. I can live well in this annex. Honestly, I’m more afraid of standing out too much.’
‘Even if I don’t study, I’m already smart.’
Sephiel thought proudly.
* * *
