The timing was just right.
The original story began shortly after Claudia’s death when the male lead returned to the mansion.
Originally, when I woke up in this body, Claudia would have died from the fever.
But because I took over her body at that moment, I had survived instead.
“…Alright. I’ll go out, so take care of Dia in the meantime.”
“Yes, madam.”
Veronica’s face darkened as if she had also realized that the male lead had returned.
Leaving me in Sophia’s care, she stood up from her seat.
“Dia, Mommy will be back soon, so eat with the nanny, okay?”
“Mmh.”
“I’ll be back quickly. Make sure to eat well.”
“Yes.”
Pressured by the unsettling atmosphere, I obediently nodded.
Veronica smiled faintly and stroked my hair before leaving the room.
I stared at her retreating figure.
Now, what’s going to happen?
Would the male lead shamelessly declare that he would take the female lead as his concubine, just like in the original?
It’d be better if they just divorced.
In the original, the duchy that supported Veronica clashed with the male lead but ultimately fell victim to his schemes.
Still, they were a powerful ducal family in the empire.
If Veronica divorced, they would be more than capable of protecting her.
After finishing my meal, I silently watched Sophia.
She had been anxiously glancing toward the door while feeding me, but when our eyes met, she quickly put on a bright smile as if nothing was wrong.
“Nanny, I want to see a mirror.”
“A mirror?”
“Mmh.”
Though puzzled, Sophia brought me a small mirror.
I carefully examined my reflection.
Long, jet-black hair that gleamed with a soft luster, contrasting against pale skin—almost too pale, likely due to frequent illness.
But my face was small overall, with delicate, well-balanced features and slightly upturned eyes like a cat’s.
Maybe because I resembled my beautiful mother, I already looked quite pretty.
In the future, I would surely grow to be as stunning as Veronica.
“Hm…”
But there was one problem—my eyes.
Not my mother’s, but the male lead’s striking violet eyes.
I let out a small groan of dissatisfaction.
Everything else was fine, but these eyes were an issue.
Since I was still a child, they were disproportionately large compared to my face, making their vivid purple hue even more pronounced.
If someone from the duchy saw them, they would immediately be reminded of the male lead.
Feeling dispirited, I flipped the mirror over.
“Our beautiful young lady, what’s wrong? You don’t like the mirror?”
“…It’s nothing.”
“What could it be? You’re as lovely as ever today.”
Sophia smiled as she gently stroked my hair.
Feeling the warmth of her touch, I closed my eyes.
“Now, it’s time for your medicine.”
“Ugh…”
“You need to take it to get better quickly.”
“But I’m already fine…”
“Our young lady is a good girl, right?”
“….”
Sophia smiled sweetly but firmly.
She looked kind, but she wasn’t easy to deal with.
With no other choice, I reluctantly took the medicine from her and stared at the green liquid suspiciously.
It contained unknown ingredients.
“Come on, drink it up, and then you can have a tasty candy.”
“…You have to give me the candy right after.”
“Of course. You can trust me.”
Only after getting her firm promise did I tilt the cup and drink.
A strong, bitter smell hit me first, followed by a taste so bitter and astringent that it overwhelmed my tongue.
“Ugh.”
“You did well, my dear lady.”
“Urgh…”
Sophia quickly popped a candy into my mouth, but the medicine was so horribly bitter that it took a moment for the sweetness to register.
Ugh, I hated this.
And I had to drink it three times a day?
If only they had the kind of pills available in modern Korea—one quick swallow, and it’d be over.
The lack of medical advancements in this medieval world was absolutely frustrating.
Grumbling internally, I soon started nodding off.
A child’s body was truly simple—eat, sleep, eat, sleep, and repeat.
“Nanny, I…”
I was about to say that I would sleep for just a bit when—
BANG!
The door suddenly burst open with a loud crash.
Startled, I snapped my eyes open wide.
“H-His Lordship the Marquis?”
“…!”
A tall man strode into the room.
His commanding presence was so overwhelming that I couldn’t utter a word and just stared up at him.
“…I heard you were sick, but you seem perfectly fine.”
His cold gaze landed on me.
Sophia had just addressed him as Marquis, but even without that, I could immediately tell who he was.
The male lead of this novel—Cedric Lionel.
The man who had returned to the mansion today in search of the female lead.
And the biological father of this body’s original owner, Claudia.
“My lady has been suffering from a fever for the past week. She only just started to recover.”
“…”
Sophia stood protectively in front of me, visibly tense.
I peeked at the male lead from behind her.
He was undeniably breathtaking—fitting for a novel’s male protagonist.
He really is ridiculously handsome.
Silvery hair as clear as moonlight and violet eyes that sparkled like gemstones.
His beauty was so mesmerizing that Veronica had fallen for him at first sight despite being surrounded by the most exquisite luxuries of the ducal family.
But maybe because of Claudia’s memories, the cold gleam in his violet eyes made me freeze, like a mouse before a snake.
…That’s how he looks at his own daughter?
There wasn’t a trace of warmth in those eyes.
Had he always looked at Claudia like that?
My body trembled instinctively at the sight of him.
Yet, strangely enough, I found that gaze familiar.
Before I possessed this body, my own biological father had always looked at me the same way.
Besides, Veronica is way prettier.
I had only been in this world for a few days, but seeing Veronica’s unparalleled beauty every day had somewhat dulled my sense of awe.
That thought helped me calm my shaking body, allowing me to meet the male lead’s gaze.
“You. What did you say to Veronica?”
“…?”
What was he talking about all of a sudden?
More importantly, was that any way to speak to a five-year-old?
I stared at him in disbelief.
“Your Grace, why would you—”
“Shut up and get out.”
“Ugh…!”
“Nanny!”
The male lead shoved Sophia aside as if she were an annoyance.
With his sheer strength, she was thrown to the floor.
“Just answer me.”
“Ah…!”
He gripped my small shoulder tightly.
As a Swordmaster, he likely hadn’t used his full strength, but it still hurt.
“What did you say to Veronica?”
“…!”
Veronica?
Did she say something to him?
Could it be…?
I recalled what I had told Veronica when we first met.
“Divorce him, Mom.”
Could that have actually changed her mind?
Did she say something that made him storm over here like this?
That would be amazing for me.
If Veronica let go of her obsession and left him, it would prevent the downfall of the duchy.
A divorce would be far better for both of us.
The male lead was absolutely insufferable, but I started to feel rather pleased.
Though his presence still made my body tense up, I managed to part my lips and answer.
“I didn’t say anything—”
“Don’t lie to me. You’re just as wicked as that woman.”
“….”
Claudia probably wouldn’t have wanted to resemble you either.
This jerk was actually unleashing his temper on a child.
“Hic…”
Claudia’s memories were blurry when it came to him, but one thing was clear—she had always been terrified of him.
Was he always like this toward her?
I didn’t want to cry, but my eyes stung with tears.
This bastard. Taking his anger out on an innocent kid…
Gritting my teeth, I glared at him.
“…What if I did say something? What would you do?”
“What?”
“Are you going to kill me?”
“…!”
His grip loosened slightly.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to use my trump card.
I squeezed my eyes shut and screamed at the top of my lungs.
“MOMMY!”
“You—!”
My voice and his roar shook the entire room.
