5

“Ah, this is acting.”

“…Acting?”

“Yes, dear, the condition of being cheerful, innocent, and kind-hearted, that’s right, isn’t it?”

Duke Aubrey’s face registered confusion as I smiled with still damp eyes.

“Quite amusing.”

He scoffed irritably and turned away abruptly.

“The princess has returned, and we will serve diligently to ensure no harm comes to her.”

“Yes, sir.”

Carefully stepping towards the grand mansion, the lined-up servants bowed deeply as we passed by.

Among them, a man walked gracefully and with a certain dignity, appearing somewhat imposing.

“Welcome back, Princess, we’re glad you’ve returned safely to the mansion.”

Everyone greeted me.

I stood there like a frightened child, unsure of what to do.

Then, two maidens approached me.

They were twin sisters so alike that I found myself marveling.

“My name is Mary! From today onwards, I’ll be accompanying you. Please feel comfortable with me!”

“I’m Gold. It’s not much, but I’ll serve you well. Please feel free to ask anything of me.”

“Oh, um, yes, of course…”

I mumbled aimlessly, blushing like a scared child.

As we ascended the stairs, Duke Aubrey observed me.

“Oh, you can call them Mary and Gold. Feel free to speak as comfortably as with friends.”

“Oh…”

I whispered, then nodded softly.

“Uh, alright…”

“Great!”

“Well done!”

“I’ll show you to your room.”

Mary beamed a wide smile, while Gold calmly guided me.

By the time we reached the foot of the stairs, Duke Aubrey was already gone.

‘This should be enough for now.’

It was a smooth start.

…or so I thought.

I was now facing the worst crisis of my life.

“I, I can do it alone.”

I clutched my dress tightly, pressing against the wall.

“But, Miss, you must bathe…”

I lowered my gaze, quickly biting my lower lip.

“I, I’m embarrassed…”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask someone for help with bathing.

My arms were adorned with ancient motifs.

If Duke Aubrey found out, he would surely dismiss me immediately.

But that wasn’t the only problem. The strange writings on my body would spread over time, what would I say as an excuse when that happened.

I firmly refused, the two maids exchanged glances, then nodded.

Mary smiled broadly and approached me.

“Alright, we’ll arrange the water and temperature for you. We’ll wait in the room. Is that alright?”

“Uh, yes, that’s fine. But I’ll dress myself…”

I spoke cautiously.

Mary nodded with a small smile, as if finding me amusing.

‘It’s fine for now, but…’

I felt anxious. I was uncomfortable with the way my life had suddenly changed.

‘How do I hide this?’

I felt scared. I felt like I could be falling into a bad life right from the start.

‘But, wait…’

I have racing equipment made from slime belatung.

If applied to the skin, it will appear as though the color of the surrounding skin.

The problem is …

‘It was only launched a few years ago … !!’

Slime chameleons are still in the demon forest and the northern empire, but no one knows that it has become medicine or has a special function.

It was an item invented by a strange scientist a few years later.

‘I can’t wait a few years.’

Because I don’t know how long I have.

While I was in a panic, Mary and Gold preceded me, prepared a few things for me, and then left after closing the bathroom door.

I breathed deeply, enjoying the feeling of warm water flowing through my body.

The pleasant warm sensation is the first time I feel really clean, both from past and present life.

‘There’s only one way.’

First, kidnap the strange scientist and bring him here.

Second, tell the strange scientist about the creature he studied a few years later.

Third, the strange scientist makes a tool for me.

So, I should be able to get it in half a year.

The problem is that I was adopted and I wouldn’t be free for a while.

But, the place where the strange scientist is far enough from the capital of ‘Rot Forest’ and the area of ‘Kufp’ ruled by the ruler ‘Ago’.

So, the distance is too far for me to go.

So, there are two ways.

Pay people to go find the scientist, or write letters.

So, write a letter.

‘Lucky, there are many baits that can be connected.’

The strange scientist may not know me, but I know him very well.

Because the mad scientist sometimes attended the event because of a bad feeling about the event.

If the mad scientist is a genius, he will admit that he doesn’t like it.

I still know what he likes and doesn’t like.

‘That’s what to do.’

I dried my hair and put on the clothes that Mary and Gold prepared.

I feel very comfortable in fitting clothes.

There is a sweet fruit aroma like that in my body.

When I come out with a dry head, Mary and Gold smile with joy.

“Thank you, Miss. Until dinner time, I’ll be sitting comfortably. How do you want to do it? Do you want to rest in your room? If you’re okay, we’ll take you around the house.”

I smile widely while winking my eyes.

“Can I see the house?”

My words made Mary smile widely, and she clapped her hands happily.

“Of course, Miss!”

“Although I feel a little tired, I’m okay if I don’t want to rest. How about you?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

After hearing Gold’s words, I walked behind the two servants.

***

“Annette.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Her voice interrupted our meal, prompting me to pause and smile broadly.

After Mary and Gold had shown me around this grand mansion, we headed straight to the dining room for dinner.

“So… how do you like the food?”

“Yes, it’s delicious!”

The food really was delightful. Before my revival, all I had were fluids, not even rice, and after coming back, I lived in an orphanage.

Of course, commoner’s food couldn’t compare to noble fare.

“Good, I’m glad you enjoy it. Try this as well, it’s very sweet.”

“Yes.”

“And this too.”

Rosana Aubrey placed various dishes in front of me onto my plate.

“Wow, thank you, Mom.”

I eagerly dug into the piled-up food on my plate.

For dessert, there was pudding topped with ice cream and generously drizzled with chocolate syrup, which was also incredibly delicious.

“Annette.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Don’t call me ‘Mom’ so formally like that. I know it’s a bit improper, but… could you call me ‘Mom’? Oh, of course, if it makes you uncomfortable, we can talk about it later…”

“Mom.”

I hesitantly uttered the unfamiliar word. Lady Aubrey’s eyes widened upon hearing it.

“…My daughter.”

Quickly, her eyes reddened and tears began to flow again. I glanced to the side and saw Lord Aubrey looking troubled.

“…Yes, I’m your mother… Huh, how can I…”

“Rosana, don’t cry. If you keep crying, you’ll get dehydrated.”

Duke Aubrey approached and gently stroked Lady Aubrey’s face. She hugged him, hiding her face in his chest.

‘Even though she’s a noblewoman, seeing her with such an expression…’

It was surprising. This might not be a good balance, and problems could arise.

“Dad, don’t cry.”

I approached them and cautiously took hold of Lady Aubrey’s dress.

“If Mom cries, I might cry too…”

Tears welling up, I said with an awkward expression, and Lady Aubrey released her embrace from Duke Aubrey and hugged me.

“Just meeting Dad and Mom like this feels like a dream to me. Thank you for finding me without giving up.”

I hugged Lady Aubrey tightly, looking at Duke Aubrey.

Duke Aubrey looked surprised to hear my words.

I was even more surprised to see his expression of confusion.

‘He may be arrogant, even though he’s my employer.’

Tut.

“Yes, it’s a miracle that we’ve met again… hah, hah.”

Lady Aubrey sobbed. Duke Aubrey quickly approached and hugged her.

“It might be better if we go to the room.”

“But, my child…, hah! My child…”

Lady Aubrey bent over in pain. Duke Aubrey quickly took her out of the dining room.

Watching them go far away, I then looked at Mary.

‘I should help her a little.’

I might not be able to cure her, but I know how to relieve such conditions.

“Mary.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Could you prepare hot water, sugar, and elderflower powder for me?”

“Oh… elderflower powder? Elderflower, are those weeds growing around here?”

“Yeah, you can toast them a bit on a frying pan and dry them a little before grinding them into powder?”

The sunlight should dry them before grinding, but there’s no choice.

Now, elderflowers are just weeds scattered around.

Not long after I asked, Mary brought what I requested. With a big smile, I looked at the steaming mug.

“Thank you, I’ll take this to Mom!”

“Yes, Miss!”

I paid my respects to Mary, who smiled brightly and nodded humbly, and headed in the direction where Duke Aubrey had gone.

The servants were busy because Lady Aubrey was ill.

‘If that’s what that person did, it would be hard for him to score.’

Elderflower powder is an essential herb for medicines for that illness.

Of course, there are many mixing processes needed when making medicines, but I’m sure it will have a calming effect in the short term.

I didn’t delay, combining the hot water, sugar, and elderflower powder that Mary gave me and taking the warm mug into the room.

“Dad, I’m here!”

Duke Aubrey’s face, looking at me with his innocent face, was filled with chaos.

‘She should be cheerful and innocent, a genius girl, that’s the concept of Duke Aubrey’s daughter.’

Whether he knows or not, I don’t know.

… That’s what I think as I smile broadly.

I truly am a cheerful and innocent girl.