Chapter 1 |
She blinked her eyes several times to clear her hazy vision as she rubbed the remainders of sleep from her eyes. After she roused from her slumber, she stood up and dragged her feet off the bed.
She found a mirror on the wall, and the shiny mirror reflected an image,
Thick chubby hands, sausage-like plump arms, fluffy cheeks and a body that does not move at will.
No matter how she looks at it, this tiny body belongs to a four-year-old. She stared at herself in the mirror and thought,
'Again. I'm back again. I can't believe I'm going to live again in this crappy world.'
My name is Leblaine. In the beginning, my life wasn't a mess. I was the only orphan born on 29th February also have divine power, for that reason, I am called 'the child of fate'. I surely am lucky.
Just by sitting on the Empress Dowager’s lap and choosing one of her portraits, I became the child of my chosen family.
There were three options.
1. The Duke of Amity, a warrior of justice that protects the Empire.
3. The Duke of Dubblede, who possessed great military power and businesses, but was called the worst of a villain’s family.
The family chosen in my first life was Amity. He was quite a good father. As a prudent, just and rational person, I followed him with respect as a new father.
It was a peaceful life until she showed up, the real child of fate. In fact, I was a child of false destiny. Unlike me, who trained for three or four hours a day, but failed to develop my divine power properly, Mina was the perfect ‘child of fate.’
Mina was dazzling like the sun. She was loved by everyone even the Duke of Amity. Father and Mina were attracted to each other like fate, eventually with the Pope’s help, Mina became father's second daughter.
During the drought, she called the spirit and prevented the war through her foresight.
And I…
I was sacrificed for Mina in a ritual to seal the evil spirit.
I was happy when I first returned. I thought it was an opportunity given by God.
For the second life, I chose 'The Duke of Vallua.' I was badly abused by the duke of Vallua everyday.
He was the real bad guy. He used to hit me with his hands, saying it was for education. He only dressed me extravagantly when I went to the palace.
So was the last day in my second life. I was abused by him and hit my head on the edge of the desk, but when I opened my eyes, I regressed again.
In the third life, I ran away. But what can a child do? While going through hardship I died of starvation.
After three reincarnations, I realized something.
'Yes, this is wrong. So let’s defect.'
As soon as I thought so, the door burst open, as an old woman dressed in splendor came in. She put me on her lap and gestured. Soon the maids brought in three portraits.
"It's time to choose your father"
She smiled very kindly. But I know the truth. The moment I turned out to be a fake, these eyes which gazed at me warmly turned to be so cold. The Empress stroked my hair and gave me the portraits.
"Here child of fate, choose one."
When I saw the three portraits, I was very nervous. I closed my eyes with my chubby fist.
'Let's calm down. I need a place to stay anyway.’
'I can't just die being a beggar like I did in the past. I need a family that can let me live quietly and then defect without worrying about starvation or death until exile. That's the kind of family I’ll choose.'
'Then this time--'
"Oh my god."
The maid and Empress who saw the portrait I chose, opened their eyes wide.
When I arrived at the family’s mansion along with the Empress’ letter, I saw a man who would be my father and gulped.
'He's really handsome.'
He had a sharp jawline, mesmerizing cyan blue eyes, a high nose bridge, well sculpted lips, a wonderful figure concealed by a shirt, tall height, and broad shoulders. What was strange is that such a beautiful man's eyes was that of a killer.
In conclusion, who I chose was the Duke of Dubbled, the so-called villain. The man's lieutenant stood beside me and said in a very awkward tone.
"The Empress asked you to raise the child."
The Duke of Dubbled, touched his chin with his long fingers and replied,
"She become senile."
Then he made a declaration without hesitation,
"Send her back."
"But Your Excellency, it's a chance to fix your relationship with the church. Rejecting the Empress’ request at once will complicate matters afterwards."
This is the only place to run away after growing up to a certain extent. Amity, who is a responsible person and Vallua, who values honour, will not even give me a chance to run away. A man who was not interested in me is perfect to be my stepfather.
'Of course it is the only way.'
I patted the lieutenant's trousers with both hands.
"Thews's an unnounaunced tyax awdit on decyember sebent.” (There is an unnanounced tax audit on December 7th.)
"Huh?" Asked the lieutenant,
He didn't seem to understand me. He looks surprised by my sudden babble.
‘It hasn't been long since my return, so my tongue isn't working properly.'
I saw it clearly in my previous lives. This winter, the tax evasion master Dubbled, paid a huge fine. The Duke has three sons, so I think he can understand me well. People who had dealt with children would understand my babbling quite well.
I had this kind of hope but quickly gave up. That cold-blooded bastard wouldn’t have grown his son with his own hands.
'I wish I could write, but I'm not good at it, so It can't make a difference.'
The Duke carried me in a blink of an eye. His eyes were so sharp as if he was suspicious of me.
"There's a tax audit on December 7th?"
How did he get that? I was confused. I pretended to be as innocent as possible, just in case he thought I was not a child.
"Uh-huh. Shh, It's a secret."
"Nos."
The Duke looked at the lieutenant.
"To what extent are the account book organized?"
"... A four-year-old child. Do you really believe her?"
"You can't believe a four-year-old child who knows the word unannounced tax audit?"
"I'll check right away."
After answering so, the lieutenant ran out of the room quickly. The Duke and I looked at each other.
‘He’s really scary…’
Even though he has an excellent appearance, wealth, power, he still doesn’t have a wife. It must be because of that...
It must have been difficult for woman to approach him. Soon, the maids entered the room.
"May I help her to take a bath?"
"Yes."
The woman bent over with me in her arms, and I left the room being carried by her.