CJRD CH 01

Chapter 01

Knock knock—

It was a quiet evening. The sun had set, and the round moon hung peacefully in the sky.
The only sound in the room had been the rustling of pages… until someone knocked on the door.

‘That’s strange. School’s on break for a whole week starting today.’

I paused and looked up from my book, tilting my head in confusion.

Every spring, the Founding Festival began with great celebration.
People left their jobs behind and filled the streets to enjoy the festivities—young and old alike.

Even the number of kids sent to the village school dropped during this time, since most were home with their families.

‘Maybe it’s a student? Or a guardian?’
Most likely not. Almost all the children I cared for had gone home now that the festival had started.

With no students to look after, our little village school had decided to take a break too.

So I was also on vacation. No one should be coming.

Knock knock—

The knock came again, louder and clearer this time. I hadn’t imagined it.

‘I guess I should go check. Can’t ignore it forever.’

I sighed and closed my book, then stood up from the chair I’d been leaning against and walked to the door.

“Welcome. This is Morris School. I’m sorry, but we’re currently on break—”

I was just beginning my usual greeting when a low, commanding voice cut me off.

“Are you Raina?”

I looked up in surprise.

“Who…?”

The man standing before me looked about my age. Definitely not someone who’d be dropping off a child.

Plus, he had rare, striking looks—jet black hair and starry blue eyes.

“I am Claude Zenofecia. Commander of the Imperial Knights.”

Wait… Claude Zenofecia?
No wonder his appearance and presence felt so powerful.

He was the Claude Zenofecia—famous for becoming the youngest commander in Imperial history.
He was also the heir of the highly respected Zenofecia Dukedom.

A name powerful enough to make a crying child stop on the spot.

‘But why is someone like him looking for me?’

I blinked, speechless. I was just a normal person. Totally ordinary compared to someone like him.

“I heard you’re well known for caring for children. Even the Imperial Palace has heard of you.”

That was… something to be proud of, right?

But for some reason, his eyes were filled with trust and expectation—directed at me.

And the moment I met that meaningful gaze, I suddenly felt very uneasy.

But Claude calmly continued, unfazed by my confusion.

“That’s why I’d like to ask you a favor.”

After he spoke, he took a step aside.

And that’s when I saw it.

A small figure, almost like a doll, peeked out from behind him. The child wore a hooded cloak, making her look even more doll-like and precious.

The little girl slowly walked toward me.

With each step, her hood shifted, and shining strands of pink hair—touched with gold—spilled out.

Despite the dim evening light, her hair shimmered.

She stopped in front of me and looked up with wide eyes.

“Huh?”

Her eyes… They were green, just like mine.

The moment our eyes met, my brain just shut down.

“W-Wait.”
What was this? Why was she here?

“Her name is Estelle.”

I looked at Claude, completely unable to make sense of what was going on.

He simply pointed to the girl and said:

“I’m leaving Estelle in your care.”

Hold on. What?!

****

There are two major national festivals in the Moncast Empire every year—held across the entire country.

One in March: Eldetin Festival.
One in September: Perso Festival.

The Eldetin Festival in spring is also the nation’s Founding Day, when everyone celebrates the beginning of life and the season of renewal.

During this time, everyone laughed and enjoyed themselves.

Except… There were some places that became unusually quiet.

“It’s weird not hearing the kids laughing and shouting.”

This was Morris Village School—the only one in Ashikle Village.

A place where children, whose parents were too busy to be home, spent most of their day.

And I was the one who looked after them. Teacher and caretaker, all in one.

“My kid was so insistent about going to the festival with you… You really are great with children, Raina.”

Yesterday, a parent had said that to me.

I set my pen down and stretched with a yawn, murmuring to myself.

“Well, of course. I may look young, but inside, I’m a fully grown adult—over ten years past legal age.”

Raina. That’s my name now.

But before I became Raina, I was someone else.
In a different world. A different life.

A small country in the East: South Korea.

I worked in the service industry—my body was my only asset.

Specifically, I was a sitter, taking care of all kinds of kids and dealing with their parents.

It wasn’t supposed to be a permanent job.
I started in my early twenties, just looking for a high-paying part-time gig.

But somehow, I ended up becoming known as “the sitter kids love.”

Of course, I didn’t spend all ten years working.

I had joy, happiness… and love, too.
In the form of a child-raising simulation game.

And Koreans? We’re the type of people who finish what we start, especially when it comes to games.

As a proud Korean gamer, I played that game day and night, determined to reach every ending.

But I never got to see the final one.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep after a month of non-stop gaming.

That morning, feeling groggy and out of it, I stepped on a toy car lying on the floor.

The wheels rolled—way too well.

“Ack!”

I slipped backward.

Thud!

My head hit the corner of the bed frame.

Pain didn’t come first. Just darkness.

And as I started losing consciousness, one last thought flickered in my mind:

‘Ah… my daughter. I was supposed to make her the emperor…’

That was the final, unfinished ending—seeing my daughter become empress.

****

Snapping out of the memory, I let my back slump in the chair, slowly sliding down until I was half-lying against the backrest.

Somewhere between sitting and lying.

“Guess I’ll stop for today.”

With the school on break, I wanted to rest, too.

Still half-reclined, I reached out for a book on the corner of the desk.

In my past life, I wouldn’t have given books a second glance.

But in this world—with no internet, no games—books were all I had.

I read to pass the time, out of boredom.

‘I’ve probably read more books here in a few years than I ever did in my last life.’

…Actually, that might not be an exaggeration.

Anyway, I’ve gotten used to reading. It wasn’t bad, honestly.

Especially in the quiet study, with the sound of the fireplace crackling nearby—it was peaceful.

Didn’t even miss games—

Yeah, right.

“I miss gaming so much I could scream.”

The quieter it got, the more I thought about the good old gaming days.

The thrill. The satisfaction of finishing an ending.

No book could compare.

“She still comes to mind sometimes…”

Pink hair touched with gold, bright green eyes…

My precious digital daughter.

Knock knock—

That’s when I heard the knock again.

In the middle of a school break. Late at night. No one should be visiting.

I walked to the door, puzzled, and opened it.

“I am Claude Zenofecia. Commander of the Imperial Knights.”

There he was, standing right in front of me.

“I’ve heard you’re known for taking care of children. Quite famous.”

And then, as if he’d been waiting for this moment…

“This child’s name is Estelle. I’m leaving her in your care.”

She looked exactly like the daughter I’d been thinking about just moments ago.

And the moment I saw her face… I realized.

****

[Estelle]

• Age: 14 
• Birthday: September 15 
• Stamina: 40 
• Intelligence: 60 
• Grace: 25 
• Morality: 30 

****

This wasn’t just reincarnation…

It was possession.