IMGD 01

Chapter : 01

“Urania!”

On a peaceful morning bathed in warm sunlight, the shrill voice of a young woman echoed throughout the room.

“Are you out of your mind? You’re seriously expecting me to use such a filthy teacup?”

Yeah… I was wondering why things had been so quiet today.

I didn’t even need to check. No—I was certain.

That teacup was undoubtedly spotless.

With that personality, how has she not been assassinated by her servants yet?

To avoid provoking the temper of Daisy, the daughter of a provincial baron, every teacup and teaspoon was inspected several times before being brought to her.

In other words, there was no chance it was dirty.

Even knowing all of that, I lowered my head with the most apologetic expression I could manage.

“My apologies. I failed to inspect it thoroughly. I’ll make sure this never happens again.”

After all, what that ill-mannered brat wanted wasn’t the truth.

She simply wanted everyone to acknowledge that she was above them.

Apparently satisfied with my apology, Daisy smiled faintly.

“And why should I believe you? This isn’t the first time. Do you hate me or something?”

“Of course not. How could I possibly harbor such feelings toward you?”

“Hmph. Everyone keeps telling you you’re pretty, and it’s made you completely spoiled. You act like you’re the important one.”

Oh, I actually like hearing that. At least she admits I’m pretty.

“What?”

Daisy’s voice suddenly turned icy.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

I immediately put on my professional customer-service smile.

“Oh my. Even if I’m pretty, could I possibly compare to you, Miss? You’re obviously much more beautiful than I am.”

“…Hmph.”

This answer seemed to satisfy her.

The corners of Daisy’s lips curled upward.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Take this away and bring me another teacup. And bring fresh desserts too.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Click.

The moment I stepped outside the room, I quietly muttered toward the closed door.

“That little brat hasn’t even grown up yet, and she’s already learned all the worst things.”

Of course, quietly enough that Daisy couldn’t possibly hear me.

“If we’d met back in Korea… huh? A kid like you wouldn’t even dare look me in the eye. I’d teach you a lesson.”

If we’d met in a Confucian country, there was no way I’d have just stood there and taken that treatment.

“Hey! What did you just say?!”

Wait… did she actually hear me?

“N-No, Miss! There was a bug, so I just screamed for a second!”

“W-What? A bug? Hurry up and catch it!”

“Yes, Miss!”

After putting on the performance of my life pretending to hunt down an imaginary insect, I eventually dragged myself into the servants’ break room.

“Oh, you’re back?”

At my fellow maid Lace’s greeting, I lazily waved a hand before collapsing into a chair.

“Ugh… I’m exhausted.”

“She gave you a hard time again today?”

“What else? She was throwing another one of her tantrums.”

Lace’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly glanced around.

“Hey! Watch your language! What if someone hears you?”

“It’s just you and me here. Who’s going to hear? Besides, everyone thinks the same thing anyway.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

Quickly agreeing, Lace continued folding the laundry.

“But she’s especially awful to you. She’s not nearly that bad with everyone else.”

“Well, of course.”

“Why ‘of course’?”

“Do I really have to say it?”

I brushed my golden hair back dramatically.

“Obviously she’s jealous because I’m just too pretty.”

“…You’re not exactly wrong, but did you really have to say it out loud?”

“I can’t help it. I was just born this attractive. Pretty, kind personality, great figure, and—”

“Stop talking nonsense and help me fold these clothes.”

I laughed playfully at Lace’s exasperated expression and started helping her.

“Still, it’s nice that I don’t have to teach you much anymore.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“When you first came here, you seriously didn’t know anything. You didn’t even know the basic noble titles. Honestly, I thought you’d come from another world or something.”

“Ah… right. That’s true.”

Yeah.

Back then, I really didn’t know anything.

I was confused about everything.

After all, who could possibly accept something like that so easily?

The fact that I had suddenly awakened inside the world of a novel I used to love reading.

It had been an ordinary day.

Until I was hit by a car on my way home from work and died.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself standing in a forest with an atmosphere unlike anything I’d ever seen.

While I was panicking over my unfamiliar surroundings, I happened to meet an elderly village chief who was passing by. Thanks to him, I slowly adapted to this world.

According to the village chief, this country was called Lanix.

The moment I heard that name, I immediately realized where I was.

It was the world of my favorite novel.

To Everyone Who Loved Me.

It was the story of an emperor and the heroine, Flor, overcoming countless hardships before finally finding happiness together.

It was the very first romance fantasy novel I’d ever read.

A story that wasn’t sweet all the way through.

Since I’d reincarnated in a rural province far from the imperial capital, I didn’t know the finer details of what was happening.

However, I did know one thing.

The emperor and empress—the protagonists of the novel—were alive and well.

Which meant this was the peaceful era after the novel’s ending.

There was something else I discovered as well.

The owner of this body was named Urania.

Actually…

I wasn’t even completely sure that was really her name.

When I first woke up, the word Urania was simply engraved into my mind as though someone had brainwashed me.

Other than that, I remembered absolutely nothing.

Who I had been.

Whether I had family.

What kind of life I’d lived.

Everything had been erased.

There was, however, one thing about this body that I absolutely loved.

Urania was incredibly beautiful.

Not just pretty.

Her eyes were as clear and blue as pristine water.

Her skin was as white as fresh snow.

Her lips were as red as camellia blossoms.

Honestly, it wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say every unmarried man in the village had fallen for me at least once.

The problem was…

This appearance also earned me the jealousy and envy of many women.

And among them was the young lady I served—

Daisy.

Still, I didn’t let it bother me too much.

What could I do?

Envy and jealousy were simply the fate of beautiful women.

I decided it was just one of the burdens that came with being attractive.

Several months passed.

Thankfully, with the help of many kind people, I found work and settled into my new life.

Compared to my previous life—where I worked for a horrible company that practically demanded overtime and weekend shifts every week—

This life was paradise.

Sometimes I wondered.

Where had the original owner of this body gone?

What kind of person had she been?

At the same time…

Part of me didn’t want to know.

I was happy living as the maid Urania.

I wanted nothing more than to quietly continue this peaceful life.

At least…

That’s what I believed.

I had no idea that a single man was already on his way toward me.

A man who would completely overturn my entire life.

“Sigh…”

The next morning, I stood in front of Daisy’s bedroom door with a long sigh.

I wonder what she’ll nitpick today.

No matter how perfectly I prepared everything, she always found something to criticize.

Honestly, there wasn’t much point in trying anymore.

All I could do was brace myself to endure whatever came.

Just as I was about to knock—

“Urania!”

A familiar voice rang through the hallway.

“Butler?”

Turning around, I saw the estate’s butler running toward me.

“Urania! Hurry and get the young lady ready!”

“At this hour? What’s going on?”

“We’ve just received word that His Grace, the Grand Duke of Laindart, is on his way here! He’ll be arriving soon, so please hurry!”

“Oh… yes! Right away!”

I quickly grabbed Daisy’s cosmetics and knocked on her door.

“What took you so long? Have you completely lost your—”

“Miss! We’ve received word that the Grand Duke of Laindart is coming!”

“The Laindart Duke…? W-Wait… You mean His Grace the Grand Duke of Laindart?”

“We don’t have time! Please sit down so I can get you ready!”

“H-Huh? O-Okay! Make me look beautiful!”

Throughout the entire makeup session, Daisy couldn’t stop smiling.

“And use the proper title. Not ‘Duke’—it’s His Grace the Grand Duke. When I become his wife, you’ll need to address him correctly, so remember that.”

Wow… she’s already counting her chickens before they hatch.

Like I’d ever follow you there. I’m staying right here.

There were already enough noble titles to make my head spin.

Grand Duke, Duke…

Close enough.

I’ll just call people whatever comes to mind.

More importantly, the man Daisy had fallen in love with at first sight during a ball was actually coming here.

For us servants, that was wonderful news.

Whenever she was in a good mood, she became much less insufferable.

Still… I guess he must’ve liked Daisy too.

A Grand Duke certainly wouldn’t have any business in a remote province like this.

So, although it was only a guess, I assumed he’d come because he’d taken an interest in her.

…Laindart… Why does that name sound so familiar?

Even though we should’ve had no connection whatsoever, the name strangely lingered in my memory.

Maybe because Daisy talked about him so much?

“Urania! It’s time! Finish up!”

“Yes!”

The butler’s urgent voice left me no time to think further.

After finishing Daisy’s makeup, we lined up in the central hall to welcome our distinguished guest.

Some time later—

A loud announcement echoed through the mansion.

“His Grace, the Grand Duke of Laindart, has arrived!”

The doors opened.

A towering man with black hair and crimson eyes stepped inside.

“Ah…”

The instant I saw him…

I remembered.

Wow… I’ve been so busy living my life that I completely forgot. What an idiot.

He wasn’t just anyone.

He was the novel’s second male lead—

Laindart.

Hair as black as the midnight sky.

Scarlet eyes that gleamed like stars.

A sharp nose as if carved from a blade.

Perfectly sculpted features.

As expected of a main-character-level face.

Knowing I’d probably never get another chance to see him this close, I secretly admired his handsome face.

Then…

Unfortunately…

Our eyes met.

“……”

For some reason, beneath his cold gaze, I sensed unbearable pain.

Startled, I immediately looked away.

Step. Step. Step.

But it was already too late.

His footsteps drew closer.

Damn it… I shouldn’t have looked.

He was probably coming to scold me for not greeting him properly.

“Raise your head.”

His deep voice sent chills down my spine.

I hurriedly lifted my head.

“M-My apologies. I accidentally looked up without thinking—”

But contrary to my expectations…

The man standing before me no longer wore that cold expression.

There were tears in Laindart’s crimson eyes.

“…Your Grace?”

Before I could process what was happening—

He pulled me into a desperate embrace.

“I… I’m sorry, Lailit.”

In an instant, every eye in the hall turned toward us.

At the same time, I caught sight of Daisy’s horrified, twisted expression.

Wait… this feels like a disaster.

“Let’s go home now, Lailit.”

Go home? Me?

Where?

And before that…

Who on earth is Lailit?

“U-Um… wait a moment.”

“I know. I know that apologizing now cannot erase what I’ve done.”

“N-No, that’s not—”

“I’ll wait… however long it takes for your heart to heal. Just let me remain by your side…”

“No, wait!”

Then I finally managed to say the words that had been stuck in my throat.

“…Have we ever met before?”

The question sent violent ripples through his tear-filled crimson eyes.

Like great waves rising across a deep, cold sea of sorrow.