IOWYC Chapter 13

Chapter 13 

My whole body tensed up, and sweat began to form in my hands.

Just seeing his face made it hard to breathe, like I’d been caught in a trap. I couldn’t move.

This man might be the one who killed my precious child, Denian, in my first life.

The assassin who tried to kill me many times in my repeated lives.

Just knowing that froze every nerve in my body.

But then, from deep within, a surge of killing intent began to rise.

If he didn’t know who I was yet… maybe I could kill him now, while he was off guard.

If I used my power…

My hand, clenched tightly in tension, started trembling for a different reason.

I forgot everything else—like needing to uncover the mastermind behind all of this.

That’s how overwhelming his presence was. Just seeing him brought back fear and confusion.

Then, from the half-open door, Diaz ran in and clung to the man’s leg.

Still holding onto him, the child looked at me with innocent eyes.

That look cooled the fire in me.

Only then did I realize what I’d been about to do. My sweat-drenched hand slowly relaxed.

What was I thinking? Trying to use my power here, in a place full of children?

If I had, the kids might have gotten hurt.

As I tried to calm myself down, the orphanage headmistress broke the awkward silence.

“Good timing, Jared. You could’ve given us a heads-up before showing up.”

“Aw, come on. You know I never call ahead.”

Jared. So that was his name.

The name I could never find out all these years… now spoken so casually in front of me.

It was almost laughable.

As I stood there stunned, the headmistress introduced us.

“Jared, this is the Lady of Valdormer, visiting us today.”

Suddenly, all the warmth disappeared from Jared’s smiling face.

His eyes widened in shock, his expression froze.

I tensed up again.

Had he already contacted the person who ordered him to kill me?

In the past, he always showed up around the time Denian turned three.

In my first life, Denian was his target. In lives where Denian hadn’t been born, I was the one he came for.

But it wasn’t supposed to be time yet.

As I froze, Jared suddenly stepped closer.

Instinctively, I stepped back and raised my guard.

“You’re the Lady of Valdormer who’s been supporting our orphanage all this time!”

His cheerful tone completely caught me off guard.

“Thanks to you, we’ve been able to keep this place going! I really appreciate it!”

He even bowed deeply.

I stood there, stunned.

Maybe he misunderstood my silence, because when he straightened up, he laughed awkwardly.

“I can’t believe the Lady herself came all the way out here. I’m honored.”

I looked at him, trying to read him.

Was this an act? Or was he truly this cheerful and thankful?

If it was an act, it was a good one—he looked so genuine, like he didn’t have a single negative thought in his body.

If he really thought of Valdormer as his savior… then why?

Why would he kill Denian, Valdormer’s heir?

“…My Lady?”

Jared looked puzzled as I just stared at him in silence.

Snapping out of it, I gave an awkward reply.

“Nice to meet you, Jared…”

I wasn’t sure what to call him, but he smiled brightly and said,

“Call me Sir, please. I’m actually a soldier.”

A soldier?

“…Which unit are you with?”

If I knew where he was assigned, I might be able to guess who was behind this.

He hesitated at my sudden question, scratching his head.

“I wanted to join the Valdormer army directly, but I’m not quite skilled enough yet. Right now, I’m serving under one of Valdormer’s vassal families.”

A vassal family’s army…

“I can’t say more—it’s classified. I’m only telling you this because you’re the Lady. Ha ha.”

Classified. So that’s why I couldn’t find any info through spies.

But then… why would a soldier under Valdormer attack me and Denian?

Could a vassal family have betrayed Valdormer?

No—that can’t be.

If that were true, there’s no way the clever Kallion wouldn’t know.

Come to think of it… he almost acted like he was trying to cover up Denian’s death.

At first, I thought it was because he didn’t know.

But now… it felt more like he was hiding it.

What if—just what if—

Kallion ordered Denian’s death?

The thought made my blood run cold.

I remembered what he had said so carelessly when I was pregnant:

“Another Heister bloodline, huh.”

Denian inherited the rare power of the Heister family—now nearly extinct.

What if that’s why they wanted him dead?

And even in other timelines, they targeted me because I still had Heister’s powers?

My fingers trembled uncontrollably.

No—I mustn’t jump to conclusions.

Stay calm. Stay calm, Yuliana.

No matter how much Kallion hated the Heister family, would he really do that to his own son?

No. He couldn’t have.

If he did… I think I’d lose the will to see Denian again.

Because I couldn’t define my feelings for Kallion with just hatred or anger.

“…Are you feeling alright, my lady?”

Jared asked, clearly worried about my pale face.

I swallowed hard.

No—I can’t trust this man completely yet.

I need more time to observe him.

For now, I forced a smile onto my lips.

✧ ✧ ✧

“Uncle, Uncle!”

Little Diaz came running excitedly to Jared.

Jared picked him up easily and gently poked his nose.

“Someone’s full of energy today!”

Laughing, Diaz glanced over at me.

Then, he whispered to Jared—but loud enough for me to hear.

“Is that pretty lady my mom?”

“…What?”

I could feel Jared’s startled eyes glance toward me.

I just gave him a small, awkward smile.

“You rascal! Don’t say stuff like that!”

“It’s true!”

Diaz pouted. Jared sighed and set him down.

“Okay, okay. Now go play with the others.”

“But it’s true…”

Still sulking, Diaz ran off in the other direction.

Jared scratched the back of his head and approached me sheepishly.

“Sorry about that. He’s just a kid.”

“It’s alright.”

Jared looked relieved by my calm answer.

“You don’t have to be so formal with me.”

“I prefer it this way.”

And that was the truth.

Even though I was born into the Heister family, I was never treated like a noble.

I grew up worse off than the servants. Even after returning in time, I’ve lived more like a commoner than a noble.

So I was simply more comfortable speaking politely.

Maybe he believed me, because Jared stopped glancing at me and looked out at the children.

“It was the former Lady of Valdormer who started supporting this place. But we—me, the headmistress, and the kids—are always grateful to Valdormer.”

As I guessed, the orphanage support had started with Kallion’s mother.

“I didn’t start it, though.”

“But you’ve kept it going.”

“….”

Looking at him now… I could hardly believe he was the same assassin from before.

If this wasn’t an act…

Could something happen in the next three years to change him so much?

Or maybe… he becomes completely different when acting as a soldier?

Just then, I heard a familiar voice.

“My Lady!”

It was Layla, returning from her inspection of the orphanage.

She walked toward us with a very displeased expression.

I already knew why she was upset.

“My lady, I heard you told the coachman we’re staying here tonight. What’s the meaning of that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. If we leave now, we’ll spend the night in the carriage. It’s better to rest here.”

I spoke calmly, but Layla looked even more annoyed.

“Have you thought about the schedule of the others traveling with us? We have a fixed plan. Changing it like this is a serious problem.”

Jared, who had been listening quietly, suddenly frowned and spoke up.

“Who are you to talk to the Lady like that?”

Both Layla and I were caught off guard.

“What are you, the Empress of the Empire or something?”

(to be continued…)