Chapter 1. The Final Chapter of Life
The quiet room echoed with the sound of a teacup being placed down.
That was a mistake.
I had never put down a teacup so loudly before. It showed just how nervous I was. I bit my lip. No matter what I did, I couldn’t calm this feeling.
Ahntrus’s cold gaze swept over me.
“…Do you even understand what you’re saying, Your Highness?”
He finally spoke, after a long silence.
His eyes said clearly—he didn’t want to talk anymore.
I nodded calmly.
“Yes, Duke Cloveus. I’m completely aware of what I’m saying. I’m perfectly sane.”
It was a bold thing to say, maybe even rude. But strangely…
‘So he really acts like this outside too.’
The familiarity of his cold attitude actually gave me a weird sense of comfort.
I spoke again, steady this time.
“I must marry you, Duke.”
From Ahntrus’s point of view, my proposal should’ve come as a surprise. As expected, he frowned and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
He looked even more closed off than before. He seemed like he hadn’t been sleeping at all. His face was tired, and his eyes looked sunken.
He hadn’t been a smoker before, but now I could smell wood and cigars on him.
“…Please think again, Your Highness. I’m a married man with a child. If you need help, just say so.”
A married man…
This serious man was still introducing himself that way.
It felt ridiculous. Why stay so loyal to a loveless political marriage?
I forced my face to stay calm and replied coldly.
“…It’s been a long time since Duchess Eilisa Cloveus fell into a coma. Under imperial law, someone in a vegetative state is no longer considered alive. You are legally a free man. You are not bound by marriage anymore.”
‘Please, Duke Cloveus… for the sake of what we once had, let go of that vow!’
Because Eilisa Cloveus—me—had died in a carriage accident.
Well, not completely. I had become a vegetable, and my soul had left my body and entered someone else’s.
Since I’m here now, Eilisa’s body will never wake up again. So it’s safe to say she died.
You think that sounds crazy? I’d like to scream at the gods myself.
Ahntrus’s red eyes trembled with restrained anger.
“I will hear no more of this. I will pretend you never said any of this.”
He stood up, ready to walk away.
Just before he left, I shut my eyes tight and called out again.
“Even so, I won’t give up on you.”
I could imagine his expression.
Like always, when he was angry, he would look at me with a tightly controlled, serious face.
But honestly, his emotions didn’t matter to me.
That’s how desperate I was.
Ahntrus was the Duke of Cloveus.
He had lost his wife and was now considered a top prospect in the noble marriage market.
If I didn’t take that place, someone else definitely would.
Even if Ahntrus tried to live like a holy priest, staying faithful forever—I knew better than anyone…
Feelings can change. Just like mine had.
I heard the door close as Ahntrus walked out without a word.
Call it obsession if you want.
Besides, the original owner of this body—well…
“Are you really okay with this?”
[Of course, Eilisa. I’ll do anything to get out of the palace. Even sell my soul.]
Ailish’s ghost sat in the seat where Ahntrus had been. She smiled brightly.
She was only fifteen, but her stubbornness showed in her proud little chin.
What was really going on in her mind? I had no idea.
Still, I had no reason to say no to her offer.
‘Sigh… life really is unpredictable.’
This strange story started in the summer.
* * *
Year 376, Summer – Tombritch Empire
I truly thought I was going to die.
A carriage rushed toward a toddler who had just learned to walk.
The huge horse reared up and screamed.
People in the square screamed. I saw the coachman who had dropped the reins—and I let go of my daughter’s hand.
I couldn’t hear a word the coachman shouted.
I reacted without thinking. I pushed the baby away and curled up to take the hit.
I heard crying… and maybe…
“Eilisa!!!”
I think I heard Ahntrus scream my name.
But nothing was clear. Pain flooded my body as the horse trampled me.
Maybe the coachman managed to stop the horse, because the carriage swerved away.
Even breathing hurt.
“Waaaah!”
I heard the baby crying. People ran toward me.
Blood flowed from my body, soaking the stone pavement.
Still, I thought, ‘This is a good way to go.’
I had protected my last love—my daughter, Julia.
If only I could tell her how much I loved her…
But I didn’t think God would give me that chance.
In my fading vision, I saw Julia’s tiny hand.
Just knowing she wasn’t hurt was enough.
I thought that was the end. But the pain didn’t stop. It grew stronger.
“Ugh…”
Was it all a dream?
I blinked. The pain told me it was real. I had survived.
It must be the aftereffects of the accident.
Even so, I was thankful.
“Thank you… God…”
My voice was rough from not speaking for so long.
‘Is Julia okay?’
The first person I thought of was my daughter.
I didn’t know how much time had passed. But I remembered pushing Julia to safety.
I wanted to see her right away.
But the sky was dark. It was probably too early or too late to visit her.
Even if I was desperate, I didn’t want to wake her.
If my memory was right, she should be safe.
The child I risked my life to protect.
I sat up slowly, pushing away the heavy blanket.
“…Has it been a long time?”
I had lost a lot of weight.
My body looked like skin and bones.
Even standing was hard. My legs trembled.
‘If my body is this weak… I must’ve been lying here for years.’
I wobbled like a baby learning to walk.
If I had really been unconscious for that long, and Ahntrus kept me alive, then he truly had honored our vows.
He had always been faithful.
I didn’t care about anything else. I had woken up. I could tell Julia I loved her.
Even through the pain, my only fear had been that my daughter might grow up thinking I died because of her.
Of course, it wasn’t her fault. But guilt doesn’t care about facts.
I didn’t want to become a sad memory for her. Waking up was a blessing.
She must have grown a lot during the time I was asleep.
My heart filled with longing. I would go see her as soon as morning came.
I poured tea with shaking hands to soothe my dry throat.
Holding the cup was hard, so I used both hands.
“Phew…”
After drinking some tea, I felt a little better.
I sipped slowly until the pot was nearly empty.
The sun began to rise.
As the room lit up, I noticed things had changed.
The decorations in the Cloveus mansion were different. The furniture and silk wallpaper I had chosen were gone.
The head maid used to have great taste—this must have been her work.
“Welcome back to life, Eilisa.”
I smiled softly in the morning light.
Thinking I’d see Julia soon made my heart feel full.
But I quickly realized—it wouldn’t be that simple.
It happened just 30 minutes later.
“Ailish! You’re awake! I can’t believe it. My daughter, Ailish… I thought you’d never wake up!”
I stood frozen.
It took me a moment to understand what was happening.
Ailish?
That was the name of the youngest princess of the Tombritch Empire.
Royal names were protected by law. Only one person could have them.
And now… someone was calling me Ailish?
The real Ailish had fallen into a coma at age 15 due to illness.
She had been asleep for five years.
And now… I had become her?
Oh no. Dear God.
A fantasy twist had taken over the once-normal life of Eilisa.
In the summer of the Tombritch Empire, Year 376…
Just one week after the carriage accident…
I had become Ailish Tombritch, imperial princess.
