Chapter 5
“I honestly don’t really understand what you’re thinking or what you’re worried about… but that kind of thing won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure? Everyone says that when they first adopt a child. That they’ll treat them well, give them lots of attention and love.”
“Love… I’m not sure about that. But even if I can’t give you love, I can raise you without lacking anything. Whatever you want to do, whatever you want to learn—I’ll allow it.”
“…”
“And my sons are all kind and well-educated. They’d never do anything like that…”
What was that? A textbook line from parents of school bullies?
“I’m not very affectionate.”
The duke tilted his head at my sudden statement.
“What do you mean…?”
“I’m not the type who’s charming or cheerful. I just wanted to make it clear in advance—I can’t win over the household with cuteness or lighten the mood with my presence.”
“…”
“In case you’re holding onto some expectations. I don’t have any hidden talents either. I’m not planning to replace anyone, and I don’t want to.”
“…”
“But I’ll never repay kindness with betrayal. Unless you do it first.”
“That—That beggar! How dare she speak like that to the duke, a mere commoner! Duke, how can you sit there and listen to such impudence?!”
The coachman, who had been listening in on our conversation from behind, pointed and shouted at me.
“Silence.”
The duke quietly cut him off as the coachman became more and more agitated.
‘If we’re being honest, that’s insubordination too.’
A coachman raising his voice at the duke? If I’m getting dragged off for speaking plainly, then he should come with me.
“Even just looking at that coachman, I can already see my future too clearly, Duke.”
I looked up at the duke with innocent, clueless eyes.
“…Right. Thomas, either wait outside or be quiet. I won’t tolerate any more interruptions.”
The coachman—Thomas—visibly deflated and stepped back at the duke’s words.
I gave him one last sharp glare before turning back to meet the duke’s eyes and continued.
“Duke, I know my words are rude and out of line. But I think I’m allowed to be a little cautious—my future is at stake.”
“…You’re right.”
“I won’t replace anyone. I won’t play a role within the ducal household. Even with all that in mind, do you still want to adopt me?”
“…”
“I’m saying adopting someone isn’t something you do lightly.”
I couldn’t help but speak more coldly, shuddering at the duke’s flippant decision to adopt a girl he saw for the first time today, just because she resembled his lost wife and daughter.
The duke seemed to fall deep into thought after hearing my sharp words. I looked away from him and began scraping up the last of the desserts absentmindedly. A bitter taste lingered on my tongue.
“Children don’t grow up on their own. If you’re not confident, then don’t go around carelessly reaching out to people. A fleeting act of kindness, when you can’t follow through with responsibility, is poison to someone like me—someone with nowhere to go back to.”
“…Still, I’d like for you to come with me.”
I thought he would give up at this point, but the duke was persistent.
“Alright.”
The duke’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting a yes.
“But I have conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“I’d like to draw up a contract. But shall we head to the ducal estate first?”
Thomas completely forgot the duke’s warning and exploded again.
“She doesn’t even know what kind of opportunity she’s been given and dares to set conditions?! She should be falling over herself with gratitude—!”
‘What is wrong with this guy? He’s been bothering me from the start.’
Should I give him a piece of my mind as a celebratory act for leveling up in status?
“I should’ve known when she shamelessly ordered everything on the menu!”
I was tempted to say something snappy to shut him up, but got annoyed and just turned away, heading toward the duke’s carriage. Seeing that the step into the carriage was too high for me, the duke hesitated nearby, unsure if he should help.
When I looked at him and held out my hand, he quickly ran over and helped me up into the carriage. Once I was seated, he followed and sat across from me before speaking.
“I’m sorry. Thomas is hot-tempered, but he truly cares about our family. I hope you can understand.”
“Hmm. If he really cared about your family, shouldn’t he have fixed his attitude the moment he realized you were considering adopting me? That’s what I think.”
“…”
“Or maybe he believes that a beggar adopted into a noble family isn’t worth respecting? Am I really the one who should be understanding here?”
I turned my gaze from the duke to the window.
“That was careless of me. I’ll speak to Thomas properly so he doesn’t trouble you anymore.”
I didn’t respond to the duke’s words, and he didn’t press me further. That was where our conversation ended.
The rattling carriage was quiet, and I, feeling the accumulated fatigue, closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the wall.
From time to time, I opened my eyes, and the duke would glance at me. But I wasn’t the type to respond warmly to that kind of concern.
I wasn’t close to him. I didn’t like him. And I didn’t have the energy left to play nice.
I had been drenched in rain for a long time and had been running around all day. My stamina was gone.
As someone who used to stay wrapped in blankets at home, this was an exhausting schedule.
They say God only gives people trials they can endure. Clearly, there’s a misunderstanding between me and God.
‘This… is a bit much for me to handle.’
As I mentally appealed to God, I turned my gaze outside. The world I saw through the carriage window was strangely unfamiliar compared to where I came from.
No high-rise buildings, no smooth roads, no people glued to their phones—just a typical medieval European setting.
A world I had only read about in books turned out to be far more inconvenient than I imagined.
Even in the most expensive and high-tech cars, I got carsick. So this bumpy ride was like being in an earthquake—I wanted to get off immediately.
As my nausea worsened, my expression darkened, and I lost any desire to make conversation.
The duke, who had been watching me, must have seen how pale I looked, because he finally spoke.
“You don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”
I slowly opened my eyes at his concerned voice from across the carriage.
“The bumpy ride is making me a little nauseous.”
“Would you like to rest for a bit?”
“No, sorry… I think I’ll just sleep. It might feel better if I fall asleep.”
“Alright. Don’t worry about me. Do what you need.”
At the end of his sentence, I slipped into sleep as if collapsing.
A soft mattress supported my back, and a thick, cozy blanket wrapped around me. The pleasant sensations gently roused me from sleep.
I moved my fingertips—seemed like I was lying on a bed.
When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling. The kind of ceiling painted with classic masterpieces you’d expect in a museum.
Now this is a transmigration! This is how it’s supposed to start—not in some rainy forest!
My heart fluttered as I stepped down from the bed and headed toward the vanity.
‘First thing’s first—gotta check the face.’
Finally, I’d get to see what I looked like.
I let out a short breath and raised my head. The face that appeared in the mirror was unexpected—not in terms of beauty, but just… surprising.
What looked back at me was a young child with greenish hair and pale purple eyes.
I don’t remember any novel with a green-haired protagonist. Is this an original world?
Knock, knock.
As I examined my reflection, there was a knock at the door. Before I could say anything, the door burst open.
Startled by the lack of courtesy, I turned toward the door wide-eyed.
There stood a middle-aged woman, looking at me with disapproval.
“So you’re awake. The duke is waiting.”
She frowned when I didn’t respond, as if wondering why I wasn’t following her already.
“This is why uneducated girls are hopeless…”
