HWSDR | Chapter 002

Chapter 002

Vereidan was truly a generous place. Unlike Hegest.

Less than half a day after possessing this body, I had been thrust into a carriage with a marriage contract in my hand, and I had to starve until then.

When I said I was hungry, the Duchess of Hegest, with eyes like frost, had spoken.

‘Being fat is unattractive. Since you’re on your way, act like a Hegest, Roana. Don’t forget my teachings. It means you should seduce Duke Vereidan and find out whatever you can. I will be visiting the Vereidan estate soon, so I trust you will be doing well until then. Tanya, look after Roana in the meantime.’

Then she attached a maid to me who was like a gatekeeper of hell. Sudden possession was sorrowful enough, but being mistreated over food was incredibly miserable. She wouldn’t let me have a single bite of anything sweet, and if she thought I had eaten three spoonfuls, she would snatch the bowl away.

Is a maid even allowed to do that?

I really wanted to dump her on the way here. She was so tenacious that she followed me around incessantly without leaving my side for a moment.

But to have such a leisurely meal. Long live Vereidan.

I sent the maid back to the main house immediately. I struggled so much to send back the girl who kept refusing to leave.

‘Was it Tanya? Vereidan has no money to give you. That means we have no intention of employing you. What do you think, Duchess? Will you employ her yourself?’

‘It would be best if you returned quickly, Tanya.’

There was no reason to miss the chance when he was kicking her out for me. Absolutely great!

The ousted Tanya returned to the Hegest family. She’ll probably be there acting as a stooge and tabbing on my every move.

My own life hadn’t been a bed of roses either. It was a life of being tormented by parents who only cared for my brother, my paternal grandparents, and my sister-in-law.

But I had my maternal grandmother, and I received her love. That’s how I could tell that Roana’s life was definitely not normal.

Tanya starving Roana, the Duchess of Hegest forcefully pushing her unwell daughter into the carriage, and those cold eyes looking down at me.

And even Roana’s memories that seeped into me throughout the carriage ride.

I knew exactly how precious these roasted onions were right now.

Roana, you lived a truly pitiful life too.

“The roasted onions melt in my mouth, Ceres. Oh, eat a bit more, are you leaving already?”

“I’m full. Finish up before you get up.”

Ceres cut me off coldly and turned his back to leave the dining room. He had barely touched the main dish.

What a waste. Perhaps because she had dieted to the extreme, Roana’s stomach was small. If it were my old self, I would have finished everything that was left.

I continued my meal, pressing down my regretful feelings.

Ceres needs to know. That having such luxurious meals won’t last much longer. Because six months after marrying Roana, he’s supposed to go off to the battlefield.

“It’s really coming soon.”

Moreover, his fate is to die there and never return. They say even a ghost that ate well looks better.

I glanced at the empty seat Ceres left with pitying eyes.

Next time, I should try to encourage him more earnestly.

* * *

That night.

Because I had spent the whole day idling about doing nothing, sleep wouldn’t come easily.

Wow, I really love it here.

Still, idling around like this for six months straight seems like it would be too boring. I should look for something to do starting tomorrow.

Since he told me not to act like the mistress of the house, I’ll pass on that.

I feel bad for not earning my keep, but what can I do? Should I poke around at the work the maids do? I’d be treated like a crazy woman.

I rolled around on the bed before picking myself up and stepping out of the room.

I was taking a walk down the hallway holding a single lamp when I heard a baby crying from afar.

The bright-eyed baby I saw in the lobby?

He must be the only baby in this mansion.

Bright-eyes was a child registered as Ceres’s adopted son. His biological father was Ceres’s older brother, who had died after the war ended.

But why is he crying so hysterically? Where did the nanny go?

Because the crying grew so intense it sounded like he was losing his breath, I hurried my hesitating steps.

When I opened the door and entered the room where the sound came from, I saw little Bright-eyes crying until his face was red. The nanny was nowhere to be found; only little Bright-eyes was in the large room.

“He told me not to even go near the baby.”

But I couldn’t just ignore a child crying like that either. I looked around and had no choice but to pick the child up. He looked like he had just turned one.

“There, there. Oh my, you were so upset. Why were you so upset? Are you hungry?”

It’s not time for a late-night feeding. Is he sick somewhere? He doesn’t have a fever. Does his stomach hurt? As I held and patted him, his round blue eyes began to flicker.

Unless he’s just fussy before sleep, is he getting his teeth?

There are so many reasons why a baby cries, so I don’t know.

At least I had experience taking care of my nephew like a maidservant before I possessed this body, so looking after a baby wasn’t difficult. I had been so miserable back then when I was forced to watch the baby by my mother.

‘You’re just a parasite who only eats up food. Shouldn’t you at least help your brother and sister-in-law!’

Have you ever seen a parasite with a job? I at least contributed to the living expenses. It was my brother who idled for seven years claiming to be a student preparing for the civil service exam. He was the parasite, was I the parasite? Besides, my sister-in-law idled about without watching the kid, saying she was supporting my brother.

No, if you can’t pass the 9th-grade civil service exam after seven years of preparation, you must be thick-headed.

Ah, pointless thoughts. Pointless thoughts.

I shook my head and focused on putting the child to sleep.

Now that he’s asleep, I can put him down, right?

The moment I laid the baby down, he snapped his eyes open and stared at me brightly.

Huh?

“U-uwaaaaaah!”

Ah.

It seems Bright-eyes is equipped with a top-tier “back sensor” (waking up as soon as his back touches the bed). I quickly picked the baby up again. I’ll just hold him until the nanny comes, I guess.

“Yawn.”

I let out a long yawn and coaxed Hayden. Ugh, I’m sleepy. When is the nanny coming?

* * *

The next day.

Ceres had to receive a report from the morning that he hadn’t expected at all.

He muttered with a bleak face.

“The Duchess has disappeared?”

“Yes, Your Grace. She is nowhere to be found.”

At the words of the head maid, Mrs. Eurain, Ceres wiped his face. Was acting all well-behaved yesterday just a performance?

Seeing her disappear and cause a commotion from the very second morning, he thought it was typical of a Hegest.

He didn’t know what she was doing right now, but there was a high probability that whatever she did would be detrimental to Vereidan. He had to find that damn Hegest quickly and remind her of the rules to be observed once more.

It was just as Ceres was about to grit his teeth and issue an order.

The nanny who looks after Hayden rushed inside, out of breath.

“Your Grace! You must come quickly!”

Seeing her face turned pale and her shoulders trembling, it was clear that something unusual had occurred.

Did something happen to Hayden?

At that moment, Roana, who was said to have disappeared, flashed through his mind. It felt as if all the blood was draining from his body. That Hegest woman might have done something.

‘I knew I shouldn’t have let her in!’

He rushed to Hayden’s room with the nanny.

However, what Ceres saw there was.

Soft breathing.

It was Roana and Hayden, sleeping side-by-side. As if something had happened throughout the night, Roana was asleep with her hair disheveled, hugging the child’s back.

While he was looking at the two of them in bewilderment, Hayden whimpered and twisted his body.

Roana patted his back without even opening her eyes.

“Shhh. Shhhhhh. Shhhhhhh……”

And when Hayden became quiet again, she fell right back into a deep sleep.

As he watched this with an incredulous expression, Mrs. Eurain pulled him away. As soon as Ceres left the room, he looked down at the nanny with a chilly gaze.

The nanny quickly bowed her head.

“Explain.”

“I-I had a terrible stomachache yesterday…… I fell asleep without hearing the Young Master’s crying, but when I woke up this morning, the Madam was there. I am sorry, Your Grace!”

I told her not to do anything, and not to even go near the child.

Roana had broken both rules at once.

“It would be best to leave them be for now, Your Grace.”

At Mrs. Eurain’s suggestion, Ceres issued a low command.

“Keep a strict watch until the Duchess wakes up. See if anything happens to the child.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The nanny replied while on the verge of tears.

Ceres brushed back his hair in frustration.

He would have to have another talk with Roana. Just what on earth is she thinking!