TSGDO 02

Chapter 2. Promise (1)

‘H-How could someone do this to a person?!’

Elluciana stiffened as she looked down at the child.

It was a living human being—a frail, young child who should have been endlessly protected and loved.

But what about the child lying before her now? Not a single spot on the body was unscathed; it was covered in wounds, and blood was still seeping from injuries that hadn’t even begun to heal.

‘This… this is just wrong.’

Judging from the threadbare clothes that were not only old but worn to the point of disintegration, the child must have lived without a shred of protection until now.

You weren’t born like this by choice.

Elluciana’s eyes welled up as she looked at the child. A deep, burning anger bloomed inside her like fire.

The child must have come here seeking to survive—putting trust in the reputation of Viscount Wires’ family, known for its generosity.

Why else would such a pitiful body collapse in front of a noble household?

‘And yet… instead of being saved, the child was heartlessly thrown away.’

Simply because of low status, the child’s hope had been utterly shattered.

Just like her own past, when she had been abandoned in an orphanage after losing her parents, completely ignorant and alone.

‘All I ever wanted… was to live with a family, just like everyone else.’

The world had been cruel and merciless. For someone with nothing, even the most ordinary dreams were out of reach. Ordinary life felt like an unreachable mirage.

‘…Until I came to this place.’

Elluciana squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them again.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the child, whose labored breathing hinted at how hard it was just to exist.

The child’s pale bones jutted sharply beneath thin skin, and every ounce of vitality seemed drained away.

Elluciana slowly bent her knees and sat in front of the child.

Call it empathy, call it meddling—it didn’t matter.

She just wanted this poor child to rest in peace.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll protect you.”

So that your hope doesn’t extinguish like a candle in the wind.

So that your will remains strong, no matter what happens.

“So be at ease.”

She whispered gently and reached her hand toward the small child. Just as her fingertips brushed the child’s hair—

The eyes of the child—who had seemed unconscious, nearly dead—snapped wide open.

“……!”

Eyes deeper and redder than blood.

Those crimson eyes erupted with a terrifying energy, like they would consume her whole.

‘…Gasp!’

Startled, Elluciana’s hand froze midair.

And then—something black and monstrous suddenly overwhelmed her field of vision.

“No!”
“Miss! Step back!”
“You crazy bastard—!”

Thud!

A blinding pain exploded in her head. There wasn’t even time to think. Her consciousness rapidly faded.

‘Huh…? What’s going on…? I have to… heal the child…’

In the distance, she could barely see the terrified faces of the approaching servants.

“My lady! My lady!”
“Grab him! Hold his arms!”
“Get the doctor! Call the doctor!”

‘Guys… I’m okay…’ she tried to say, but her lips wouldn’t move.

‘…Father will be here soon.’

What should I do? Will he worry too much? No—more importantly, is the child okay…?

That was Elluciana’s last thought before she lost consciousness completely.

*******

‘Ugh… my head hurts.’

Actually—was it her eyes?

Elluciana blinked. Or tried to. But her eyes didn’t cooperate.

It was as if only the muscles around her eyes had stiffened, refusing to move.

‘…What is this?’

She tried to sit up and forced her eyes open again. Finally, her eyelids lifted a little.

Luckily, she recognized the familiar bedroom.

The soft bed, the elegant, silky nightgown—all unchanged.

Letting out a slow breath, she leaned back against the headboard.

“That scared me.”

She had thought she’d fainted and returned to the modern world.

“But why am I here?”

Just a moment ago, she had been trying to save a dying child. And yet here she was, lying in bed, with her memories going dark right after reaching out to hold the child.

None of it made sense.

“Why did I even faint?”

When she had first possessed this body, she had to rest for an entire month because it was so damaged. She had only recently recovered enough to take a proper walk, so fainting wasn’t that surprising. But still…

If only she remembered something, she could guess what happened. But this—this was like wandering in pitch-black darkness.

Just as she was trying to recall anything—suddenly, the door burst open.

“Lucia!”

Simon rushed in, shouting like a man swept up in a storm.

“You’re awake? Finally?”

“Yes, Father. I just woke up.”

Her beloved father, Simon Ron Wires.

He clasped her hand tightly and said,

“Thank goodness… thank goodness. I thought I’d lost you.”

“P-Please, calm down, Father.”

“I never should’ve left your side. What’s some administrator position worth? Ugh…”

Elluciana flinched, then gently patted his back. The emperor had assigned him a mostly ceremonial government post after he resigned from his minister position.

She thought she had gotten used to his overwhelming affection, but it was still a lot to take.

“…It’s not your fault, Father. I made a mistake today.”

“No, Lucia. It’s all my fault. If only I had stayed by your side, none of this would’ve happened.”

Something bad happened?

While she was puzzled, Simon continued in a sorrowful voice.

“I’m sorry, Lucia. It’s all my fault.”

His hands trembled. His daughter had already “died” once and now fainted again—no wonder he was terrified.

Elluciana wanted to ask what exactly he meant by “something bad,” but couldn’t bring herself to do it now.

And then—suddenly—

She saw a very strange, yet strangely familiar face.

The elaborately carved three-paneled vanity mirror.

Someone inside the mirror was staring directly at her. And that face… was one she knew well.

Elluciana instinctively pointed at the mirror.

“Elluciana?”
“H-Huh?”

Startled by what she was pointing at, Simon jumped and immediately moved to block her view.

“Lu-Lucia…”
“Please wait, Father. The person in the mirror… is that me?”

“W-Well…”

Simon broke into a nervous sweat, stumbling over his words. But she had already seen it clearly. The puffed-up face, blotchy and red like a steamed bun.

‘Wait—why do I look like that?’

She gently pushed Simon aside and stood up from the bed.

“Please step aside for a moment, Father.”

“I can’t! Not today! Not even if the sky falls—!”

Before he could finish, Elluciana sprang out of bed and ran to the mirror.

“N-No! Don’t look! You mustn’t!”

Simon shrieked in horror, but she was already staring straight at her reflection.

Long, brown hair. Eyes the color of a crimson sunset.

That was the face she knew.

But then—those blotchy, mottled marks on her soft, marshmallowy skin…

‘…What happened to me? Who did this?’

No one in the Wires household would ever harm her.

Not Simon, nor any of the servants—they adored her too much.

Her gaze drifted to her wrist. She hadn’t noticed before, but there were red marks clearly visible.

Suddenly, pain flared up.

‘What is this?’

The mark looked like someone had gripped her hard—rudely and violently.

And then—like a massive wave crashing down—one vivid memory struck her mind.

*******

So—
‘The very child I tried to save… was the one who did this to me?’

After managing to send the guilt-ridden Simon away, Elluciana turned to Trisha, who was busy applying ointment, and asked again.

“So, he’s still unconscious?”

“Yes. Completely.”

Elluciana furrowed her brow and sighed.

The child—who had only said his name was Astein before passing out—was still unconscious.

Apparently, he had escaped from somewhere, and they couldn’t even entrust his care to a priest.

‘Still, doesn’t he need treatment? What if he dies?’

He had looked like he could die any second. The physician had done emergency treatment, but wasn’t that like skipping surgery after opening someone’s abdomen?

Worry written all over her face, she asked: