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When I opened my eyes again, a whole year had passed.
And then—
“Where… is this?”
“I told you already, milady. This is the territory of the Duke of Vallot, in the Kadea Empire.”
“……”
“This stretch of coast is off-limits to outsiders, so if you would follow us to the ducal estate, we’ll conduct a brief investigation—”
“……”
I stood there with my mouth hanging open, completely dazed.
“It’s not really an interrogation, but they may ask you some basic questions to confirm your identity, and… um…”
“……”
Mumble, mumble. The knight who’d found me kept talking, but his words went in one ear and out the other.
Woke up in a new body, huh?
Fine. That, I can understand.
After being swallowed by a pit of black magic, it’s a miracle I have any body at all.
And a year passing in the meantime… that’s not exactly hard to believe either.
If some god up in the heavens had to craft or find me a new body, it probably took a while.
I’m not the type to nitpick every detail anyway. I usually just accept things and move on.
But—
Kadea Empire? Not Tenacis?
Of all places to wake up…
The Kadea Empire. And not just anywhere, but the Duke of Vallot’s territory?!
The Kadean knights treated me like I was made of glass.
The entire carriage ride, they kept tapping on the window to check on me.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“Do you need water?”
“We’ll be there soon, just hang in there.”
“Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen.”
“Stay strong.”
They offered comfort, reassurance, even encouragement.
For someone who was used to rolling around in the dirt, covered in scars and bruises, it was an entirely new experience.
The knight riding with me was no different.
Rattle, rattle—
As the carriage jolted over the dirt road, the young knight sitting across from me spoke nervously.
“A-are you all right, milady?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, um, this road’s a bit rough, so the carriage might shake a little.”
“I see.”
“Ahem. Once we’re past this stretch, we’ll arrive shortly. Please bear with it a bit longer.”
“Yes.”
His flushed cheeks, his stammering voice, his eyes that couldn’t meet mine—he looked exactly like a teenage boy nursing his first crush.
And honestly, who could blame him?
I turned my gaze to the window and studied the reflection staring back at me.
No wonder the knights are acting like this.
Even when I first woke up, I could tell this body wasn’t mine.
Soft, delicate muscles. Stiff joints unused to combat. Smooth, uncalloused hands. Unscarred skin.
It didn’t take long to realize I was inhabiting someone else.
And now, with the carriage as a mirror, I could see her face clearly for the first time.
The familiar gray-brown eyes and short, chopped auburn hair I once had were gone.
My face was streaked with sand, my platinum-blonde hair tangled and clumped from seawater, my clothes wet and gritty.
And yet—she shone. None of it dimmed her beauty.
People… can actually look like this.
Emerald-blue eyes, like the sea. Hair as bright as the white sand beaches. Flawless skin without a single blemish, making her crimson lips stand out even more.
Even the burn scar that used to cover half my face is gone.
I hated to admit it, but she was breathtaking.
No wonder enemy knights blushed over an unknown woman.
But who is she?
I traced the window with my fingertips.
Why did I wake up in this woman’s body?
She didn’t just fall from the sky.
If only her memories would surface…
But all I had was my own consciousness. Not a trace of her past.
I stared at the unfamiliar face in the glass and spoke silently.
I’m sorry. I don’t remember anything about you. I don’t even know where to begin finding out who you are.
Then again, I was someone who’d lost my childhood memories, too.
Perhaps this is fate linking the two of us.
Maybe, if I’m lucky, someone who recognizes this face will appear.
You might still have hope, unlike me.
I never found anyone who remembered me.
Not a single person.
I can’t promise I’ll restore your identity.
My eyes dropped to the knight’s uniform opposite me.
The Kadea Empire’s crest gleamed on his chest, reminding me once more that I was in enemy territory.
This really isn’t a good place for me to be.
Of all the places to wake up… it had to be the enemy’s land.
And if I really end up face-to-face with Duke Kadrian Vallot…
Then my own life would be on the line.
This isn’t the time to worry about anyone else. I might die here.
I sighed heavily.
What a twisted life. Even death isn’t peaceful for me.
“—Sir Shia.”
Flinch. Just the thought of heading to the duke’s estate made my shoulders tense.
That’s right, Duke. I’m heading straight to your house.
He wouldn’t kill me on sight… right?
No. I’m not the Shia of Tenacis anymore.
And this body—frail, powerless, utterly delicate.
And stunningly beautiful, too.
He wouldn’t kill me immediately…
But then I remembered the stories.
He kills anyone he deems a threat. Men, women, children—it doesn’t matter.
There were tales of him beheading enemy children without hesitation.
Of him toasting victory feasts not with wine, but with the blood of enemy prisoners.
Even the Kadeans themselves fear his cruelty.
Ugh.
I rubbed my neck instinctively, suddenly feeling a chill.
This… could get dangerous.
I need to escape. I can’t die like this.
But escape was a distant dream.
I peeked outside the curtain—at least five armed knights surrounded the carriage.
With my old body, maybe. But with this one? No chance.
Even if I did manage to flee, returning to the Tenacis Empire would be almost impossible.
There are too many practical problems.
I’d need papers to board a ship. Even if I forged them, I’d need gold to pay for passage.
And right now, I have nothing.
Nothing but this stranger’s body.
And even if I got that far, reaching Crown Prince Serhin would be another ordeal.
If I showed up with this face, he’d draw his sword first and ask questions later.
His paranoia bordered on madness.
He’d never believe I was his knight Shia, the one who’d died in the black magic pit.
So there’s only one option.
Survive the meeting with the Duke.
Yes. If I want to get home, survival comes first.
Finding Serhin can wait until after I return to Tenacis.
But… survive. How?
Ha…!
Just thinking about it made my head pound.
I couldn’t fight like this. I couldn’t use aura.
Honestly, I felt like tearing my hair out.
How long would it take to get this body back to my old level?
Nine years, like before?
No.
If it takes me nine years again, I deserve a slap.
Seven years.
Still too long.
Five?
I shook my head furiously.
Five years in enemy territory? Get real!
Two years.
Yes. Two years.
I’ll make it happen. In two years, I’ll be back to my prime.
Good. The goal is set—restore this body to peak condition and return home.
With a plan in mind, my motivation flared to life.
I met the stranger’s gaze in the window and nodded firmly.
Since this is how it turned out, I’ll live this life my way. And I’ll make sure it’s one worth living.
It wasn’t a real conversation, but somehow, I felt as if I’d received her permission.
My heart grew lighter.
And then—
The carriage stopped. The knight opposite drew back the curtain.
“We’ve arrived at the gates. Once they open, we’ll ride up to the main manor.”
I turned to look outside.
Whoa… unreal.
That wasn’t a mansion.
It was a castle.
Massive and ornate—on par with the imperial palace of Tenacis itself.
How can a duke own something like this?!
Creaaaak—
The massive iron gates opened slowly, the screech echoing through the air.
My heart began to race.
Never thought I’d end up at a duke’s house in my lifetime.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The horses clopped cheerfully onward, oblivious to my dread.
“—Sir Shia.”
Again. The duke’s voice from my memories echoed in my mind.
Shut up. I get it. Stop calling me.
…Damn it.
