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Chapter 2
The feeling of recalling my past life could be summed up in one elegant word:
“It’s shit.”
My previous life hadn’t been easy either.
The moment I was born, my parents abandoned me, and I was raised by my widowed grandmother.
“Those parents over there, and these ones here too… all complete trash.”
Watching my grandmother struggle under the burden of my parents’ debts, I fought desperately to succeed.
And in the end, after relentless effort, I became successful through sheer hard work. I even paid off the debts my grandmother had taken on because of my parents.
Just as I was about to finally enjoy life a little—
“I’m sorry, Yumi. Just sacrifice yourself for us… so we can live happily…”
Those people—my so-called parents, though I don’t even want to call them that—grew greedy for my wealth and pushed me off a cliff while I was hiking.
They disguised it as an accident and took everything I had.
That was how I opened my eyes in a new place—here.
As all the memories came flooding back, rage burned inside me.
But this wasn’t the time to dwell on the past.
Because my current situation was just as bad.
“…Wait a second. I threw this novel away because the ending pissed me off.”
Out of all the countless novels I had read in my past life, I had somehow become the heroine of the one I had tossed into the trash.
Unbelievable.
“No luck with parents—same in my past life and now.”
With a slightly bitter expression, I recalled the original story—and froze.
“Wait… what happens later was…”
Digging through my hazy memories, I quickly felt horrified.
This was exactly the early part where the heroine was being abused and suffering.
Before long, Elisa—the maid of the ducal house—would return as the real daughter, and the heroine, caught in her schemes, would be driven out of the family.
Completely penniless.
“…What?”
There’s a novel where the heroine gets kicked out as a beggar—and I became that miserable protagonist?
As that realization hit me, I instinctively knew things were even more screwed than I thought. I grabbed my head in panic.
I quickly checked my body—
“There’s nothing…!”
Realizing there was no mark of a contract with a demon on my body, I went blank. In the original story, Edith only regressed after making a deal with a demon—meaning this was her first life, before regression.
“I’m before the regression?”
In a regression novel… without the regression?
Which meant I was currently stuck in the most frustrating, suffocating part of the story. And before regression, the heroine had no one to help her.
“So you’re telling me I have to follow the original plot exactly?”
There was no way I was going to die miserably like that and then repeat such a horrible life.
For me, there was only one solution—one way out.
“Before I get kicked out of the family, I need to make money.”
With money, everything would become simple.
After assessing the situation, I realized I couldn’t just leave immediately.
Because I literally didn’t have a single coin.
Even if you’re born into a prestigious ducal family, once you get thrown into a regret-themed story, it’s completely useless—as I was now proving.
“How can a protagonist have this little money?”
As a 15-year-old girl, there weren’t many ways to earn money.
And even fewer that would keep me out of the duke’s sight.
“If only I had some capital, I could at least start a business…”
Capital…
With absolutely nothing to my name, that was impossible.
“…Wait.”
At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
I hurriedly searched my room.
“Found it…!”
I pulled out a necklace I had hidden in advance, knowing it would be taken if the duchess saw it.
It was a birthday gift Stella had specially ordered from her favorite jeweler before she died.
“Edith, happy birthday. Thank you for being born beside me.”
My hands trembled as I touched the necklace.
It was made of opal, surrounded by small diamonds—clearly something valuable.
“If it’s this…”
No.
I didn’t want to handle Stella’s final gift like this.
But after a brief hesitation, I realized even that hesitation was a luxury.
“Stella… I’m sorry I can’t protect your precious gift.”
After agonizing over it all night, I sold the necklace at a pawnshop.
A large sum of money came into my hands—but I felt no joy.
With my starting capital secured, I began sneaking into the ducal family’s trash storage every night to read discarded newspapers.
“It should be around this time.”
I wasn’t someone with a perfect memory of novels—but when survival was on the line, my mind worked fast.
“The mine with magic stones!”
Later in the story, Duke Adelheit receives a “gift”—really a bribe—in the form of a mine. That mine contained magic stones, which brought him enormous wealth.
“Right around now… it was discovered and bought cheaply by Baron Wigno.”
I read newspapers every day with burning focus.
It took half a year.
But eventually, I found an article about a small abandoned mine being discovered.
Using the money from selling Stella’s necklace, I successfully purchased it.
“Now it begins.”
If I earned money half-heartedly, I’d only become prey for Duke Adelheit.
And soon, the “real daughter” who would replace me would appear.
Before she arrived, I had to lay the foundation for my business—no matter what.
With that determination, I worked harder than ever before.
And survived.
“After killing your sister, you still have the appetite to eat?”
“What a shameless bitch.”
“Stay out of sight and live like you’re dead. Don’t get in our way.”
For five years, I endured constant abuse and humiliation.
Still, remembering my past life was a stroke of luck.
Otherwise, I might have continued believing—
“Was everything really my fault?”
Now I knew.
That was complete nonsense.
Time passed, and I turned twenty.
“I’m the real daughter.”
Finally, Elisa returned to the ducal castle.
Once a maid—now the “true daughter” of Duke Adelheit.
Watching her, I suppressed a smile with superhuman effort.
And whispered inwardly:
“Thank you.”
For taking my place in this garbage dump.
Back to the present.
I had just been expelled by the duke and was about to leave with a bag of money—
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Caleb blocked my path. His eyes were filled with unmistakable hatred and contempt.
“You think running away will erase all your sins?”
I wanted to ask what exactly he expected me to do by staying. Be a punching bag?
What a boring, predictable conversation.
“You never belonged in this family to begin with. Not throwing you out sooner is my greatest regret.”
“Yeah? Then why didn’t you figure that out earlier?”
“What?”
“She was right beside me all along—why didn’t you notice?”
I pointed to Elisa, who was secretly watching from behind.
“…Ha! The audacity!”
Caleb’s face flushed with anger.
I watched him indifferently.
Here it comes again.
“If anything, it’s no surprise Riheart left you. Ah, I wish I had properly seen him throw that engagement annulment at you.”
…Riheart Edmon.
The only son of the Edmon ducal family—and my former fiancé.
Before Stella died, we had been close.
After her death, things became awkward.
Each time we met, he looked at me like something bothered him.
He thought Stella’s death was my fault too.
Not surprising.
But at least back then, he didn’t look at me with outright hostility.
That changed after Elisa appeared.
The moment he saw her golden divine power—the mark of Adelheit blood—he turned completely against me and threw the annulment papers in my face.
“The fact that someone like you was ever my fiancée is shameful.”
His blue eyes were filled with accusation.
But the one who had truly been betrayed… was me.
“Still… maybe…”
I had hoped things would be different this time.
But he crushed that hope completely.
“Won’t you regret this choice?”
I had asked him that—something not in the original story.
His face twisted in anger.
“If I don’t make this choice, I’ll regret it.”
With that, he left.
Watching his back, I thought—
Maybe this time will be different.
The original Edith devoted herself to others and was discarded.
Riheart later regretted her death.
But I wasn’t like her.
I wasn’t obedient.
I was selfish—and I put myself first.
So maybe the ending would change too.
“Maybe no one will regret me this time.”
Honestly, I preferred that.
Better than clinging pathetically.
As I walked past, Caleb sneered again.
“You think leaving will solve everything? Someone like you will be hated wherever you go.”
I let out a small laugh.
“Yeah, that must be why everyone left me. Oh right—Stella probably died because I’m such a terrible person too, right?”
I threw his own words back at him.
The air turned cold.
He’s the type to threaten to cut my throat anyway…
As expected, Caleb drew his sword.
“I’ll make sure you never speak that name again. Edith Diel.”
His golden eyes gleamed dangerously.
Like a hunting dog ready to attack.
I smiled faintly.
Then I looked at Elisa behind him and gestured with my eyes.
“Aren’t you going to stop your loyal dog?”
If I died here, she’d lose the most.
I had to remain the villain—she the pitiful, kind lady.
As expected, she rushed forward.
“Brother! Stop!”
“She insulted Stella—should I just let it go?”
“But I can’t let your hands be stained with blood over something like this…”
Tearing up, she looked at him pleadingly.
Moved by her concern, Caleb calmed down and sheathed his sword.
“You should be grateful to Elisa for sparing your life.”
“Sure.”
“Though we’ll see how long that life lasts outside.”
I smirked.
“So you want me to stay?”
He didn’t answer.
“Then move.”
And just like that—
I walked past them and finally escaped the ducal castle.
