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Chapter 4
There was not a single thought in my head about stupidly interfering in the main characters’ love lives like the original “Lyla” and hastening my death.
Making the female protagonist my friend wasn’t just important for Baldwin—it was crucial for my own survival.
Surely, Aints wouldn’t kill the heroine’s close friend.
And Aints and Baldwin—though not “in love”—would become annoying yet inseparable “sworn brothers” through deep “friendship,” allowing me to secure a path to survival.
Like a proper supporting character, I’d help the heroine, Baldwin, and Aints with their work.
That way, they’d all have a reason not to kill me.
Aints, too, would grow fond of me.
Perfect.
This was enough groundwork for me to live a long, healthy life well past episode 80.
Now the important part was how to build a relationship with the heroine.
Luckily, the opportunity soon arrived.
*
After confirming the children were asleep, Robelia pulled the blanket over them and came out of the room.
The duke, who had been waiting for her, asked with a worried expression,
“Will it really be okay?”
“Yes. Lara and Didi are smart children. I think it’s best to establish Didi as a girl in society before her secondary sex characteristics begin to show.”
Robelia had already made up her mind.
Sponsoring a noble child as a study companion and sending them to the academy wasn’t unusual at all.
It was far better than hiding the child in the mansion and having Robelia and Adolf teach them directly. Sending Didi to receive formal instruction at the academy was the smarter choice.
After all, the Winchester family had produced Sword Masters for generations.
There was no doubt Baldwin would become an outstanding knight.
Of course, the Lorobante Knights were excellent too.
But the academy’s education naturally surpassed that of a mere noble household’s knight order.
Especially since the Lorobante family was a scholarly one that wielded pens rather than swords.
So, in order to send Baldwin to the academy, it was better to start preparing now.
Especially while Baldwin was still young and could pass for a girl without needing illusion magic!
Robelia smiled sweetly to reassure Adolf.
“I’ve even thought of a name. How about Rudella? That way, Lara won’t get confused either, since she can still call her Didi.”
Adolf gently hugged Robelia and kissed her forehead.
“Whatever you wish. But, Robelia…”
“Yes?”
Adolf spoke seriously.
“Can I go back in and just take one more look at their faces?”
His eyes sparkled with hope.
“No! You’ll wake them again! Lara is impossible to put back to sleep once she’s up!”
At Robelia’s firm rejection, Adolf’s shoulders slumped.
Robelia and Adolf planned a party under the pretext that Lyla had fully recovered from her illness.
Most of the central nobles living in the capital would likely attend.
The reason for throwing such a large party was to naturally introduce Lyla and Baldwin to high society.
Before the party began, Robelia secretly called Baldwin without telling Lyla.
“Didi. After today, you’ll be Rudella, not Baldwin. Just for a while, not forever.”
Robelia did her best to explain in a way a child could understand.
Baldwin wore his usual calm expression, but for some reason, his gaze felt strangely cold.
‘That can’t be…’
He was only seven, after all—and sweet Didi.
“Let me ask again, Didi. Are you okay with this?”
“Yes.”
Baldwin slowly nodded.
It was strange that he wasn’t smiling like usual, but it was probably because he was nervous.
‘My poor Didi.’
If Empress Caitlyn hadn’t given birth to a son… if Emperor Lygos hadn’t chosen Leviathan…
Then Baldwin would have been studying to inherit the title as a legitimate young duke.
Robelia’s heart softened again, and the rose-colored glasses grew thicker.
She hugged Baldwin tightly.
“Baldwin. My baby. I’m so sorry… From now on, you must call me the Duchess in public, not ‘Mom.’ But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
“I know.”
Baldwin’s calm and kind voice brought her some comfort.
The warmth of the child’s body seemed to melt away Robelia’s anxiety.
He was more mature than mischievous Lyla and could surely handle this well.
Though his hair was short, he was so beautiful that, as a child, he looked completely natural in a dress and headband.
But even that made Robelia feel guilty.
So preoccupied with protecting Baldwin’s heart, she missed a few strange details.
Baldwin didn’t ask why he couldn’t call her “Mom.”
Nor did he ask why he had to dress as a girl.
As if a seven-year-old completely understood what was going on.
Baldwin rolled his eyes.
‘Hmm.’
What do good kids do at times like this?
Without Lyla nearby to copy, it was hard to act like a typical child.
Tilting his head, Baldwin put on a sweet smile.
Robelia smelled just like Lyla—soft and sugary.
After a moment of thought, Baldwin buried his head in Robelia’s arms like a child would.
Baldwin liked books.
I didn’t really like books, but that was because of memories from my past life.
I was the illegitimate daughter of a well-known conglomerate chairman.
If my grades dropped even by one point, my stepmother would starve me.
Something about how if I didn’t have grace, I had to at least be smart.
Thinking back on how my step-siblings (her real children) had awful grades, I guess she was all grace and no brains.
That cursed “grace.”
Anyway, from elementary to high school, I never once gave up first place in my grade. It was a fight for survival.
Thanks to that, I got into one of Korea’s top universities—S University’s chemical engineering program.
But I’d lost all interest in studying.
Even in college, my stepmother kept interfering, and I practically lived in the library.
My nickname among classmates was “Library Ghost.” That says it all.
So, let me state it proudly:
Studying? Sayonara.
No more libraries. I’m living as free Lyla now!
I’m going to prove that studying isn’t everything in life.
As soon as I got up, I went to find Baldwin, who had apparently headed straight to the library again.
One nice thing about Baldwin dressing as a girl was that our freedom of movement had expanded.
Today, my goal was to laze around next to Baldwin.
The snack basket the nanny packed swung in my hand.
“Hello, young miss.”
“Hi, Mr. Librarian!”
“Here to see Rudella again today?”
“Yep! Where’s Didi?”
Rudella, huh?
That’s like changing “Charles” to “Charlene.” Totally obvious.
Still, Didi is Didi.
“She’s over between shelves 3 and 4.”
That section was filled with books even I couldn’t understand, yet Baldwin always insisted on going there.
He’d stack up a mix of picture books, beginner texts, and advanced tomes and read like a proper bookworm.
Today was no different.
He was totally focused, hugging a book way too hard for him to read.
Ugh, so cute!
My kitten-faced baby was killing it again today.
He wore a pale yellow dress that looked amazing on him.
His short hair didn’t matter at all.
I tiptoed up beside him.
“Yap!”
“Ah, ah! Lara!”
Baldwin’s eyes widened, and he hurriedly pushed aside the book he’d been reading upside down.
“I told you to read something you can actually understand! Why do you keep picking these hard ones?”
“They’re fun.”
“You’re the only one who thinks that’s fun. You’re weird!”
I plopped down beside him, shoving away the book pile.
“Being weird is better than being someone like you who doesn’t study at all.”
Baldwin smirked primly.
Sure, he was basically insulting me, but with that cute smile, it didn’t feel malicious. Plus, when he smiled like that, he looked like a purring kitten—completely disarming.
“If you keep saying mean things, I won’t play with you.”
“Liar.”
“Huh?”
“I only trust you, Lara.”
Baldwin smiled slyly like a cat and rested his head on my lap.
Ugh. He’s like a cat showing its belly for belly rubs.
My caretaker heart just melted like a dandelion seed blowing in the wind.
“…Wanna cookie?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Baldwin opened his mouth like a baby bird.
I dug into the basket, fed him a cookie, and glanced at the book he’d been reading.
Hmm.
Seemed to be about magic…
