Chapter 3
Ten days ago, I begged Miss Anne to take me into town.
There, I mailed the letter I’d written in advance—to him, the Duke of Abner.
Of course, I hadn’t forgotten to seal it with my personally carved secret insignia.
That was the only way to ensure the letter would reach Sharon Abner directly.
‘I checked it so many times. The letter must’ve arrived safely. But if he still hasn’t come…’
Even now, the Longton attendants were closing in on me.
My shoulders slumped.
‘He must’ve thought it was just a childish prank.’
Honestly, the letter had sounded strange, even to me.
Telling a powerful duke to “come pick me up because I’ll be useful”?
‘But what else could I have written!’
I couldn’t tell anyone the truth—that I’d returned to the past.
If I did, they’d think I was delusional or worse—ship me off to the Mage Tower for experiments.
I glanced nervously behind me.
I’d prepared for this possibility by clearing a small path through the bushes nearby.
‘No choice.’
If I didn’t run now, I’d end up as the Longton family’s adopted daughter again.
Sure, part of me had thought maybe I could live differently this time—
at least until I saw Duke Longton’s face again.
‘I can’t. If I go back there, I’ll just live the same miserable life all over again.’
Cold sweat trickled down my palms and feet.
Just seeing him had brought back every ounce of fear.
I bit my lip hard.
‘I should’ve carved the seal better…’
The insignia I’d made was rough, full of chips and uneven edges.
That was inevitable—after all, I’d carved it with a knife bigger than my hand.
My eyes stung.
The blisters and cuts covering my palms throbbed painfully,
but I didn’t have time to cry.
I shook my head and slung the little bundle over my shoulder.
Running away was my only option.
‘If I head toward the city, I can make it in three days, maybe?’
Then I’ll just sneak onto a carriage going to another region!
Once I get there, I’ll figure something out.
I was just about to move when—
Neighhh!
The startled cries of horses pierced the air.
In the front yard of the orphanage, a brilliant blue circle of light suddenly appeared.
Moments later, shadows began to rise from it—
tall men in dark-blue coats, swords strapped to their waists.
My eyes widened.
They were unmistakably Abner soldiers.
Duke Longton froze.
Miss Anne gasped and covered her mouth.
“Well, well… look who we have here.”
Someone stepped out from among the soldiers.
White hair swept back from his forehead.
Piercing violet eyes, sharp and predatory like a beast.
“I didn’t expect to find you here, Lambert.”
That man—Sharon Abner.
The real Duke of Abner—was glaring coldly at Duke Longton.
“Still out looking for a fake daughter, are you?
All the way out here, in my territory?”
***
There was one thing every citizen of the Taranta Empire knew:
The northern Abner family and the southern Longton family were mortal enemies.
“It’s been a long time, Lady Abner. Or should I say… Duke Abner now?”
Duke Longton’s voice dripped with hostility.
Sharon Abner gave a thin, amused smile.
“Of course. It’s been quite some time since I took over as family head.”
“Yes, quite. I even heard the story of how you stole your husband’s title from your grown son.”
The air instantly turned icy.
Abner’s soldiers scowled and placed their hands on their sword hilts.
Longton’s attendants responded in kind—silently pulling out magic scrolls.
‘What… what is happening?’
From behind the barn, I crouched lower, bewildered.
That Sharon Abner was here was a miracle in itself.
It meant my letter had reached him.
But the problem was… the atmosphere felt one step away from an all-out war.
‘Why now? This is bad—really bad.’
For centuries, the Abners and Longtons had hated each other.
Generation after generation, they clashed—
in politics, business, and even academia—
until their rivalry became legend.
At official imperial events, their seats were always placed at opposite ends of the hall.
Everyone in the Empire knew that putting them together would cause trouble.
But in recent centuries, the balance had shifted dramatically.
The Longtons had invested heavily in magical research and gained influence across the Empire.
The Abners, meanwhile, had fallen behind.
The previous Abner heads were hopeless at magic or alchemy.
All they’d ever done was train soldiers or cling to outdated industries.
Then came the drought.
Famine ravaged the northern Abner lands,
and many believed their downfall was only a matter of time—
until Sharon Abner took over.
***
“I didn’t know you cared so much about my family affairs,” Sharon said smoothly.
Duke Longton sneered.
“Oh, not at all. I just happened to hear about it.
It’s quite the story, after all—
a mother stealing her son’s inheritance.”
A blatant insult.
But Sharon didn’t so much as flinch.
“Well, I don’t find it strange at all.
Maybe your worldview is just that narrow.
No wonder your own father hesitated to pass his title to you.”
Lambert Longton’s face twisted in fury.
Sharon smiled like a predator toying with prey.
“Tell me, Lambert—
isn’t running your family difficult?
If you’d like, I could help.
Unlike you, I’m quite suited for this position.”
“Your words are crossing a line, madam.”
“Duke, not madam.
My, such a short memory.
And to think someone like you leads a noble house.”
Crack.
I could practically hear Duke Longton grinding his teeth from where I hid.
The tension between them was palpable—
rage swirling, barely contained.
And not just between them.
Both sides’ subordinates were ready to fight.
Then I saw Miss Anne standing frozen by the orphanage door—
like a rabbit caught between two wolves.
She didn’t understand what was happening,
and fear had pinned her to the spot.
Duke Longton let out an exasperated sigh.
“Enough pointless chatter.
Why are you here, Duke Abner—
and with soldiers, no less?”
“Do I need your permission to patrol my own lands?
And that’s my question, actually—
what business do you have here, in my territory?”
“Crossing a border isn’t illegal.”
“But as the landowner, I have every right to ask why.”
Sharon smiled lazily, and Duke Longton’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“We’re not exactly on friendly terms, Lambert.
Not close enough to open teleport portals into each other’s territory, wouldn’t you say?”
“……”
“Unless, of course, you were hoping for a fight right here and now.”
At those words, the Abner soldiers drew their swords in unison.
Dozens of blades glinted in the cold light.
Miss Anne collapsed to the ground in fright,
and the children inside the orphanage peeked through the windows, pale-faced.
Duke Longton clenched his jaw.
“…Unbelievable.”
His butler, panicked, hurried to explain.
“I-It’s not political or military, I swear!
The Duke is here to escort the child who will soon become the new Lady of the Longton family!”
“Oh? From this Ivhill Orphanage?”
“Y-Yes, sir! His Grace had his eye on a particular child—”
Sharon’s lips curved into a sharp, intrigued smile.
“So, you mean to adopt one of my orphans as your daughter.”
“That’s right.”
A deep laugh echoed across the courtyard.
Sharon tilted her head.
“And who, exactly, gave you permission to do that?”
