I was scared.
Terrified.
What if they found out?
What if one day they realized that I wasn't the real Seraphina?
Would they still look at me like this?
With warmth.
With love.
Or would those smiles disappear?
After dinner, I quietly returned to my room.
But just as I reached the door, I heard footsteps behind me.
The Countess was following me.
My heart jumped.
This was uncomfortable.
How was I supposed to address her?
Mother?
Mom?
Mummy?
Why were there so many options?
I slowly turned around.
"Mother… why are you following me?"
The Countess froze.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Mother?" she repeated in surprise. "Why are you addressing me like that?"
Oh no.
Wrong answer.
I quickly tried again.
"Mom?"
Her eyes widened.
She looked like she was about to cry.
Panic spread through my chest.
"Mummy?"
A soft sob escaped her lips.
What was happening?!
I took a deep breath and said the most embarrassing word possible.
"Mommy…?"
For a moment she simply stared at me.
And then—
She laughed.
Not mockingly.
Not coldly.
But with pure happiness.
"I haven't heard you say 'Mommy' in eight years," she said softly.
Eight years?
She gently touched my cheek.
"But you can just call me 'Mom' now."
…She tricked me.
But strangely, it didn't feel bad.
Instead, warmth filled the room.
Her expression soon turned worried again.
"I always give you a goodnight kiss," she said. "Don't you remember?"
Goodnight kiss?
What was that?
Before I could ask, she gently guided me toward the bed.
"Come. You should rest."
She helped me lie down and pulled the blanket over me.
I stared at the ceiling.
Sleep didn't come easily.
My mind was too full.
Too many questions.
Too many unfamiliar feelings.
Then—
She started singing.
A soft lullaby.
Her hand gently patted my shoulder.
Slow.
Warm.
Comforting.
Just like something out of a dream.
Eventually, she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against my forehead.
"Goodnight, my dear."
Then she quietly left the room.
The door closed softly behind her.
Silence filled the room again.
And that's when I started crying.
If my biological mother had been alive in my previous life…
Would she have treated me like this?
Would she have sung me a lullaby?
Helped me sleep?
Kissed my forehead?
I didn't know anything about you, Mom.
My classmates always bragged about their mothers.
Meanwhile, my stepmother treated my stepsister like she was her entire world.
And me?
I was just someone who lived in the same house.
That night…
I cried quietly into the pillow until sleep finally took me.
Sunlight slowly spilled through the window the next morning.
But someone was trying to block it.
I opened my eyes.
Mary was carefully pulling the curtains closed.
When she noticed I was awake, she hurried over.
"My lady," she said softly, "you should sleep more. Your body still needs rest."
But I had always woken up around this time in my previous life.
So I shook my head.
"I'm fine… Can I help you?"
Mary froze.
Her expression turned completely shocked.
"N-No… no, my lady!" she stammered.
"I cannot ask you to do such things. It is my job. That is what I am paid for."
Strange.
In my previous life, I used to do house chores every day while my stepsister studied.
We were in the same class.
Both of us preparing for the same entrance exams.
Yet somehow—
She always had time to study.
And I didn't.
Mary spoke again.
"Should I prepare your bath, my lady?"
"Yes," I replied.
The bathroom was filled with the scent of roses.
For a moment, it felt like stepping into a rose garden.
Mary stayed beside me.
Then she began helping me remove my clothes.
I blinked in surprise.
"You're… going to stay here?"
She answered politely.
"Yes, my lady. Usually three maids assist you during your bath. But since you lost your memory, I am helping you alone today."
Then she added quietly,
"The other maids will be jealous."
I laughed.
"Why?"
She smiled softly.
"Because you are adorable, my lady. Everyone wants to stay by your side."
She lowered her eyes respectfully.
"We all love the county. You are the Count's only daughter. Many of us were born here and will die here… so we wish to serve someone kind and beautiful."
I felt my cheeks grow warm.
"I will always be there for you too."
I didn't know why I said that.
Maybe because of their loyalty.
Maybe because I wanted to believe it.
Mary suddenly started crying.
But they were happy tears.
The atmosphere became so comfortable that I almost forgot where I was.
Until I realized—
I was taking a bath.
And someone was helping me.
It was my first time someone had ever done this for me.
It felt embarrassing to be naked in front of another person.
I slowly stepped into the bathtub.
Warm water surrounded me.
Mary began washing my back and hair.
Her hands felt gentle.
Relaxing.
Now I finally understood why people loved hair washing at salons and spas.
We chatted while she worked.
Mostly about Seraphina.
Her favorite food.
Her hobbies.
Her habits.
And at the top of the list—
The Crown Prince.
Ugh.
I didn't like him.
Not even a little.
He was the reason Seraphina died.
And if the novel's story continued the same way—
He would also be the reason her family was destroyed.
After the bath, Mary helped dry my hair and dress me again.
I looked into the mirror.
I still couldn't believe this face was mine now.
But another thought kept wandering through my mind.
How could I change the story?
The Emperor had promised my father that his daughter would marry into the royal family.
Which meant—
My engagement to the Crown Prince was almost inevitable.
How could I avoid it?
Unless…
I found someone else.
Someone who could become my fiancé.
Just temporarily.
No love.
No strings attached.
Just enough to stop my marriage to the Crown Prince.
But who would be willing to help me?
Suddenly—
The door burst open.
Lucian walked in without knocking.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "Coming or planning to stay here all day?"
I blinked.
"I was just thinking."
He frowned.
"Are you okay?"
"Do you still feel bad about the Crown Prince's attitude yesterday?"
I shook my head.
"No. I don't care anymore. I don't even like him now."
Lucian froze.
He slowly turned toward Mary.
"She's not fine," he said seriously. "Call the physician."
Mary looked at me helplessly.
I sighed.
"No, I'm fine. I just realized something."
"What?"
"I almost died. I was unconscious for days. So I thought… it's better to stop loving someone who will never return my feelings."
Lucian's expression darkened.
"If I survive something like that," I continued, "I should find someone who will cherish me instead."
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
"I'll support you."
"But rejecting the Crown Prince won't be easy."
"I know," I said. "But I'll find a way."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Does Father know?"
"No."
I hesitated.
"Please don't tell him yet… brother."
Lucian looked horrified.
He walked closer and touched my forehead.
"No fever," he muttered. "So why are you acting weird today?"
He laughed.
Maybe Seraphina never called him brother before.
Oops.
He suddenly grinned.
"If you want my help, you must help me too."
"With what?"
"Introduce me to your friends."
I blinked.
"Everyone keeps telling me to marry," he complained. "But I can't find a girl I like."
I stared at him.
With that face?
In the novel, Lucian was extremely popular with noble ladies.
"What about the girls who give you gifts and letters?" I asked.
He scoffed.
"They don't love me. They just like my face and our family."
Then he flipped his hair dramatically.
"You know I'm handsome."
I stared at him.
Self-obsessed.
But strangely…
It was funny.
For the first time since coming to this world, I felt like I was having a normal conversation.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
"Mother and Father are waiting for breakfast."
"Oh."
"Let's go."
As we walked through the hallway, the servants greeted us.
"Good morning, my lady."
"Good morning, my lord."
The dining room doors opened.
Just like last night—
Mom and Dad were already waiting.
I greeted them.
"Good morning, Mom and Dad."
They smiled warmly.
And only then did I realize something.
I had said it naturally.
Without hesitation.
Without thinking.
Was I slowly becoming…
The real Seraphina?
Dad asked,
"What took you two so long?"
Lucian replied casually,
"Nothing. Sera and I were just talking."
Sera.
So that was Seraphina's nickname.
"Sera, sit here," Dad said, patting the chair beside him.
I sat quietly next to him.
He gently patted my head.
"Did you sleep well, my child?"
I nodded.
Then he said,
"There will be a royal ball soon. Every noble family must attend."
My heart skipped.
"A ball?"
"Yes," he continued.
"You and Lucian will attend as well."
A royal ball.
In the past, Lucian always attended the ball with Seraphina.
Because the Crown Prince never asked her to be his partner.
Or even for a dance.
Not even once.
People mocked her for it.
But her childhood friend always stood by her.
Lady Elara.
The perfect heroine of the story.
But strangely—
My favorite character in the novel wasn't the heroine.
It was the villainess.
Isolde Marianne Virelith.
She would attend the ball too.
And for some reason…
I really wanted to meet her.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
I could become her friend.