Chapter 1

 Prologue

Because it was the first day of the new semester, the front gates of Riod Imperial Academy were more crowded than usual.

At the center of all the attention stood an elegant four-horse carriage that had come to a halt in the middle of the square.

Emblazoned on its side was the crest of House Argenta—a crimson dragon crossed with twin swords.

It was the symbol of the duchy renowned as the Empire’s greatest military power.

And today…

The long-lost heir of that family was about to reveal himself.

The moment the carriage door opened, an expectant hush swept through the crowd.

A young man stepped onto the carriage’s footrest and slowly emerged.

His smooth silver hair fluttered gently in the breeze before falling away from his sharp features.

Then everyone saw his pale green eyes.

Silence.

“…No way.”

Those who recognized him instantly turned deathly pale.

The title of Duke Argenta.

The prestigious Kystar Knights, loyal only to the duke.

The man destined to inherit all of it…

…was none other than Felix, the boy they had mocked, ridiculed, and looked down upon only months ago.

Among them, Kadin, who had led much of the bullying, frowned so deeply his face twisted.

“Felix? Why is he getting out of that carriage?”

Standing nearby, Rosia hurriedly answered, trying to reassure herself as much as him.

“Maybe… because he’s Duke Argenta’s disciple? They probably just happened to ride here together.”

She desperately wanted to believe Felix couldn’t possibly be the duke’s son.

But no matter how long they waited…

No one else stepped out of the carriage.

A moment later, the knights escorting it marched toward Felix with flawless discipline.

“Young Master, was your journey comfortable?”

That single line threw the academy entrance into chaos.

“Felix… is really Duke Argenta’s son?”

“What in the world is going on?”

Whispers erupted from every direction.

Rosia could only stare blankly.

Just a short while ago, Felix had been nothing more than an ordinary commoner.

Then he became Duke Argenta’s disciple.

And now…

He was revealed to be the duke’s long-lost son.

As if that weren’t enough, Felix was dating the one person Rosia hated most—

Ayla.

Beside her, even her friend Freya seemed frozen in disbelief.

After a long pause, she forced herself to speak calmly.

“…Maybe this is actually for the best. Now that he’s the heir to a ducal house, he’ll realize who he should really be associating with. He’ll dump Ayla before long.”

But Felix’s actions immediately proved her wrong.

Ignoring everyone else, he searched the crowd until his gaze landed on someone.

Ayla.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he pushed through the sea of students toward her.

Feeling every eye on her, Ayla looked slightly uncomfortable.

Only for a second.

The instant Felix stopped before her with an excited smile, the corners of her lips naturally lifted as well.

She greeted him warmly.

He returned her smile just as brightly.

Then, with utmost care, Felix took her hand…

…and gently pressed a kiss to the back of it.

A collective gasp rippled through the plaza.

The female students immediately burst into excited chatter.

“Seriously, Ayla’s unbelievably lucky! Do you think she knew Felix was Duke Argenta’s son?”

“As if. She just happened to hit the jackpot.”

“Is it just me, or does he look way more handsome without those glasses?”

“Now that he’s the duke’s heir, he even carries himself differently.”

“I know, right? I’m so jealous. I should’ve been nicer to him back then.”

“And look—he doesn’t seem to care one bit that Ayla’s just a commoner.”

“Honestly… they make a really beautiful couple.”

Watching them together, Rosia unconsciously clenched her teeth.

Compared to the warmth between Felix and Ayla…

The distance between herself and Kadin felt unbearably wide.

Worse still—

Kadin wasn’t even looking at his own fiancée.

His eyes never left Ayla.

It was the complete opposite of Felix, whose attention remained fixed on the woman he loved.

Soon, Felix and Ayla linked arms and began walking toward the academy building together.

As they passed close enough for only her to hear…

Ayla slowly turned her head toward Rosia.

Then, in a quiet voice, she asked,

“So…

Are you satisfied with your place now, Rosia?”

A faint, knowing smile curved across her lips.

“…!”

Rosia’s heart pounded violently.

She wanted to answer.

To say something.

Anything.

But her throat refused to produce a single sound.

While she stood rooted to the spot, Ayla calmly turned away and continued walking.

Rosia couldn’t bring herself to stop her.

Feeling the curious gazes of everyone around her, she bit down hard on her lower lip.

Anger.

Humiliation.

Helplessness.

She couldn’t even tell which emotion was consuming her anymore.

“Are you satisfied?”

She couldn’t even answer yes.

How pathetic.

It didn’t make sense.

She had finally obtained the title she’d admired for so long—

The young lady of House Blanche.

Yet…

She wasn’t happy at all.

Instead, the one who seemed to shine brightest was Ayla, smiling beside Felix…

…while Rosia herself disappeared into the faceless crowd.

Her tightly clenched fists trembled.

“…Ayla.”

The name escaped her lips…

Only to vanish into the wind.

✦ ✦ ✦

Ayla buried her face in her hands as she stared at the girl reflected in the mirror.

Soft pink hair.

Golden eyes the color of blooming daffodils.

She forced herself to smile.

The girl in the mirror awkwardly smiled back.

“I’ve seen this face countless times…”

She couldn’t help but admire it again.

“She’s unbelievably gorgeous.”

“Seriously… what a beauty.”

But what good did that do?

The owner of this body—

Ayla Blanche—

was the heroine of a classic regret novel.

And all that awaited such a beautiful face…

…was to spend its days crying until death claimed it.

“How on earth did this happen?”

Her mind was a tangled mess.

The memories of living as Ayla mixed together with memories from her previous life.

“I actually became the heroine of the novel I read…”

And not just any heroine.

The kind who existed only to be manipulated by the villains from beginning to end.

She still vividly remembered complaining while reading it.

“Come on! If it were me, I would’ve handled this completely differently! This heroine is hopeless.”

“Seriously? Now everyone finally learns the truth… and that’s when she dies?”

The heroine had suffered endlessly.

Only after every misunderstanding was cleared away and everyone finally regretted what they’d done…

…did her body, already worn beyond saving, give out.

She closed her eyes forever.

Ayla had nearly thrown her phone in frustration, calling it the most infuriating “regret story” she’d ever read.

“And yesterday…”

“The villain finally appeared.”

She recalled the nightmare she wished she could forget.

A girl with vivid pink hair even brighter than Ayla’s own.

Rosia.

Accompanied by her uncle, Rosia had appeared before the Blanche family and dropped a bombshell.

“I am the one and only daughter of House Blanche.

When we were children, a nanny who worked for the Blanche family switched her own daughter with me.”

At first…

The Duke and Duchess didn’t believe a word of it.

Who would accept such an outrageous claim?

Ayla’s older brothers immediately stepped forward in fury.

“If you’re lying…”

“We won’t let this go unpunished.”

But the moment they used a magical artifact to verify their bloodlines…

Everything changed.

The result was undeniable.

Rosia was the true blood descendant of House Blanche.

Ayla…

…was a complete stranger.

The warmth that had always filled her family’s eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a coldness harsher than the dead of winter.

“Ayla…

What exactly is the meaning of this?”

“So… you were the fake all along?”

“To think that nanny committed such an unforgivable crime…”

Then the duke and her second brother, Cedric, began interrogating her with expressions she’d never seen before.

“You’re not still in contact with that woman… are you?”

“If you knew you weren’t a member of House Blanche and still deceived us…”

“…I will never forgive you.”

The questioning became so relentless…

…that even Rosia stepped in to defend her.

“Please, don’t blame Lady Ayla.

None of this is her fault.

If anyone is to blame…”

“…it’s me.”

Overwhelmed by her family’s merciless accusations…

Ayla collapsed on the spot.

And the instant she lost consciousness—

All the memories of her previous life came flooding back.