Chapter 2
When Ayla wakes up, she remembers how the original story unfolded.
In the novel’s original timeline, waking up alone devastated Ayla because whenever she had been sick, her family had always stayed by her side. Now, after learning she is supposedly “not the real daughter,” she realizes her place in the family has completely changed.
But unlike the original Ayla, the reincarnated Ayla knows the truth.
Rosia is actually the fake daughter—a powerful mage sent by the true mastermind behind the story to infiltrate and manipulate the Blanche Ducal House. She is even skilled enough to tamper with magical artifacts used for bloodline verification.
Ayla recalls Rosia’s confession near the end of the original novel.
Rosia had smugly admitted that Ayla was the real daughter all along, and that everything had been an act to steal her position. She mocked Ayla for realizing the truth only after everything was already lost.
Rather than despairing, Ayla thinks the entire plot is just another cliché “regret story.” Since she also possesses the memories of her previous life as a twenty-nine-year-old Korean woman who had read countless regret novels, she knows exactly how to change her fate.
She realizes the biggest mistake the original Ayla made was reacting emotionally.
Whenever Rosia pretended to be kind or pitiful, Ayla became angry and confronted her. That only made Ayla appear jealous and cruel while making Rosia look even more innocent.
Even worse, Rosia’s emotional manipulation magic grows stronger the more affection and trust people place in her. At first it merely makes her seem slightly more sympathetic than others, but over time it allows her to subtly control people’s hearts.
Knowing this, Ayla decides to fight using Rosia’s own tactics.
If Rosia acts pitiable, Ayla will appear even more pitiable.
If Rosia falsely accuses her, Ayla will calmly act innocent and let others expose the contradiction themselves.
Fortunately, acting comes naturally to her.
In her previous life she worked as an actress in Korean reenactment dramas, often playing small supporting roles. Although she was never famous, she became skilled at quickly immersing herself in different emotions and portraying convincing characters.
She smiles coldly to herself.
If she can steal the attention Rosia depends on, she can expose the fake daughter’s true identity much sooner.
She silently vows to give the performance of the perfect tragic heroine.
At the Blanche Mansion
Fortunately, Ayla has not yet been expelled from the estate.
She even receives word that she is expected to attend breakfast as usual.
When she asks her personal maid, Lira, to prepare water for washing, Lira’s attitude has already changed noticeably.
Lira hesitates before addressing Ayla respectfully, making it obvious that she no longer knows how to treat her.
Ayla remembers Lira from the original novel.
Lira was one of the servants who secretly enjoyed Ayla’s downfall. As the story progressed, she and the rest of the household gradually began looking down on Ayla and treating her with open contempt.
Walking toward the dining room, Ayla notices servants whispering among themselves.
Some wonder why the Duke invited Ayla to breakfast with the newly arrived daughter.
Others speculate that the Duchess simply pities the girl she raised.
Some even question how they should address Ayla now that she has supposedly become no different from a common servant.
In the original novel, Ayla exploded in anger after overhearing them, scolding the maids for their insolence.
Although her reaction had been understandable, it only caused her brothers to look at her with disgust and further damaged her reputation.
Remembering this, the new Ayla remains perfectly calm.
She ignores every insult.
Her silence surprises the servants, who whisper that she seems unusually cold and resilient.
Breakfast
When Ayla enters the dining room, she immediately notices the icy gazes of her two older brothers.
They no longer look at her as their younger sister but as though she were a complete stranger.
Internally, Ayla sighs.
She knows they’re simply being deceived by Rosia’s magic.
Outwardly, however, she lowers her head and deliberately appears heartbroken, portraying a girl quietly crushed by her cruel fate.
The Duke, Callios, orders her to sit.
She quietly takes her usual seat beside him on his left.
Traditionally, that place belongs to the eldest daughter of House Blanche.
Because daughters of the Blanche family are historically gifted magicians, the family’s only daughter has always held special significance.
Callios once treasured Ayla for that reason.
However, after discovering she possessed almost no talent for magic, he gradually lost interest in her.
He never openly abused her, but he also stopped giving her affection.
While Ayla is seated, she notices Rosia watching her carefully.
Ayla already knows what Rosia intends to do.
Rosia innocently asks whether she has made a mistake regarding seating etiquette.
She explains that Ayla’s brothers told her to sit where she is, but wonders aloud whether the family’s daughter should actually occupy another seat.
Her innocent question instantly draws everyone’s attention to Ayla’s position beside the Duke.
Only then does everyone realize that Ayla is still occupying the traditional seat reserved for the Blanche family’s eldest daughter.
Callios immediately orders Ayla to give up the seat.
The Duchess, Irene, is visibly startled and gently protests, reminding her husband that Ayla has sat there for years and that forcing her to move so suddenly is unnecessarily harsh.
However, Callios coldly replies that Rosia’s reasoning is correct.
The seat beside the family head has always belonged to the true eldest daughter of House Blanche.
The chapter ends as Ayla faces this first public humiliation, fully prepared to turn the situation to her advantage instead of reacting emotionally as she did in the original story.
