The secret safe of Marquis Armin revealed itself. Daphne checked the documents inside with trembling hands.

‘It was true. He was right!’

Daphne thought of the person who had taught her all this.

In her past life, she had done anything necessary to support her younger brother. This eventually led her to join hands with the head of the continent’s largest information guild.

Gabriel Mayer.

He was both her benefactor who trained and taught her many things, and a businessman who extracted just as much in return. Thanks to him, Daphne learned much about this family’s downfall.

‘I’ll be coming to see you soon.’

In the past, Gabriel had sold her out. In this life, it was her turn to use him.

The mere thought made her want to hum with satisfaction.

Daphne took several documents from the safe, hid them in the folds of her dress, and slipped out of the study.

Quickly returning to her chambers, she concealed the documents in a suitable place before beginning to record her experiences and information from her past life.

She wasn’t writing out of fear that she might forget or miss something—her memory was better than most.

It was in case she lost her life. There was no guarantee she would regress again if she died this time.

She intended for these records to be passed on to her remaining family if she died. Even that way, she wanted to continue her revenge.

She wrote down major events chronologically first, then filled in the details.

How long had she been writing so intensely? When she could no longer see her handwriting clearly and looked up, darkness had already fallen outside.

Knock knock.

Head butler Anton had come to see her.

He had served the marquis family for generations and was now capable of overseeing everything from the territory to the capital residence and vacation home.

In contrast, Daphne’s mother, Christine, was a princess from a neighboring kingdom. She was truly raised as gently as her status suggested. Managing a large household like theirs required a certain toughness, but she was too delicate for that.

Due to these circumstances, Anton managed the family’s household affairs.

‘And he was a loyal servant who gave his life trying to protect us until the end.’

Suppressing the urge to embrace him tightly, Daphne asked, 

“How did the matter from earlier today resolve?”

Though they had seen each other just yesterday, Anton was taken aback by the pleased expression on Daphne’s face and answered after a slight pause.

“The young duke left the mansion without further conflict. According to the guard who saw him off, he headed straight to the gentlemen’s club and soon became drunk enough that the alcohol seemed to be consuming the man rather than the other way around.”

It was utterly incomprehensible. Was he distressed because the fish that should have been in his net had escaped?

As Daphne snickered in disbelief, Anton continued his report.

“However, I thought their household should be informed of this fact, so I sent word.”

His voice conveyed a resolute determination to turn their household upside down for daring to hurt his young lady.

Looking quite satisfied, she said, 

“Thank you, Anton.”

“It’s my duty as the family’s head butler. If I may say so, I will respond as actively as I can within my power. So please don’t worry, Miss.”

Daphne smiled gently.

‘In this life, I want to save Anton too. But I’ll need to move quickly, so I won’t have time to dwell on it.’

Swallowing her inner thoughts, Daphne’s eyes showed no trace of tears as she looked at him.

Anton had been worried inside. How could such a thing happen to such a kind and good-hearted young lady? Even he, skilled at controlling his emotions, felt heat rising to his face the moment he heard the news from the guard.

How much worse must it be for the person directly involved?

Yet instead of showing sadness, she greeted him as if she hadn’t seen him in a long time.

‘Normally, she would have cried for days…… How has she become so composed? When did she grow so mature?’

Anton suppressed the surge of emotion welling up inside him and bowed his upper body as a sign of respect.

“And Mother?”

“She went to a gathering welcoming His Highness the Grand Duke.”

Hearing this, Daphne was momentarily speechless. In her past life, he had not visited the capital since reaching adulthood.

“…Grand Duke Kartun Schwiers?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

When Daphne asked for confirmation, Anton answered as if she should already know.

“Since the gathering was held more than a week after His Highness arrived, even those living far from the capital attended, so Madam will likely return home quite late.”

“A week already?”

Daphne wanted to ask more details, but seeing Anton’s increasingly puzzled look, she closed her mouth.

“It’s been a tiring day. I’d like to rest alone, so please don’t let anyone in, and let me know when Mother returns.”

“Understood.”

After dismissing Anton, Daphne reviewed what she had written about her past life experiences. Among the more than twenty pages of records, there wasn’t a single part where her memory was hazy or uncertain.

‘I couldn’t have been mistaken……’

Kartun had definitely never come to the capital except for a brief stay at the Marquis’s house when he was young.

‘Is this a variable, or…… was what I thought was a past life perhaps just a dream or imagination?’

Daphne shook her head.

Not just Leonhardt, but her father’s documents too. All this couldn’t be a mere dream.

‘Then this past can be changed.’

When this thought occurred to her, she became even calmer.

If the past doesn’t flow exactly as it did before, isn’t that actually good?

‘It means I can change things as much as I want!’

Variables like Kartun could be dealt with.

‘I know him well. I can handle this.’

⁕⁕⁕

As Anton had said, Christine arrived after 2 AM. Anton escorted her to Daphne’s chambers while very briefly explaining what had happened today.

Christine entered the chambers looking extremely tense.

“Daphne, I heard Leonhardt came?”

“Mother.”

For Daphne, it had been a very long time since she’d seen her, but she wasn’t particularly happy.

Christine was an elegant and beautiful woman, as well as a devoted mother. Unlike other nobles who entrusted their children to nannies or tutors and paid them no mind, she was different.

However, that devotion was limited to her sons. She was endlessly indifferent to her only daughter, Daphne.

Her face, which was always expressionless toward her daughter, now showed a mixture of anxiety and surprise.

“Did you hear from Anton?”

“I heard you quarreled. While that might happen between ordinary couples, you two are different. You’ve never even frowned at each other before, so why did this happen?”

Christine asked gently, but her face was deeply tinged with reproach. She was criticizing Daphne for causing trouble without even hearing the circumstances.

Daphne replied with a cold expression, 

“We never fought before because one side was unilaterally enduring and accommodating.”

“Huh? But Leonhardt wasn’t that difficult either. Everyone lives that way. People who don’t are rare. So wouldn’t it be better if you just endured this time too? It’s just a phase. Fighting over something that will soon pass leads to endless trouble.”

Christine’s face was full of worry. Not concern that her daughter might be upset, but anxiety about the repercussions this quarrel might bring.

Leonhardt’s mother, Barbara, would always find some pretext to be spiteful toward Christine and Daphne. So this quarrel wouldn’t simply be overlooked.

Meanwhile, Daphne was somewhat surprised.

Just a phase?

“Mother, did you know that Leonhardt has been seeing someone else?”

“Huh? Um……”

Christine looked flustered before giving a small nod.

“How could you hide that?”

“It’s all for the family. Besides, it’s not uncommon for nobles to have lovers.”

Looking at her mother who hadn’t changed at all, Daphne bit her lip.

“Did Father do the same?”

“What?”

“I asked if Father also had passing affairs.”

Christine frowned.

“You should compare what’s comparable. Leonhardt and your father are different.”

“They’re more than different. You had a faithful husband and enjoyed everything life had to offer, yet you tell your daughter to endure.”

“Your father was an extremely rare case. From now on, if you’re more careful……”

“That’s so unfair. When you force hardship on others, you should have at least experienced it once yourself.”

Christine looked at Daphne as if seeing her anew.

Normally, she would have nodded obediently and apologized, promising to be more careful in the future. But this daughter who was talking back so directly seemed very unfamiliar.

“Mother, I’m going to break off the engagement.”

“D-Daphne!”

Christine quickly approached Daphne and covered her mouth. Then she checked if anyone was around.

“Are you in your right mind?”

Christine was so shocked she looked like she might faint at any moment.

“Yes, I’m perfectly sane. I don’t want that kind of marriage, and I won’t sacrifice myself for the family.”

Facing the dumbfounded Christine, Daphne spoke calmly.

“And Mother. I’m fine.”

“What?”

“My fiancé cheated, but I’m fine.”

Only then did Christine hesitate.

Asking how heartbroken Daphne must be should have come first. That’s what a normal mother would do.

Of course, she had thought about how distressed her daughter must be. She just planned to ask after putting out the urgent fire first.

‘…Would I really have asked later?’

She asked herself, but Christine couldn’t honestly answer yes. How many things had she postponed for later since Daphne was born?

As a mother, she always felt sorry.

But for Christine, the family always came first, and she felt indebted to her two sons. And since the youngest was too young, she was just grateful that the gentle Daphne could endure so well.