A man with warm caramel-colored hair and peaceful blue-gray eyes who inspired trust and reassurance in his patients.

He was Gerard Lefford, the imperial palace physician who had diagnosed Beate’s pregnancy before her regression.

Now, in his early thirties and looking a decade younger, Beate recognized him instantly, though she hadn’t expected to meet him so soon.

“That is Gerard Lefford, His Highness the Prince’s personal physician from the palace. His Highness sends him here once a week for the marchioness’s regular checkups, as the marquis is his mentor.”

Casey whispered this to her.

Gerard was currently a baron, but in Beate’s previous life, he had become the empire’s most renowned physician and, upon the emperor’s accession, was appointed chief palace doctor and promoted to viscount.

As Beate looked at Gerard, she remembered being imprisoned in the underground dungeons, accused of treason and entangled with Marquis Byten in her past life.

‘Ah…!’

If she wanted to protect the marquis’s family in this life, clearing Gerard’s name was the most important task.

To do so, Beate would have to surpass not only the knowledge inherited from her mother and what she’d learned through regression, but also Gerard’s own expertise in prescriptions, medicinal ingredients, and toxic substances to find the answer.

‘Can I really do it?’

But even that would only be possible if she was adopted first.

‘For now, winning the marchioness’s favor is more important.’

As they approached the marchioness’s room, Beate could hear a conversation between the maid standing at the door and Gerard.

Beate and Casey waited in place until the two finished their conversation. They seemed close.

“The marchioness didn’t sleep well last night.”

“She still suffers from deep grief and can’t sleep. I hope she can return to her daily life soon.”

“The best we can do is ensure she doesn’t lose her health before her heart heals. She’s taken a sleeping draught and is resting now. Please look after her, Laura.”

“Yes.”

Casey watched the two with a hint of envy, prompting Beate to ask,

“Are they close?”

“They’re married. You could say they’re the perfect couple.”

“What about the marquis and his wife?”

“They’re very close too, of course…”

Casey trailed off.
She couldn’t bring herself to say that the couple had grown distant since Miss Riley’s passing.
She firmly believed that once the marchioness’s health recovered, their relationship would heal as well.

Meanwhile, Gerard and Laura finished their farewell with a light embrace.

Gerard walked in the direction where Beate and Casey stood, and when his gaze landed on Beate, she instinctively looked away.

It hadn’t been long since he’d examined her, and pretending to be a stranger felt awkward.
She knew he wouldn’t recognize her, as she’d regressed and was now a child, but his keen eyes, capable of seeing through both body and mind, made her uneasy.

Gerard stopped in front of them. Casey greeted him, and Gerard acknowledged her.

“A child I haven’t seen before.”

Knowing the marquisate’s circumstances, Gerard was curious about the presence of a girl Riley’s age.

She seemed too young to be a maid, so why was she here?

Feeling Gerard’s curious gaze, Beate deliberately stood behind Casey to hide.

To him, she was just a shy child wary of strangers. Casey introduced Beate.

“This is Miss Beate, our lord’s honored guest.”

Beate peeked out from behind Casey and bowed politely to Gerard.

“An honored guest? I see.”

He was intrigued by the marquis’s young guest but only smiled and moved on.

Gerard went on his way, and Beate and Casey headed toward the marchioness’s room.

A few steps later, Beate noticed a black seed at her feet.

“Casey, just a moment.”

Beate bent down and picked up the tiny seed, about the size of a bean.

“What is it?”

Casey looked at Beate’s palm.

“Someone dropped a black bean here. Give it to me, I’ll throw it out.”

“It’s not a bean. I’ll return it.”

“To whom?”

Instead of answering, Beate hurried over and called out to Gerard.

“Excuse me.”

Gerard stopped and turned around, not knowing why the child was calling him.

“You dropped this seed.”

Beate held out her palm, showing him the seed.

“This is…”

Gerard took the seed from her hand. He hadn’t even realized it had fallen out of his bag.

“How did you know it was mine?”

“There’s only one reason a rare medicinal seed would be found here.”

Gerard’s eyes widened at the sharp answer from a child who’d just been shy.

“Do you know what it is?”

Beate nodded quietly. The sparkle in her eyes made it clear she wasn’t lying. Gerard asked, half in doubt,

“What do you think it is?”

“It’s a corinelli seed, which helps with deep sleep and calms the mind and body.”

“There are many seeds that look similar. How can you tell?”

“The embryo of this seed is a dark red color, so if you look closely, you can distinguish it.”

Gerard was quietly impressed. Even among graduating students at the Imperial Academy, it was rare to find someone who could answer so quickly.

‘It’s not a plant seed you’d commonly encounter, yet she knows its effects as well.’

After his admiration came curiosity, but Beate answered before he could ask.

“My mother studied botany and worked with medicinal herbs, so I learned from her.”

“You’re a remarkable child.”

Gerard gently patted Beate’s head.

“Thank you for picking up such an important seed. I’m busy today with palace duties, but if we meet again, I’ll make sure to thank you properly.”

After saying goodbye to Gerard, Beate and Casey reached the marchioness’s room. Laura recognized them and spoke first.

“I’ve been told about you. But the marchioness has just fallen asleep, so you’ll have to come back later.”

Casey looked at Beate, as if asking what to do. Beate answered, looking at Laura.

“May I wait?”

“Here?”

“Yes. I’ll just sit quietly until she wakes up.”

“I don’t see why not, since you have permission, but you might have to wait about an hour. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine. I’m very used to waiting.”

Beate smiled brightly. Laura thought she was an unusual child for her age. Casey headed back, leaving Beate alone in the room.

She skipped knocking, not wanting to wake the marchioness, and gently opened the door. She entered quietly, careful not to make a sound, and sat on the stool by the bed.

Beate looked closely at the sleeping marchioness’s face.

Her skin must have always been fair, but now, from rarely going outside, it was almost pale.

She looked thin and lifeless, perhaps from not eating well. Had resignation to life made her this way?

As Beate tried to imagine the pain of a mother who had lost the beloved daughter she carried for ten months and raised for thirteen years, she recalled the fleeting presence of a fetus that had briefly stayed within her before her regression.

She hadn’t even given it a name, and as soon as she learned she was pregnant, she died along with her baby.

Though Beate had returned to life, the baby had vanished as if it had never existed. She hadn’t mourned, nor could she. No one grieved for the lost baby, and she herself found no comfort.

It was only the size of a fingernail, without even a proper face, gender unknown, never felt even a kick, but as she looked at the marchioness, the sense of loss from her miscarriage washed over her like a tide.

If two months of carrying a child could bring such pain, how could someone endure the sorrow of thirteen years?

Overcome with empathy and grief, tears streamed down Beate’s cheeks.

She pressed her lips together to keep from sobbing, but her small shoulders kept shaking.

How long did she cry alone, holding her breath? Having not slept well the night before, Beate eventually fell asleep, slumped over the marchioness’s bed.

* * *

In her sleep, she felt soft, fluffy hair and a round, small head beneath her hand.

Sophia Byten, having woken up, carefully sat up upon discovering the child sleeping beside her.

‘This must be Beate, the girl he mentioned.’

Since her youngest daughter’s death, it was the first time she’d seen a girl Riley’s age at the marquisate.

When Riley was alive, young noble girls would often visit. Watching them chatter and have tea together had been so precious.

But after Riley’s passing, seeing girls of that age became painful.

A mother’s natural reaction to losing a child had made things hard for those around her, and Sophia found that even harder to bear.

For that reason, she didn’t want to face girls that age.

“Mm…”

Feeling a gentle touch on her cheek, Beate woke up.

When her eyes met Sophia’s, she shot up like a startled rabbit.

Her face flushed, Beate tensed at Sophia’s complicated expression.

Instead of making a good first impression, she’d made a ridiculous mistake in front of someone she’d never met before…

She felt like crying.