“I’ll be going now, boss!”

“Alright, get home safely.”

Jihye bowed her head with a bright smile, then left the pub.

When she took out her phone to check the time, it was already 3 AM.

“I’ll finish my assignment when I get home and sleep at 5.”

She wished she had been working at the convenience store today instead of the pub.

The pub was so busy that she didn’t have time to look at the books she needed for her assignment.

Jihye hurried toward her goshiwon (small single-room accommodation).

She was an orphan.

She had lived in an orphanage until she was 19, but when she turned 20, she was practically forced to leave.

All the apartments near the university had expensive monthly rent.

It was an impossible amount for Jihye, who didn’t even have 500,000 won to her name.

She looked into dormitories too, but couldn’t move in because the curfew would prevent her from working part-time jobs to earn living expenses.

After much searching, she found a goshiwon an hour away from school by bus.

As cheap as it was, the soundproofing was terrible and the room was very small.

It was a place that felt cramped with just a small desk and a bed, but Jihye was happy to have a place of her own.

After that, she worked hard at her part-time jobs.

When she wasn’t at school, she worked all day.

She couldn’t miss out on scholarships either, so she studied while sleeping only two hours a day.

“Hmm, I’m more tired today.”

Jihye yawned and rubbed her eyes.

Fortunately, the pub wasn’t too far from her goshiwon, so she could easily walk there.

Perhaps because she hurried, she arrived at the goshiwon earlier than usual.

She sat at her desk to work on her assignment after washing up quickly.

While she was diligently working, she noticed a strange smell.

Jihye instinctively sniffed and got up from her seat.

“Burning smell?”

If she wasn’t mistaken, it was the smell of something burning.

She immediately flung open the door and went outside.

The hallway was filled with thick smoke, and Jihye covered her mouth with her hand as she coughed.

“Cough! Cough!”

She quickly pressed the emergency bell.

A loud noise rang out, but perhaps because it was dawn, none of the firmly closed doors opened.

Eventually, Jihye bit her lip and began knocking on each door, shouting:

“Fire! Fire! Everyone get out!”

She chose to go upstairs instead of downstairs.

‘It’s okay. The fire isn’t that bad yet…’

But that was Jihye’s misjudgment.

The more people she tried to wake up, the more smoke she inhaled.

“Cough! Cough!”

Jihye coughed more severely than before.

Her chest felt tight, and it was hard to breathe.

“Haa, haa…”

Her vision kept getting blurry.

Though she wasn’t sleepy, she felt dazed.

At that moment, her vision dimmed, her legs gave out, and she collapsed helplessly.

“Ugh…”

Her body gradually lost strength.

She could feel her consciousness fading.

There was no one around, only the dim emergency light flickering.

Jihye instinctively realized this was the end.

‘I still had so many things I wanted to do.’

If her circumstances had improved, she would have liked to date, travel with friends.

Her eyes fluttered and then closed.

Jihye made a final wish.

‘If there is a next life…’

Tears flowed from her closed eyes.

‘In my next life, I want to live without any worries.’

In a place with a warm family, a home, and money.

Then, Jihye heard a voice in her ear.

-Yes, my child.

The voice was so gentle that it warmed her heart.

-I’ll grant your wish. Rest peacefully.

With those words, Jihye let go of the thin thread of consciousness she had been holding onto.
Her struggling body went limp, and only the sound of sirens wailed loudly.

***

‘It’s warm…’

It was warm and cozy.

As she curled up, wanting to stay a little longer, she heard a voice that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

“Child, it’s time to wake up.”

“Mmm…”

“Don’t you want a new life?”

At those words, Jihye’s eyes flew open, and she sat up abruptly.

The first thing she saw was a brilliantly shining person.

‘Wait, is this even a person?’

They were human but didn’t quite seem human.

The mysterious aura, golden hair, and even more radiant golden eyes captivated her attention.

Staring blankly, Jihye carefully opened her mouth.

“Who are you?”

“How should I explain… Well, here they call me a god.”

“A god…”

Though it sounded absurd, this person truly felt like a god.

Suddenly, her last memories came flooding back.

“…Am I dead?”

The god nodded at Jihye’s question.

“You sacrificed yourself to save many people. It wasn’t an easy choice, but you didn’t hesitate. I want to reward you for your kindness.”

“…”

“If you wish, I’ll give you a new life. I’m not forcing you. If you don’t want it, you can open that door and leave.”

Following the god’s words, Jihye turned around to see a snow-white door standing there.

Fidgeting with her hands, Jihye spoke.

“So I’ll be reincarnated?”

“That’s right.”

“What kind of… life will you give me?”

“What you wanted. A life with family, money, friends, and love.”

Blinking slowly, she nodded.

“I want a new life. I want to be happy there.”

Jihye’s voice was wet with emotion as she expressed her desire for happiness.

The god came closer and stroked her cheek.

“Yes, I’ll do as you wish.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

As the god smiled gently, Jihye gulped.

“And may I ask one favor of you?”

“What… favor?”

“Save a child. Their fate has been altered due to another god’s mistake.”

“How will I know which child is the one you’re asking about?”

“You’ll know when you see them.”

The god waved their hand briefly.

A round hole appeared before Jihye.

“The place where you’ll be born anew is not where you used to live.”

“Then where is it?”

“The Roverium Empire in another dimension.”

Jihye looked bewildered at the unfamiliar name.

“You will be reborn as the beloved youngest daughter of the Riesta ducal family in the Roverium Empire.”

Jihye hesitantly peeked into the hole.

The dark hole seemed like she would cease to exist if she fell into it.

Jihye gulped and approached the hole.

It was just one step, but why was it so difficult?

Finally, the god smiled softly and approached her.

“It’s alright. I will never harm you.”

Upon hearing those words, her anxious heart miraculously became calm.

Taking a deep breath, Jihye closed her eyes tightly and jumped into the hole.

“Be happy, my child.”

She faintly heard the god’s voice.

A smile had already formed on Jihye’s lips.

***

“Congratulations, my lady.”

At the words of Edel, the ducal family’s personal physician, Yvonne opened her eyes wide.

With short bobbed hair, she had a sharp appearance.

“You mean…”

“You’re pregnant.”

Jackal, who was beside her, was so surprised that he jumped up from his seat.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Edel nodded with a faint smile.

After the doctor left, Jackal knelt on one knee before Yvonne and carefully placed his hand on her still-flat stomach.

“To think another child is coming to us.”

“I know. I was surprised too.”

Yvonne placed her hand on top of Jackal’s with a gentle smile.

Yvonne and Jackal immediately informed Royan and Chesar that they would have a younger sibling.

“A sibling?”

“Finally!”

Royan’s eyes sparkled.

He had always wanted a little sister.

On the other hand, Chesar looked a bit disgruntled.

He hadn’t expected it, and the news of a new sibling made him feel a bit awkward.

But he didn’t dislike the warm feeling in his chest.

The news that Yvonne was pregnant with her third child spread quickly through high society.

The Riesta ducal family was known as the “Monster Duke’s Family” among people.

Jackal, the head of the Riesta ducal family, was one of the few Sword Masters in the empire and the commander of the emperor’s direct knight order.

The duchess, Yvonne, was no ordinary person either.

She was the head of the empire’s only magic tower, and no one with more mana or talent than
Yvonne had ever appeared.

Their sons, the eldest Royan and the second Chesar, had already shown exceptional talent in swordsmanship and were displaying frightening growth.

“So the ducal family is having a third child?”

“I wonder what kind of monster will be born this time…”

People shook their heads.

They were certain the third child would also possess monstrous abilities.

Regardless of what was being said outside, Yvonne took great care during her pregnancy.

Her belly grew larger, and although walking and lying down became burdensome, she was eager to see what kind of child it would be.

“Jackal, will our third be a daughter or a son?”

“We already have two sons, so a daughter would be nice.”

“What if it’s a son?”

“Of course that would be fine too. It’s our child.”

Jackal smiled faintly and briefly kissed Yvonne’s forehead.

As the due date approached, they prepared a birthing room in advance for any emergency.

While they were leisurely eating dinner one evening, Yvonne flinched and dropped the fork she was holding.

At the sharp clattering sound, everyone reflexively looked at her.

“Huh…!”

Yvonne curled up, clutching her stomach.

Her water had broken, and fluid was flowing.

Jackal immediately jumped up from his seat and lifted Yvonne in his arms.

“Bring Anna! Hurry!”

“Yes, yes!”

The maid startled and rushed outside.