Chapter 2

1.

After the car accident, when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a different world.

Isn't this the kind of situation that only happens in novels or manga?

The moment I woke up, what greeted me was a large portrait hanging prominently in the middle of the room.

Silver hair as pale as moonlight, eyes as proud as a cat's, and eyes as clear as the sky.

Out of curiosity, I checked my face in the mirror.

There was a frail beauty who resembled the woman in the portrait, though she was thinner.

An hour after waking up.

Yean slapped her cheeks, hoping to wake up from this dream.

No matter how many times she slapped her cheeks, it only hurt.

There was no waking up from this dream.

"Ha, I'm possessed…."

This place is inside [The Beloved Saint Lady].

How did I know that?

Because the memories of the 'original owner' of this body naturally came to mind.

Rachel Agnus.

The head of the Agnus Dukedom, a founding noble family of the Castor Empire.

Six months ago, after the previous Duke and his wife died in a carriage accident, she inherited the title.

'I can't not know the Agnus family.'

It's the family of my favorite character.

Then, what role does 'this body' play in [The Beloved Saint Lady]?

"......Huh. There isn't one."

Before the original story begins.

The author kills off this body's half-sister to bring in the novel's antagonist, who is also my favorite character, 'Liz Agnus.'

"Are you crazy! Are you crazy! My favorite character's half-sister!"

Liz is the illegitimate daughter of the previous Duke Agnus.

She lived as a commoner outside until 'this body' died of alcoholism, then entered the family and became the Duke.

The innocent and pure Liz, after becoming the head of the ruined dukedom, gradually becomes corrupted.

"Let's see. Is this ten years before the original story begins?"

If so, this body will die of alcoholism within a year.

Suddenly thinking that this body has a death sentence is giving me chills...

"It's, it's okay. I just need to stop drinking! Right!"

In the original story, she died of alcoholism, so if I don't drink, there won't be a problem!

Even if I go back to reality, all that awaits me is a body ruined by the car accident.

My parents haven't been in touch, and my bank account is almost empty.

But I've become the owner of this vast land?

And I'm even the half-sister of my favorite character!

Since I'm possessed,

I might as well live a happy life with my favorite character until I become a white-haired old lady in this world!

While imagining the enjoyable otaku life that awaits me, someone opened the door.

Creak.

Yean, or rather, Rachel, looked at the person who entered without knocking with a bewildered expression.

A woman in her early sixties with brown hair and brown eyes.

Startled.

The woman stopped in her tracks when she met Rachel's eyes as she sat on the bed.

'That woman...'

Thanks to the memories left in this body, the information about the woman naturally came to mind.

The guardian, Abigail.

The former Duchess, who, after her husband's death, spent ten years as the guardian, solidifying her position.

"What are you doing, coming in without knocking?"

"I'm sorry, didn't I knock?"

"Why are you so scatterbrained this morning?"

"Duke, forget about the troublesome matters for a moment. A glass of wine will make you feel better."

"The Agnus family isn't so weak that it will have problems just because the Duke takes a break."

"It's all fine. Difficult tasks are for the subordinates. It's wise to leave them to capable people."

Abigail had made 'Rachel' incompetent through continuous brainwashing and serving alcohol.

Worse, she even managed to get a power of attorney from the mentally weakened 'this body'...

Even if the guardian is the highest decision-maker in internal affairs, she can't rule the duchy as she pleases.

'...But if Abigail has the Duke's power of attorney, she can make it possible and more.'

The wife of the former Viscount Weaver, the most powerful noble under the Agnus duchy's influence.

The Weaver family would protect the guardian at the family level.

Although she will be executed by Liz, who will take over the Agnus family in the future, I must eliminate her myself.

She is the one who made my favorite character suffer a hard life!

"This is the Louis wine you like. Look at the color."

Abigail held out a glass of wine.

Offering alcohol to someone who will die of alcoholism!

"My head hurts. I don't want to see alcohol for a while, so take it away."

She frowned and shook her head.

"There's no better medicine for a headache than a good sleep. I'll bring it out again after you rest."

The state of the duchy must be a mess.

But more sleep?

She's probably planning to rule the duchy while I'm asleep.

"Abigail."

"Yes?"

Abigail tilted her head in confusion at the coldness in Rachel's voice.

"I'm going to take a bath. Prepare some water."

"Yes, I'll make sure you can drink it while bathing..."

"You're being annoying today."

Abigail's expression stiffened at the cold reprimand.

"...I'm sorry. I'll prepare it right away."

When do I have time to rest?

This body is twenty years old.

After becoming the Duke, she neglected her duties and drank heavily for half a year.

There must be a mountain of work to do for my favorite character's sake.

The bathroom was luxurious.

White marble floor.

A bathtub with soft curves in the center.

Unlike the empty granary, it's extravagant.

'Rachel' must have been blinded by this, so she couldn't notice the decline of the family.

It's hard to imagine how much corruption there is in unseen places.

She dipped her foot into the bubble-filled bathtub.

"Hmm?"

While enjoying a half-bath, a maid entered.

The maid naturally placed a tray on a small table next to the bathtub.

She frowned.

It was wine and snacks.

"Who ordered this?"

The maid, startled by her sharp voice, fumbled.

Clatter!

The glass and plate wobbled, and the maid quickly bowed her head.

"I'm sorry. The guardian said to prepare it in case the Duke needed it."

"The guardian?"

The frown deepened.

Why is she trying so hard to get me to drink?

Now that I think about it, the fact that the guardian brought the wine herself...

It doesn't feel right.

"Hmm, I understand. Tell the guardian I received it well."

"Yes."

The maid bowed politely and left the bathroom, glancing back subtly.

Her eyes were full of curiosity, as if she had seen something she shouldn't have.

I know 'this body' was acting like a lunatic until yesterday, but this reaction is too much.

'What's going on...?'

Pretending not to notice the gaze, Rachel brought the wine glass to her lips with a blank expression.

"......"

The maid sighed in relief and disappeared.

'So there is something going on.'

As soon as the maid left, Rachel took her lips off the wine.

"Hmm."

She raised the glass to the window, wondering if she could see anything.

'What the hell?'

A chill ran down her spine.

At the bottom of the glass, illuminated by the sunlight, was some undissolved white powder.

'What is this?'

Whatever it is, it's not medicine.

'My body doesn't seem to be affected...?'

Apart from the hangover, there were no other symptoms.

Rachel hid the wine in a corner and left the bathroom, pondering what to do next.

At that moment, a maid waiting outside approached.

"I'll help you get dressed."

The maid, while helping her dress, seemed to be checking if she had drunk the wine.

Not knowing what was in the wine, she watched the maid's actions silently.

Then,

Someone visited the bedroom.

"I'll go see who it is."

The maid went out and closed the door, but the conversation was clearly audible through the crack.

"I've come to see His Grace the Duke."

"The Duke is getting dressed. Come back later."

"Even if I come back later, you'll tell me to come again. It's urgent, so I need to see him now."

"Didn't I say I'll come back later?"

"How do you think I don't know if he's drinking again? I must see him today, so move. Or I'll force my way in!"

It seems to be someone with important business.

Given that the guardian's people are trying to stop him, I must meet him.

She walked over and opened the door.

Bam.

"What's all the commotion this morning?"

The maid, who was arguing with the man, apologized upon seeing her.

"I'm sorry. This person keeps insisting on seeing the Duke..."

"This person?"

She turned her head to look at the man.

Early thirties.

Brown hair and brown eyes.

A man who looked like a beggar, emaciated and gaunt.

That man is...

"Your name is Marcus, right?"

Grinding his teeth.

"......I'm honored that you remember my name."

I heard the sound of his teeth grinding, but so what?

'Really Marcus?'

The former Duke Agnus's advisor and the future right-hand man of my favorite character.

A faint smile appeared on Rachel's lips.

'You came on your own, that's good. I was wondering how to contact you.'

She hid her intense inner affection and spoke.

"Stop making noise outside and come in."

Marcus Landon, the only person who knew the whereabouts of my favorite character.

He was the one who brought my favorite character to the Agnus family and made her the Duke after 'this body' died.

"Ah, right. Before that, wait a moment."

Rachel turned as if something had come to mind.

She looked at the maid, who was trying to slip away, and ordered Marcus.

"Stop her!"

I can't let her run to Abigail, can I?

Oh.