Chapter 2

"......Lady Reia?"

(......What?)

"......Lady Aurelia..."

Aurelia's body trembled at the sound of her name being called.

(......Could it be that I didn't die...?)

Despairing after being abandoned by Raul, Aurelia had hanged herself on the balcony of her room—she was supposed to have died.

Yet, she could hear someone calling her name, and she could feel the softness of the bed.

Had her suicide attempt failed, and had she been rescued?

(......No. I don't want to live anymore...)

"Milady Aurelia, it's morning."

With a gentle voice, the curtains around the bed were pulled back, and the room, which had been dimly lit, was suddenly filled with light.

Aurelia opened her heavy eyelids and let out a small gasp.

She was indeed lying in her own bed.

However, the maid who was greeting her and opening the curtains—

"......Natalie?"

"Yes, good morning, Lady Aurelia."

The maid turned around and smiled brightly.

She was Natalie, the excellent servant who had served Aurelia since she was six years old.

...But she had left the viscount's household three years ago when she got married.

"......Natalie, why are you back?"

"Back? ...Ah, I left early last night because my mother wasn't feeling well, but she's fine now."

Natalie's answer didn't quite match what Aurelia was trying to ask.

(......No, why is Natalie saying such things...)

Then, Aurelia realized something.

She was wearing a nightgown that was far too cute for an eighteen-year-old.

Her hands were smaller than usual.

The room was filled with toys and stuffed animals she had long since discarded, and there were no signs of the dresser or closet she had recently bought.

(......Huh?)

Confused, Aurelia touched her cheek and noticed that it felt unusually soft, and her hair, which used to reach her back, was now much shorter.

(......What, could it be that I...?)

"N-Natalie, do you have a mirror!?"

"Yes, here it is."

Thinking that her mistress was getting ready for the day, Natalie calmly handed her a hand mirror.

When Aurelia hesitantly looked into it—

"......!?"

She saw the face of her younger self.

---

Immediately after waking up, Aurelia screamed and ran around the room, worrying Natalie so much that her parents and brother rushed over.

"Oh, my dear Reia!"

"What's wrong, Reia? Why do you look so pale...?"

"Reia, did you have a bad dream? I'll listen to your story, okay?"

Surrounded by her worried family, Aurelia sat on the bed, trembling.

(But... Father and Mother are much younger. And my brother is still a child...)

Thinking it might be a dream, Aurelia asked what the date was—and was shocked.

(I've been sent back eight years...!?)

At first, she thought she was dreaming.

Perhaps, after failing to hang herself, she was hovering between life and death, seeing a dream from her childhood.

But pinching and slapping herself hurt, and she wasn't in the hazy state typical of dreams.

(Could it be... because I wished to redo my life before dying...? I've been sent back eight years... and Natalie, who retired after marriage, is here...?)

After calming her family and sending Natalie away, Aurelia sat on the bed, thinking to herself.

(I don't know why, but I've been sent back eight years. If that's the case... this time, I might be able to become the lady Raul will approve of!)

It was about a month before she would become engaged to Raul. Soon, her parents would mention the engagement, and Raul's name would be brought up.

In the past, there were often pre-arranged engagements from birth, but this led to too many unhappy marriages.

About twenty years before Aurelia was born, the laws changed, allowing both men and women to become engaged at ten and setting the minimum marriage age at eighteen.

(......Yes, I still have plenty of time)

In her first life, she was shy and introverted.

She relied heavily on her kind parents and overprotective brother, never taking the initiative to interact with others.

But that wouldn't do.

To win Raul's love, she needed to become a lively and bright woman.

(And to get closer to that lady... I should eat more)

While breast size is largely genetic, a healthy diet might make her a more attractive woman.

(......I'll do my best)

To become the lady Raul would love in eight years.

---

Starting her second life, Aurelia worked hard to change herself.

She took the initiative to interact with others and began attending parties.

She learned about the latest trends in society and paid more attention to her fashion.

All of this was for Raul, but Aurelia realized that these days could be enjoyable.

She met people she didn't know in her first life, chatted with them, and broadened her horizons.

Not everyone she met was good, and some tried to deceive her, some had bad reputations, and some were involved in questionable business.

But through these interactions, Aurelia changed.

"Reia... you've become so beautiful."

"Thank you, Mother."

Aurelia smiled at her mother's compliment.

After years of effort since she was ten, Aurelia turned eighteen.

And today was the night of the ball, the same night that marked the end of her first life.

In her first life, she had left everything to her mother and maids, but this time, Aurelia was different.

Her mind was filled with the latest fashion trends and information on what kind of women were favored, and she gave instructions to the maids to dress herself up.

Her dress was a vibrant rose color.

It was a shade of red that was more subdued than the one worn by the lady who had stolen Raul in her first life, but she knew it suited her hair, eyes, and face the best.

She had improved her diet, becoming healthier than before, but her breast size hadn't changed much, so she accepted it as genetic.

When her father and brother, who was already married, saw her dressed up in the living room, they were pleased. Her brother came over and complimented her on her beauty.

(This should be fine!)

Holding a fan adorned with peacock feathers, Aurelia smiled.

This time, she would win Raul's approval.