The Beloved Youngest Daughter of a Noble Family

Chapter 4 – A Rather Cute Baby, Indeed!

After Vlad III Dracula vanished from the palace garden without a trace, Shione and I returned to our room. In the meantime, a commotion had erupted among the palace inhabitants. However, upon hearing the full story from Shione, their worries transformed into joy and jubilation.

“It’s truly moving that the Lord has finally named the baby!”

“Imagine going to see Lord without permission and returning unscathed! It wouldn’t have been surprising if you had disappeared somewhere else entirely.”

“That’s right. As expected, Lady Shione is incredible.”

“…Are you teasing me right now, or are you complimenting me?”

After a playful exchange with the maids, Shione turned towards me, sitting quietly in my baby seat, and smiled softly.

“We can finally call you by your name. Bella. I’m so happy.”

“Woobubup.”

I sucked on my pacifier and nodded in agreement, my cheeks puffed out.

‘I quite like the name Bella.’

I did have my previous life’s name, Elena, which was derived from mythology, but I always felt that grand name didn’t quite suit me. In comparison, the name Bella, which has the dual meaning of “beauty” in the common tongue and “revenge” in the ancient tongue, suited me much better in this second chance at life.

“Perhaps the Lord’s feelings towards Bella have changed as well. He treated both of you much more favourably than everyone was worried about.”

“There might even be an opportunity to introduce Bella to everyone at an official banquet soon. Oh, just thinking about it makes my heart race!”

While the maids chattered excitedly, their voices filled with hope and anticipation for the future, I was lost in my own thoughts. Part of the conversation between father and Shione earlier still bothered me.

[Flashback]

“Somehow, you’ve managed to fill an empty shell. This child was already dead when she was born. What you’re doing is nothing more than playing with dolls, Shione.”

“The baby simply entered a deep sleep as soon as she was born. It’s an extremely rare case, but it’s not unheard of. How can someone who is dead come back to life?”

[End Flashback]

There was something strange about their conversation.

Based on what I had learned in my past life, human souls could be exchanged or transferred through special means. However, neither of them seemed to even consider such a possibility. It was strange that Shione, who seemed well-versed in magic, and even father, who suspected me, didn’t even think of soul transference.

‘Could it be that they don’t know about soul swapping?’

The one who shared this knowledge with me was…Lanian. Lanian, my fiancé in my past life, taught me many things while I was imprisoned in the tower. Not only the etiquette and common sense expected of royalty, but also history, geography, and basic magical knowledge. He was the only person I could see besides the doctor who visited periodically, and he always brought me many books I wanted whenever he visited.

He was more like a teacher than a lover, if I had to be precise. Of course, my older brother, Karl, didn’t like me studying, but he didn’t interfere at all after Lanian and I got engaged.

‘So…the one who tried to reincarnate me was Lanian?’

My former fiancé, who watched me with emotionless eyes as I stood on the pyre. Why would he, the right-hand man of Crown Prince Karl, try to revive me?

As memories of my past life flooded back, I made a gloomy expression, and the maids, who were engaged in a heated debate about new baby toys and gadgets, rushed over to me.

“Little one…no, Bella, what’s wrong? You seemed fine when you had your evening formula earlier. You don’t look well!”

“Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, I read in a baby care book the other day that you need to induce burping after feeding formula.”

“Idiot, what good does it do to say that now!”

Hmm, can I really entrust these girls with my growth?

‘Well, at least they seem enthusiastic…’

A sudden, powerful urge to express myself overcame me. Stretching out both arms with all my might, I let out a loud “Goo goo!”

Shione, misunderstanding my intention, covered her mouth with her hand, her face filled with overwhelming gratitude.

“This is the first time the baby has asked to be held! I’m ready to die without any regrets now.”

A blush crept up my cheeks. No, that wasn’t exactly what I meant. I just wanted a gentle pat on the back to help with the gas bubble, but it seems my intentions were misinterpreted.

“From now on, only happy days will be filled. I will make sure that Bella is never unhappy again.”

Shione’s warm, albeit clumsy, hands patted my back in a soothing rhythm.

‘It is warm,’ I thought, a flicker of comfort easing the turmoil of my past life memories. I snuggled closer to Shione, burying my face in her arms to hide the welling tears.

And, of all times, it had to be then.

“Buuuurp.”

Oh my, talk about bad timing. I bit my lip in embarrassment, but the maids erupted in a flurry of amusement.

“Wow, did you hear that? How can a burp sound so cute!”

“You too? I thought the same thing!”

I groaned inwardly, feeling slightly humiliated, but seeing their genuine amusement lessened the sting.

‘Well, at least they’re happy,’ I conceded, forcing a weak smile despite the awkwardness.

A wave of drowsiness washed over me seconds later.

“Uuuu…”

My eyelids drooped, unable to resist the growing sleepiness.

Despite the bizarre turn of events, I couldn’t help but feel a small smile tug at my lips. Perhaps their unexpected entertainment was better than the alternative. Maintaining a healthy mental state was key, and for now, their happiness sufficed.

Exhausted, I drifted off to sleep in Shione’s arms, marking the end of a rather eventful day.

***

A week had already passed since my reincarnation into the Chepesh Kingdom. Each day brought new marvels as I witnessed the incredible growth rate of vampires.

Just a few days ago, I was unable to even turn over in my crib. Now, I could proudly crawl around the floor, a testament to this accelerated development.

‘Is this what they meant by vampires experiencing sudden growth spurts?’ I pondered, wondering if this was a typical part of the process.

Unlike humans whose growth was gradual, vampires seemed to undergo drastic physical transformations during specific periods. It was said that around the time of their coming-of-age ceremony, they could change so dramatically that they became unrecognizable overnight. The concept was utterly fascinating.

‘I guess it won’t be long before I can walk and talk,’ I mused, a spark of excitement flickering within me.

The average lifespan of a vampire was roughly two hundred years, about twice that of a human. Additionally, the closer they were to pureblood lineage, the longer they could maintain their youthful vitality.

When vampires reached the esteemed rank of Lord, their lifespans rivaled that of dragons, who could live for over a thousand years. This explained why most Lords chose companions from pureblood families, ensuring a degree of compatibility in their lifespans.

Vampires, after all, were only permitted one companion in their entire existence.

As I drifted in my thoughts, sucking on Shione’s special strawberry-flavored pacifier that supposedly replenished my magic, the three maids, ever the enthusiastic but misguided trio, paraded a selection of peculiar toys in front of me.

“Look at this, little one! It’s a skeleton rattle we found in a dungeon at the edge of the western desert! They say just listening to its rattle can skyrocket your magic!”

“Ugh, why would you show her something so creepy? Mine is much better! I brought a sensory play book, all the rage among nobles lately. It’s crafted from the rarest material – dragon scales!”

“Myaaa…”

I let out a soft whine, genuinely perplexed by the choice between a bone-made rattle and a book constructed from dragon scales. Perhaps normal toys weren’t in the cards for me.

Feigning amusement, I masked my disappointment with a bored expression. Just then, a sharp click of disapproval echoed from the doorway.

“Who’s playing with whom, really? Don’t you still understand that you can’t entertain the baby with that kind of thing?”

The maids, chastised by Shione’s sudden reprimand, pouted.

“It seems Bella’s tastes are different from ordinary babies. How should we play with her?”

“Her food preferences are the same. She seems to prefer human things. So I prepared this.”

She clapped her hands, and a play equipment that looked like a mix of a swing and a jumping platform appeared in the middle of the room.

‘Wow, what is that?’

It’s on a whole different scale than a regular toy!

Shione, with a satisfied smile at my surprised and curious look, began to explain.

“This is a device to help you practice walking in advance. You’ll be starting to walk soon, so it will be a great help in strengthening your legs.”

“Wow, it’s exactly what the little one needs!”

Shione proudly lifted her chin, boasting that she had even cast a spell to make it safe for exercise, and headed towards the device with me in her arms.

“I’ll help you sit down. You can walk in place or jump up high.”

This was the first time I had stood on two feet since I was reborn, so I stretched out my legs cautiously, feeling a bit nervous. My legs were short, not even three spans long in adult hands, but with the help of the device, I managed to support myself and stand.

‘Okay, I can do this. Don’t be scared.’

I took a short deep breath, put strength into my tiny feet, and bravely jumped into the air.

“Goo!”

Whoosh!

It felt like my body bounced back like a spring, but thanks to the magic cushion under my feet, there was no strain on my body at all.

‘What is this? This is so much fun!’

In my previous life, I had never experienced any rides, and I was intoxicated by this thrilling sensation.

“Myaaa!”

I thought I looked pretty cool, but it seemed a little different in the eyes of others.

“Oh my gosh… Did you see that? You jumped up with one hand! You’re like a rabbit. You’re the cutest creature I’ve ever seen!”

“I completely agree. You jump so hard for a height of one or two inches! It’s so adorable!”

You mean insignificant? Aren’t you guys exaggerating a bit?

But this game was too much fun to care about such trivial things. Suddenly, the scene shifted. Shione was immersed in her practice, surrounded by the applause of her attendants. The tranquillity was abruptly shattered by a loud bang and the door bursting open.

A lively voice filled the room, belonging to a red-haired boy of around ten years old. Judging by his attire and the entourage of servants following him, he was of high stature.

Despite her usual composure, Shione was taken aback by his unexpected arrival.

“Greetings, Shione. I’ve arrived!” he exclaimed.

The mischievous glint in his eyes hinted at his playful nature.

“Why would you come here unannounced?” Shione inquired, her voice laced with a hint of confusion.

Unfazed by her question, the boy burst into laughter. “There’s been some good news at Rose Palace,” he explained. “I’ve been pestering mother for days to let me visit, but she wouldn’t budge!”

“So, you finally received permission today?” Shione asked, seeking clarification.

With a nonchalant shrug, he replied, “Of course not. I snuck out!”

Shione’s expression turned troubled, contrasting with the boy’s carefree attitude. The implications of his actions weighed heavily on her mind.