The Beloved Youngest Daughter of a Noble Family

Chapter 8: You Dare Try to Kill Me?

[Translation By Divinity]

“Bella-nim!”

The blurred image of Sione’s tearful face filled my vision as I regained consciousness.

“Hmm… Sione…? Why are you crying?” I managed to speak, my body feeling utterly drained. Upon hearing my voice, she burst into tears.

“Sob, Bella-nim. Thank goodness you’re awake. I thought something terrible had happened…”

Ah, right. I had fainted.

‘But why did I suddenly collapse…?’ Belatedly realizing the situation, I struggled to sit up in bed.

A lingering dizziness suggested it was the aftermath of the sudden anemia.

“You have no idea how scared I was. You were sleeping so soundly… just like during your dormant period. I was afraid you wouldn’t wake up again…”

Sione trembled, hugging herself as if that were the most terrifying thing in the world.

To think that someone considered one of the strongest in the kingdom would lose their composure over me fainting.

I felt both apologetic for worrying her and a tinge of joy. Was it selfish of me to feel this way?

‘Someone is actually worried about me. It feels strange.’

In my past life as the Empire’s princess, I was surrounded by selfish people. No one extended a hand to help when I was sick, emotionally distressed, or lonely. In that environment, I experienced solitude and closed off my heart.

I no longer felt hurt or pain, but life wasn’t joyful or happy either. In the end, I had become the same kind of person as those around me – a selfish adult who only cared about myself.

‘I can’t live my second life so foolishly.’

After pondering a new purpose in life beyond revenge, I arrived at a conclusion. I wanted to make sure the people around me could always smile. The people who showed me that the comfort and small joys of everyday life could lead to great happiness.

I wanted to protect them so they could always smile. I wanted to reassure them, so they wouldn’t be afraid of being alone – just like how I desperately yearned for it in my past.

“I won’t sleep for a long time again. Don’t worry.”

“I hope so…?”

“Of course. Don’t you trust me?”

I’m just starting to talk and learn magic. I can’t let something like a dormant period get in the way of my revenge.

As I thought this to myself and grinned energetically, Sione’s expression eased. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and replied, “Of course, I trust you. If I don’t trust Bella-nim, who else can I trust?”

“That’s right. Sione only trusts me!”

It was an answer without any basis, but it seemed to be enough for Sione, who smiled faintly.

“We need to find out why Bella-nim fainted. The doctor will be here soon, so please lie down and rest for a while.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Ten minutes later, the doctor arrived and examined me thoroughly, his expression growing serious. He diagnosed me with mana exhaustion, a rare disease that affected only a small number of our kind.

“It’s similar to malnutrition in humans. Sometimes this happens. It’s a case where someone consumes much more mana than others during their growth period.”

“Then what should we do, doctor…?”

“For now, the only option is to feed her well. Of course, I don’t mean ordinary food. The blood, raw meat, or organs of magical beasts would be ideal. She’ll likely need a large amount.”

The doctor’s words made my face darken. Even though it had been a while since I was reincarnated, I still couldn’t bring myself to eat magical beasts.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. I’ll come back for regular checkups.”

“Thank you very much.”

After the doctor left, Sione suspended my magic lessons and focused on researching mana-rich foods. Of course, this was for me, who disliked eating magical beasts.

Through her research, she reconfirmed that adding a small amount of mana to desserts like cookies, biscuits, and macarons, which contain sugar, could effectively enhance mana absorption.

Thanks to her efforts, I didn’t experience any significant disruptions in my daily life despite suffering from severe mana exhaustion.

However, there was no way to prevent the occasional fainting spells that occurred without any reason.

“It’s my fault. I should have thought about this earlier and found a solution…”

“It’s not Sione’s fault. Don’t worry. I’ll just eat the magical beasts.”

Well, after dying and coming back to life, there’s nothing I can’t eat. If it meant getting revenge on the humans who wronged me, I was prepared to eat anything.

But now, Sione wouldn’t let me do that.

“Absolutely not. Bella-nim hates magical beast dishes. It’s barely enough for you to eat delicious food and be happy. As long as I’m alive, that will never happen.”

“But if I want to live, I have no choice.”

As I let out a deep sigh of resignation, her eyes lit up with determination.

“I think I need to ask that person for help.”

“Hmm? Who’s that?”

“My teacher,” Sione replied, her voice firm despite her recent tears.

Sione’s teacher, the former head of the Royal Magic Corps, was rumored to be ancient, having retreated to the secluded depths of the northern mountains due to his eccentric personality and severed all contact with the outside world.

He was practically a founding father of the Chepesh Kingdom, making him one of the oldest vampires in existence.

“But how will you find him?” I asked, concerned.

“I only have a vague idea of his location somewhere in the northern mountain range. I’ll have to find a way,” she said with determination.

‘That’s like finding a needle in a desert!’

Honestly, I didn’t hold out much hope. It seemed like an impossible task.

But Sione, utilizing every resource and connection at her disposal, managed to pinpoint her teacher’s whereabouts in just one month.

Hearing that she had leveraged her past network and even mobilized the military for the search filled me with renewed awe for my nanny’s capabilities.

“Fortunately, I found where my teacher resides,” Sione explained, “but an illusion barrier makes it nearly impossible to approach. I’ll have to go myself. My teacher’s barriers are notoriously powerful; any misstep could be disastrous.”

“I see. How many nights will you be gone?”

“If I use the gate, it should only take a day or two. I’ll be back soon, so please be patient.”

She spoke as if seeking my permission, and I readily nodded.

“Oh, but is it okay to go without informing Father? We’re not supposed to leave the palace right now.”

“This is an exception. I’ve already obtained the Lord’s permission through the magic communication device, so don’t worry.”

With that, Sione swiftly packed her belongings and departed for the outskirts of the capital, where the gate was located.

Her back, clad in a traveler’s cloak instead of her usual maid uniform, looked unfamiliar and somewhat unsettling.

After a brief farewell with the others, I returned to my room.

The Rose Palace, typically quiet, felt even more so in Sione’s absence.

‘It feels strange without her here.’

Of course, Sione wasn’t the only person in the Rose Palace.

There were the cheerful maids, the palace staff who were always kind to me, and even the soldiers who would sneak me snacks.

As we’d spent more time together, I had started to open up to them, but it wasn’t enough to fill the void Sione left behind.

‘I feel empty and lonely. That’s why I didn’t want to get attached to anyone…’

Gazing out the window until dawn, waiting for someone who wouldn’t come.

I was all too familiar with that feeling, and my shoulders slumped with a melancholic sigh.

“I miss you, Sione.”

Why did I feel so lonely when she was only gone for a day or two?

It seemed that just as my body had become small and fragile, my mind had also softened.

‘Or maybe this is my true nature.’

In my past life, I wasn’t accustomed to emotional connections.

Even though I had become an adult physically, perhaps I was emotionally immature.

I had locked my heart before it could fully open and thrown away the key, ensuring that no one could see my pathetic, love-starved true self.

‘But I will change now. I’ve made up my mind.’

In the half a year or so I’d spent in the Chepesh Kingdom, I had undergone a profound transformation.

Being reborn into a different race or becoming a baby no longer mattered as much.

What truly mattered was that I had people who cared for me, people I could open my heart to.

I wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of my past, hiding and running away.

“I wish you’d come back after one night’s sleep instead of two.”

How wonderful it would be if Sione were back when I opened my eyes.

I sniffled, feeling a pang of sadness, and hugged the pink rabbit doll next to me tightly.

The rabbit doll, with its stuffing peeking out through the clumsy stitching, was Sione’s creation, made with countless needle pricks to her fingers.

As I was about to fall asleep, comforted by the warm and familiar scent of the doll…

A gust of wind swept through the room, and a mysterious black object zipped past the rattling balcony window.

‘What was that?’

Normally, I would have dismissed it as something blown by the wind, but something felt amiss.

It was as if someone was watching me from nearby.

‘I need to check it out.’

Groaning, I got out of bed, clutching my beloved doll to my chest, and shuffled towards the balcony in my slippers.

“Who’s there?”

I asked into the empty air, but as expected, there was no answer.

‘I sense a murderous intent. An assassin?’

A strange sensation prickled my skin.

It was a faint presence that an ordinary person wouldn’t even notice, but I could clearly sense it now.

“I know you’re hiding there. Don’t waste time. Come out now.”

As I shuffled a few more steps, dragging my oversized slippers, a whooshing sound echoed through the room, and the curtains billowed dramatically.

“How did you know I was here?” a deep, unfamiliar voice inquired, suggesting a young man.

I tilted my small head up to see a masked man gazing down at me with an intrigued expression.

“How did you get in here?” I countered.

“Answer my question first.”

“Mister, you’re being rude. I’m the owner of this place, so you answer first.”

He chuckled at my unfazed retort, then crouched down to meet my eyes.

“What a bold little one. This could very well end your life, yet you’re curious about such trivial matters?”

The man drew a dagger, presumably meant for assassination, and slowly pressed it against my neck.

It seemed he relished the fear in his victims’ eyes more than a quick kill.

Sensing his hesitation, I scoffed and pushed the dagger away with my finger.

“I can’t stand not knowing things. And besides, I’m not scared at all.”

“Huh. What an absurd little creature.”

As I’d predicted, he sheathed his weapon and tapped the dagger against his palm, looking down at me with an arrogant smirk.

His eyes were cold and detached, like a hunter contemplating how best to prepare his captured prey.

“Mister, you lead a very boring life, don’t you?” I spoke my mind freely, taking advantage of the fact that we were alone.

‘Since it’s just me and the assassin.’

Sione always lamented that I was too mature for my age whenever I spoke like this, so I’d been holding back.

But now, speaking my mind felt liberating.

“What did you say?”

“Doesn’t killing people get boring? Find something else to entertain yourself.”

I shrugged, and the man, momentarily stunned, burst into laughter.

“Haha! You’re right. It’s become utterly dull. That’s why I’m here. I thought maybe tearing the great Lord’s daughter to shreds might stir something within me.”

“Oh dear, you’re a real creep, aren’t you?”

I shook my head in disgust, as if I’d witnessed the most repulsive thing in the world.

But instead of being offended, he looked far more amused than when he’d held the dagger to my throat.

“You’ve made me laugh for the first time in a while, so I’ll let you in on a little secret. I had some help from a powerful figure. You’re too young to understand, but this palace is protected by a wicked witch’s barrier.”

‘Wicked witch?’

It took me a moment to realize he was referring to Sione, and I couldn’t help but giggle.

She might be a black mage, but to me, she was closer to a saint than a witch.

“‘We’ve’ been waiting for that witch to leave for a long time. Without her, taking your precious little neck would be child’s play.”

“Hmm, I see. Thanks for the explanation.”

“You’re welcome. Now, little one, could you entertain me a bit more? If you do, I might delay your demise.”

“Who said anyone’s dying?”

Fwoosh!

As soon as I finished speaking, sharp icicles materialized in the air and shot towards the man like arrows.

“Gah!”

The icicles tore through his mask, revealing his face in the moonlight.

I’d expected an assassin to have a fearsome appearance, but he looked surprisingly refined, almost noble.

‘Hmm, I thought a few of those would hit him.’

It seemed my control wasn’t perfect, as I was merely mimicking the magic I’d seen Father use. After all, I’d only started learning ice magic from Sione recently.

“You’re lucky, mister.”

I clicked my tongue in slight disappointment, and he yelled, seemingly offended by my nonchalance.

“You little brat…!!”

“Underestimating me because I’m small will be your downfall.”

Crack!

With an eerie sound of bones breaking, translucent ice encased the man’s arms and legs.

“Aaargh!”

He let out a string of curses in pain, and I frowned, covering my bunny doll’s ears.

“Shh. My precious bunny shouldn’t hear such language.”

“Damn you, you insolent child…!! I’ll kill you!”

Oh, he’s so noisy.

It would be faster to just shut his mouth.

To protect our precious hearing, I cast a spell I’d learned from Sione. It was magic used to block an enemy’s vision or partially paralyze their senses. Depending on the method, it could even be fatal.

“Mmm, mmmpph…!!”

“Phew, Bunny’s ears are safe now. Aren’t you glad?”

“Ugh…!!”

I averted my gaze from the man writhing in pain, encased in ice, and slowly surveyed the room.

No one had come despite the commotion, suggesting he had taken precautions to isolate my room before the attack.

Perhaps he had planted some sort of malicious artifact.

“Aha, so that’s how you got in so easily.”

I smirked, having spotted an artifact cleverly disguised as a curtain ornament.

“This needs to be destroyed immediately.”

Crack!

With a light clench of my fist, the mana stone powering the artifact crumbled into dust, scattering across the floor.

I reached out and retrieved the now-defunct artifact.

Instantly, the tense atmosphere in the room dissipated, replaced by a sense of calm. The barrier that had isolated the space had dissolved.

“One problem solved,” I declared with satisfaction.

Unlike me, who was feeling cheerful, the man’s face turned even paler. But that wasn’t my concern.

To neutralize Sione’s barrier… This must be no ordinary artifact.

Few individuals in the entire continent, let alone the Chepesh Kingdom, could craft an artifact capable of disrupting her magic.

He likely intended to retrieve it immediately after assassinating me, but its purpose had now changed. It would prove instrumental in tracking down the powerful figure behind this attack.

“Now then, what should I do with you, mister?”