I blinked several times, rubbing the sleep from my eyes in a futile attempt to clear the haze.
Finally waking from the heavy slumber, I sat up and swung my feet off the edge of the bed. My gaze drifted to the mirror on the wall, and I froze at the reflection staring back: tiny, dimpled hands, arms that resembled links of plump sausage, and a pair of round, chubby cheeks. It was a small, fragile body that refused to move with the grace I expected.
No matter how many times I saw it, the reality remained the same: I was four years old.
*Once again.*
*I have been dragged back once more.*
The realization was a cold weight in my chest. I was condemned to live another life in this wretched world.
*My name is LeBlin.*
In the beginning, my life wasn't such a chaotic mess. I was the only orphan born on the auspicious date of February 29th who also possessed divine power. For that reason, the world hailed me with a title that was both a blessing and a curse: The Child of Fate.
I suppose I was considered lucky. Just by sitting on the Empress Dowager’s lap and choosing a single portrait, I would become the adopted daughter of one of the Empire's most powerful families.
There were three choices.
First was Duke Amity, the paragon of justice and the Empire’s greatest warrior.
Second was Duke Valois, a house famed for its lineage of a thousand scholars and scientists.
And finally, Duke Dubbled—a man who possessed immense military might and vast wealth, but whose family was whispered to be the most villainous of them all.
In my first life, I chose Duke Amity. I thought I had found a good father. He was wise, fair, and rational, and I followed him with the naive devotion of a child who had finally found a parent. It was a peaceful life—until *she* appeared. The true Child of Fate.
I was merely a placeholder, a false prophet. While I had spent years training my divine power only for it to remain dormant, Mina was everything the legends promised. She was dazzling, a sun that cast everyone else into shadow. Even Duke Amity, the man I called father, was drawn to her.
In the end, with the Pope’s blessing, Mina became his second daughter. She summoned spirits to end droughts and used her insight to prevent wars. And I... I was nothing more than a sacrifice, used in a ritual to seal an ancient evil so that Mina could shine even brighter.
I was almost happy when I first regressed. I thought the heavens were giving me a second chance. This time, I chose Duke Valois.
But Duke Valois was a monster. He beat me daily, claiming it was "for my education." He only dressed me in fine silks when it was time to parade me before the Emperor. My second life ended when he struck me so hard my head hit the corner of his desk.
When I opened my eyes again, I had regressed for a third time. I tried to run away, but what can a toddler do in a world of wolves? I died of starvation in an alleyway, alone and forgotten.
Now, after three regressions, I finally understand. This whole cycle is a cruel error.
*I have to get out of here. I have to escape.*
Just as the thought crossed my mind, the door burst open. An old woman, draped in imperial splendor, swept into the room. She pulled me onto her lap with a sugary, practiced smile.
“It is time to choose your father, my sweet child.”
She gestured toward the three portraits the maids had brought forward. She looked at me with such warmth, but I knew the truth. The moment I was proven to be a fake, those eyes would turn to ice.
“Choose, my little Child of Fate,” the Empress whispered, stroking my hair.
I looked at the portraits, my heart hammering against my ribs. I hid my face behind my chubby fists, trying to steady my breathing.
*Calm down. Think.*
*I need a place to stay—a place where I can grow strong enough to run away. I can't die a beggar again.*
*I need a family that will let me live in peace without demanding my love or my life. A family where I won't have to fear hunger or exile.*
*That is the family I must choose.*
*And that means...*
“Oh, heavens!”
The Empress and the maids gasped as I pointed at the third portrait.
When I arrived at the Dubbled palace with the Empress’s letter in hand, I took a deep breath as I came face-to-face with the man who would be my father.
*He really is handsome.*
He had a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, piercing sky-blue eyes, and a tall, imposing frame hidden beneath a crisp shirt. But despite his divine looks, his eyes were the cold, calculating eyes of a murderer.
He was Duke Dubbled, the Empire’s most notorious villain.
The Duke’s lieutenant stood beside me, his voice trembling slightly as he read the Empress’s request. “Her Majesty requests that you oversee the child’s education, Your Grace.”
The Duke traced his jaw with long, elegant fingers. “A burden in her old age,” he muttered, his voice a low growl. He didn't even look at me before making his decision. “Send her back.”
“But Your Grace, this is a rare opportunity to mend ties with the Church. Refusing the Empress so bluntly will only invite complications.”
*I have to stay here,* I thought desperately. *This is my only hope.*
Duke Amity was too honorable; he’d never let me leave. Duke Valois valued his reputation too much. But a man who didn't care about me at all? He was the perfect foster father.
I stepped forward and tugged on the lieutenant’s trousers.
“The tax audit is on December 7th!”
“What?” The lieutenant looked down at me, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“Why...?” I struggled with the word. It had been a long time since I’d had to speak in this high-pitched, childish voice, and my tongue felt clumsy.
I remembered this detail clearly from my first life. That winter, Duke Dubbled had been hit with a massive fine for tax evasion—a blow that had crippled his finances for years.
I looked at the Duke, hoping for a spark of interest. He had three sons, surely he had some experience with the chatter of children?
I quickly abandoned that hope. *This cold-blooded bastard probably didn't raise his sons himself.*
Before I could say another word, the Duke snatched me up. He held me at eye level, his gaze sharp and suspicious.
“Do you know what you just said?”
I blinked, trying to look as innocent as possible. “A tax audit... on December 7th.”
“How could a child like you possibly know that?”
I panicked. If he suspected I wasn't truly a child, I was dead. I offered him a wide, toothy grin and pressed a finger to my lips.
“Shhh! It’s a secret!”
The Duke didn't smile. He turned his gaze toward his lieutenant. “How far along are our account reconciliations?”
“...Your Grace, she is only four years old.”
“Do you really believe that?” the Duke hissed. “Do you truly believe a four-year-old knows the words 'tax audit'?”
The lieutenant’s face went pale. “I... I will check the records immediately.” He turned and practically fled the room.
The Duke and I stared at each other in the sudden silence.
*He is terrifying.*
Despite his wealth, power, and stunning looks, there were no rumors of a Duchess. It was easy to see why. No woman would ever dare approach a man who radiated this much lethal intent.
A group of maids entered the room, their heads bowed low. “Shall we prepare her bath, Your Grace?”
“Do it,” he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
One of the women stepped forward and took me in her arms. As she carried me away, I looked back at the Duke, knowing my life depended on whether I could make myself useful to this monster.