HSRD 02

Chapter 2

Orange eyes!

This wasn’t simply something I was born with.

To explain it, there’s one more thing I need to reveal. Please don’t be too surprised!

A top-secret confession: I’m not an ordinary person! I’m a half-blood between a human and a nymph!

This is a fantasy world where beastmen, nymphs, dragons, magic, and all sorts of things exist.

My father was a pure human born into the Atlas Count family, but my mother was a nymph, one of the fairy races.

Hehe… Even though I had built up an enormous amount of romance-fantasy “big data” in my previous life, I still couldn’t help being shocked when I first learned I was half-nymph.

Usually, the heroine in romance fantasy is just a normal human. They don’t suddenly tack on something like fairy blood.

Fortunately, aside from a few traits, nymphs weren’t that different from humans, so I got used to the idea fairly quickly.

There were about three characteristics that distinguished nymphs from humans.

First: They serve dragons.
Second: Their race is divided depending on which dragon they serve.
Third: They can handle mana, a higher concept than magic.

Among the various nymph races, I belonged to the Sunset Nymph tribe.

Sunset nymphs are born with orange hair, and although I’m only half-blood, I resembled my mother and had orange hair as well.

But what I’m talking about now isn’t orange hair.

It’s orange eyes.

This eye color isn’t something you’re born with. While different nymph tribes have different hair colors, their eye colors aren’t fixed.

These eyes appear only in the one who possesses the strongest mana among the Sunset Nymphs. They are a symbol of that power.

Strong mana isn’t something you’re born with—it’s inherited.

Usually, it’s passed down to a blood relative.

In my case, I inherited the mana from my mother, which caused my originally blue eyes to change.

At least orange happens to match my personal color tone.

…Wait, what good is that?!

Both my hair and eyes stand out so much that I have to hide them with magic!

I looked at myself in the mirror.

Staring back at me was a woman with brown hair and blue eyes, not orange.

I don’t know much magic, but the spell to change hair and eye color was something my mother drilled into me relentlessly since childhood.

Because of that, I can use it better than anyone.

In fact, there are people in this empire who harbor resentment toward the Sunset Nymph tribe.

Apparently it’s because of the dragon named “Radon,” whom the Sunset Nymphs served…

But that part isn’t important right now, so let’s skip it!

Anyway, because of those people, my mother tried to hide our identity as thoroughly as possible.

When I turned twelve, she entrusted me to the Atlas Count family.

Not long after passing her mana to me, she passed away due to a chronic illness.

I recalled the last moment I spent with her.

“Aigle, I’m sorry… for passing the mana to you so suddenly. I wanted to wait until you were a little older, but… I don’t have much time left.”

“I’m fine. The Atlas Count family is here for me.”

“Yes… Aigle, you must hide your identity as much as possible. And don’t resent Lord Radon.”

With those words, my mother closed her eyes.

They never opened again.

I faithfully followed her last wish and have lived ever since while carefully hiding my identity.

Since I’m living under the protection of a noble family as a young lady, the risk of being discovered is quite low.

But why is the Duke of Lafman looking for me?

Since he specifically said he was searching for a woman with orange eyes, he’s probably looking for a Sunset Nymph who inherited the mana—not necessarily me in particular.

Perhaps he’s searching for my mother.

But my mother has already passed away, and I’m the one who holds the mana now…

Which means the burden falls on me, doesn’t it?!

“Your preparations are complete, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

Pulled out of my thoughts by the maid’s voice, I looked at the mirror again.

After checking my neatly braided and pinned brown hair, and the blue sapphire necklace that matched my eyes, I nodded.

Good. Even I have to admit it looks completely natural.

This naturally brown hair and the blue eyes typical of the Atlas family.

Unless a highly skilled mage stared very carefully, no one would be able to tell whether this appearance was magic or natural.

Mother, are you watching?

Thanks to this one spell, I blended into noble society perfectly for the past eight years.

I think I’ll be fine in the future too.

…No, wait. If things were really fine, this regression would have ended by now.

If this world really is a novel, then the Duke of Lafman is almost certainly a major character.

And the woman he has been searching for all this time… is me.

Then that means—

Am I the female lead?!

…Hmm. That doesn’t sound right.

All the big data I accumulated in my previous life was sounding an alarm.

I’m not heroine material!

Right. Just because regression suddenly started doesn’t mean I should immediately assume I’ve possessed a novel character.

Regression doesn’t only happen in novels.

…But still, regression in a romance-fantasy-style world.

How could I not be suspicious?

Still conflicted, I left my room and headed to the entrance hall.

My uncle, aunt, and Lily were already standing there, fully prepared.

As soon as he saw me, my uncle spoke first.

“You’re late.”

“I’m sorry! My hair took a little longer than expected.”

Despite his stern demeanor, my uncle took fairly good care of me.

The reason was simple.

Because I looked exactly like my father.

From what I heard, my uncle had deeply cherished my father, who had been his youngest sibling with a large age gap.

Just then, Lily shot me a glare.

“Father! Why did you give that necklace to her too?”

At her words, I glanced at the sapphire necklace around Lily’s neck.

The design was different, but it held a sapphire the same color as mine.

The sapphire brooch on my uncle’s clothing was the same as well.

Instead of answering Lily, my uncle simply headed toward the carriage.

Honestly… why does Uncle never answer her? It just makes Lily feel awkward.

But my uncle had always been a man of few words.

I personally didn’t think much about it, but Lily often seemed hurt by his attitude.

Maybe it was because she was his biological daughter.

Lily stared blankly at my uncle’s back before suddenly whipping her head toward me.

“Unni, that necklace doesn’t suit you at all! I hate having the same jewelry as someone else, so take it off right now!”

Faced with the same complaint as before, I shrugged.

“Okay.”

Normally, I would lightly refuse Lily’s provocation.

But seeing her staring at our uncle’s back like a drenched puppy made me feel strangely sorry for her.

So this time, I agreed, thinking it might comfort her.

Contrary to my expectations, Lily shouted angrily.

“There you go again, agreeing without thinking!”

At that moment, my aunt, standing beside her, patted Lily’s shoulder.

“Lily, you shouldn’t raise your voice like that.”

“But Mother!”

“My dear, today is the banquet at the Lafman ducal house—the one you’ve been looking forward to, isn’t it? Let’s hurry.”

The Countess of Atlas soothed Lily and quickly headed toward the carriage.

Of course, she didn’t forget to shoot me a sharp glare on the way.

The Countess didn’t like me much, mainly because Lily and I didn’t get along.

Well… looks like I’ve annoyed her again.

But it doesn’t really matter.

Once today ends, everyone will forget everything anyway.

Thinking that, I headed toward my own carriage.

The carriage carrying my uncle, aunt, and Lily had already departed.

Only my personal carriage remained.

When I was younger, I rode in the same carriage as my uncle’s family, but as I grew older I was given one of my own.

My aunt said it was because the carriage was too cramped, but anyone could tell that was just an excuse.

Honestly, she could have simply said she didn’t want to ride with me.

Besides, recently among noble ladies my age, having one’s own personal carriage had become fashionable.

And of course, the trendsetter who started that fashion… was me! All thanks to Aunt~

I dedicate this honor of becoming a trendsetter to my aunt!

Humming happily, I climbed into the carriage.

Soon, my personal carriage departed toward the Lafman ducal estate.

“They’re introducing a new technique at Flora Dress Shop this time!”

“Oh, I heard about that. Something about fabric made with a new technology?”

“Oh my, Aigle! Who told you that? I only found out yesterday!”

Who else? You, obviously.

I swallowed the words and smiled brightly.

Perhaps interpreting my smile as confirmation, Pine—our group’s resident information broker—laughed softly.

“They say the technique uses only plants!”

Several friends nearby nodded.

“If it’s used well, we could have winter dresses without animal fur or leather.”

“I’m sure the beastmen would love that!”

Pine, the only beastman in our group, nodded enthusiastically.

The Lafman ducal banquet was currently in full swing.

Ignoring the conversation I had already heard before, I tapped my chin lightly with my fan.

Normally, I’d already be back home by now.

During the past two days since the regression began, I hadn’t attended the Lafman banquet.

On the first day I attended, I left early.

The reason was obvious.

Because the Duke of Lafman was searching for someone with orange eyes.

But today…

I glanced toward one particular spot.

There stood a woman surrounded by people—the main figure of today’s banquet.

“Lady Izansel, happy birthday.”

“Thanks to you, our Beastman Alliance was able to reach this point. Please stay healthy for many years to come!”

“What nonsense. I’ll outlive you all, so stop worrying and enjoy the banquet.”

She was none other than the central figure of the Beastman Alliance and the mother of the Duke of Lafman.

Izansel Lafman.

This banquet was her birthday celebration.

The day my regression began… is Izansel Lafman’s birthday.

Four days ago, when the regression first started, I had already suspected the Lafman house.

But I had ignored the banquet while searching for clues elsewhere.

Now, however, I had done everything I could from home.

From now on, I need to search for clues here.

Thinking that, I chatted with my friends and checked the clock.

The day was already nearing its end.

The regression will happen soon.

As I glanced at the clock and sighed softly, I suddenly made eye contact with someone.

Even from afar, he stood out as an exceptionally handsome man.

The Duke of Lafman was also staring at the clock.

Of all moments, we had to look at it at the same time.

After briefly meeting his gaze, I calmly looked away so it wouldn’t seem awkward.

And then—

Click—

“Eek! What was that?!”

“Why did the lights suddenly go out?!”

“Hey! I can’t see anything!”

“Turn the lights back on!”

All the magical lights illuminating the banquet hall suddenly went out at once.

The hall instantly descended into chaos.

In the pitch-black darkness, my friends screamed and clung to one another.

I patted Pine, who had grabbed onto me, while glancing around.

So while I was absent before, there was a blackout like this.

Fortunately, the lights came back on soon.

Just as my eyes were adjusting to the sudden brightness—

A piercing scream rang out from somewhere.

“KYAAAAAAAH!”

At the sound, I instinctively turned my head.