Chapter 1

A small girl with pale skin—looking as though she had never been exposed to a single ray of sunlight—and dazzling blonde hair leaned against the bed, gazing out the window.

At a glance, her face appeared almost sickly pale, but it was brimming with life. Her silver eyes, which shimmered in different colors whenever the light hit them, exuded a sense of mystery. Overall, she had a petite frame, yet she possessed the characteristic playfulness and bright smile of someone her age.

Her name was Leila Steven, the precious youngest daughter of a Count.

She idly swung her legs as she stared out the window.

“Well, for a new life, I certainly struck gold.”

Leila muttered softly to herself.

In her past life, she was a South Korean citizen named Kang Ahra. However, for some unknown reason, after waking up from a car accident, she found herself transformed into a Count’s daughter named Leila. It had already been over a month since she became Leila.

When she first opened her eyes, she couldn’t comprehend the situation. Everything was foreign. Yet, she managed to adapt to her new life quickly. Her life had always been that way. Events always unfolded unexpectedly, and adapting to such changes was what she did best.

Besides, if the new life she gained was this privileged, there was no reason to refuse it. She didn’t know if there was a way to return to her original world, nor did she have a reason to go back.

In her original world, she was always alone. She had no parents to cherish her, nor close friends to spend time with. But here, things were different. In this strictly stratified society, she was a Count’s daughter, and at the same time, she was receiving an abundance of affection from a family—something she had never experienced in Korea.

Although she lacked a mother here as well, she had a father and an older brother who adored her and held her dear. Therefore, this new status was more than satisfying enough.

Furthermore, back in Korea, she had been too busy making a living to even date properly, but that wasn’t the case here. Before she had reincarnated into this body, Leila already had a lover.

“Well, the problem isn’t that.”

Currently, Leila was facing a major decision.

Precisely because of that very lover.

Her joy at having a partner for the first time was short-lived; Leila was now preparing for a breakup.

Objectively speaking, her lover was quite a decent catch. Compared to Leila’s status, his lineage wasn’t particularly grand, but he had an excellent appearance and a very gentle personality. He was so considerate and treated her with such courtesy that whenever she was with him, she could feel just how much he liked her.

However, there was a fatal flaw in this otherwise wonderful man. To others, it might not be much of an issue, but to Leila, it was a massive problem. It was a flaw so severe that, no matter how great of a man he was, she absolutely could not continue this relationship.

The issue was that her lover possessed the personality of an absolute pushover.

While it was wonderful that he was kind and considerate toward her, she didn’t want him to be that way with everyone else. She knew all too well what kind of results followed when kindness and consideration were excessive.

In particular, her lover wasn’t just mildly sweet and attentive. As the word ‘pushover’ implied, it was extreme. He couldn’t reject other people’s requests and believed their words unconditionally. He didn’t harbor a shred of doubt, even toward lies that anyone else could see right through.

Even though he was a nobleman, he was only a viscount, so his family couldn’t be that wealthy. Yet, he constantly handed out money to those around him.

That was the most unbearable reason of all.

Leila despised pushovers. One could view it as simply being nice, but when it went too far, such people were merely used by others and ended up bringing nothing but pain to those they held dear.

And Leila already knew someone like that. Her father in her past life had that exact personality. Because of it, Leila had to endure a miserable childhood.

She never wanted to experience that kind of life again.

Thus, though it was a pity, Leila resolved to break up with him. Aside from his personality, his appearance was perfectly her ideal type, making it a shame to let him go, but it couldn’t be helped. Especially since he truly cherished her.

Fortunately, this world wasn’t overly strict about romance. People were free to date other individuals before marriage, and dating someone didn’t mean they were obligated to marry them. Unlike typical fantasy worlds, love marriages were much more common here than pre-arranged political matches, even among aristocratic families.

Therefore, just because she was a Count’s daughter didn’t mean she had to marry a designated person, nor did she have to marry the man she was currently dating. Since dating experience before marriage carried no stigma, Leila boldly decided to break up with her current lover and find another man. Though she did worry whether she could meet someone who would love her as much as he did, and whom she could love in return.

“To do that, I have to tell him we’re breaking up first, though.”

That was Leila’s dilemma.

How exactly to deliver the breakup news to him.

The breakup itself was already set in stone. It was certain that he was a partner too good to lose, but his pushover nature was a dealbreaker. However, because he was such a wholesome, upstanding man—so incredibly kind that it pricked her tiny conscience—it was truly difficult to utter the words.

Consequently, she had postponed the breakup announcement for a week. She could no longer drag her feet.

“I am absolutely telling him today.”

Determined not to delay any further, Leila wore a firm expression. She felt sorry for him, but it was unavoidable.

‘Ha, seriously, if only his personality were just a little bit worse, it would have been perfect.’

It was her first time wishing someone’s personality were worse because they were too nice, which left Leila with a rather bizarre feeling.

Shaking off her thoughts, Leila began getting ready for their upcoming date.

At Leila’s call, the maids who had been waiting outside the door entered to help her dress. Reflecting Leila’s preference for outfits that felt overall feminine yet cute, the dresses the maids brought in matched that exact taste. Choosing a mini dress that fell just below her knees, Leila changed with the assistance of her maids.

Next came her makeup. Her voluminous, curly hair was tied into twin tails. True to Leila’s taste, the hair ties were adorned with cute ribbons. After putting on a headband decorated with small bells, Leila was fully ready.

“You look truly adorable, My Lady,” the maid admired as she finished styling Leila.

Perhaps because she grew up receiving the love of her father and older brother, Leila radiated a natural, abundant loveliness.

If she had to pick one of the things she loved most about this new life, this appearance was certainly on the list. In her past life, she had been on the prettier side, but due to her sharp eyes, people rarely approached her and found her intimidating.

“Thank you,” Leila said, offering a soft smile.

At that smile, the maid clasped her hands together, staring at Leila with a dazed expression.

‘My goodness, how can someone this lovely even exist?’

She could fully understand why Count Steven and his son, Raven, doted on Leila so entirely. It was impossible for anyone to dislike a girl this endearing.

“Then, I’ll be off for my date!”

Though, to be precise, it was a date meant solely for a breakup announcement.

Leila stepped out of her room, purposely keeping her footsteps light.

However, before she could even head to the rendezvous spot, Leila ran into her older brother, Raven.

Raven was a handsome man who exuded a masculine charm. Hinting at his status as a knight, he possessed broad shoulders and a robust physique. Notably, unlike Leila, Raven had a rather fierce impression that could easily frighten someone meeting him for the first time. He was currently looking down at Leila with a rigid expression that made his sharp features look even more intimidating.

“Brother!” Leila greeted him cheerfully, acknowledging his presence.

At her greeting, Raven’s expression softened slightly, but it lasted only for a fleeting moment. He quickly resumed a highly fierce look.

“Where do you think you’re going dressed like that?” Raven’s face twisted slightly as if something displeased him.

Yet, Leila wasn’t intimidated by that expression in the slightest. She knew from the start that his displeasure didn’t stem from actually disliking her actions. Though he looked menacing on the outside, she knew very well that he was an older brother more affectionate than anyone else.

“Oh, come on, Brother. I told you beforehand that I have a date with Kei today.”

“And you’re going like that?”

Raven already knew that Leila had a date today with her lover, whom she affectionately called Kei. He did not approve of Kei.

Leila was a younger sister so precious that it wouldn’t hurt even if he put her in his eyes*; she was too good for anyone. No matter who her lover was, Raven wouldn’t have liked him.

[*T/N: Korean idiom meaning to love someone so much that they could do no wrong]

“Hmm, do I look weird?”

Even though she knew that wasn’t the reason behind Raven’s sour expression, Leila pouted playfully, pretending to worry that her outfit was strange.

“Weird? No. The problem is that you look too beautiful. Why must you dress up so prettily just to go out?”

“But it’s a date.” Leila smiled cutely, adopting a shy expression.

“Hmph. To think you have to show such a beautiful side to a guy like him—it’s such a waste,” Raven grumbled, his face tightening with genuine discontent.

“But I always want to look my best in front of him.”

Though, to be exact, she had dressed up exceptionally well today as a minimum courtesy for him, given the impending breakup.

“Still… this is just too pretty. What if some sketchy bastard bothers you because you look so beautiful?” Raven frowned, his brow furrowing with worry.

“Then Kei will protect me. Besides, who would dare lay a hand on me, a Count’s daughter?”

While their status might not carry the same weight as a Marquis or a Duke, the influence of a Count’s family was by no means light. In particular, the current Count Steven enjoyed the absolute favor of the Emperor.

“Even so, absolutely not. You’re too pretty. Go change into something else,” Raven said in a firm voice.

“Even if I change into something else, you’ll just say I’m too pretty and tell me no again.”

Having already experienced this exact situation multiple times, Leila countered smoothly.

Hit right in the bullseye, Raven lost his words for a moment.

“So, I’ll see you later! Bye, Brother!”

Using the title ‘Brother’—a word Raven completely had a blind spot for—Leila utterly distracted him and quickly darted out of the estate.