Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I met Jianne again today.
And I heard how she ended up with the duke’s child.
She mentioned something about drugging his wine and even taking banned fertility elixirs.
Those elixirs were made illegal years ago…
It seems she entrusted the back-alley guild with this matter.
Committing such an audacious act. Unbelievable.
I hesitated but eventually informed Jianne about the duchess’s pregnancy.
Along with the fact that both pregnancies occurred around the same time.
Jianne cried.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
It’s autumn.
I met Jianne.
Her belly has grown quite a bit now.
She hasn’t been well these days, perhaps due to all the emotional turmoil.
Jianne appeared anxious, like someone overwhelmed by fear or hesitation.
We agreed to meet again sometime.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Jianne told me she has decided on a name for the baby.
If it’s a girl, Rosetta, if it’s a boy, Lian.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
This is unbelievable.
Swapping babies?
Does that even make sense?
.
.
Jianne… made me an offer.
She asked for my help to swap the babies.
She doesn’t want to raise her own child as a bastard.
If I agree to switch the babies, she promised to give me immense power and wealth once she secures a position in this ducal estate alongside her child.
I… I couldn’t refuse.
I asked for some time to think.
But is this temptation too strong to resist?
How long can I continue living as a maid?
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Today, the Duchess gave me a necklace as a gift.
She said it doesn’t suit her, so she gave it to me.
…I was grateful.
She can be kind at times.
It’s strange, though.
Why do I feel so uncomfortable?
I often get this feeling.
Whenever she bestows kindness like this, I feel like I’m some street urchin.
I’m thankful, yet I find it ridiculous when she treats me like a sister.
No matter how kindly you treat me like a sister, I am a servant, and you are the duchess.
You give, and I receive.
I suppose this position will never change.
…Ah, I’m sick of it.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I met Jianne.
I accepted Jianne’s proposal.
We decided to swap the babies.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I received medicine from Jianne.
She said it’s a drug that can adjust the pregnancy period. We plan to use it to synchronize the birthdates of the two babies.
This drug, too, has severe side effects and is prohibited.
…The duchess is already not in the best health… Is this going to be okay?
But I can’t back out now. I’m sorry, Madam.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I’ve been discreetly adding the medicine to the duchess’s tea. I don’t think I’ll be caught.
Jianne’s due date is in November, and the Duchess’s due date is in January, so we decided to aim for December.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Jianne brought a strange gem.
She said if you wear it, your hair and eye colors can change as you wish.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I bought out the doctor who works in the ducal estate.
I can’t really afford to pay off a doctor who especially works for noble families or the aristocracy, but anyway, she’s supposed to be coming here in January.
Since the madam will be giving birth prematurely in December, I’ll be the one delivering the baby.
As a precaution, I casually mentioned that I’ve delivered babies a few times before.
The duchess seemed intrigued.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
It’s snowing. Winter has arrived.
Jianne has smoothly passed her due date. There are only a few days left until the set date for the plan.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Jianne gave birth two days earlier than expected.
It was a girl with golden eyes and blonde hair.
This is a problem. As time passes, it will become more challenging to swap the babies.
Jianne told me to feed the duchess more of the drug than usual.
I hesitated due to concerns about side effects, but Jianne shouted that we’re already in this together.
If this plan falls apart, I’ll die too.
How did it come to this?
I don’t know. I really don’t know.
I’m too far gone to turn back.
I gave her a higher dose.
Around evening, the duchess started experiencing labor.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
…The duchess gave birth.
It was a month earlier than the due date, so instead of a midwife, the doctor and I delivered the baby.
The baby had silver hair.
To prevent the baby’s appearance from being revealed, I kept the room darker than usual, so I was the only one who saw the baby’s hair color.
I immediately wrapped the baby in a swaddle.
Then, I used the gem Jianne provided, placing it against the baby’s back and activated it.
Within the swaddle, the baby’s hair color changed to blonde.
Right after giving birth to the baby, the duchess’s room turned chaotic.
Shortly after giving birth, she lost consciousness, likely due to the side effects of the drug.
…If she were to pass away like this, what would I do?
If that happens…
If that truly happens…
…Will Jianne become the next duchess?
In any case, I seized the opportunity when the duchess collapsed and chaos ensued to take the baby and leave the room.
I told them we were going to the room we had prepared for the baby in advance, and no one tried to stop me.
On our way, I encountered the duke.
He had hurried footsteps upon hearing the news of the duchess’s critical condition.
To ensure the baby was properly checked, I briefly showed the beautiful blonde-haired baby and referred to her as the beautiful ducal lady.
Finally, a voice from inside the room exclaimed, “My lady!”
The duke resumed his halted steps.
I held the baby close and made my way inside the prepared room, where I could finally catch my breath, my entire body soaked with cold sweat.
Shortly after, the doctor who delivered the baby arrived.
The duchess’s personal physician had come to check on the baby and excused herself to leave.
The doctor held the baby and left the room.
I wrapped a pillow tightly in the swaddle and held it close to my chest, in case someone walked in and needed to believe I was nursing the baby.
Meanwhile, the doctor pretended to head to the infirmary through the servant’s passage, while the servants hushed in agreement.
Then, on the other side, Jianne and the baby, whom we had swapped, were waiting.
The doctor returned to the room.
After examining the baby, he confirmed that the hair color was indeed bright blonde.
…It wasn’t magically disguised blonde hair. It was genuine.
The plan had succeeded.
This baby was Rosetta, or rather…
From now on, she would be Alicia.
* * *
“Hiic, uurk.”
Alicia covered her mouth with her hand in disgust.
She staggered to her feet and rushed to the bathroom, leaning over the sink. A hot, colorless liquid poured out of her throat.
Her throat felt like it was scalding, and she had the sensation that tears were flowing down her throat.
Suddenly, she realized the firm grip on her hand.
Unconsciously, she had been clutching the gem hidden under the wardrobe, along with the diary.
She slowly opened her hand.
On her pale, trembling palm, there were faint red marks matching the shape of the gem she had clenched.
As she looked at the gem and the red marks, a passage from the diary came to mind.
Then, I used the gem Jianne provided, placing it against the baby’s back and activated it.
Within the swaddle, the baby’s hair color changed to blonde.
‘Is this… the gem?’
Images from her dreams flashed through her hazy mind.
Katie holding the crying baby in her arms, the baby with silver hair. It was a vivid memory now.
Alicia imagined the scene of the baby’s hair gradually changing to blonde as she cried.
It wasn’t hard to picture.
Just… like that.
All that’s needed was to change the hair color.
Alicia clutched the gem again without realizing it. One corner of the jagged gem pricked her palm.
She closed her eyes.
‘…Silver. My hair… make it silver…”
Like my sister.
Like my father.
Like my brother.
Yes, like her family.
After her mother passed away, she had occasionally made this wish in her mind.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Her reflection in the mirror appeared blurry through the clouded haze of her vision.
…Clouded.
No, it was shining.
It was silver.
Her hair was glowing with a silvery sheen.
“Ah… haha…”
Alicia burst into laughter, a laugh she never thought she would make.
The gem slipped from her weakened hand.
Thud, it rolled across the empty space, echoing like a rock tumbling down a void.
Her hair had turned blonde again.
“Ha… haha… ha…”
Alicia continued to laugh emptily as she sat down on the floor.
Her clothes were soaked with sweat, but she couldn’t care less.
No, she wished her whole body was drenched.
As if she had fallen into a vast ocean.
Sinking deeper and deeper.
To go far, far down, where even her breath would cease.
That way, maybe her torn heart would ache a little less.
She could forget all the pain.
Even if she cried out loudly, trapped tears wouldn’t escape and be betrayed by the drops of water.
Tears mixed with water wouldn’t leave any evidence.
Yes, she wished it were like that.
But unlike her wishes, the winter air was too dry.
The cold air seemed to cut into her throat if she breathed wrongly.
Alicia knelt on the floor.
Burying her face in her hands and hunching over, she seemed like she was begging someone.
The laughter had long turned into silent cries.
“Alicia.”
A voice reached her ears when her tears had already dried.
Alicia slowly raised her upper body.
“Alicia, can you hear me?”
The voice reached her ears again.
Alicia, in her familiar manner, turned her head in the direction where the voice was coming from.
The small mirror, shining on her desk.
Her heavy body hesitated as if waiting for something on the floor.
Approaching the mirror, Alicia reached out her hand and grasped it.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I met Jianne again today.
And I heard how she ended up with the duke’s child.
She mentioned something about drugging his wine and even taking banned fertility elixirs.
Those elixirs were made illegal years ago…
It seems she entrusted the back-alley guild with this matter.
Committing such an audacious act. Unbelievable.
I hesitated but eventually informed Jianne about the duchess’s pregnancy.
Along with the fact that both pregnancies occurred around the same time.
Jianne cried.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
It’s autumn.
I met Jianne.
Her belly has grown quite a bit now.
She hasn’t been well these days, perhaps due to all the emotional turmoil.
Jianne appeared anxious, like someone overwhelmed by fear or hesitation.
We agreed to meet again sometime.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Jianne told me she has decided on a name for the baby.
If it’s a girl, Rosetta, if it’s a boy, Lian.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
This is unbelievable.
Swapping babies?
Does that even make sense?
.
.
Jianne… made me an offer.
She asked for my help to swap the babies.
She doesn’t want to raise her own child as a bastard.
If I agree to switch the babies, she promised to give me immense power and wealth once she secures a position in this ducal estate alongside her child.
I… I couldn’t refuse.
I asked for some time to think.
But is this temptation too strong to resist?
How long can I continue living as a maid?
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Today, the Duchess gave me a necklace as a gift.
She said it doesn’t suit her, so she gave it to me.
…I was grateful.
She can be kind at times.
It’s strange, though.
Why do I feel so uncomfortable?
I often get this feeling.
Whenever she bestows kindness like this, I feel like I’m some street urchin.
I’m thankful, yet I find it ridiculous when she treats me like a sister.
No matter how kindly you treat me like a sister, I am a servant, and you are the duchess.
You give, and I receive.
I suppose this position will never change.
…Ah, I’m sick of it.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I met Jianne.
I accepted Jianne’s proposal.
We decided to swap the babies.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I received medicine from Jianne.
She said it’s a drug that can adjust the pregnancy period. We plan to use it to synchronize the birthdates of the two babies.
This drug, too, has severe side effects and is prohibited.
…The duchess is already not in the best health… Is this going to be okay?
But I can’t back out now. I’m sorry, Madam.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I’ve been discreetly adding the medicine to the duchess’s tea. I don’t think I’ll be caught.
Jianne’s due date is in November, and the Duchess’s due date is in January, so we decided to aim for December.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Jianne brought a strange gem.
She said if you wear it, your hair and eye colors can change as you wish.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
I bought out the doctor who works in the ducal estate.
I can’t really afford to pay off a doctor who especially works for noble families or the aristocracy, but anyway, she’s supposed to be coming here in January.
Since the madam will be giving birth prematurely in December, I’ll be the one delivering the baby.
As a precaution, I casually mentioned that I’ve delivered babies a few times before.
The duchess seemed intrigued.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
It’s snowing. Winter has arrived.
Jianne has smoothly passed her due date. There are only a few days left until the set date for the plan.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
Jianne gave birth two days earlier than expected.
It was a girl with golden eyes and blonde hair.
This is a problem. As time passes, it will become more challenging to swap the babies.
Jianne told me to feed the duchess more of the drug than usual.
I hesitated due to concerns about side effects, but Jianne shouted that we’re already in this together.
If this plan falls apart, I’ll die too.
How did it come to this?
I don’t know. I really don’t know.
I’m too far gone to turn back.
I gave her a higher dose.
Around evening, the duchess started experiencing labor.
Day XX Month XX of the Year XX
…The duchess gave birth.
It was a month earlier than the due date, so instead of a midwife, the doctor and I delivered the baby.
The baby had silver hair.
To prevent the baby’s appearance from being revealed, I kept the room darker than usual, so I was the only one who saw the baby’s hair color.
I immediately wrapped the baby in a swaddle.
Then, I used the gem Jianne provided, placing it against the baby’s back and activated it.
Within the swaddle, the baby’s hair color changed to blonde.
Right after giving birth to the baby, the duchess’s room turned chaotic.
Shortly after giving birth, she lost consciousness, likely due to the side effects of the drug.
…If she were to pass away like this, what would I do?
If that happens…
If that truly happens…
…Will Jianne become the next duchess?
In any case, I seized the opportunity when the duchess collapsed and chaos ensued to take the baby and leave the room.
I told them we were going to the room we had prepared for the baby in advance, and no one tried to stop me.
On our way, I encountered the duke.
He had hurried footsteps upon hearing the news of the duchess’s critical condition.
To ensure the baby was properly checked, I briefly showed the beautiful blonde-haired baby and referred to her as the beautiful ducal lady.
Finally, a voice from inside the room exclaimed, “My lady!”
The duke resumed his halted steps.
I held the baby close and made my way inside the prepared room, where I could finally catch my breath, my entire body soaked with cold sweat.
Shortly after, the doctor who delivered the baby arrived.
The duchess’s personal physician had come to check on the baby and excused herself to leave.
The doctor held the baby and left the room.
I wrapped a pillow tightly in the swaddle and held it close to my chest, in case someone walked in and needed to believe I was nursing the baby.
Meanwhile, the doctor pretended to head to the infirmary through the servant’s passage, while the servants hushed in agreement.
Then, on the other side, Jianne and the baby, whom we had swapped, were waiting.
The doctor returned to the room.
After examining the baby, he confirmed that the hair color was indeed bright blonde.
…It wasn’t magically disguised blonde hair. It was genuine.
The plan had succeeded.
This baby was Rosetta, or rather…
From now on, she would be Alicia.
* * *
“Hiic, uurk.”
Alicia covered her mouth with her hand in disgust.
She staggered to her feet and rushed to the bathroom, leaning over the sink. A hot, colorless liquid poured out of her throat.
Her throat felt like it was scalding, and she had the sensation that tears were flowing down her throat.
Suddenly, she realized the firm grip on her hand.
Unconsciously, she had been clutching the gem hidden under the wardrobe, along with the diary.
She slowly opened her hand.
On her pale, trembling palm, there were faint red marks matching the shape of the gem she had clenched.
As she looked at the gem and the red marks, a passage from the diary came to mind.
Then, I used the gem Jianne provided, placing it against the baby’s back and activated it.
Within the swaddle, the baby’s hair color changed to blonde.
‘Is this… the gem?’
Images from her dreams flashed through her hazy mind.
Katie holding the crying baby in her arms, the baby with silver hair. It was a vivid memory now.
Alicia imagined the scene of the baby’s hair gradually changing to blonde as she cried.
It wasn’t hard to picture.
Just… like that.
All that’s needed was to change the hair color.
Alicia clutched the gem again without realizing it. One corner of the jagged gem pricked her palm.
She closed her eyes.
‘…Silver. My hair… make it silver…”
Like my sister.
Like my father.
Like my brother.
Yes, like her family.
After her mother passed away, she had occasionally made this wish in her mind.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Her reflection in the mirror appeared blurry through the clouded haze of her vision.
…Clouded.
No, it was shining.
It was silver.
Her hair was glowing with a silvery sheen.
“Ah… haha…”
Alicia burst into laughter, a laugh she never thought she would make.
The gem slipped from her weakened hand.
Thud, it rolled across the empty space, echoing like a rock tumbling down a void.
Her hair had turned blonde again.
“Ha… haha… ha…”
Alicia continued to laugh emptily as she sat down on the floor.
Her clothes were soaked with sweat, but she couldn’t care less.
No, she wished her whole body was drenched.
As if she had fallen into a vast ocean.
Sinking deeper and deeper.
To go far, far down, where even her breath would cease.
That way, maybe her torn heart would ache a little less.
She could forget all the pain.
Even if she cried out loudly, trapped tears wouldn’t escape and be betrayed by the drops of water.
Tears mixed with water wouldn’t leave any evidence.
Yes, she wished it were like that.
But unlike her wishes, the winter air was too dry.
The cold air seemed to cut into her throat if she breathed wrongly.
Alicia knelt on the floor.
Burying her face in her hands and hunching over, she seemed like she was begging someone.
The laughter had long turned into silent cries.
“Alicia.”
A voice reached her ears when her tears had already dried.
Alicia slowly raised her upper body.
“Alicia, can you hear me?”
The voice reached her ears again.
Alicia, in her familiar manner, turned her head in the direction where the voice was coming from.
The small mirror, shining on her desk.
Her heavy body hesitated as if waiting for something on the floor.
Approaching the mirror, Alicia reached out her hand and grasped it.
