Adeline Wesley.

That was the name of the new body I had acquired.

The esteemed daughter of the northern Viscount Wesley family, and Adeline’s legitimate daughter who inherited the title above viscount.

I didn’t enter this body right away. After accepting Adeline’s proposal, I had to spend quite a long time learning about the Wesleys.

It was a much better situation compared to my past self who didn’t even have flour to eat for the day.

Except for the fact that the new mother had poisoned her.

Still, Adeline, her stepmother, and half-sibling had been getting along really well even after the viscount passed away two years ago.

The new mother, Esme, treated Adeline terribly well.

To the point where Adeline trusted Esme and handed over all the authority of the viscount family. Until Adeline decided to get married, that is.

Believing that Adeline would lose all her titles and property if she got married and had a child, the new mother decided to take everything away and give it to her own child.

It was a predictable story that could be seen anywhere.

The new mother secretly poisoned Adeline and her fiancé, and Adeline survived while her fiancé died.

That was why Adeline wanted revenge while also wanting to die.

To be honest, I don’t understand Adeline. If you want revenge, you should do it yourself. You can die after that if you want.

“But it worked out well for me.”

Muttering, I got down from under the bed and pulled the bell rope. Then a maid came running in, on the verge of tears.

“Vi-Viscount! You’re awake? You’re really awake! I believed you would come back!”

Lies.

Adeline had warned me not to trust the red-haired maid.

Despite being with Adeline for the longest time, it was this maid who poisoned Adeline’s tea.

“……Lydia.”

“Yes! It’s me, Viscount! Your faithful servant and friend, Lydia! Oh God, thank you!”

To think such a sincere-looking woman poisoned her. You were really naive, Leira. To think that trash would actually keep his promise, when even those with innocent faces can deceive and betray.

It was almost laughable.

“……Yes, Lydia. Thank you for worrying. Come here, let me hug you.”

When you get closest, you start to see things that weren’t visible before.

Lydia hesitated before falling into my arms.

Lydia smelled of expensive perfume that didn’t suit her. And her glossy skin and hair, and the necklace hidden under her clothes that didn’t match.

It must be the reward for poisoning Adeline’s tea.

Things that wouldn’t have been visible before started to become apparent after dying and coming back to life. Is this why they say people only learn through experience?

Well, I’m grateful. If it weren’t for Duke Andres, I would still be a naive, ordinary girl.

The first thing to do is to kick out this wench.

I let out a snicker and slipped what I was holding into Lydia’s apron pocket.

*

After Lydia left, the Wesley family doctor examined me. Behind him stood Esme Wesley and Jayden Wesley.

They looked very worried about me. That woman is the new mother who’s desperate to kill Adeline, and that’s the half-brother in order.

From what I heard, that so-called half-brother isn’t even really of Wesley blood. Viscount Wesley’s remarriage took place 10 years ago.

Viscount Wesley believed Esme to be his last love and registered her child in the family registry.

Why is everyone so naive?

My mouth went dry.

I need to sort this out quickly and bring Theodore here… Theodore must be working in the northern mines right now, unable to eat or drink properly.

He’s only 13 years old. What if he dies before I get there…

‘No!’

That can’t be. Theodore is such a strong child. I pulled myself together. Theodore will surely endure until I come to get him.

“How is she?”

Esme broke the silence. Her tense face was stained with various emotions. If I didn’t know anything, I would have thought she was really worried.

I let out a snicker.

“Fortunately, she’s healthy, madam.”

The old man said reassuringly.

“It seems the medicine has worked properly! The Viscount has fully recovered. The pneumonia has been cured!”

So the poison was disguised as pneumonia. Even the doctor must have been bought by Esme.

I clearly witnessed the expression that flashed across Esme’s face for an instant. She seems quite disappointed. That Adeline didn’t die.

“I’m so glad, Adeline.”

A smirk escaped.

Adeline, wait. I will definitely keep my promise.

And after that, my enemy was waiting.

Actually, there was someone else who should be more nervous than Esme.

Duke Dallas Andres. That trash. And everyone who went along with it. They must be sleeping soundly, knowing nothing?

Look forward to it. I’ve come back as a demon from hell.

*

They say the only person you can trust in the viscounty, which is just Esme’s puppet, is the head maid. It seems Adeline also wandered around as a ghost for a few days.

How cruel it is to learn the truth only after death.

I licked my lips with my tongue.

I had a lot to do. I needed to approach the Duke Vincent’s family as soon as possible and get Theodore out.

Before something really bad happens to Theodore.

After sending everyone out with the excuse of wanting to rest, I immediately called for the head maid. The head maid of the Wesley family was said to be Adeline’s birth mother’s maid.

After that, she ended up working for Esme, but it was said to be a relationship connected by money. If she has a mind that moves for money, maybe I can use her too.

“Ah, Naomi!”

“Did you call for me, Viscount? I’m so happy to see you recovered like this.”

The head maid said with a face that looked like she might cry.

“Thank you.”

I smiled brightly. There was a reason for calling Naomi right away like this.

As they say, strike while the iron is hot. It was to reap the fruits of the seeds I had planted earlier.

From what I heard from Adeline, the Wesley viscounty had amassed enormous wealth through a merchant guild.

And they were making a living through a small merchant guild, but after the viscount’s death, Esme was managing everything.

But when I checked after becoming a ghost, almost all of that wealth had disappeared and the merchant guild was about to close down.

Naomi had complaints about that.

“Do you know who managed my room while I was lying down?”

“Of course, Viscount. Lydia and I managed it.”

Actually, the biggest reason for kicking Lydia out is that she was bought by Madam Esme and poisoned my food, but it’s difficult to reveal that.

So I chose a faster path.

I needed to drive Lydia out so that I could move more freely.

If it’s Lydia, she would tell Madam Esme everything I do.

I don’t know how much time I have left, but I had to hurry. I can’t be tied down by a noose like Lydia.

And in the end.

I will see the Andres family wailing miserably.

“Is that so…?”

I tilted my head as if something was strange.

“Why… are you asking?”

Naomi asked with a tense face. Her eyes looking at me sank darkly.

“Nothing.”

I could see Naomi’s Adam’s apple move. Adeline said that Naomi is diligent and somewhat righteous.

But she said Naomi would never do anything that would cause her loss.

Naomi has a daughter she needs to take care of, and Naomi wants to send that daughter to the academy.

She can’t afford to lose her job to earn tuition for the academy.

“It seems the necklace my mother left me is missing…”

I let my voice trail off softly.

The reason it had to be a necklace ‘left by my mother’ was only one. To give more legitimacy to what I’m about to do now.

In fact, most of the valuables Adeline has were left by the deceased viscountess.

“Pardon?”

Naomi’s eyes widened.

“The emerald necklace. Naomi, have you seen the necklace by any chance?”

Naomi’s body trembled. Naomi is a smart person.

In a situation where only Naomi and Lydia are likely to be blamed for this, what choice will Naomi make?

“…I remember seeing an emerald necklace, Viscount. I’m sure you’ll be able to find it. I’ll check with Lydia to see if she knows anything about the necklace’s whereabouts.”

“Thank you, Naomi. You were the only one I could trust.”

I slumped my shoulders. To look as pitiful as possible.

Madam Esme must not know that I’m behind everything that’s about to happen from now on.

Everything has to be a coincidence, and I need to plant the misunderstanding that the ‘weak and kind’ Adeline couldn’t possibly orchestrate such things.

Until I gather my strength.

“Viscount…”

Naomi choked up.

“I will definitely find it for you. Please don’t be too disheartened.”

“Mm-hmm. I’m counting on you. It’s the necklace my mother left me. I’m upset because it’s something I can never get again… You understand how I feel, right Naomi?”

“Of course! How preciously you’ve cherished the heirlooms your mother left you, Viscount! Don’t worry!”

It seems I might have instilled a bit too much enthusiasm.

Now let’s wait and see what flavor the fruit will ripen into.