After finishing the book, the girl had only one thing to say: "She missed out on a good thing."

The protagonist of the novel she'd just devoured happened to be the illegitimate daughter of a marquis who toiled as a maid.

One fateful day, a royal decree arrived at the marquis's doorstep, commanding him to wed his daughter off to a soldier. Although of humble birth, this soldier had achieved remarkable feats on the battlefield, awaiting the honor of a formal title.

The emperor aimed to bring this talented and renowned soldier into his political fold, and he scoured the realm for a suitable noble household for this purpose. Before long, his choice fell upon the marquis's family, longtime loyal supporters.

Yet, the marquis's daughter vehemently rejected the idea of marrying a commoner and fled her home. With no alternative, and the weight of the royal decree bearing down on him, the marquis recognized his illegitimate daughter—the former maid—as his own and arranged her marriage to the soldier.

This soldier possessed a silo brimming with grain, ensuring a lifetime free from financial worries. He was not only rumored to be extraordinarily handsome but also held a distinguished reputation across the nation for his wartime exploits. With a kind-hearted disposition and robust health, he was the complete package.

Of course, the soldier eventually learned the truth about his bride's origins, but he cared little for her past. He treated her with such love and devotion that no one could ever guess she'd once been a humble servant. Together, they forged a bond, and their love story became one of pure bliss.

On the flip side, the runaway daughter's life took a dark turn as she encountered a sinister man in the streets, suffering both physically and emotionally. Fate reunited her with the soldier she'd once spurned, but her attempt to win him back by claiming her rightful place failed miserably. He saw through her ruse and banished her from his estate.

While most readers would sympathize with the main character, the girl found herself empathizing with the runaway daughter instead, feeling a profound sense of sorrow for her.

See, you shouldn't have rejected him.

With that final thought, the girl gently closed the book and drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Upon awakening, the girl found herself in an entirely unfamiliar setting. Enveloped in a soft, plush blanket, she gazed upon an ornate coat of arms from her bed, utterly bewildered.

What on earth...?

It was undeniably surreal. Suddenly, memories and thoughts not her own began flooding her mind—she was merging with someone else.

"Aaaah!!" She let out a blood-curdling scream.

Agitated by her screams, maids hurried into the room from the corridor.

"My lady!"

"Are you alright?"

Clutching her head, she looked at the maids in their black Western-style dresses with white frills. As she recognized these dresses as maid uniforms, she couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.

"Excuse me..."

"Yes, my lady?"

"I am Marquis Ian Horissen's only daughter, correct?"

The maids exchanged puzzled glances before nodding. "Indeed, that is correct."

"My God!" she exclaimed. She had transformed into the hapless Lady Aris Horissen, the character she had pitied the most.

She jumped out of bed and scrutinized her dainty, youthful hands, then dashed toward the nearest mirror. There, in her reflection, stood a girl who couldn't have been more than ten.

"I'm younger now," she muttered.

Not only had she regressed in age, but her appearance had also blossomed, as Aris Horissen had planned to win the male lead's heart with her beauty.

She clenched her fists determinedly.

She wouldn't let her destiny be dictated by the plot of a novel.

She was determined to live a new life.