*****

「Gatan,」 went the sound, and I felt the carriage shake and then stop. It seemed we had arrived at our destination.

The man in the black outfit and mask, whose face I couldn't clearly see but whose eyes were visible, looked at me. I put on a blank expression, pretending to be utterly oblivious: 「I don't undewstand a thing.」

The man lifted me with his rough hands. Ugh, I hated that; I wanted a woman to carry me. Since I couldn't say that, I reluctantly accepted it. It wouldn't be good to resist right now.

Stepping out of the carriage, a house—no, a large building on the level of a mansion—appeared before me. I looked around, but it stood alone, isolated and lonely, like a solitary house in the wilderness.

(Even if I screamed, calling for help would be impossible.)

If this were in a town, there would be patrols even late at night. But when you're in a solitary house like this, you can't expect that.

A house in the middle of nowhere. Yet the building was quite large and splendid. Given that, the master of these black-clad guys is almost certainly a noble.

(Aww, my elegant and lazy reincarnated life is getting complicated...)

My past life, spent as a student studying for college entrance exams after high school, wasn't so bad. My dad was a regular salaryman, and my mom was a part-time homemaker. My older sister... well, she was a bit of a slave driver, but she took good care of me when I was little. A mundane family, a mundane daily life—I realize now how happy that was.

I sometimes think of them. But my memories are slowly blurring, and now I can no longer recall their faces. However, I wanted to convey just one thing to my family, who might be grieving my death.

That I'm living very happily now. And that they should forget about me.

That's impossible, though.

All I can do now is fully enjoy my new life.

Yet, why did I have to be kidnapped right after celebrating my first birthday? The security at the Ducal mansion is like a sieve. They must have understood I was related to the Ducal family to carry out this crime.

And furthermore.

(Did they know that the birthday party was being held today...?)

That's too perfect to be called a coincidence. I suspect they must be scoundrels who overheard talk of the party somewhere. If so, I doubt they're connected to a foreign country. I don't know for sure, but I assume so.

I don't know how much power the Ducal family holds or where they rank among the nobility. And I don't know a thing about what my scary uncle does for work.

Therefore, I have absolutely no idea who kidnapped me or why.

If that's the case, it might take a lot of time for my uncle, Melissa, and my father to pinpoint the culprit.

No, maybe they already have a lead on the culprit who targeted me, and I just don't know it.

Still, I think it's best not to expect too much.

So, what should I do? The answer is simple: escape on my own. That's the only option.

The plan is this.

First, the black-clad guy will take me to the master, who is probably inside the mansion. I'll act like a well-behaved child in front of the master. Once they let their guard down, I'll start fussing that I'm sleepy. Then they'll probably take me to a separate room and tell me to sleep. Well, being left alone is a certainty. Once I'm alone, I'll use Wind Magic to fly out the window and escape.

That's it.

What a perfect plan! I'm a genius!

Is there any other one-year-old who could do this? No, there isn't. Wow, the future where I become a Great Mage might not be so far off!

The men didn't notice I was grinning to myself while thinking such thoughts in the man's arms. Without any suspicion, they walked straight into the mansion. Alright, time to meet the mastermind!

I need to carefully observe the features of the culprit's face so I can tell my uncles who it is.

When my uncle finds out I escaped on my own and even identified the culprit... even he won't be able to look down on me. Maybe my living conditions will be improved?

While I was secretly chuckling to myself, Heh-heh-heh..., the man stopped in front of a certain room. Knocking con-con—he's quite the gentleman.

Just as I thought that, a voice asked,

「What is it?」

「We have brought him,」 the man replied. Immediately after, the answer came, 「Enter,」 and the man reached for the door.

Hold on, wait a minute. I definitely wished for it. It's true that I wished for something inappropriate. But who would think it would actually come true?

Beyond the door that creaked open—Giii... The moment I recognized the beautiful silver-haired lady. (Yesss! A beauty! I got a beauty!!!!) I kept that thought a secret.