Thank goodness, Rebecca returned to the church without seeing her father. But another trouble awaited her... She’d once told Laura and others that eleven years ago, on the way to her grandfather’s house with her family, she’d had an accident and ended up stranded among the Demon Race. Laura had helped investigate this a bit. And unfortunately, the eldest son’s family of the Ruta Family in Rucadan really had suffered a border accident eleven years ago. So the whole clan rushed over upon hearing the news.

"Hiss... so beautiful. Hmm... she looks like me. And her eyes—those are the unique green of the Bantuo Kingdom royal blood..." A stunning woman in her thirties removed Rebecca’s hood, pulled down her collar, and examined her closely. Surprisingly, this beauty bore a striking resemblance to Rebecca.

"Ah! It’s you!" A familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind the woman.

"Uh..." Rebecca froze, staring at the girl who’d just jumped in front of her—a face she half-recognized.

"Aunt Mia! She’s the nun who saved my sister yesterday!"

"Huh? Really?" Mia asked, startled.

"Yes! I was terrified back then, but she’s so gorgeous—I could never forget her!" the girl insisted firmly.

"Wha... what’s happening?" Kami muttered nearby, utterly confused.

"Well," Mia explained, "my niece fainted on the road yesterday and was saved by a nun. We came today to thank her, but we overheard Laura asking around Rucadan about families who’d had border accidents eleven years ago. The two things just... lined up. Everyone’s here now~" Mia found it uncanny, studying Rebecca even more intently.

"Rebecca, you know medicine?" Laura blurted in surprise.

Rebecca didn’t hide it—medical skills weren’t weird. She simply nodded. Thankfully, the girl hadn’t detailed how she’d been saved; otherwise, Kami would’ve panicked.

"She’s Beino’s child..." An old man who’d sat silently in the back rose with a cane, his gaze piercing Rebecca with profound intensity. She felt uneasy under it, sensing this elder was extraordinary.

"Father, shouldn’t we verify this further?" A man who’d stood to support him frowned slightly.

"No need... She’s Beino’s child. Her eyes... her brows... her..." The old man grew more agitated, losing his composure as violent coughs wracked him. "Cough! Cough! Cough!"

"Father! Father! Sit down, please!" The man anxiously guided him back into his chair. Mia, the girl, Kami, and the other nuns rushed over, offering holy water.

"Duke Ruta! Breathe slowly. Drink some holy water..." Kami gently patted his chest, her voice soft.

"Heart condition?" Rebecca wondered, watching helplessly. She knew holy water had restorative properties—magic in this world was wondrous, even in medicine. But she’d read in books why healthcare lagged despite that: people here barely understood disease causes or symptoms, so they couldn’t treat properly. To Rebecca, even powerful healing magic was useless in the hands of clueless practitioners.

After drinking the water, the duke’s breathing steadied. He slumped in his chair, his imposing aura returning—yet when he looked at Rebecca, that suffocating pressure vanished. Only complex emotions remained: nostalgia, sorrow, pain, joy...

Just then, Saint Monica and the bishop—a man Rebecca had never seen—rushed in.

"Duke Ruta, are you unharmed?" the bishop asked.

"You know I despise seeing you," the duke snapped, shifting his gaze from Rebecca to glare coldly at him. Few in the empire dared speak so to the Norna Faith’s bishop!

"That’s why I stayed away. But hearing of your distress, I came immediately," the bishop replied with a thin, fake smile. Rebecca instantly disliked the fifty-year-old’s insincere expression.

The duke’s family glared at the bishop. He merely narrowed his eyes, silent, and turned to Saint Monica.

"Monica, thank you for caring for my granddaughter. And thank your student for rescuing her from the Dark Lord’s palace."

Saint Monica bowed slightly, smiling in respectful silence.

The duke nodded, then struggled to stand with his children’s support. He walked to Rebecca, extending his wrinkled, aged hand. "Come home with me..."

Rebecca stared blankly, her mind frozen.

What nonsense is this? She hadn’t said a word—how had she become someone’s granddaughter? Old man, you can’t just assume things because I look like your daughter! You should’ve listened to your son and verified!

Her head throbbed. Pretending was already a hassle—less trouble than strutting into human lands as the Demonic Princess, sure, but still a hassle! Now a whole family of relatives popped up. Rebecca felt like fate was mocking her. She didn’t believe in heavens, but this was absurdly dramatic...

She just wanted to quietly find the Alchemy Codex, undisturbed. Yet troubles kept piling up.

"Rebecca, go. He’s your grandfather..." Kami wrapped an arm around her shoulders, speaking gently. Seeing Rebecca hesitate, she assumed fear or hesitation—after all, so many years had passed; surely emotions ran deep.

The duke still held out his hand, his eyes kind yet hopeful.

Rebecca felt dizzy. If this world had phones and the internet, she’d post right now: "Strangers claim I’m family—help! Urgent!"

Seconds ticked by. Rebecca didn’t move. Disappointment deepened in the duke’s eyes. Seeing that flicker, Rebecca—who hated trouble more than anything—impulsively reached out and took his hand.

The duke beamed with joy.

Rebecca instantly regretted it. In her mind, a face covered in question marks flashed.

Who am I? Where am I? Why did I do that?

In the end, it was just Rebecca’s soft heart...