Something feels off as I slowly open my eyes.
Ha...my head, it hurts, what happened to me after that? Where am I?
I scanned my surroundings for answers, trying to make sense of what is happening. This place... it doesn't look like my house. Am I dreaming?
"Aww... Looks like my baby is awake. Are you hungry? Don't worry, Mama will make sure you're nice and full."
A gentle voice reached me as I struggle to untangle the haze clouding my thoughts. I shifted my gaze toward the source and saw a woman sitting beside me on the bed, gazing down at me with a joyful expression. Her eyes sparkled with warmth, her smile so radiant it almost felt unreal.
My eyes widened as the woman began to remove her nightgown, revealing her breast. My mind raced, desperately trying to piece everything together. And yet, her expression remained soft and loving—completely at ease, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
Her hand slipped beneath me, gently lifting me up with a tenderness that left me even more bewildered.
What is going on? How is she able to lift me so easily? That shouldn't be possible—not with my weight. I wanted to ask her, to demand answers, but no words came out. It was like I had suddenly lost the ability to speak.
Okay, calm down. Let's think. Let's try to recall what happened in the last few hours.
I focused harder, ignoring the dull ache in my head. After straining to piece things together, I remembered—I was reading my One Piece manga when… wait a minute. Something crashed through my window.
A car… or a truck… Oh no, wait. Is this what I think it is? Have I been reincarnated?
My mind spiraled, torn between panic and confusion.
No. That's ridiculous. It's the kind of thing that only happens in anime or light novels. It's absurd. It's laughable.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed aside the chaos in my mind and focused on the woman lifting me up. I didn't know what was going on, but she was the only one who could give me answers.
So I stared up at her, wanting to ask... but the problem was, how could I, when I couldn't even bring myself to speak?
Unaware of the storm raging inside me, she gently drew me closer to her chest, cradling me against her exposed breast. "Here, my sweet little baby," she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. "Drink as much as you want."
Before I could even process her words, something sweet and milky filled my mouth. I froze, caught between awe and confusion.
It was her breast milk—I was actually drinking her breast milk. The thought alone was enough to make my jaw drop. Yet here I was, drinking straight from a woman's breast.
And somehow, it didn't taste bad. Unlike the regular milk I had always hated, this was sweeter, smoother—surprisingly pleasant.
Before I knew it, I found myself actually enjoying it. And so, without even thinking, I kept drinking.
The warmth of her embrace and the sweetness of the milk gradually calmed me, settling my frayed thoughts. The absurdity of the situation slowly began to fade, replaced by a reluctant sense of clarity.
Her effortless ability to lift me, my helplessness, the fact that I couldn't move or speak properly… everything pointed to one conclusion.
I've been reincarnated—just like in one of those fantasy novel stories. I'm definitely an infant now, and this woman must be my mother.
As absurd as it seemed, I couldn't deny it anymore. The way she cradled me so gently, her soft voice calling me her baby—it all felt too real. Her warmth, her touch, the comfort of her embrace… it was far too vivid to dismiss as a dream.
The reality had finally settled in.
Once I felt full, I stopped drinking. With my mind clearer—and having reluctantly accepted this bizarre new reality—I looked up at her… my mother, finding myself quietly admiring her beauty.
Her hair was like white silk, woven into a single, elegant braid that fell gracefully over her left shoulder, enhancing her beauty even more. Her eyes were as blue as the sky, and her facial features were flawless and refined, carrying the grace and elegance of nobility.
She was the kind of beauty you couldn't look away from after a single glance—just like I was doing now. And when our eyes met, she smiled warmly, clearly amused by my wide-eyed stare.
"Oh, my baby, are you admiring your mother's beauty?" she chuckled softly. "Well, don't worry. One day, you'll have a woman even more beautiful than me. I can already tell—you're going to be quite the ladies' man, just like your father."
Her words caught me completely off guard. A ladies' man? I hadn't even lost my virginity yet. I just blinked up at her, stunned.
Before I could think more about it, the faint creak of the door caught my attention.
I turned toward the door and saw a man stepping inside. He looked utterly exhausted, breathing heavily, his shoulders slumped as if he'd just sprinted through the night.
.....
In the city of Rivermoor, within a finely maintained inn suited for noble guests, lanterns flickered softly, casting a warm glow over polished wooden floors and elegant furnishings. Inside one of the inn's most lavish rooms.
Edric Everhart—head of House Everhart and the most influential Duke in the kingdom—sat comfortably, enjoying his tea as he reclined in a plush, high-backed chair.
Clunk.
The door creaked open, drawing his gaze to the entrance. His relaxed expression shifted to mild curiosity.
When he saw who had entered, he gently placed his teacup on the side table and spoke.
"Elise, what brings you here now? I thought I told you we would leave tomorrow."
Elise spoke with urgency and respect, her posture straight and composed. "My Lord, it's an important message which I have just received and was ordered to deliver to you as soon as possible."
Edric leaned forward slightly, his calm demeanor now sharpened with interest. "What's the message?"
Her voice steady and clear, Elise conveyed the news. Disbelief flashed across Edric's face.
"What?" His voice tightened with urgency. "Are you serious, Elise?"
"Yes, my Lord. It was an official elite guard from Everhart Hall who delivered the message," Elise confirmed.
"So, you're telling me that the delivery, which was supposed to take place one or two weeks from now, occurred few days ago because Lady Serenia went into labor early?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Damn it! This is a serious problem," Edric muttered, frustration evident as he fell into deep thought.
I'm on my way to Frosthaven to oversee the new trade routes and the proper implementation of the new taxes. But with this news… What am I supposed to do now?
I know I missed the delivery and broke the promise I made to be the perfect husband, but the worst part creeps in—the thought that if I can't be with Serenia after this, I'll fall even further from that promise.
The long silence broke as Elise spoke. "With your permission, my Lord, I have something to say."
"Yes, speak."
"My Lord, if we proceed to Frosthaven, it will take nearly a month to return to Everhart Hall due to the long distance and harsh, snowy weather. But if we turn back now and move quickly, we can reach it in two or three days. So, I suggest we return."
Edric fell silent, brow furrowed as he weighed his options. The urgency etched across his face left no doubt—he was desperate to return as quickly as possible.
He rose to his feet, expression sharp and resolute. "Elise, you're right. I've made my decision—we will return to Everhart at once. Continuing to Frosthaven would only delay my reunion with Lady Serenia, and the news will linger in my mind, disrupting my ability to govern effectively in Frosthaven's matters. As they say, a rash mind leads to poor judgment, and I can't afford that."
Elise lowered her head in a deep bow. "Understood, my Lord. I will make the necessary preparations immediately."
Before she could leave, Edric added, "Elise, also send word to Margrave Leopold Drakemore that I will not be coming to Frosthaven."
Elise bowed once more and left the room to carry out his orders.