I've Tried Going Back to Life After Dying - Chapter 3

While Hildegard was holding back her tears, Lauren seemed to have already woken up.

With a creak, the door swung open, an outward-opening door and bonked Hildegard squarely on the forehead.

“A-are you okay, Sister?”

Lauren flustered an apology. But it was nothing compared to the joy of seeing Lauren again.

“Lauren…”

Hildegard, quick at mental math, instantly calculated—it had been fifteen years since she last saw Lauren. Yet the Lauren before her now was a full decade younger than the last version she remembered.

“Are you alright?”

Lauren had already outgrown petite Hildegard in height, though her sun-deprived skin remained porcelain pale.

“Good morning, Lauren. It’s been a while.”

Without thinking, Hildegard greeted her with words from her past life.

“Yeah, Sister. Since yesterday.”

Kind Lauren played along with her sister’s strange greeting.

“What’s wrong? Couldn’t sleep?”

Lauren’s slender fingers brushed against Hildegard’s hand before gently grasping it, leading her into the bedroom.

“Helen will scold us if she finds out.”

Ah yes, Lauren’s maid was named Helen. The exact same name as her least favorite husband’s beloved.

To think she’d escaped Helen only to be chased by another version here made Hildegard slightly indignant, but there was no helping it.

That was just the kind of woman Helen was. Strangely hard to hate. Perhaps that was why her husband had loved her for so long.

It was Lauren who rescued Hildegard from her early morning melancholy.

“Sister, are you hungry? I have cookies. Uncle sent them as a get-well gift.”

Still holding hands, Lauren guided her to the sofa before delicately releasing her grip with an encouraging nod.

What a kind child.

Despite being in poor health himself, he worried about his sister visiting in her nightgown at dawn.

“Uncle visited?”

“Yeah, Atrey came too.”

Atrey. Hildegard’s cousin of the same age. The young man destined to become the family’s heir.

“You attend the academy with Sister, right?”

Ah yes, she’d completely forgotten about school.

“What a bother.”

“Huh?”

Oops~ that slipped out with her past-life mindset. But truly, it was tedious. Hildegard had already graduated (twenty-three years ago).

“(Do I really) have to go again?”

“Eh? Sister, of course you must.”

What? Why? Attending twice was ridiculous. If only she could say that outright.

“Sister must study hard to become a fine lady and marry well.”

She had indeed married well into a family where her husband never loved her.

“I don’t particularly feel the need.”

When Hildegard said this earnestly, Lauren’s gaze softened.

“I want you to tell me about the academy.”

“Lauren…”

Lauren was frail. Not bedridden, but lacking stamina for outings. He must believe he could never attend himself.

Hildegard wanted to tell him:

You worked so hard. Even as the infirmary’s permanent resident, you persevered. Graduated with honors.

But instinct warned these words must never be spoken.

The past life’s truths felt forbidden, so Hildegard sealed her lips.

“Fine. I’ll go (though it’s troublesome).”

“Good.”

Being chastened by her sickly younger brother made her feel inadequate as the elder. Hildegard’s soul was forty-one older than their parents.

Ah. I’m this household’s senior now.

The leadership skills honed as a marchioness and matriarch reawakened.

Even uncertain of her capabilities, she’d dedicate these remaining ten years to Lauren, then protect this house.

“Hmm?”

An immediate obstacle emerged.

If Hildegard stayed, what would become of Atrey? The viscount’s second son was meant to be adopted as heir after Lauren’s passing.

Then she remembered his past-life self.

Unlike the siblings, the blond cousin with amber eyes took after his mother.

A dashing young noble beloved by ladies, yet he remained single. Hildegard had wondered if he intended to pass the title to Austin after his own death.

Austin was distantly related to Hildegard’s birth family.

Meticulous Atrey might have planned to entrust the household to Hildegard’s adopted heir after Lauren’s passing.

Well, that was predictable.

After all, Hildegard had died. She couldn’t know what followed.

Then came another realization.

Wait—if I become head later, wouldn’t that change the future?

It struck her then:

Merely being reborn here meant the future was already altered.

Her new plan formed:

Encourage Atrey to marry some lovely lady, assist with father’s duties while supporting Lauren, then become countess to safeguard the estate.

“You’re right, Lauren. I’ll study hard, then we’ll make this household flourish together.”

Lauren squinted at his sister’s determined expression as if gazing at something dazzling.