The dining hall was absurdly large—like cathedral-sized. Chandeliers sparkled above my head, and polished marble floors reflected the morning sunlight streaming through stained-glass windows. A table long enough to seat an army stretched before me, stacked with trays of fresh pastries, silver bowls of exotic fruits, and steaming plates of food.
The man everyone referred to as Grandfather George sat at the head of the table, drinking tea with the grace of an emperor.
I recognized him immediately. His face was unmistakable—sharp features, neatly trimmed beard, and those same cold, calculating eyes from the history books. George de Zanov, the patriarch of the infamous Zanov family. He'd built the most powerful empire in the world from scratch, and now he sat there sipping tea like a king on his throne.
Except, instead of radiating menace, he smiled. A warm, affectionate smile directed at... me?
"Good morning, Estella," he greeted, his deep voice smooth and calm. "How wonderful it is to see you awake at last."
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. What the hell am I supposed to say? I was a nobody—just some random soul dumped into the body of Estella Zanov, this family's beloved granddaughter, and somehow, I'd managed to leap forward 500 years into the future.
"Come, sit with me." Grandfather George gestured toward the empty chair at his side, a spot of honor.
Before I could even argue, one of my brothers—the tall, golden-haired one—plopped me onto the seat like a delicate doll. I shot him a death glare, but he only winked at me and ruffled my hair like I was a puppy.
"Eat, Estella," Grandfather George said, sliding a plate of buttery croissants toward me. "You must be hungry."
Starving, actually. I hadn't eaten in… five centuries? My stomach growled so loudly that I swore even the chandeliers trembled. But still, I hesitated. I remember there was something surreal about sitting down to breakfast with a man whose name was synonymous with fear in history.
"Is something wrong?" Grandfather George asked, his tone soft and concerned.
What am I supposed to say? "Yeah, Grandpa, I'm totally fine—just dealing with the fact that I've been resurrected 500 years into the future as your granddaughter, and I have no idea how or why!"
Instead, I forced a smile. "No, just… adjusting. I'll eat."
I grabbed a croissant, and to my surprise, it tasted amazing. Flaky, buttery, and warm—the kind of food you'd expect royalty to eat. I shoved more food into my mouth, figuring it was better to eat and shut up than blurt out something crazy.
But as I chewed, everything began to sink in.
I wasn't dreaming. I was Estella Zanov, granddaughter of George de Zanov. The same man whose family had hunted me down in my past life convinced me that I was the Demon King.
Now, though? I wasn't their enemy—I was their precious treasure.
And that meant...
I had power.
I gulped down my croissant, suddenly realizing the weight of the opportunity I'd stumbled into. This was more than just a second chance. It was a way to infiltrate the very family that had once destroyed me from the inside out.
I just had to play along. If I could keep pretending to be sweet little Estella, I'd be untouchable—and one step closer to uncovering the truth behind my past life's betrayal.
"Estella," Grandfather George said, snapping me out of my thoughts. His eyes were calm, but a sharpness beneath them hinted he wasn't a man easily fooled. "Do you remember anything from before your long sleep?"
Oh crap.
I scrambled for a response, trying to piece together whatever vague memories this body might have. "Uh… not much. Everything's a little fuzzy," I lied, hoping it was believable. "It feels like I've been asleep forever."
Grandfather George nodded thoughtfully as if he wasn't entirely surprised. "It's only natural. After such a long time... some things may take a while to return."
I exhaled in relief. Thank God. For now, they seemed willing to buy my excuse. But how long could I keep the charade up?
Suddenly, the door burst open, and a young maid stumbled in, her face pale and panicked. "M-Master George! There's a situation at the gates!"
Grandfather George calmly set down his teacup. "What kind of situation?"
The maid wrung her hands nervously. "It's… It's the Hero's Guild! They've sent envoys—demanding to meet with Lady Estella immediately!"
My heart nearly stopped.
The Hero's Guild? Why the hell are they looking for me?
A heavy silence fell over the dining hall. All eyes turned toward me.
"Well," one of my brothers muttered, looking amused. "It seems our dear Estella has made quite an impression."
What the hell is going on? Why is the Hero's Guild after me—again!? I thought I left all that Demon King nonsense behind in my last life! And more importantly...
How the hell am I going to survive this without blowing my cover!?
Grandfather George's expression didn't change. Not a flicker of surprise. He set down his teacup with the same calm precision as if the maid had just informed him about the weather.
"The Hero's Guild?" he repeated, voice smooth as silk, but I could feel the tension creeping into the room. His fingers drummed against the table, each tap like a ticking clock.
Meanwhile, I was screaming internally. Why the hell are they coming for me now? I've been awake for all five minutes in this weird new timeline, and trouble has already found me again!
"Send them to the reception hall," Grandfather ordered coolly. "Tell them to wait."
The maid gave a nervous bow and scurried out of the room.
The moment the door shut behind her, every member of the Zanov family at the table turned to stare at me.
"So…" said the brother with golden hair—the one who'd ruffled my hair earlier. "Care to explain, Estella? Since when have you had connections with the Hero's Guild?"
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. How was I supposed to explain that I was probably on their radar because, in my past life, they'd falsely accused me of being the Demon King?
Of course, nobody here knew about that. To them, I was sweet little Estella, recently woken from some mysterious slumber.
"Maybe… they're here by mistake?" I offered weakly.
The golden-haired Brother smirked, leaning back in his chair like this was the most entertaining breakfast he'd had in years. "Right. I'm sure the Heroes marched across half the continent to our doorstep by accident."
Great. This guy clearly had the time of his life at my expense.
"Enough, Aldric," Grandfather George said, silencing him with a glance. His gaze shifted back to me—cold, calculating, and impossible to read. "Estella, is there anything we need to know before meeting them?"
"Uh…" I stalled, trying to think of the safest response. Say as little as possible, and stay vague. "Not really? I—I honestly have no idea what they want."
That part, at least, wasn't a lie. I was just as confused as everyone else.
Grandfather studied me silently, and I couldn't help but squirm under his intense gaze. He wasn't the kind of man you could fool easily. Even if I looked like his beloved granddaughter, something told me that George de Zanov wouldn't hesitate to throw me to the wolves if he suspected anything strange.
After a long moment, he gave a little nod. "Very well. You will meet them with me."
"Wait—what?" I blurted, nearly choking on a piece of croissant.
"Do not worry," Grandfather said, his expression softening ever so slightly. "I will handle them."
Yeah, sure. Because nothing says "I've got this," like dragging me straight into the lion's den with you.