The days after my brother's birthday party became hectic for me. The two months before the crown prince entered the Royal Academy, he became a frequent visitor in our estate. I remember asking if he was not going to the capital and said he had permission from his father the king to stay in our fief as a visitor before he started studying at the academy.
At first, he was an uninvited guest in my eyes, but as time went by his presence started to grow on me. And just before going back to the capital, he promised to keep in touch via letters. And thus, I gained a pen-pal.
When autumn came, Eric also went to the capital to start studying at the Royal Academy. The noble boys started attending the academy when they turn twelve years old while the girls can get in when they reach sixteen. In this world, it still gender biased to the males but at least it was not that bad like in medieval ages in my former world. Women here in this world at least have rights. They can start and do business freely.
I am still thinking of my future in this world. I will see thru the story of the novel to the end, and if even after that I cannot go back to my own world, I plan to start my own business. I was a typical office lady in my former world, but I dreamed of becoming a patisserie. I loved sweets and so I started to learn how to bake in this world.
The six years after my brother's birthday party was uneventful. The ducal couple lived in a harmonious relationship, different from the novel. My brother grew up to be an angel I always doted on. Derrick stayed in the Broderick estate and become a full fledge knight when he turned sixteen, the youngest to become knighted in all Argentine Kingdom. It made me so proud knowing how I was the one to find him, even though I cheated because of my past life's knowledge.
I continued to be home schooled like other young noble ladies. I learned proper etiquette and manners, sewing and embroidery, and others that a young noble lady should learn. Apart from that, I was also thought politics and governance which are not commonly thought for girls, but because I wanted to, father hired a tutor for me.
And just like that, six years flew by in an instant.
**
"Be careful along the way okay." Mother said with tearful eyes. "Be sure to eat on time and don't let yourself get sick. Wear tick clothing when the weather starts to get cold and…*sniff*."
"Hush now Jenica." Father comforted mother. "Ysa will come home for the holidays. You will see her after a few months."
"I know b-but…*sniff*… this will be the first time she will be apart from us." My mother said in tears. "I can't but help worry."
This is the first time I will be leaving the estate and my parents for a long amount of time. All the young noble ladies are required to attend the Royal Academy for three years once they turned sixteen years old. The Royal Academy is a boarding school and so we can only come home on holidays and summer break.
"Don't worry mother. I will be sure to write to you weekly." I said to appease my crying mother.
Too bad that this world does not have any cellular phones to keep in touch with loved ones. Come to think of it, I have been writing with Noctis for the past six years as well. I have heard that he has been very busy proving that he was fit for the crown prince position. Hearing that he was working hard to improve his image let me see him in a new light.
'He is not a typical crown prince that gets VIP passes to everything.' I thought.
The crown prince and Eric had become close in their years of stay in the academy. As I have heard from Eric himself, he has been appointed the crown prince's personal assistant. It was a great feat for Eric who was seen to only be taken in by my family out of pity. Eric gets to work for royalty, and it will only get better when the crown prince ascends the throne. With my father's backing and his years of loyalty to the crown prince, he might be given the prime minister position in the future.
"Do not worry Aunt Jenica. I will make sure to check on Ysa every now and then." Eric said. He was also going back to the academy after the summer vacation, and this time I will be going with him.
"I understand." Mother wiped away her tears. "Be good you two okay. Eric I will be counting on you to look after Ysa for me."
"Yes mother." I replied.
"Of course, aunty." Eric replied.
Mother patted me on the head while father patted Eric on the shoulder. Eric was now eighteen years old and was a little taller than father. He has grown to be a handsome young man.
'I wonder why he isn't engaged yet?' I thought.
The crown prince and Eric were the well sought for bachelors in the Argentine kingdom. That is because they are still not yet engaged. In this world, nobles are engaged in their teens and are married in their early twenties. Both Noctis and Eric are almost past their teens but still have not selected their fiancées as of yet.
I on the other hand was asked by my parents before going to the academy. Of course, me being a modern aged girl from the past was not very enthusiastic with an arranged marriage. When I said I would like to choose the person I will spend the rest of my life with and learn how to fall in love, my parents were supportive because of their own experience as well.
'But I can't put off finding a suitable engagement partner for far too long.' I thought.
In this world, women past their twenties who are still no engaged are known to have fewer proposal that can lead to not being married at all. In my past life I was single in my thirties because of circumstances. Of course, I would like to experience love in this world.
"I don't want you to go big sister." Alden said. He was now a seven year old boy who had a beautiful face. He had his arms wrapped around my waist, not wanting to let me go.
"I also don't want to go Alden, but I need to." I hugged my cute little brother tight. "I promise to write to you weekly. I will tell you everything that I will experience. So write to me too, okay?"
"Hmm." Alden nodded and wiped his tears with his sleeves.
I squatted down to see his beautiful face. "I will miss you my cute little brother." I squeezed his cheeks lightly.
"I am going to miss you too big sis." Alden said.
"Let's go Ysa." Eric was waiting for me by the carriage door.
"Then I will be going, mother father." I gave them both a kiss on their cheeks.
Eric escorted me up he carriage. I took his hand and came up with Eric following me from behind. The door was closed, and the carriage started to move. I looked outside and saw my loving family waving us goodbye.
"I will be writing to you, so wait for my letters." I yelled from the opened windows. "I am going to miss you."
When we were outside the estate, I felt that tears were falling from my eyes. I never thought that I would cry with this kind of parting. The Broderick family had grown close to me. I have been in this world for eight years now and they have come to be more than a real family to me.
From out of nowhere, Eric wiped away my tears with his handkerchief. I was surprised but smiled with his sweet gesture.
"Thanks." I said to him.
"I know how you feel." Eric said. "I always feel that way when going back to the academy."
"Really?" I asked. "But I never see you cry before?" I teased him.
"That is because I am a guy." Eric said blushing. "Of course, I wouldn't want anyone to see me cry."
"Haha, I am just teasing you Eric." I said. "But I am happy that I am with you. At least I am not alone."
Eric gave a gentle smile with my words. "I am also happy that I have some company going back to the academy."
I look outside and saw Derrick riding a dark brown horse. A young noble lady was allowed to take one attendant to the royal academy. For most noble ladies, they take personal maids with them to tend to their needs. But I was self-reliant and so I opt to take Derrick as a bodyguard.
"Aren't you tired riding a horse Derrick?" I asked worriedly. "You can come and ride with us if you like."
"I am fine my lady, do not worry about me." Derrick gave a gentle smile.
Derrick had also grown up to be a handsome young man. Many of the maids in the estate have fallen for him, and to think they would have done some embarrassing things just to have Derrick for themselves. One incident, I heard of a maid waiting in Derrick's room naked. When Derrick arrived, rather than be tempted with a naked body of a beautiful maid, he kicked her out. It was the talk of the estate for quite some time and Derrick was teased by his fellow knights.
"Do not worry about him Ysa." Eric grunted. "He is a knight. What will the others say if he can't last a whole day traveling by horse?"
"I am just asking Eric." I said with a pout.
The beginning of the novel will start when I arrive at the Royal Academy. The heroine who was the holy maiden of this world would come and the story will start. I had the role of a villainess in this story, and so I tried to do everything I can to not reach a bad ending. I can say that I have favorable relationships with the male leads and who ever the heroine picks in the end, I will surely be safe.
'There is only one male lead I haven't met.' I thought.
That was the great wizard of the kingdom. According to the novel, the great wizard was given his title at a young age because he was a prodigy in the magic arts. The magic tower of Argentine is located besides the Royal Academy. Young mages study in the magic tower, and thus students from the academy and the tower interacts from time to time.
'This is it.' I thought to myself. 'The novel is about to begin.'
I had a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
Edited by: nalyn