There was a strong buzzing pain in my head. I can't get my mind through it but the way it felt was as if my skull's getting ripped and turned into a sour lemon. Wanting this to be over already, I open my eyes and jolted up. I could feel my heart beat faster than a running horse while my breath was short. The sweat that covered my entire body didn't help either.
I looked around to see that I was on my fluffy bed inside my room. I could see the bright skies and feel the beautiful sun hitting my face... but I wonder if what I just experienced is what they would call a "nightmare".
"Young Lady, it's time for breakfast." I yawned as a reply. The maid in front of me had shiny black hair tied up to a ponytail and chocolate brown eyes. She's my personal caretaker and has been with me ever since I was born, I could say she's like a mom to me. Her eyes were stuck on to me as if she wanted to claw and pull me out of bed.
The thought of it gave me chills.
I nodded before rubbing both of my eyes and standing up from my bed. The big window beside me always shone and reflected the sunlight, giving me a good start in the morning. My lips curled into a smile as I let Rachel dress me up.
Dress? Check. Smile? Check. Rachel being emotionless as usual as she walks me to the dining room? Ultra check!
"Young Lady… I'd appreciate it if you keep your thoughts to yourself."
"... Being humiliated and smiling like an idiot? Infinite check."
It wasn't long before Rachel pulled a chair and helped me to sit on it. I sway my legs for a bit, wondering when my feet will finally reach the floor when suddenly my father's presence made me turn my head. As usual, he's sitting in the center with a very serious face but it seems to be a bit different from always.
Ah… he's probably annoyed that I came late.
Whoops?
"How are your etiquette lessons?"
I nervously gulped down my sandwich with a forced smile. Of course, he'd ask about my studies first thing in the morning.
"They're- well," I paused, "good." I'm not lying but I'm not exactly saying the truth either. Sure, the lessons are good for nobles like me… but I, myself, am not just fit for it.
My father gave me a short nod. "So how's your performance in your lessons?" Another striking question from my father. I sigh.
"I'm doing quite fine, Father. Thank you for your concern." I smile at him the way I was taught to. I just spoke in a lady-like manner so now I hope my father will stop asking me about it. Glancing at him, he's probably satisfied with it.
There was now silence between us. Ah, I didn't expect to be this happy and grateful for the awkward silence! I quietly yet eagerly eat my breakfast with a more genuine smile on my face. After this, I could just play a little, go to the garden and have fun, drink tea while looking at the butterflies, and finally have some rest-
"Oh, by the way, your teacher will come here earlier than usual so prepare for your lessons." He said before standing up and leaving me with a jaw dropped. That satisfied smirk on his face… he definitely knew what I was thinking of. As expected of my sharp father.
I sigh once again as I ate the last bit of my food.
"Sighing would make you look older, Young Lady."
"No, it wouldn't!"
After a while of sulking, I finally heard a carriage stopping in front of our doors. I knew full well how my body trembled and how my face became stiff but I had to bear with it.
Even if etiquette lessons feel like there's hell in my own house.
"Good morning Lady Alianne, I hope you're ready for our lesson today." My teacher said with a smile as she entered the living room.
"Good morning to you too as well, Miss Plineut. I'm looking forward to it." If there was anything that our etiquette lessons taught me, it was to endure any pain and pull off a dazzling fake smile without choking on my own words. Her sharp black eyes stared into my soul as if she saw through my lies.
I gulp down my thoughts and bowed. I should start this day with a respectful greeting to make sure that her mood is light.
Miss Plineut nodded in satisfaction before placing her handbag on a nearby table. I felt my eyes widen when she showed me the contents of the bag. "Now, I'll teach you more fundamental basics of manners."
I've only started two days ago but I'm scared.
Time didn't seem to favor me and only helped in giving me torturous lessons. Two hours of training on being a proper noble felt like forever. I can't feel my legs, my cheeks, or even my back. Having pride as a noble is needed but the practices are harsh.
I faintly smile and bid farewell to my teacher. I've never been so glad to see someone off. With a groan, I felt like a huge burden on my shoulders was finally gone and I could walk back to my room to play.
But suddenly my father was in front of me.
"Alianne." He called out to me before walking closer. His pale green eyes stared into me so hard I started to feel itchy. Recently I've only been receiving stares here and there.
"Yes, father?" I wonder if I can finally play after this.
"...It's nothing, I just wanted to ask how your lessons were earlier." Hm? I also wonder why there was a slight pause before he said that. Did my father just hesitate? That's way too odd I can't imagine it happening even if it just did.
"I'm doing great," I answered casually. Forget it if father just sounded a bit weird, I really want to return to my room. "But I'm really tired so I'll go now, please excuse this daughter of yours." Impatience is one of my enemies but maybe I befriended it this time.
My father's voice echoed in the hallway as I walked away. The only thing that mattered right now is that I want to relax and play! I immediately headed to my room and closed the door with an uncontrollable grin on my face.
"Rachel!"
"What is it, Young Lady?"
"You know what time it is? Game time!!" I ran to my drawer and pulled out my journal notebook and pen. With Rachel now sitting in front of me, I decided to ask her questions. We only started this game a few days ago when I realized I'd be having a tutor.
"What is it that you may ask from me?"
"Hmm… tell me the things you know about me." You might be wondering why a child like me thought of this as "fun" or even considered it a "game" but the thing is… I don't. The only reason I'm doing this is that I've been suspecting a lot of things recently.
"Young Lady's full name is Alianne Rosshope Glenn Flaine. You are currently six years old. You're the daughter of Viscount Neil Flaine. You have a tutor to teach you about etiquette and her name is Panella Plineut. I am your maid and caretaker Rachel Aqua. You're a child that absolutely hates the etiquette lessons even though you've only started-"
"Okay, okay! Thank you for that information and I didn't need the last one!"
I know what you're thinking. That's right, that long name is mine and it always makes me suffer whenever I write or even try to remember it but I still wrote it in my journal. It'd be nice if my name was simply Alianne Flaine though... but that's not the point.
I am indeed six years old, the usual age to study etiquette and other basic knowledge. My father is a Viscount which makes him a noble but it's not really a high-ranking one or so I heard.
The reasoning behind the weird game I made is strange in itself. It's because… I feel like a foreigner even in my own home. The place I feel familiar with is different and I wonder what that even means. I'm not sure if I had memories of it but I'm certain that I had visions and daydreams about it.
I don't know if it's true or just my imagination but I feel strange about it so I want confirmation.
Another reason is that I suspect this world is weird as well. My gut tells me that there are some things that shouldn't exist but it does in this place. I'm not sure what that means either but I can't just ignore the weight in my chest.
"Thanks for that information, Rachel. If it's okay with you I want to ask you why-"
There was a sudden knock on my door. Rachel got up to open it only to reveal my father with his usual serious look. I expected him to be angry at me so I wonder why he seems calm instead.
"Alianne, I request you to come to the living room." Hm?
"Okay, father." I followed him to the living room but every step I took felt like something was trying to stop me. Or warn me. Something doesn't feel right... I don't understand why… but even my maids look restless.
"Alianne," Father placed his hands on the shoulders of a person I've never seen before, "meet your new sister." Wavy pink hair that covered her eyes, pale skin, and a fragile build. I couldn't see her face properly but I'm sure she could see the shock on mine. "Her name is Helen."
The girl named Helen barely met my gaze and I noticed that she's desperately trying to avoid me. I kept staring at her, my jaw dropped and stuck. New sister? Helen? The more I think about this whole situation, the more my head hurts.
I suddenly have a new sister and I wasn't even told about it beforehand?
I'm not the only child of the Flaine household?
I felt like life, my father, and the people in this place were being unfair towards me but I didn't express the frustration I felt. Instead, I curled my fists in hopes of being able to contain the annoyance and confusion that flowed within me.
"Hello." I greeted her with something that I hoped seemed to be a smile. If there was anything else that I felt beside frustration then it's definitely curiosity. There was something I needed to know. "My name is Alianne Rosshope Glenn Flaine."
I unknowingly felt myself calm down a bit when I saw her flinch as I spoke my name. "You can just call me Alianne." The way her shoulders relaxed made me forget my anger for a second. I lower myself to meet her level.
"You're Helen, right?"
"..Mhm."
Ah, this is bad, I hope I don't seem mean or mad… I'm so bad at controlling my emotions. Judging how weak and timid her replies are then I probably sound mean. I tried my best to smile this time and she only seemed to cower.
Oh no.
I don't know how to feel or act towards this!
"..How old are you?"
"I'm four..."
She's two years younger than me it seems. "So you're younger than me. I guess I have a little sister now." I mumbled to myself but she seemed to feel relieved when I called her my sister. That made me feel conflicted.
I just don't understand why no one told me about this. Aren't I a lady in this household?
My thoughts were disturbed when I paid more attention to this mysterious girl. I could see a glimpse of blue behind those messy bangs. Before I knew it, my hand already hovered and pushed the hair strands aside.
Innocent big blue eyes with streaks of purple stared back at me with such purity I was caught off-guard. I could only blink twice.
I hate to admit how beautiful her eyes are that I almost forgot what I was even thinking of. She seems so harmless that I felt a bit of guilt creeping in.
But still. The fact that she's making me feel uneasy is something I shouldn't ignore at all. It was as if the things I was worried about are…
"I'm glad to see you two are getting along well." The voice of my father brought me back to reality. Oh right, everyone is here to watch my father and I welcome this girl into our household. It still irritated me but I couldn't do anything about it.
"From now on, Helen Flaine will be the second daughter of the Flaine household."
Of course she is, Helen Flaine is now my younger sister after all-
Wait.
Helen Flaine?
Oh. I get it now.
The reason I can't get used to this world. The reason why I always think that something isn't right. The reason why I get nightmares or confusing dreams every night. I understand all of it now… the answer was right before my eyes. I just had to connect the dots.
This is definitely not my world.
This is Helen Flaine's world, the heroine of a story that I read and loved. A story that seems to be blurry in my head but I'm sure that I'm not from here. I'm now living in a fictional world - reincarnated in a place I barely remember or know about.
My younger sister is the main character… and I don't recall myself being a part of it.