Note:
Hi! I know I'm supposed to post a new chapter this upcoming Sunday, but here's a little treat from me since it's April Fools'!
And no, this isn't a prank update or something like that. It's a special chapter, okay?
Enjoy reading!
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I slowly opened my eyes when I heard typing noises around me. Hmm? My eyes squinted when I met a blinding light and it took me a few seconds before adjusting to it. I scanned the place I was in and I was stunned when I realized that I was in a familiar place. A very familiar one.
"Jane? You're awake, my dear daughter?" A wave of nostalgia hit me as I heard his soothing voice. I turned to his direction and tears formed in my eyes upon seeing the figure of my father. He was sitting on the his usual seat whenever he writes his new novel. From there he was smiling at me, a gentle smile. "D-Dad." That was all I could say before bursting into tears. I heard the shuffling of papers and his chair screeching when he approached me with large steps. I sobbed harder upon smelling his nostalgic scent when his arms embraced my small body.
"Shhh... Why is my lovely daughter crying? Hmm?" I looked at him and tried to smile. His face was still the same. Jet-black hair, almond eyes, slightly tanned skin, thick eyebrows, prominent jawline, sharp nose and his natural pink lips that flashed a gentle smile. Johannes Kiel Hart, my father. "D-dad... I miss you." I returned his embrace and he caressed my head. I don't know what's happening. Everything's making me confused! I took deep breaths as I tried to re-assess my situation.
As long as I can remember, my parents died when I was 15, and I lived alone for three years until I died when I was 18 because of an earthquake. After that, I thought I was dead but I was reincarnated as the adopted daughter of a duke instead. I was living in another world, and the identity of the person I reincarnated was the protagonist, the female lead, of the story "Lethal Love." There, I accepted my fate and had a resolve not to die tragically, unlike the real ending of my character in the story. I managed to save the duke, my father, from the hands of being brainwashed by the duchess. Then I met Ambrose, who was a great and old magician (though he looked young), and he became my teacher in magic. I had an aptitude in magic, so he guided me on how to control it. I also met Teacher Kathleen, a member of Umbra which is a secret organization that serves the emperor directly, and she was the one who taught me swordsmanship, martial arts and anything physical. Mr. Sebastian was also there, he was the butler of the duke and he was really kind to me.
Wait, why do I feel like I'm forgetting someone important?
Well, right now, it seemed like I was in my ten-year-old body as Jane Adelline Hart.
"Jane, is there any problem?" I turned to Dad's direction and stared at him. Is this reality? Or was this something made up by magic? He looked uncomfortable with my gaze so I blinked my eyes and shook my head. "It's nothing, Dad. Don't mind it." He looked doubtful so I kissed him on the cheek and smiled to reassure him that I was fine. He sighed and raised his hands as a sign of surrender.
"Okay, okay." I smiled at him as I got down from the bed. Based on the appearance of this place, we were in Daddy's room. I don't know how I arrived here, but maybe it's worth to look around here for some time. This was once my home, after all.
I looked at Dad's workplace and smiled at the organized papers and pens, even his laptop was in its perfect place. Even though he has a lot of deadlines to rush, he always keeps his workplace neat and tidy. He told me that having it look clean makes him more motivated to do his work.
"Hmm?" I picked up the paper that fell from his table and I was confused with its contents.
'To go back, remember the person that was you have forgotten.'
"Hey, Dad. What's this?" Dad approached me and read the contents of the paper. I saw how his forehead knotted, clearly confused. "I don't remember writing anything like this though." We were both confused but after a while, we decided to just throw the paper in the trash can. "Let's go out? Your mother is baking our favorite." My eyes twinkled with excitement upon hearing Dad's statement. Oh my gosh! It's been a long time since I've tasted my Mom's baking.
We both headed out and I smiled upon sniffing the scent of dough and chocolate in the air. Dad and I smiled at each other, and at the same time, I felt a presence in front of us. Tears formed in my eyes again as I saw my mother's figure standing right in front of us.
Her chestnut-brown hair that was tied up into a bun. A slender figure paired with her gentle face was really nostalgic. She was wearing a red apron that paired well with her fair skin and she held a tray of chocolate chip cookies in her hands. Adelaine Crystal Hart.
"M-Mom..." I uttered her name and she smiled brightly at me. "Yes, baby? Why are you teary? Did you get dust in your eyes? Are you okay?" I sensed a little worry in her voice, so I gave her a small smile and shook my head.
"It's nothing Mom. I was just a little hungry." My mother let out a small laugh and we headed to the dining room. "Well, looks like my chocolate chip cookies are in time. Sit down, you two. I'll serve the cookies right now. What do you want to pair with it, milk, fruit juice, or iced tea?" Dad and I looked at each other and nodded. "Iced tea! With lots of ice!" We both exclaimed and laughed out loud. Mom also laughed and I can't stop my smile from this warmth and happiness that I feel.
I looked around while waiting for Mom to serve our food, and I was confused upon seeing violet flowers on a vase on the center table. Huh? Mom prefers red flowers to be placed in our vases, and she never picked violet flowers. I felt my head sting when something flashed in my mind.
Violet... Violet eyes?
"Jane? What's wrong?" I faced Dad when I heard his voice and shook my head. I smiled when Mom arrived with the cookies and a pitcher of iced tea. As we requested, it had lots of ice. "Let's eat!" We ate the cookies happily and talked about random things like how we did it before.
"Well, it looks like you slept again in your Dad's room, Jane. Did you have a good sleep?" Mom asked me and I nodded at her. "Yes. It's really silent there and it feels calming." I answered her briefly since I can't remember how I arrived there. I blinked my eyes when my vision got blurry and my head felt light.
"Yeah, that's right. But it seems like our daughter is still not fully awake, my dear wife." I looked at Dad when he said those words. It sounded like it has another meaning behind it. "Don't you think so, my dear daughter?" I stared at Dad when he smiled at me and when I turned to Mom, she was also smiling at me. I don't know why, but my tears subconsciously fell when I realized what they were trying to say.
This is all... a dream...
"M-Mom... D-Dad... I miss you so much..." I started sobbing hard as I felt Mom and Dad embracing me. Their warmth and scent felt so real, and how I wished that I could stay here longer. "Our time is up, dear daughter. Find your way back home." I shook my head upon hearing Dad's words. "N-No. This is my home..." I felt my Mom's hand caressed my hair and Dad kissed my forehead.
"This would always be your home, baby. But right now, there are people who are waiting for you to go home too. It's time to wake up, my baby." I opened my eyes and saw my Mom crying while my Dad also looked teary. "Go back, my dear daughter." Dad encouraged me.
"H-how do I go back?" They both smiled at me. "Remember... Jane..." My eyes turned to the violet flowers that were placed at our center table. Violet...
Whose eyes had the same shade with those flowers?
I looked at Dad and something struck me as I saw his black hair. "Dad... Your hair..." Dad smiled at me. His hair wasn't supposed to be black, it should be brown! "Who did you forget, Jane?" I smiled as I remembered the name.
Violet eyes and black hair.
"Cain Lewis Vistronde. He's the person that I should remember." They both nodded at me and the place was suddenly filled with light. I closed my eyes again but before I lost my consciousness, I heard my parents' voices.
"Always take care, Jane. We love you, our dear daughter." A tear fell from my right eye as I mouthed the words, "I love you too."
And then my world went black.
- - - - -
"Yllaria... Yllaria..." I slowly opened my eyes as I felt someone tapping my cheek. I let my vision adjust and I groaned upon seeing the duke looking at me with his worried, green eyes. "Daddy..." I muttered and he immediately had a relieved smile in his face.
"Yllaria... Are you fine? Does your body hurt?" I shook my head as I tried to process what was happening. I saw Teacher Kathleen and Sebastian behind Daddy. My forehead knotted in confusion as I noticed that I was leaning on a tree. "What happened?" I asked them and they had an uncomfortable look on their faces.
"Well, well. Let's just say that it was a prank gone wrong, little lady." I turned my gaze to the voice's direction and saw Ambrose and the third prince Cain. "Prank?" I asked and a memory resurfaced in my mind.
I was alone in the hall and was searching for the people when I sensed a dangerous mana from the garden. As I rushed towards the direction of the presence, a beam of light struck me and I immediately lost consciousness. Then, I had that good dream.
I get it. They must have wanted to prank me, that's why there wasn't a single soul a while ago. But that magic struck me, and their prank went wrong.
"That was magic, right? What was it?" I asked Ambrose and he had an awkward smile. "It was a Dream Spell. It could either cause a nightmare or a fantasy when a person would be struck. In order for you to wake up, you need to accomplish the task that would be given to you." I nodded and I looked at everyone when they went to an awkward silence.
"Hmm? Why are you like that? Did I do something while I was asleep? Oh, don't worry. I'm not angry or anything." They had a relieved smile on their faces, but I sensed Daddy's worry. "Is there any problem, Daddy?" He gave me a small smile and shook his head.
'You cried. While you were sleeping. Your Dad and I were the only ones who saw it. Or maybe this little prince too.' I heard Ambrose's voice in my head. Oh shoot. That was why...
I cleared my throat to get their attention and they looked at me. I gave them a genuine smile to comfort them.
"Thank you... I had a nice dream..."
I sensed their confusion, but I didn't explain further.
Yes, it was a good dream. It might be a prank gone wrong, but it made that made me realize some things. It wasn't bad... Not at all.