"
"Wow, Mama really outdid herself with this dessert. So rich and creamy!"
Rhia complimented as her taste buds were sent to heaven.
Alex slumped in his chair, unable to comprehend the bomb Rhia had just dropped on him. He asked himself how she could stay so calm; this was huge news.
He had overheard his parents talk about this same subject many times, especially with dungeon gates becoming worse and the number of knights his father was losing to them.
"Rhia, this is big news!" Alex managed to regain his bearings and told her seriously. Rhia did not like that look in his eyes, as it made her stomach cramps worse.
"I know, but right now, I just want to be normal and not be taken away from my family."
Alex knew by the way Rhia's eyes had dimmed and the tremble in her hands that she was afraid but was trying to put on a brave face. Acting on instincts, Alex reached over and clasped Rhia's hands.
"Whatever you choose, Rhia. I'll have your back!"
He offered a smile beaming with trust that made Rhia's eyes water, feeling her anxieties disappear and be replaced with happiness.
Too bad their sweet and touching moment was ruined by a leg slamming down on their table.
"Oi, who said you can freely touch my little sister?"
Despite being two years older, Adrian gave off a dangerous aura that could make a grown man weep. So, of course, Alex was so terrified he almost wet his pants.
"Boy, if you don't get your leg off my table!"
"Sorry, mom!" Yet even the young tiger reverted to a sheepish cub when faced with its mother's wrath.
—
The next day, before Rhia went to school, she sat at the kitchen table eating pancakes, bacon, and eggs as her eyes strayed to the television playing in the living room. On the screen was some romantic daytime drama as the scene showed two beautiful women confronting each other.
The actress playing the villainess received a slap to the face from the actress playing the female lead.
{How dare you seduce Ethan despite knowing he has feelings for me! I thought of you as a sister!}
The heroine put on a pity act with tears running down her fair blushing cheeks. The woman playing the heroine had a down-to-earth innocence to her, but it was the villainess who stole the show.
{That's rich coming from you. You knew I was engaged to him, yet you still went behind my back! Sister, my ass, you backstabber!}
The woman glared her strawberry-red eyes at the girl, who quivered with a look of guilt that she quickly erased.
{That was an arranged engagement set up by his parents and yours. You knew he was against it, yet you still pushed yourself onto him. What we have is true love!}
Mother and daughter both scoffed at this last sentence.
{What gave you the right to steal something that never belonged to you? He was my fiancé yet he cheated on me with you.}
{He fell in love with me!}
{I guess trash really does belong together.}
The show cut to a commercial break, and Rhia returned her attention back to her breakfast.
This world may look like your stereotypical fantasy world, but the technology was advanced enough to have electronic necessities.
After discovering her past life, Rhia found this weird, but was very thankful for indoor plumbing and television. She wondered how all those isekai main leads lived without these two necessities.
"I've said it once, and I'll say it again! No one can play a villainess role like Cocoa Valentine!" Her mother exclaimed before revealing a little of the actor's background.
"She is a new upcoming actress who recently married two big hotshots who she is very secretive about. Not even the public knows who they are, leaving some to speculate vicious rumors about her."
Rhia saw her mother shake her head in disappointment when she heard the oven ding and took out a tray of fresh biscuits, which she coated with melted butter.
"I only believe what I see, and my gut, and my gut tells me she is nothing like those awful rumors made up by a bunch of jealous people!"
Rhia listened to her mother defends the actress, but most of her attention was stolen by the delicious hot biscuits she eagerly snagged.
"Just like with me? When your eyes first saw me, you knew I was the one?" Baron Night graced the room with his handsome appearance, folding an arm around his wife's waist, staring deeply into her amused lilac eyes.
"Dad, stop being so gross in the morning."
Rhia saw her older brother dressed for school, releasing a yawn as he sat at the table. Today, he wore short black cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and a dark orange hoodie.
Rhia noted that even the clothing was advanced and resembled the ones she saw glimpses of in her old life. She wore a sailor uniform top with a black and purple pleated jumper skirt.
Around her neck was a black choker, added with a new accessory she got when she became Lilith's champion. It was an amethyst jewel pendant shaped like a crescent moon with a skull bearing a queen's crown.
"I actually found you annoying and weak the first time we met." The dejected look, resembling a kicked puppy, crossed her father's eyes and made her mother laugh.
"But you grew on me, and now you're stuck with me!" She kissed his cheek as her husband hugged her tightly and showered her face with kisses.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, my darling muse!"
Even though Rhia was happy that her parents were deeply in love with each other, their PDA could be very annoying, especially in the face of good biscuits.
—
Arriving at school, she walked with her big brother and caught the train that led to Grim Academy, which existed within the large city of Dragonite Cove. Andrian walked her to her class first, checking to see she had everything, before going to his, which was a floor up.
Rhia was doodling in her notebook when she heard a voice call out her name. Looking back, she saw Alex waving a hand at her and smiling.
"What's up, Alex?" Rhia greeted the shy boy, watching as he happily sat beside her.
"Morning, Rhia!"
Slowly the boy was coming out of his shy shell as the two children happily talked amongst each other. When the conversation reached to the delicious dessert Rhia's mother served them yesterday, their conversation was ruined by the commotion coming from the door where a group of students was crowded.
"Is that a new handbag?"
"Look at her clothes! Her clothes are always showy and in line with the latest trend."
"The necklace she wears is from Moonlight Jewel's latest collection!"
"What do you expect from the daughter of an actress?"
Rhia could detect both awe and envy as the students chatted with each other. When the girl was finally able to take her seat, Rhia got a good look at her and gasped.
'Naomi Valentines, daughter of Cocoa Valentine! I completely forgot she was in my class!' Rhia embarrassedly admitted to herself.
Naomi was blessed with her mother's charming looks but not the matureness that she will surely grow into later. She inherited her mother's strawberry-red eyes, but Naomi's hair was jet black and faded into hot pink, currently styled into a single ringlet side ponytail.
She wore a frilly, light pink, and red checkered print blouse with a cute black ribbon bearing a small red jewel in the center. With it was a black skirt with suspender straps and a bodice laced with gold details.
Decorating the hem were matching bows like the one worn up top. She looked like a striking decadent doll rolling in cash, but only she could confidently pull off such a look.
Naomi must've sensed her staring as their eyes met, and Naomi's eyes flashed dangerously, frightening Rhia, who instantly looked away.
'She's terrifying!' Rhia noted that Naomi definitely had her mother's villainess glare narrowed down.
"Hey! If you have something to say, say it to my face!"
Rhia watched the two girls sitting a row ahead of her flinch, having sensed the other girl's menacing glare thrown at the back of their heads. Naomi sat on the other side of the room yet was still able to pick up their conversation.
This was thanks to the adorable and fluffy feline ears attached to her head, seeing how Naomi and her mother were werecat demons.
"W-We didn't say anything bad about you!" the brave one defended herself.
"You spoke badly about her mom. How do you think she would respond?"
This cool response came from a girl with pale skin and long raven spiky hair worn in a neat ponytail. Lying on her shoulder was a cute blonde fox girl who was fast asleep.
"Stay out of this, Satuski!"
The one that was supposedly talking bad about Naomi's mom glared at Satsuki. Like most of her classmates, Rhia didn't know much about Satsuki other than that she came from a bigshot noble family and was best friends with the blonde sleeping on her shoulder.
"You're the big mouth running your mouth, bad-mouthing someone else's mother! How would you feel if that was your mother?!"
By now, the whole class was focused on the drama as the other girl's voice got caught in her throat. Luckily before things could get worse, the teacher entered the room and began class.
With her small dose of drama put to an end, nothing else occurred until recess had ended. Rhia stood in the hallway, watching the teacher restrain an angry Naomi!
"She stole my necklace!"
'And part 2 begins,' Rhia mentally narrated with calm eyes, curious to see how part two would play out.