A whole year.
It is a new sight for my current family, the Ponterises.
At my expense, they brought in the best healers to find out why I became timid and easily cried every time I saw them. Of course, the healers had no idea. Even they, who have healing mana, had no clue as to what was causing my torment.
Obviously, they wouldn't know. I would never tell them. How could anyone believe something like reincarnation? And even if I did say so, why did my memories come back right after I fell?
It took me slow, grievous months for me to mentally accept that I am here and have been already living 18 years of my new life in this place. It was fairly easy to arrange my thoughts after accepting everything as Nera, but mentally tiring.
But with a newfound motivation, I slowly convince myself to calm down from being emotional, I could only do so much but it was a start nonetheless. When I came back to my senses, I tried to fathom why and how my memories came back. Honestly, even now around a year later after I fell, I still haven't figured it out.
I wasn't as energetic as I was before my fall, which made my family worry, even though I told them not to. In an attempt to understand my current predicament, I have decided to look for answers.
Through books.
I would be surprised at myself too if I could see me now, but I need to do it to clarify the questions in my head.
Then I see my family react when they heard me say these words,
"I need to go to the library."
"You just came out of your room and that's what you tell me?! Did that fall hurt that much?"
The fretting woman shouted with a worried tone. Smooth light brown skin, almond brown eyes, and straight light blue hair reaching just near her waist combed to perfection. Always wearing the most elegant clothes even inside the house, dark blue with golden embroidery and a feather fan, fitting for a Marchioness Ponterise.
Peryani cu Ponterise, my mother shakes my shoulders rapidly. Considered rude in high-class society, so I was quite taken aback that she did it, but I didn't mind, I understand that concern fills her, as long as it's for her children.
"I now forbid you to hold the sword ever again!"
Sighing after hearing her pointless meander, I hold my mother's arms and put them back on her sides while gently stroking them in an attempt to calm her down. Even if she is concerned, I can't believe she really doesn't expect me to want to read... I understand her thoughts, past me would be distraught too.
"Mother, I'm fine. I need to read something in the library--"
Wincing at the deafening sound right through my sensitive ears, two shouts promptly cut me off.
"You and reading? Nera?" A deep and concerned voice echoes through the hallway. I close my eyes, sighing, then glance at where the voice came from.
Bronzed skin, tanned from training, almond brown eyes similar to our mother, and short dark purple hair barely reaching his ears. He came from training, I'm guessing since he is wearing a loose white long-sleeved shirt with brown pants and dirty boots.
The voice belongs to Noel mi Ponterise, my eldest brother, the heir of the Ponterise family.
"This isn't real. Why are those words coming out of that mouth? Who are you?" Another annoyance comes to follow, one with a slightly higher voice speaks mockingly.
Slightly fairer skin compared to the rest of us, almond-brown eyes, and dark purple hair, long enough to reach beyond his shoulders, and a lock of hair covering his right eye. Judging from his clothes, he may have only woken up, still wearing his night clothes, a long-sleeve light blue shirt with matching colored cotton pants.
It was Noah mi Ponterise, the second child of the Ponterise family.
Heaving another heavy sigh at their nonsense, I attempt to punch their arms. But of course, their reactions are faster than my fists, blocking it with such ease as they hold my closed fists with their hands.
"Well, she still punches suddenly so..."
"I agree. But what about that sentence we heard earlier...?"
Both of their eyes pierce through me, asking for an answer.
"Yes, you heard it right. I want to read."
Their over-the-top reactions are valid, I can see why their faces and voices are filled with disbelief since I barely read any books at all, let alone, went to the library. I only came in there if I needed a book about fighting techniques, but even that was rare since I could just ask Noel and Noah about them.
Both of them gasp, their eyes fill with worry, in which my expression turns unamused.
"Just let her go. It's been a while since she even went out of her room and asked us for anything." A voice, strict yet caring, comes from behind my troubled family members, then put his hand on my shoulders.
White porcelain skin, cold light blue eyes, and tied up dark purple hair reaching his shoulders, wearing his usual fit, a black uniform with golden laces and buttons, and three medals pinned on it, the formal wear for the head of the Marquess Ponterise.
Namilde mi Ponterise, the current head of the Ponterise family, is known as an influential authoritarian figure in the entire Quintesse Empire.
After hearing a reasonable and warm answer from my father, I gently smile at my parents, then glare at my two older brothers.
"Don't over do it." My father spoke softly, and I nod.
Leaving my worried parents and doubtful brothers behind, I went to the library.
The sight of the books, seemingly stretch for miles with no end, made me sigh and slowly chuckle, realizing that I might need to read a lot of them. That idea alone sent shivers down my spine.
"Here we go..."
During this time, I rack all the brain cells I could, but I still couldn't figure how my memories came back. What was I even expecting?
But despite this disappointment, I have figured something out. But just to grasp, specifically, rationalize this fact, was the ultimate chore.
Since it genuinely shocked me to my core.
"This...This world is from a novel I read before, isn't it?"