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Chapter 3 - BEGINNING OF TROUBLES TO COME

Seira's vision turned black after the guillotine sliced her neck. She thought would soon wake up in her familiar bedroom and looked at her bedroom ceiling. However, when she tried to open her eyes, all she saw was a pitch-dark room.

To be precise, it was a big empty space. She couldn't feel standing on the ground and couldn't feel her hands. All she could do was see the pitch-black space.

She blinked once and saw a small light in the empty space. It was like a shining star. It beautifully burned bright. She then blinked due to the bright light and saw another shiny star.

Before she could blink again to confirm that this was her current reality, small stars started to appear randomly one by one.

To her, it looked beautiful.

Like a beautiful night sky calming her mentally ill heart down.

It was oddly warm and comfortable.

She was surrounded by countless stars. It took her by surprise when three mysterious figures appeared out of thin air. They have different hair and eye colors. All of them are unique and beautiful.

Seira attempted to ask but she couldn't use her mouth.

(Who are you?)

(What are you?)

A girl in the center opened her mouth, "I am...."

But light soon engulfed Seira's vision and she couldn't hear the sentence spoken by the mysterious girl.

Sringggg.

.

.

.

Seira opened her eyes and was met with her familiar ceiling. It was none other than her bedroom's ceiling. She reached out to the ceiling with her hand while still lying down on her bed.

"(I'm...) back.."

The first full sentence uttered by Seira was,

"It's been a while since I last saw this peaceful boring ceiling."

She got up and sat on her bed with a crossed-legged sitting posture. The white blanket that covered her whole body became messy and she took a breath in and breathed out.

Breathing: check ✔

She tested her vocal cords, "A. Ah."

Her voice sounded hoarse yet calming. It was at this time that she finally started her puberty. Her growth into becoming an adult. The once childish and innocent her was nowhere to be found. She walked out of her bed and went to the center of her bedroom.

"It's been a while since I can speak again."

"How wonderful it is to be able to talk again!"

She spun around in circles as she rejoiced at the fact that she could use her tongue to speak once again. It was her relieving childish moment for a while. Then when she went towards her tall mirror stand, she saw a completely different woman. Her blue sapphire eyes were now pure golden colored, and her dark blue hair became a darker shade of black.

Out of her mesmerization, she touched her cheek with her right hand. She was speechless at her current appearance.

"…"

"I don't look like an Aston at all."

"Is this… supposed to be a joke…?"

(This looks like one of the three figures I saw before coming back.)

Seira clenched her fist out of mixed feelings. She started to speculate things. It was very weird for her to have a complete makeover without her doing anything. Out of reflex, her eye twitched twice. To her, it was a bad sign.

(What the hell actually happened to me?)

She was freaking out in her mind. She wanted to bang her head on the wall but she held back. Her doll-like appearance made her insides crack.

I look so fragile. Like a cute doll.

Too fragile.

Seira murmured while processing her thoughts, "My appearance looked more like a Cliotte than an Aston." She continued. "Don't tell me… I'm not actually an Eaux?"

She started to question herself about her bloodline and heritage. She closed her eyes and put her hand on her forehead. Her mind became clearer and calmer. She unconsciously praised herself.

I also look quite pretty…

***

While observing her new appearance, a sudden knock was heard on her door.

Knock, knock.

It was a very familiar knock pattern. So familiar, yet so distant.

Seira allowed the person in the back of her door in.

"You can come in."

Creak…

The door opened and the one who came in was a very familiar face. She wore a formal maid dress with a badge symbolizing herself as Princess Seira's maid. She had beautiful honey-pink hair and clear ruby eyes. It looked exactly like a real ruby. Her name is Hana.

Hana Eanne.

Seira's cousin from her mother's side and the sole child of a Marquis'.

Hana started to pay attention and saw Seira. "Oh, you have woken up, Princess."

At this moment, Seira had reverted to her original appearance with her magic. Hana never saw Seira's different appearance. Hana then looked away from Seira and started her report.

"Your Highness, Princess Raire, was burned by the hot tea."

Oh, it's this time, isn't it?

Seira who saw the normal Hana wasn't surprised by her monotone voice. It is as she remembered. Seira decided to show her gentle professional smile. Her standing posture showed a perfect elegance.

"Then, did His Majesty say something?"

Seira looked to her back and saw the poker-faced Hana.

Hana immediately bowed, "He asked me to tell you to meet him as soon as possible."

"I see."

Hana who heard Seira's tone of speaking was caught off guard.

Are you not going to get angry? What's gotten into you?

Seira, who noticed the change in Hana's expression, smiled cunningly. She was intrigued by the fact that Hana failed to control her expression. After all, Hana had always composed herself and it was hard to read her expressions.

"What are you going to do?" Hana suddenly spoke her mind out.

Both she and Seira were caught off guard by the sudden unexpectedness.

"Oh, that's not a problem."

Seira answered Hana's question in an attempt to play dumb. A gentle professional smile formed on her face. Hana who saw Seira's smile suddenly had goosebumps.

The usual Seira wouldn't be this calm and composed, the usual Seira would have an outburst just by Raire's simple trick. Hana became subconsciously wary.

Seira sighed and a cold glare was found. "Hana, please inform Father- I mean His Majesty that I would need enough time to prepare myself."

"Yes, Your High-"

Hana bowed and was about to open the door. But before Hana could finish her sentence, Seira interrupted.

"From now on, please call me Seira." She smiled. "Cousin."

The startled Hana could only answer her "beloved" cousin.

"As you wish, Seira." She continued. "Then, if that's all, I will excuse myself."

She bowed and left Seira's room.

Hmm…

Seira rested her face on her hand while sitting in front of her favorite white desk. The sunlight shone through the window and basked her head in the bright and warm sunlight. She wondered.

"So, what should I do to deal with this problem?"

She closed her eyes.

Let's hope that everything is within my expectations...

***

At the same time, in another place, a girl with blond silver hair laid her stomach on her comfortable fluffy bed. Her soft green eyes were like a captivating jewel. However, the color wasn't as vibrant as a real emerald. She was happily reading her novel.

"Come in."

A maid came into her room.

Raire continued her sentence, "So, did she go on a sudden rampage?"

The maid had short wavy hair. Her eyes and hair color were black like an obsidian. Her name is Mari, Raire's most faithful, loyal maid. She stood in front of Raire's sight as she started to inform her master.

"Last time I heard, she was unconscious."

Mari never looked into Raire's eyes as she had the status of a maid. Raire who heard Mari's report giggled in happiness as she rejoiced that her "stepsister" was going to get scolded by her stepfather. She was very content in getting Seira into trouble.

"Hmm... Father will scold my dear "sister" for bullying me out of jealousy. Wouldn't he?" She continued in confidence. "After all, Father did choose my mother as the Queen."

Mari submissively nodded as she agreed with Raire's statement.

Raire was so happy that she could harass— get "justice" from her Father. Without having to raise a hand. She even spent her time humming sweetly. She started to feel hoarse and commanded Mari.

"Mari, please pour me tea."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Mari pushed the tea cart and prepared the tea for her master. She mastered the basics of making tea which is one of the skills she possesses. Raire then got up and sat on her bed. She took the teacup and sipped it.

"Do you think my plan would work?"

"It certainly would work on her, Your Highness."

Mari answered her master's question.

After all, Princess Seira isn't that smart.

Raire allowed her faithful maid to "search" for some information.

"You can depart now, Mari."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will keep you updated on her."

Mari bowed and left Raire's bedroom.

Clack!

The sweet smile on Raire immediately disappeared. Her happy-go-lucky eyes turned cold. She clicked her tongue out of envy. She put her teacup on the tea table and stood up. Raire tapped her lips with her forefinger.

"Rest assured, my dear sister."

A sinister smile formed on Raire's face.

"From this moment on…

"You will not be able to gain Father's favor."

***

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