"Those idiots are such a pain in my ass."
"As if you weren't the same back then," mom mocked in the same way that Kirill mocked Andrey, and I suddenly saw the similarities, as well as where Diana got that provoking and bickering nature of hers.
It doesn't feel so bad now.
"When was I liked that, my love?" Father cried.
"Your past condemns you," mom chanted.
He gasped, "I was never like that, at all."
"Yes, you were, especially about your height," she scoffed.
His skin blushed, "No. I am confident about it."
"Now you are," she chuckled, intertwining her arm on mine. "Come on, Liya, let's head out. And you," she grinned and side eyed dad, who was pouting. "Catch the boys and make sure they look serious in the Duchess funeral, I'll be waiting with Liya in the carriage."
"Yes, my love," seems like mom has dad's heeds.
As we left my chambers, striding into the hallways, I looked around, admiring the surprisingly gothic architecture of the Marquise's castle, since I've never been here, even less seen it from afar or heard how it looked like. I personally have always been a fan of gothic architecture back in the modern world as Alina, and I particularly loved to work as a civil engineer in projects that involved gothic architecture. So, I'm amazed, the entire castle looks like it was crafted out of obsidian with veils of gold all around.
"Black and gold are the colors our family, right, mom?" I asked, looking around.
The Diana I knew was never a fan of black, she was always using extravagant colors like hot pink, vivid red, bright yellow and all, while as Eleanor my colors went from the Blackwood's lavender to the Whitethorn's forest green, but even as a Whitethorn I would use lavender because it looked gorgeous in me, as I was blonde with amethyst eyes. They never allowed me to use black out of funerals, but if I could, I would only use black, or tones that near black, they have always been my favorite. I was a bit like Wednesday Adams as Alina, I confess.
"Yes," she nodded softly.
"Can I always use black then? Black and gold?"
"Of course, darling. Not only black and gold, but navy blue as well, that's the color of the Volkov," she sounded joyful about it, probably because she must have definitely fought with og Diana about this before. "I can redo your wardrobe in a week's time if you want, I've always wanted to do it, but you wasn't welcoming of it before."
"Sounds good, mom. Like dolling me," I said.
The bright smile that curled her lips felt blinding, "I'll do that then. You will look outstanding in black and gold and and navy blue tones."
"Mm, mom?" I tilted my chin, a light bulb invisibly lightening above my head when something came to my mind, something that will make Sofiya stay away from me for good.
"Yes, darling?"
"Do you know Thalia Hallnäs Nykvist, the 3rd daughter of Baron Nykvist?" I think it was mentioned at some point that her family was under the northern Duchy.
"Oh? Yes, I do. She's your age, I believe. Why?"
"Would she be a good friend?" Imagine Sofiya's face when I start going around with her real body, where the true soul of Sofiya is in. Oh, this is a genius idea. "Is she a good Lady?"
Mom seemed surprised and stayed silent until we got to the carriage, thinking about it, "I can arrange that, her father is under our family. For all I know, she's a good girl, she is intelligent, has class, manners, but she's a bit... weird, according to the rumors. Seems like she hit her head some years ago and has been weird since then, some say she's catatonic still, but it doesn't lessen the good reputation she has."
If there's someone I can bond with, is someone in, literally, the same situation as me and with the same enemy. Her soul swap is a secret, since letting that out could get her possibly killed, given how it's forbidden, but we'll be able to get together and make Sofiya pay for both fucking with her life and mine, as Eleanor and Diana. I am not scared of her, not anymore, and she could definitely help me since Thalia's body is extremely strong in magic, since the magic related to the body and not the soul.
Sofiya didn't know that when she swapped, it was the only regret she had, though Sofiya's body is a well of deep magic as well, like all nobles, but Thalia is different, very much like Diana, I can tell that now. The real Thalia had the power to practice soul magic, but that wasn't her only power since that it's something that can be learned and not born with, no, she has lightning magic, strong lightning magic, as well as super strength. If I can get her with me, I'll have a wild card, while being a wild card myself.
"I would like to befriend her, mom," I said softly. "I want a friend, but someone under the Volkov, someone who will be my friend and not use me."
She clapped her hands, "Alright, it's decided. I'll get into contact with Baron Damien and Baroness Cornelia Nykvist, and request for their daughter to come have a tea with you. I'm surprised you remembered her. I think whoever targeted you, definitely wanted to mess with your memories of our family, to take you off your feet," she caressed my hand softly. "Little did they knew that they were helping you instead."
"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger, right?"
Nodding, she smiled, "That's our motto."
"These brats," father growled, opening the doors of the carriage and throwing my brothers inside, then he came in and sat next to mom, leaving me with the back seat next to the window that shows the marquise's castle and not the road. "Ugh, my blood pressure."
I leaned my head on the window, watching the majestic outside of the castle, "Try having some hibiscus tea, hot or cold, dad," the words rolled out of my tongue unconsciously, "it helps lowering high blood pressure, it's rich in anthocyanins and antioxidants, also preventing hypertension and respiratory diseases." A long silence took over the carriage and when I felt all their eyes on me, I turned my gaze from the window to them, "What?"
"How do you know that?" Andrey gasped.
I blinked, "I don't remember, I think I must have read it somewhere, I have a feeling that, despite not remembering it, I've always feared death, so I must have studied on my own things that can prevent diseases like that," I studied after my dad, as Alina, passed from from heart failure, that and countless other natural measures to prevent death for health issues.
"We really should have hit your head on a wall years before," Kirill said, way too seriously.