Sici was walking down the hall. This morning she had gotten an unexpected invitation for breakfast with the family.
A possibility that even Milena didn't think of, judging from her reaction. Which was giving a response which she was not known for.
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"Thanks though you're definitely going to make me regret it."
Her hair was tied in a bun today, making her readjust it in paranoia that it's coming loose, "I wanted a braid, they could have just let me braid it if they weren't going to."
"You sure are ungrateful," Melina says in Sici's head.
"Hah, thought you were gonna sent a notice. How lucky am I, to get to hear your voice," she said in annoyance.
"No one told them to tie the half braids into a bun!" She softly shouts in frustration getting back to the current important part, "I don't like any of this."
On her way, she ends up running into Leisha. Instantly her mood improves as she looks at him, "Leisha~"
He notices her, his lips forming a gentle smile which gives off a mature vibe. Sici holds onto her giggles as Melina would probably nag her if she chose to behave in such a way.
Hiding her grin with her hand, she asks, "Why are you standing here, Leisha?"
He hesitates, "Uh.. I thought I might run into you so..."
Sici feels as though an arrow was shot through her heart because of how cute he was in every gestures he made, "Isn't it illegal to be this adorable and cute? My heart won't make it at this rate!"
She quickly composed herself, "Did you have anything to ask me?"
"Actually... I was wondering if we could go to the bookstore again.. Like how we used to," Leisha nervously speaks out.
"I don't mean to be rude. I know I shouldn't ask something like this when you're still.."
He doesn't finish his sentence but Sici was still able to make out what he wanted to say. She still hadn't recovered all of the memories. She managed to recover only a few memories related to Leisha which didn't contain anything about such moments.
She pats his head, "You don't have to worry about that Leisha. I wanted to go out anyway."
Since no system screen pops out, it gives her a sense of relief that she didn't misspoke.
Leisha finally forms out a big smile, as expected from a child, "Thank you, sister!"
Sici couldn't help but think, "Oh if only Luke was even one percent of how you are Leisha."
She silently hoped to retrieve some memories related to the bookshop before making the stop with Leisha.
....
Everyone is silent. Even the sounds of spoons being used and put down wasn't audible. The maids maintained their distance, enough to not hear a conversation between the members of the household.
The marchioness was absent today. Leisha sat on the seat beside Sici and Luke was seated opposite to them while Marquess Kayser was to their left side, as the head of the household.
The silence was intolerable to her, "Did nobles really have such a manner or is it just this world? Whatever it is, I feel suffocated."
Sici was having a hard time digesting the food due to the air in the room. "I might vomit. I can't even enjoy this luxurious food."
Regardless, wasting food was against her morals so she kept on putting it in her mouth, gulping it down with water.
Melina's father, Kayser coughs a little before choosing to speak, breaking the silence, "Melina..."
She gets startled.
Without wasting a second, the screen pops up to help her. She instantly chooses to repeat the words, since the chances of messing up is high.
In a nonchalant tone she says, "Yes, father?"
In her head, "I think I will die. How am I even acting as if nothing can faze me!?"
She hoped the system would not start to cut down points for another invisible buff. She was already down to negative points with no clue on how to earn it.
She looks at him as it is polite while holding a conversation.
However, Kayser doesn't, avoiding her gaze, he continues to speak, "How is your body holding up?"
This time a white text box appears, giving her multiple choices reminding her of the game. She would bet that Melina had nothing to do with providing this choice but the words.
(1) Not That You Care. No Need To Know Such A Inutile Thing.
(2) Stop Acting Nice. It's Annoying, We Both Know That.
(3) (Ignore & Continue Your Meal)
"I'm going to bet the choices were rigged by Melina. I get it I don't have much information about the situation but that is not appropriate to say to someone who seems concerned!" She argues inside her head.
She decides to change her answer, shifting her gaze to the meal, "It is bearable."
Everyone is astonished by her choice of words. Feeling awkward she starts to regret, "Maybe I should have followed her guidance.. What if they deduct points again? Fuck me."
"If you choose to behave however you want, don't expect me to help you. So ungrateful," Melina pops up inside her head again.
"As if you've been a sweetheart with your so called helps!"
Kayser loses his words as this wasn't what he was expecting. Luke decides to talk instead, seeing the two of them silent, "See? I told you something's wrong with her."
His calm manner gives Sici goosebumps, "If I didn't know any better then I would think he genuinely cared. Look at how he looks while he says that!"
Her anger taking control of her, forcing a smile, "And what exactly do you find so wrong, Luke?"
He grins, "Just concerning points, sister. I didn't mean to word it to sound rude."
"Yea, you didn't make it sound rude but the words sure conveyed a different thing," she thought.
She chooses to be silent, taking a sip of water to calm her down, "I'm supposed to hold a reputation of a villainess, right?"
She ends up grinning as her mind automatically thinks of something mischievous, "Now how to make it work~"
"Why are you grinning like an idiot?"
She ignores his question, turning her attention to Kayser, "Do you have anything else you want to say, father? If not, I will be taking my leave first then." She gets up without waiting for a answer, halting the mischievous thought that came in her head.