"I guessed as much," I sighed, looking at my four sisters, each wearing expressions that ranged from mild annoyance to outright curiosity.
"So, this means you four are living your lives again, and I have reincarnated here. In your previous lives, 'I' didn't exist because I was dead." I spoke calmly, though inwardly, I felt anything but. This situation was far too strange, even for someone who had experienced reincarnation.
"Yeah, stillbirth to be exact," Elanor replied nonchalantly, as though discussing something as trivial as the weather.
I blinked, processing the information. So, the original fifth princess didn't even survive her first day. In that life, she had been destined to die before even taking a breath. I guess fate had other plans this time around.
"Who are you then?" Alice asked, her tone curious but edged with skepticism.
I glanced around at the four of them. They were all far too composed for infants, though that was hardly surprising, considering they had apparently lived entire lives before this. Since they themselves had been reborn, I figured they might believe my story without much fuss. Hopefully.
"You could say that I'm a person from another world," I began, choosing my words carefully. "I died in an accident and ended up reincarnating into this body."
Silence filled the room as they processed my words. Their tiny faces remained impassive, but I could see flickers of curiosity and doubt in their eyes. Honestly, I wasn't sure how I'd react to a story like mine either.
"And what proof do you have?" Alice asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
I sighed inwardly. Of course, they'd want proof. I didn't exactly have a birth certificate from my past life stashed away somewhere.
"Well, I guess the fact that I'm speaking to you as if I've lived for years, despite only being just 2 month old, might be a clue," I said with a shrug, offering them a smile that I hoped came across as reassuring.
"Besides, you were all reborn, right? It's not such a leap to think that I could be someone from another world. Why don't we talk about what to do now, from what I've heard we seem to be some sort of saviors."
Alice raised an eyebrow, clearly still not convinced, but Elanor cut in before she could press further.
"If you're really from another world, then why should we share anything about this one or our past lives with you? Only God knows what your intentions might be." Elanor's tone was sharp, and I could feel the weight of her suspicion bearing down on me. It was as if she had suddenly decided I was some sort of threat.
"Why wouldn't you want to share your past lives with me?" I asked, genuinely curious. "If we're all going to be living together, don't you think it's important for me to know who you are?"
Her icy glare softened slightly as she considered my question. But before she could respond, Alice chimed in, her tone turning a little more amiable.
"Don't mind her. We'll tell you. You'll know everything soon enough anyway," Alice said, a smirk creeping onto her face as she glanced at Elanor, who was still simmering.
"Do you always have to go against me?" Elanor snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.
Oh no. I felt a knot form in my stomach as the two of them began to bicker. Elanor looked like she was ready to breathe fire, and Alice was clearly enjoying pushing her buttons. For the second eldest, she had a mischievous streak that was only making the situation worse.
Someone, save me.
My eldest sister was practically seething now. It was almost impressive. As expected of someone who could poison ministers in court, Elanor clearly didn't handle being challenged well.
Before things could escalate further, Iris spoke up, her soft voice cutting through the tension. "Pay no heed to them. They'll calm down after a while." She smiled at me, the expression gentle and understanding.
Iris. She was different from the others—more reserved, more delicate. She had the air of someone who had spent far too much time lying in bed, contemplating the world from afar. I hadn't forgotten that she was often sick in her past life, barely able to do anything for the country beyond offering prayers. Yet, there was something about her demeanor that made me instinctively trust her.
I found myself relaxing slightly. Maybe Iris would be the ally I needed in this strange new life.
"I hope you're right," I murmured, casting a wary glance toward Alice and Elanor, who were still locked in a fierce exchange of insults. Honestly, they looked ready to throttle each other, and all this bickering was giving me a headache. I might be a reincarnated soul, but my two-month-old body wasn't used to this kind of stress.
As I watched the argument unfold, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I had only just met these sisters, and here I was, already making assumptions about them based on a few minutes of interaction. Sure, they had said some pretty damning things about each other's past lives, but I had no idea what they had really been through.
Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to judge.
I decided, then and there, that I wouldn't make any unnecessary assumptions about my new siblings. After all, we were in this together now, whether I liked it or not.
"Can you at least tell me what happened in your past lives?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation back on track once the bickering settled down. "If I'm going to be a part of this family, I think it's important to know."
Iris smiled encouragingly at me, while Elanor seemed to contemplate my request. I could tell she was still wary, but curiosity was slowly creeping into her expression.
"Fine," she said finally, crossing her arms. "But I'm not promising anything nice."
"Honestly, I'd be shocked if it were," I replied, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm ready for a wild ride."
Alice snorted, and I could see a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "Well, good luck with that. Our lives have been anything but dull."
Just then, Dorothy, who had been quiet for most of the exchange, spoke up, her voice soft but curious. "Wait, can you tell us about your world? What was it like before you came here?"
I felt a rush of surprise at her question, but also a spark of excitement. "Oh, it was... complicated," I began, ready to dive into the details of my previous life. This conversation might just turn into an interesting exchange of stories, and perhaps even a way to bond with my new sisters.
As I settled into the idea of sharing my experiences, I felt a rush of anticipation. My sisters had lived entire lives before this one. Their experiences, their knowledge—it all held the key to understanding this new world I found myself in.
And maybe, just maybe, it would help me figure out my own role in all of this.