"I know you're up," Elanor said, her voice slicing through the dreamy haze I was trying to cling to.
I flinched, caught off guard. Great, I'm my own scapegoat now.
"Ummm, good morning, sister," I attempted a flattering tone, but it came out all croaky, like a frog with a sore throat. Elanor just stared at me. Hard. No reply. Well, this is awkward. Gosh, I'm really making a fool of myself here.
As I looked around, I couldn't help but marvel at the surroundings. Did I mention everything in this place is super fancy? I mean, I'm a princess, but it's still hard to wrap my head around it. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and the furniture looked like it belonged in a museum. I still couldn't quite believe I was actually here. I just wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
The others were still fast asleep, blissfully unaware of my embarrassing encounter with Elanor. I envied them.
The maids noticed we were awake and immediately started to feed us. I glanced at my sisters like they were my lifelines, hoping they'd wake up and join the fun. But nope, still snoozing. Dammit.
This scene reminded me of my 18th birthday when the godmother called me into her office, bags packed and ready. That woman was scary. I don't know why, but I found Elanor to be even scarier. Maybe it's the poison thing—at least the godmother followed the law.
"I don't like you," Elanor said, her tone flat as a pancake. She looked at me and let out a deep sigh like some old grandma. Seriously, it made me wonder what she'd been through in her past life. Did she have a rough childhood? Was she betrayed or something? There must be a reason for the mass poisoning she did that Alice claims. Or maybe she just didn't like surprises.
"I get it. I know I'm an anomaly for you all—an unexpected variable in your perfectly plotted lives. You probably had some plans for this life that my presence has totally messed up," I said, trying to sound as understanding as possible.
"A lot of plans, to be exact," she snapped, her irritation sharper than the edge of a knife. Ouch.
I couldn't help but smile wryly. "Sorry about that. Guess I just showed up and ruined the whole thing, huh?"
"Pretty much," she replied, still not breaking eye contact. It felt like I was staring down a laser beam.
"Tell me about you," she said suddenly, her tone shifting a bit. It felt more like an interrogation than a casual conversation, but I complied. After all, I've lived long enough to get a sense of people and their vibes. Not that I'm a pro or anything—I'd probably trip over my own words in front of a psychologist. But Elanor seemed like a wary, wounded cat. You know, the kind that hides under the bed whenever someone new walks in.
Yeah, I have this weird coping mechanism where I simplify people into cats, and guess what? It actually helps. Helps to deal with anxiety, at least for me.
For a moment, I wondered if I should lie and tell her I'm some mystical being or something like that. Maybe she would respect me if I said I was some higher existence. I was actually tempted—some protagonists do that and pull it off, though most of them had systems or space. I wonder if Maya would come to me like that. I mean, it's possible. Just look at everything happening to me.
Anyways, I decided to tell her everything—everything about my life, my past, and even about my mother. That great being lie would need too many layers to cover up.
I figured if I opened up, she might see I meant no harm. Plus, I just had this feeling that she was someone I could connect with. I wanted to heal together, if that makes sense. But I was wrong. There was no big dramatic moment where we both cried and hugged it out. Maybe I was still just an idealistic kid thinking that sharing my story would magically fix everything? But at least I didn't completely fail. Well, kind of. Because she was at least talking to me comfortably, and that was a start.
She leaned in closer as I spoke, her expression shifting from skeptical to genuinely curious. "So, tell me more about that orphanage system. How does it work?"
And just like that, we were off to the races. I started explaining how it was structured, how kids were taken care of, and the importance of education. I realized I was talking like that headmaster of the public school, which was too idealistic and didn't really work out that way, but Elanor was genuinely interested, especially when I mentioned the free education systems. Of course, I told her that it was only good on paper, and the implementation of all those laws was, respectfully, whack.
"I can already imagine you in a governing position, making all the big decisions," I said, half-joking, but there was some truth to it. She had this air about her, like she was meant to be in charge. It was kinda cool. "I was the crown princess," she said. Wow.
"Speak about those Newton and internet things with Alice and Dorothy," she said, her face still stoic, but I thought I saw a hint of a smile lurking in her eyes. Was it my imagination? Nope, she definitely stopped looking at me like I was some scum off the bottom of her shoe.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be the "youngest, cutest sister who wins everyone over" trope here, but I think I might be pulling it off. I mean, if I keep this up, maybe they'll all end up loving me.
"Do you think I'm doing okay?" I asked, almost to myself. I glanced at her to gauge her reaction, but she just nodded slowly, like she was deep in thought.
"I suppose you could say that," Elanor replied, crossing her arms. "But it's not just about winning people over. You have to prove you belong here." Did I speak out loud? I don't think so. Wow, she's practically reading my thoughts. But does that mean I've won her over? I'm excited. I think this is where the main character says, "Big sister, I'm holding your royal thighs for life." I gagged at the thought. But, older sister, please take care of me.
I laughed, a bit incredulously. "I mean, I've only been here a day, and I'm still figuring things out. I might just trip over my own feet trying to impress everyone."
She rolled her eyes, but I caught a hint of a smile. "You'll figure it out. Just don't underestimate the importance of being genuine. That goes a long way."
"Thanks, Elanor. I'll keep that in mind," I said, feeling a bit lighter. Who knew being honest could actually earn some respect?
As I settled back into my thoughts, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, I was starting to find my place in this crazy new world. Sure, it was messy and chaotic, but it was also mine. Yes, this is mine. Absolutely not because I am a princess here and saw more luxury than my entire past life. Note that I am especially stressing some words. Anyways, I am determined to make the most of this chance to have a good beginning.
Maybe this life would turn out to be more exciting than I thought. Maybe I could balance the chaos with a bit of charm and wit. Wait, do I even have those qualities?
And you know what? I was starting to think I might just enjoy this whole princess gig after all.