"Livia, Livia." A cheerful and slightly excited voice abruptly pulled Alia from her tangled thoughts. She looked up sharply and saw her younger sister, Lianna, standing at the doorway. Dressed in a pale yellow knee-length dress with a matching silk ribbon around her waist, Lianna exuded a lively charm, like a bright little bird brimming with vitality. A faint smile played on her lips, and her sparkling eyes carried a hint of mischief, as if she could always find joy wherever she went.
"I just heard Marcellus say there's going to be another ball!" Lianna said as she approached, skipping lightly around to Alia's side. She tugged gently at Alia's sleeve, her tone brimming with excitement. "How wonderful! Let me help you with it."
Alia froze for a moment, her emotions stirring into a quiet turmoil. Lianna, as always, appeared pure and carefree, seemingly untouched by the worries of the world. In contrast, Alia felt weighed down by invisible burdens pressing heavily on her shoulders.
"You seem pretty happy about it," Alia said, raising her eyebrows with a faint smile, though her tone carried a touch of indifference. Watching Lianna's carefree demeanor, Alia sighed inwardly. She didn't want to involve her sister in complex matters but also didn't want to dismiss her good intentions.
Lianna, oblivious to her sister's inner conflict, rolled up her sleeves with an air of determination. "Of course! This kind of thing is perfect for me—especially picking decorations and designing the venue. I promise this will be the most beautiful ball the castle has ever seen! You can leave it to me without worry!" She puffed up her chest proudly, her voice full of confidence.
Alia nodded slightly, her face maintaining a calm expression while her heart stirred with complex emotions. Lianna's bright, untroubled smile reminded her of stories Elise once shared about their past. After their mother passed away from illness, Livia had taken on the role of caregiver for her younger siblings, transforming overnight from a lively young girl to the backbone of the family. Meanwhile, their father, far from being consumed by grief, quickly remarried a woman from a prominent family in the capital—a union that brought political advantages but also created an irreparable rift between him and his children.
Since Livia married into Marcellus's household, her younger brother and Lianna had grown up, developing their own perspectives. The once-close sibling bond seemed to have grown distant. Elise had even vented her frustration to Alia about how their father's new wife deliberately sowed discord among the siblings. Thinking about this, Alia felt a pang of sourness in her heart.
Her gaze settled on Lianna—this seemingly naïve younger sister who was no longer the carefree little girl she once was. What troubled Alia even more was Lianna's fondness for Elias, which left her with a vague sense of unease. Though she was certain Lianna didn't know about the secret "relationship" between herself and Elias, Alia couldn't shake the feeling of impending complications. Lianna's feelings might simply be innocent infatuation, but in a family like theirs, such emotions could easily spark unforeseen turmoil.
In her past life, Alia had been an orphan with no siblings, never experiencing the complicated mix of emotions and responsibilities tied to familial bonds. Now, in Livia's identity, she had to navigate this web of blood relations. Looking at the simple-hearted Lianna before her, Alia found herself momentarily lost. Their relationship seemed closer than she had imagined, yet that closeness was tinged with contradictions and uncertainties.
Sighing inwardly, Alia pushed aside her swirling thoughts and decided to approach Lianna with cautious warmth. She gently brushed her hand over Lianna's hair, her tone calm yet tinged with tenderness. "Alright, I'll leave the ball preparations to you this time."
Lianna immediately clung to Alia's arm, her face lighting up with a childlike grin as she swayed playfully. "Alia, it's been so long since we had fun together! And the last family banquet was so unpleasant—we should find a chance to go to town and relax. I recently discovered a café that serves the best brunch. They have a rose jam that's absolutely divine!"
She continued to chatter, gently tugging at Alia's arm, radiating affection and liveliness, seemingly unaffected by the shadows of family strife. Alia, caught off guard by her sister's sudden enthusiasm, momentarily froze, her usually composed expression faltering slightly. "Alright, sure," she replied awkwardly, her tone tinged with unease as she tried to adapt to Lianna's unexpected closeness.
Feeling the firm grip of Lianna's arm around her own, Alia's heart stirred with a blend of warmth and caution. This sudden display of intimacy comforted her yet simultaneously set off subtle alarms. Alia, who had never experienced such unreserved dependency and affection in her previous life, now had to accept it and play the role of an older sister.
"Where's this café?" Alia asked. Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and sincerity, balancing Lianna's excitement with her own guarded nature.
Lianna's eyes lit up instantly, her voice brimming with joy. "It's right by the central square—super easy to find! You're going to love it!" She seemed completely engrossed in the idea of spending quality time with her sister.
Alia's lips curved into a small smile. Though it was still a bit stiff, her gaze softened ever so slightly. "Alright. Once the ball is over, let's find some time to visit." Her voice, though measured, carried a touch of genuine warmth.
While she wasn't fully accustomed to Lianna's exuberance, the familial bond between them was beginning to leave its mark. Despite the mysteries and schemes entangling their family, the presence of Elise and Lianna offered Alia a faint glimmer of warmth in an otherwise cold world.