Shilien Argenti is a madwoman. The novel never mentioned exactly when this woman started teaching Luna swordsmanship, but starting at the age of seven!? She's truly insane!
"Yes, Mother!"
I waited until Shilien turned her back to me, then angrily raised my middle finger at that vile woman, who walked away with her usual arrogance.
"What are you doing?" Shilien suddenly asked, turning around.
Oh no! I forgot this woman has eyes in the back of her head!
"Ah… Nothing, Mother!"
I lowered my head and thought quickly.
Come on, Luna, do something before she punishes you!
"Seeing how amazing you are, I couldn't help but think that you resemble this middle finger. If I were to compare, Mother is like the middle finger… Because it's the tallest among all five fingers. It stands so high that it makes the other four fingers bow in submission… Like this!"
I demonstrated my hand again while wearing an innocent smile.
There's no way she knows the meaning of this gesture from another world, right?
"Hoo… Do you also say things like this to His Majesty the King?"
"N-No! This is the first time I've said something like this. In my eyes, no one else in this world compares to the middle finger except you, Mother. It's a symbol of my respect and love for you." I forced a smile, praying that Shilien believed my words.
"Haha… Hahahaha!" Shilien laughed loudly. "You're right, child! One day, your mother will indeed hold the highest power in the land of Emeraldine!"
Ugh! Hearing those words makes me want to puke.
"The middle finger, huh… What an excellent metaphor. Ohohoho!"
Shilien strutted out of the room, clearly pleased. Meanwhile, I laughed quietly to myself and flipped her off again from afar.
Hahaha! Turns out that the stupidity of that wicked woman matches her evilness.
Just wait, once I grow up, I'll make you kneel before me, you bitch!
After Shilien left, Anna entered the room. She hurried over to me, carrying a small jar of herbal salve in her hand, her face full of concern.
"Princess, did Lady Shilien…?"
"Don't worry, Anna. Mother only hit me once today!" I interrupted her question and lifted my skirt to show her the blue bruise on my calves caused by Shilien's whip.
"Oh no… The bruise from yesterday hasn't even healed yet…" Anna's lips trembled as her face filled with the strain of holding back tears. She then carefully applied the salve on my legs.
"Thank you, Anna!"
After she finished treating my legs, I immediately hugged her.
She returned the hug, holding me tightly. "You're truly strong, Princess," she whispered softly while stroking my head.
"Hehe, I know!"
I know my life wouldn't be easy after reincarnating as Luna, but Anna's presence as my personal maid is one of the reasons I could endure it all. She always takes care of me with kindness. To me, she is more of a mother than Shilien, who refused to even nurse me after I was born. Anna is the one who comforted me and treated my wounds whenever Shilien punished me for making mistakes during the lessons.
"Rest well, Princess Luna," Anna said warmly after escorting me back to my room for some rest, leaving me alone in this large, lonely chamber.
Actually, when I was just a year old, I had many attendants. But their attitudes toward me changed drastically after Chrisola was born. The servants who once treated me with warmth and affection became cold and indifferent, even though they knew and saw how Shilien was raising and treating her own daughter. Among them, only Anna continued to treat me the same way she had before Chrisola's birth.
It is strange, actually, because Anna is an anomaly that appeared after my reincarnation in this world. In Twilight's Chronicle, her name was never mentioned. Her presence makes me wonder, as I have no information about her at all. But still, I am grateful for Anna's existence, as it gives me hope that maybe I can live a different life as Luna than the one written in the original story.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Sister?"
Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door, followed by the voice of a small child calling for me from the other side.
"Yes, I'm inside. Come in!"
As the door opened, a tiny five-year-old girl with sapphire blue eyes and curly blonde hair ran in my direction.
"Sister! Let's play!" she said in an adorable voice, her face as cute as ever.
Elly, Chrisola's nanny, entered the room as well, panting for breath. Judging by her red face and sweaty appearance, she had been running to catch up with Chrisola. "Forgive me, Princess Luna. I know this is your rest time, but Princess Chrisola missed you so much and really wanted to play with you!"
"It's okay, Elly!" I greeted Chrisola, who had climbed up onto my bed and was crawling toward me.
"You're not tired, are you, Sister?"
"Haha, of course not!" I playfully pinched her tiny nose.
"Come play with Chrisola!" the little girl pleaded, tugging at my hand with her small hands, trying to pull me out of bed. I couldn't resist my adorable little sister's request.
"Then I'll leave you two for now. When you're finished, just call for me."
"Thank you, Elly!"
Once Elly closed the door, Chrisola and I got off the bed. She sat on the carpet while I fetched my toy box and opened it in front of her.
"So, what do you want to play today?"
"Drawing! Chrisola wants to draw!"
Chrisola eagerly grabbed a sketchbook and some colorful crayons from the box.
"Okay! Let's have a contest! Who can draw the prettiest flower will win!"
"Yay!"
Playing with Chrisola like this is the only joyful thing in my life ever since I started living as Luna. In the novel, Chrisola was described as a sweet and adorable child, but in reality, she far exceeded my expectations and imagination. Plus, in my previous life, I was an only child who often felt lonely. Having a cute little sister like her is a dream come true!
"Sister, look at this!"
Chrisola proudly held up her drawing for me to see.
"Pfft… I told you to draw one flower, so why did you make an entire flower garden?"
"Well… Chrisola couldn't decide which flower to draw…."
"Haha! Don't worry, your drawing is great! It's a beautiful flower garden— Wait…?"
There was something in Chrisola's drawing that made me pause.
"This…?"
Before I could finish my question, Chrisola quickly pointed out the objects in her drawing, explaining them one by one with excitement.
"Ah… This is Chrisola… This is Sister… This is Father… And this is Mother!"
My heart stopped for a moment at her words. A joyous smile lit up her face as her tiny finger pointed to the woman she had drawn, wearing a beautiful dress and crown, smiling warmly. And it creeped me out.
"The mother you mean is…?"
"Of course, Mother Shilien!"