Arlen Mansion,
The ride back to the Arlen mansion wasn't exactly peaceful. My brain was a spinning washing machine of what just went down. Kids locked up, those shady clowns, knights stepping in like it was their big moment—ugh, my whole day was a circus.
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the Arlen mansion, and before it even fully halted, I jumped off like a madwoman.
"Miss! You cannot jump! That's not ladylike!" Mina yelled from behind, her voice a mix of panic and exasperation.
"Yeah, yeah!" I waved her off without looking, already bolting toward the entrance. My dress was a menace, so I yanked up my skirt a little, muttering, "Stupid fancy clothes."
I dashed through the halls, leaving a trail of shocked maids and butlers.
I reached the massive double doors of the Grand Duke's office, and let me tell you, knocking wasn't even a consideration. With both hands, I shoved the doors open like I was breaking into a fortress. They slammed against the walls with a BANG! like I owned the place.
"Sir, I need to talk to you!" I barked.
The whole room froze like I'd just set off a bomb.
The Grand Duke—my supposed dad in this reincarnated life—was mid-sentence, holding a stack of documents that now looked like they might fall apart in his grip.
My so-called brothers, Theodore and Tristan. Theodore froze like someone had just smacked him with a frozen fish. Tristan? He blinked, cocking his head like I was some feral animal that had wandered in off the street.
The Grand Duke finally broke the silence. "...Sir?" he repeated, his tone somewhere between confusion and disbelief.
Yeah, I got it. Calling him "sir" instead of "father" was probably the shock of his life. But hey, let's not forget—I don't exactly see these people as family yet. They're just extras in this crazy second-life drama I've been shoved into.
"Cecilia," Theodore finally spoke, his voice stiff and polite. "Is there… a reason you barged in like this?"
I didn't even bother to look at the guy. Nah, not worth it. My eyes were locked on the Grand Duke—my so-called dad—who still looked like he'd been hit with a frying pan after I called him "sir."
"Is there any hunting festival coming up?" I asked, straight to the point.
Theodore and Tristan exchanged confused glances, the kind that screamed, What is she on about now? Tristan stepped forward, frowning.
"Cecilia…" he started, his tone careful. "Didn't Father already tell you? You're not allowed to go to the hunting festival this year."
That made me pause. I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. "Why not?"
Tristan let out a sigh. "I can't believe you forgot this easily. Did you seriously forget how you caused a scene because of Lord Victor last year?"
Again with Lord Victor. The name keeps popping up like a bad case of whack-a-mole. It's like I'm stuck playing some twisted jigsaw puzzle of Cecilia's past life. I furrowed my brows. "What did I do?"
Theodore stepped forward, ever the composed older brother, adjusting his cuffs like this was some courtroom drama. "You spilled tea on the baroness's daughter because she received a flower from Lord Victor."
I did that? I mean, Cecilia did that? I stared at them, feeling a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Isn't this girl supposed to be the ultimate weak pushover who wouldn't dare step on a bug, let alone start beef over some stupid flower?
Something about this doesn't add up. Cecilia's past now feels like a full-blown mystery novel with missing chapters, and I'm the unlucky reader trying to piece it together. But if I can unravel it, maybe—just maybe—I can figure out how she ended up in that dungeon and, y'know, died.
And for that? I need to crash this hunting festival like my life depends on it. Because honestly, it might.
I snapped my head toward the Grand Duke. "Sir, I don't like that bastard—uh, I mean, Lord Victor, anymore," I said, adding a quick cough to cover the slip. "So, let me join the hunting festival too."
The Grand Duke just stared at me, still zoned out like I'd short-circuited his brain.
"Sir?" I leaned forward and slammed my hands on the desk with a loud bang. "Did you hear me? I said I wanna go to the hunting festival!"
He blinked rapidly, snapping out of whatever trance he was in. "You… you want to go to the hunting festival?"
"Yeah," I said, nodding firmly.
"Okay," he replied, almost too quickly.
I blinked back at him. "Okay?" That was it? No arguments? No stern lectures? The man just gave up like that?
Or so I thought.
"Thank you, si—" I was thanking him when suddenly, BAM! The chair scraped back with a violent screech, and the Grand Duke shot to his feet, yelling, "Noooo!"
I gasped, my eyes widening like I'd just seen a ghost. "What—what's wrong?!" Even Tristan and Theodore froze.
Then, out of nowhere, he rushed toward me, grabbed my shoulders dramatically, and locked eyes with me like we were in some K-drama climax scene. "Cecilia," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Say it."
"Say what?" I blinked, confused as hell.
"Father!" he declared like it was the most sacred word in the world. "I am not your 'sir,' Cecilia. I am your father."
Oh, crap. I awkwardly nodded, flashing the most fake smile I could muster. "Y-yeah. I get it."
"Then say it!" he demanded, eyes glinting with determination.
"I… I don't understand what you're saying, si—"
"Father, Cecilia. Father. Say it with me. F-A-T-H-E-R!"
I know how to spell it, old man!
But the word felt foreign, like a brick lodged in my throat. I mean, I'm not actually Cecilia, and in my previous life, I didn't exactly have a dad, so how the hell am I supposed to call this guy "father" out of nowhere?
But the look on his face... It was like he wouldn't let me leave until I said it.
"If you…" He leaned closer, narrowing his eyes like he was ready to deliver the final blow. "If you don't call me father, then I will not let you go to the hunting festival."
What?!
This... this old man is blackmailing me now?!
I sighed deeply, dragging a hand down my face. Damn, do I really have to?
His voice was dead serious, like this was life or death. It looks like I have no other choice.
I groaned. "Fine…" My voice dropped into a low grumble as I muttered, "Fa...fa... fath..." Damn it, man. Why is this so hard? It's just a word, right? But it feels like I'm choking on it. I swallowed hard.
I gritted my teeth. "FATHER!
He broke into the brightest, most triumphant smile I'd ever seen, clapping me on the shoulder. "Good! Very good!"
What am I, five?
I mean, what's next? Asking me to call him "daddy" in front of the knights?
Meanwhile, Tristan and Theodore just stood there, completely dumbfounded. And me? I felt like I'd just lost a battle I didn't even know I was fighting.
"Can I go to the hunting festival now?" I asked, deadpan.
"Yes, you may."
"Thanks... Father," I muttered, shooting him a glare before storming out of the room.
Honestly, I can't believe I had to go through all that just to go to a stupid festival. But hey, at least I'm in. Let's just hope it's worth the trauma.