Reminiscing about what I did earlier.
"…I didn't disrespect him, right?"
"I bowed properly… lifted my skirt with both hands… and walked as gracefully as I could."
As I try to repeat the movements, adjusting my posture slightly.
"I don't even understand this world,
Yet..."
"What if he throws me out since he's the duke?"
—Velora's mind—
"Whoever you are, a threat or a spy in this duchy." Lu points a sword at me
"Die."
"Kyaaaaaa!"
—stab—
"At least I didn't say anything stupid and get myself thrown out or find out right?"
"…I should be fine."
I let out a relief, finally leaving.
I peak through the gap and whisper.
"Goodbye,
... ...mother."
Finally closing the door.
—click—
'I should go back to my room.'
"For now."
—few minutes later, hallway—
'Eh...?'
'eh?'
'Ehhhh!?!'
I start heading right since that's where east room, my room is supposed to be but It seems I'm lost.
"So many hallways, I rememeber turning at this direction then right?"
"or was it left?"
"Did I make a wrong turn..."
"Velly? What are you doing here?"
I turn around and see Rey bathe in sweat.
'If I was a girl, I would blush.'
A passing by maid suddenly blushed.
'My exact point.'
"Rey..." I scratch my cheek.
'I know this is quite embarrassing since I'm asking a kid for directions but...'
"...Do you know where my room is?"
"Pfft— bwahahaha, what are you a kid?"
'Should I punch his nuts?'
"Haaah, you don't have to burn a hole in my head, come on."
Rey pats my head while smirking.
"You're still a child, what were you even doing at the north?"
"I was looking for the library."
"In the north? But its in the west side though?"
'Huh this is the north? Didn't they say that the duke's office is on the north...'
'Does that mean—.'
"Oh, older brother."
'@#&-!?' a hair starts to perk up.
"What are you doing." Lucien's voice sounds so icy and cold.
The way his eyes pierce through me scares me.
'Is the duke a killer...?'
Lucien and Rey starts talking to each other while I sort of scooch myself behind him.
In my previous life, I'm always working inside, not out greeting guests so I'm not aware on how to do a small talk.
I stare at the duke once more,
Our eyes met and Duke Lucien gives me a soft smile, the lingering feeling of family.
'Ah, why am Ieaving myself on edge.'
'I forgot I'm Lady Velora.'
—throb—
Feeling of guilt sinks in, as if I don't deserve these kind of treatment since I'm not lady Velora.
—snap—
I shake my head, scoffing lightly as I raise a fist in quiet determination.
'I can do this.'
Lucien steps closer to me, lowering himself onto one knee.
"How are you Velora?" A gentle gaze, a soft smile.
I bow down gracefully.
"I'm okay."
I hesitate
...older brother."
"She's able to learn much etiquette even though she wasn't thought." Lucien's eyes brighten up.
'Wait, Lady Velora didn't receive any teaching?'
'Are you telling me she's a spoiled brat or a kid being a kid...' I look distant and start to think.
—Scenarios start forming in my head—
Velora, cooped up in her room, not speaking to anyone.
Velora shrinking into corners, hiding whenever she's outside.
Velora fumbling at the table and has no proper manners, no guidance.
—poof—
'Am I even acting like a kid?'
"That's our sister of course she has the blood of the Rosethorne." Rey's pride practically visible as he lifts his chin.
Without warning, Duke Lucien's eyes lose their warmth turning distant, cold.
A chill runs down my spine as I look at him again.
"Hmm?" Lucien gentle smile returns as if I imagined it.
'Was I imagining things?'
Lucien stands up, "What are you doing here?" in a serious tone.
'I-I'm scared' my soul almost left my body.
"Well I was looking for Velly till I saw her here looking lost." Rey smirks and leaning down as he grabs both my shoulders.
'Is he not seeing Duke Lucien's expression? He's not even flinching.' as I stare at Rey in disbelief.
"She said she was looking for the library."
'Ah. This piece of s—' as I die inside.
"I see—,
she must've confused the library as my study." Duke Lucien glare, it's definitely a glare as he smile.
'Am I safe?'
A heavy silence falls over the room, both of them smiling.
I slowly form an awkward smile, my lips stretching just a little.
"Pfft." Duke Lucien covers his smirk using his hand and hair.
"You're Velora."
"Well, I'll be going, at least you know now." as Duke Lucien pats my head, and left.
'Phew, I thought I'm going to die... Wait did he say—...'
'You're Velora.'
I clasp my hands and press them against the sides of my head.
'AAAAAAAAA I was too suspicious.'
"Come on Velly let's go."
—Library—
"What do you want to do in the library? I should've bring it to your room instead." Rey glances around, casually running his fingers along the books on the shelf.
'I can't say I'm looking for their mom's since I already did that.'
"I get bored being cooped up."
'It's not like I can go out if I wanted to, since I don't want to be suspicious.'
Rey's eyes open wide in a gasp.
"That's a first." as he let out a relief, smiling in one ear.
"Wow, I never knew you have it in you, Velly."
"I'll go tell brother Lu about it—."
'While I'm at it, I should read a book about the history of this kingdom.'
'Or maybe the crown prince...'
'Wait didn't they say that the crown prince has a sibling?'
'I should look for it.'
—Few minutes later—
'I can't find the book but thank the heavens the textbooks are readable just in cursives.'
I look for Rey who is sitting in the corner beside the table.
"Rey..."
"Hmm?"
"Do you know anything about the history of the kingdom?"
"Hmm." Rey stands up from his chair and start looking around.
"Ah, here Vel." Rey hands me a book.
"Chronicles of the Kingdom..." I whisper
I start to read it beside Rey.
The story starts with how Aether saved the kingdom.
'So the kingdom that they were talking about is where the Rosethorne family resides and where the FAF takes place.'
"Lysanthir Kingdom." I whisper.
Lysanthir, meaning the Light of the white lily. The ones who made the first contract with the fairy before it crosses other nation.
I flip through the very end of the page since It's not what I'm looking for.
'Finally the Family tree.'
'Oh, prince Arshian Lysanthir is around 23 years old.'
'Queen Elmyra Lysanthir, she has yellow hair and pink eyes same as the crown prince, Arshian Lysanthir.'
'—and the King, King Alric Lysanthir.'
"Golden hair and brown eyes."
'Hmm... Weird didn't they say the king remarried but why don't I seem to find the other sibling in this book.' I stare at the book intensely.
"You know if looks cause fire, you've already burned the book."
Rey looks at me while resting his arm on the table, his face against his hand
"I heard from Erisa that the King remarried and had a son?"
"Ah, he did." Rey point out to Queen Elmyra Lysanthir.
"That's the new queen."
I stare in disbelief. Confused on what information is right.
"Where's the other queen?"
"Well, I was quite young that time but I heard prince Arshian, the crown prince rebelled cause the King had a mistress or rather the supposed Queen, but something happened and I'm not quite sure what it was."
"Since Lu's best buddies with the crown prince, do you want to ask him?" Rey beams as if he thought of a brilliant idea.
"Ah no..."
"Then—, what happened to the other sibling?"
"You mean his younger brother? Well he was quite young and died when a fire broke out inside the younger brother's room."
"Why're you suddenly curious about the younger brother?"
"Ah, I was just wondering if you thought we were around the same age." I blurted out what comes to mind.
"Well the crown prince was 6 when his younger brother came so maybe by now he'll be a bit older than you Velly."
"Aww do you want a prince charming—?"
Rey's smile fades, looks at me in a serious tone.
"I recommend you don't get near the crown prince though, I'm not sure what's hidden under his sleeve."
'Creepy...'
"Why?"
"Nothing!" Rey smiles.
—Next day—
'He did say he would inform our brother, Duke Lu, but—...'
"From this day onward, you shall be instructed how to become a refined lady."
'I didn't know he meant this.'
"You shall be taught how to write with proper form, how to read with elegance, and how to observe the rules of etiquette befitting a lady of noble standing."
"Do you hear that, Velly? You will learn more early than other nobles before your debut and before you get your ability." Rey smiles brightly.
'I should've hit him in the nuts.'