[Aliciel Blacker Point of View]
"What a poor young lady..."
"..the Duchess Blacker passed away just years ago however.. the Duke remarried to another woman."
"Not to mention, that woman is a commoner."
"It appears that woman has a son!"
"Oh my..!"
"How old is he?"
".... He is a year younger than Lady Blacker."
(Just keep running your mouth as you please.)
I clenched my hands to fists and continued to walk away from the guests who were gossiping in the garden at my residence.
As soon as I entered my room, I went straight to bed and lay down to rest due to the stress I'm experiencing on a constant basis.
(It's really difficult.)
I sighed sadly as I gazed up at the familiar ceiling.
(I did live as the original Aliciel... but after knowing this world is that damn game...!)
I recently discovered that I got transmigrated as a Villainess in this stupid otome game I played before I died.
A game called [Fated Love] with four available *capture targets in which we play as the Heroine, Nora Bright, and went through hardships with the chosen capture target.
*Capture Target is an LI (Love Interest) that the Heroine (Player) will have to raise the affection of the chosen LI. It's the choices player made in the prologue that will lead player to LI routes.
Aliciel Blacker, the Villainess, was always there to get in their way across their journey of love and hardships, no matter who the capture targets were.
In my previous life, I always felt bad for Aliciel even though she was the Villainess.
The Duke never paid her or her mother any attention. Instead, he married another woman several years after her mother passed away.
(It was too realistic and it scares me.)
While I was thinking about the game, I heard a knock on the door, which prompted me to rise from my bed into a sitting position.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, revealing a young maid with curly brown hair and sparkling black eyes.
Lula, my personal maid.
"Good afternoon lady Aliciel!"
She greeted me with the same excitement she always did, her joy pouring out within my gloomy atmosphere.
"Good afternoon Lula, what's the matter?"
I looked at her, my face expressionless, but eyes wide with curiosity.
In response to my question, Lula smiled.
"Do you want to eat some sweets, my lady? It's delicious!"
She offered earnestly, the light in her eyes never wavered, apparently trying to make me feel a lot better after my father's remarriage.
Affected by her kindness, a small smile rose up to my lips.
Even though I don't really enjoy sweets ever since I remembered my previous life, but Lula is trying to cheer me up, I should at least respect that.
"Yes. I would like to, please bring it to me."
"Yes, lady!"
She beamed cheerfully at my agreement and exited the room right away. After making certain she was gone for good, I let out a sigh, but my smile remained steadfast.
As I lowered my head to the floor, my exhausted eyes narrowed.
"Perhaps Lula is the nicest to me here... she doesn't even realize I'm not the same as I used to be..."
I chuckled lightly.
"Or perhaps she chose to ignore it."
***
While I was walking through the spacious hallway after eating sweets with Lula, I wanted to get some fresh air.
However, I didn't expect to run into Allen for the first time by chance.
He has brilliant silver hair that gleamed in the light of the sun that shone through the window, and have the same ruby eyes as mine.
(That eyes of him... It's unpleasant to look at.)
One of the capture targets of [Fated Love] and Aliciel's- no, my step brother, Allen Blacker.
Right now, he's just nothing more than a kid compared in the game.
"L-lady Aliciel..."
He finally managed to find his words despite his nervousness, his eyes trembled under my rage-filled gaze.
(He's one of the capture targets...)
Allen Blacker.
In the game, they describe him as a 'Gentle Devil'.
He acts polite and gentle to cover his ugly and weak mentality, which he has developed as a result of Aliciel's abuse during the past two years. Heck, he's only scared of her in the game, though that changes after meeting the Heroine.
The original Aliciel bullied him out of hatred and that's where his personality came from.
He'll behead me, just like he did to Aliciel in the game, if I chose the wrong words or path.
(This is upsetting.)
I clenched my fists, trying to conceal the anger that had built up inside of me since I had lived as Aliciel before having these memories of my past life.
(I, more than anyone, knows that he's not at fault but- seeing him really irritates me for no reason.)
"It's not like I care but-"
I sighed deeply as I started the conversation first after hearing him saying my name so cowardly.
"Listen Allen Blacker. You're a part of the Blacker household, it's more appropriate to address me as 'sister' in public and private rather than 'lady' since we're- siblings."
While looking at him, I explained respectfully. Neither my eyes were warm nor were they flashing daggers at him. The anger, though, remained veiled beneath the neutrality.
"..Y-yes.. sister."
He stuttered nervously as he responded to my words, unwilling to meet my gaze and rather to lower his head.
"For such trifling matters, a Blacker would never lower their heads and stutters about what words to say or what response to give. Keep that in mind as you evaluate your confidence."
I walked by him as soon as I finished my sentences, leaving him in the hallway without saying anything else.
It's the most effective strategy to avoid him and keep my distance from someone I could hate in the future since it would hurt both me and him.
However, after seeing his face for the first time, I let out a low, mocking laugh.
(So... father left mother to death and abandoned me for that illegitimate child and that woman?)
(What a joke.)
***
"I heard that the new young master is terrible with every subject he learns, especially etiquette."
"Yes... that would be troublesome."
"He's not like our lady Aliciel who carries the pure blood of a noble."
"That's correct. A half blood like him should even be grateful that he's able to stay here."
Little did they know that Allen was eavesdropping them behind the walls. His eyes narrowed in anguish and furrowed his brows miserably as he listened to their words.
He doesn't appear to be able to disagree with them. Because they're all right at one point. It's a proven fact.
However, he was taken aback by a powerful, confident voice that sprang out of nowhere.
"Don't badmouth someone who is my brother."
The maids that was gathering was startled to find me looking at them with icy glare the moment I appeared.
"L-Lady?!"
"You are in the Blacker Dukedom. Refrain from using your mouths as you please."
"W-we're terribly sorry Lady Aliciel! H-however that commoner, Allen, I mean- Y-Young master... he is a son of a commoner...!"
"Commoner?"
I asked, tilting my head to the side innocently but then glared down at them.
"Aren't you talking about yourself?"
"L-Lady Aliciel, it's not like-!"
"You're a commoner yet you're given the chance to work here. The Blacker Household."
They all fell silent. They knew very well that commoner was rarely recruited by high aristocrats and how hard it was to get into that position.
"This is the last time I'll say it. Allen Blacker, that was the subject of your active discussions, his last name 'Blacker,' implies that he is a proud member of the Blacker family."
I clenched my hand into fists while keeping my expression neutral.
(As much as I despise admitting it...!)
"He is the Duke and the current Duchess's son, and my younger brother. Did you just treat one of my family member as a joke?"
I questioned, crossing my arms.
"I-it's not that Lady-"
They looked down uneasily, troubled expression on their face. But I know they're not actually guilty from what they're saying.
They're merely frustrated that I gave them such a harsh warning.
(Well, it's not like I can make someone change just by saying a few words. Much like me, who hasn't changed in the least despite recalling memories of my previous life.)
(I often acts like the original Aliciel.)
My lips trailed off with a sigh.
(Also, if the maids continue to gossip about him, Allen will believe I started the rumor, and he will despise me. That hatred will develop and eventually kill me.)
"...We deeply apologize, Lady Aliciel! That was not our intention! Please forgive us!"
(Fools.)
(The one you should be apologizing isn't me.)
"I'll let you go for today. But third chances, on the other hand, are not in my vocabulary."
"Thank you Lady Aliciel!"
(Because if they do it for the third time, I'll be ready to kick them out of this house.)
I had no idea that Allen, who were still there at the time, had overheard all of my conversations with the maids and had witness everything from beginning to the end by himself.
He's shocked and touched, somehow still in disbelief that his step sister, Aliciel Blacker, would stand up for him who was originally an illegitimate child with the status of a commoner.
> End of Chapter 1