Chapter 7: The Misunderstanding
AM I hearing this right?
"…What?"
I looked at Elishia dead in the eye with my mouth slightly open as I stare at her mean face. She looks evil at this moment and she doesn't even hide it.
I am even astonished as to how she came to such a conclusion!
"Don't act innocent. Did you think I will not notice what you are planning?"
I swallowed the nervous lump that formed on my throat as she said that.
Has she found out that I am not her real sister?
'Damn. She is sharper than she looks.'
"W-Whatever do y-you mean, s-sister?" I asked as I gave her a shaky smile.
'She didn't know, does she? Oh please!!!'
No, she couldn't have known now, right? I mean, we didn't even see each other for the past few days!
The problem with this is that, I don't even know how Eris acted towards them!
'How should I know? She died before the novel started!'
My worries were not answered because she glared at me more as her lips formed into an annoyed sneer.
"Enough with the games, Eris."
I gulped once again secretly as I met her cold and unsmiling eyes, the way it conveyed so much anger and hatred were enough for me to lean my back on the chair.
The whole room is silent, I didn't even dare to open my mouth thinking that I would be faced with such fury.
The silence was broken when she suddenly shakes her head and sighed.
"You didn't even sustain any major injuries, and yet, you are acting spoiled in front of Father."
'Wait… What?'
…Did I just hear her…?
'Loud and clear. She JUST said that.'
I looked at her like she is ridiculous for saying that. She doesn't know that her real sister may or may not have died and the one in front of her is not her real sister.
'But, how coldhearted can you be to say that?'
I decided not to retaliate and just press my lips too close. I took deep breathes silently as I calmed down the anger slowly rising from my chest.
I believe, on my part, the original Eristheria doesn't deserve to be treated like this, to feel this way.
Now I know why the guilt of her death weighs more on Ekris and Elishia's adult selves.
'These little kids are assholes!'
"I suppose you will do anything to gain sympathy from them."
'Wow. Just wow.'
I do not know what to say at this point nor do I have any idea how to refute such absurd accusations that I just sat in my seat silently, reflecting on what I have done which is nothing since, I don't know…
I AM STUCK IN MY ROOM FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS!
Besides, why do Elishia need to threaten me? I haven't even seen OUR parents ever since then and they haven't been visiting like they usually do.
Although they do check up on me every now and then, it is not as consistent as before.
'Wait…before? But I just arrived here a few days ago?'
Huh? Did I really say before?
"Just live quietly and don't stand out too much. Live like a dying mouse."
'…Okay, this is getting annoying now.'
I know that their, our, parents don't pay excessive amounts of attention towards them, they do care in their own way, but to say that to me? To their little sister, not to mention their flesh and blood sister, to live like a dying mouse?
'Oh, if I could just…!'
I am so frustrated right now, at how she is acting and how she acts towards me.
The original Eristheria isn't here anymore but, would she let her sister treat her that way until her untimely death?
'I take my words back. She is as dull as a butter knife.'
"Stay invisible." She spat, breaking me out of my thoughts.
She stood up from her chair after that statement, leaving me in my seat staring at her shocked and confused at her words as I follow her with my eyes.
"If you don't want something to happen to you again, keep living as you did before."
She walked towards the door and was about to leave when she turned to me once again, her eyes blazing with coldness.
"Watch your back and your head."
'Watch my???'
I unconsciously held the back of my head as she left after saying those words. A chill even ran up my spine just by hearing her last statement.
'IS THAT A THREAT?!'
Okay. She just visited me to give me a threat.
'Sister of the year everyone.'
I was left in a state of awe at her actions, wanting to burst out laughing at her threat but feeling wary deep down.
'But wait, should I take it seriously…?'
I sighed in exhaustion as I held my head in one hand and closed my eyes.
The headache that I felt three days ago came back and I don't even want to deal with anything now that I first-hand experience how Eris is hated by Elishia, to the point that she threatened her.
'How much did you hate Eris, Elishia?'
I'm afraid to even find the true answer to that question.
I feel like it is not just as simple as jealousy anymore, it runs deep.
'Something is wrong here.'
"My Lady?"
I open my eyes as I heard Avril's voice, not noticing that she has come inside the room.
"Are you alright?"
Even though that should come off as a question of concern, her emotionless voice made it seem like she is just inquiring.
Nevertheless, I gave her a thumbs up.
"I'm okay, just drained."
I felt like some of my life force was sucked out of that whole interaction with Elishia alone.
'What more if I face Ekris?'
…Nah, Ekris is a muscle-brain base on the novel so…
"Did Lady Elishia do something? Should I report this to the Madam?"
I waved my hand dismissively, "No need. It was just a small… argument."
'Small argument my ass. That lady just gave me a threat!'
I'm starting to think that she may be involve in some way, especially with my constitution.
Avril nodded either way and stood near me. I sighed again as I push the chair and stood up, the feeling of the carpet under my bare feet was comforting at the least.
"Avril, what happened to me that made me confine in my bed for days?"
Since I knew that Eris has a weak constitution, it is no surprise that she is ordered to stay in bed all day but when entered this body, I noticed that my head hurt so bad and slowly faded like it was just a mild ache.
"I believe, from what I heard, that you fell from the stairs."
Huh? The original Eristheria fell from the stairs?
Is it a coincidence that I also fell from that platform at the same time?
'Haaa… That unnamed god's timing sure is something.'
And also, I thought she was just sick, that is why she is in bed...
'Okay, something is amiss.'
"Was there anything else?"
My eyes are on Avril as she nodded at my question.
"The maids believe that you slipped and bumped your head on the floor, it was said to be hard enough that you were concussed."
'The original Eristheria slipped? SLIPPED?'
Judging by what Avril said and what happened earlier with Elishia, I don't think Eris simply slipped.
I'm beginning to worry about my future now and my relationship with them.
It is basically in shambles from what I can see.
'It is not fixable unlike their relationship with the Count!'
However, I should not be so sure and point fingers at them if it was simply an accident. At the same time, it doesn't rule out the fact that Elishia might have taken part in it.
"You are one unlucky noble." I muttered under my breath.
Truly, she is so unlucky that I, the one who is inside her, pity her even more.
'Goodness!'
"Is your head hurting again, My Lady?" Avril asks when she noticed that I have gone silent.
I shook my head at her question but didn't bother to talk.
There are so many things running inside my head that I am lost for words.
Eristheria's life is so hard that from the start, she was given a weak body that has a disease that will surely eat her while she is breathing down to being hated by her sisters.
She even died before the novel started!
She is just one of those building blocks for the side characters, an extra in her sister's life.
And would you look at that, that extra is the original owner of this body!
'What luck do we both have, Eris.'
"Really, that damned unknown god."
'You… Cheeky air-talking god!'
"My Lady, you have gone quiet suddenly. Are you sure you are not feeling any pain?"
The only pain that I am feeling is being placed in Eristheria's body only to suffer, again.
I shook that thought off and smiled widely at her, which she just ignored.
'I better answer her this time.'
"Yes, I am just thinking."
She nodded in satisfaction and stayed behind the sofa, which is also near me.
I want to resume back to thinking but because of how close Avril is, she might hear my whispers and ask about them.
In my past life, it is one of those traits that stuck to me and always made me unable to lie, since I just expose myself anyway. I was conscious of this and tried, as much as possible, to lower my voice to a whisper.
It always gets me in trouble too.
'Hmmm…'
"Avril."
Since she is behind me, I have to turn my head to her while she just looks at me, waiting for my next words.
I cleared my throat first and gave her a small smile.
"What do you suggest I do without using too much effort?"
I am getting bored just by sitting around all day.
"I would suggest reading or writing, My Lady. It doesn't exert too much effort on your part and it may be a good exercise for your head." She answered without any second thought.
She didn't even stutter.
'Well, her suggestion isn't bad. I could maybe read some books here, learn more about the world of the novel---'
Wait…! That's it!
I excitedly turned to Avril as my lips formed into a small grin as I thought of an idea.
"Avril, could you fetch me some paper and a pen?"
Avril bowed, "Very well. Just a moment, My Lady."
She vanished only for a couple of minutes before returning with a handful of papers and a fountain pen.
She placed it on the small table in front of the sofa as I reached out to it and held the fountain pen in my hand, the paper on the other.
"Alright then." I muttered as a smile appeared on my face once again.
Shall I start from the prologue of the novel?
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