章 5: Knowing About The Extra
"YOU ARE not supposed to move just yet, My Lady."
I stopped admiring the trees for a moment as I heard the familiar voice that had been nagging me since I met her.
I turned my head towards the door and saw Avril walking near me with a tray in both of her hands.
Avril is the personal maid that mother introduced to me after it was confirmed that I am slowly recovering a few days ago, which is not too long ago but it already felt like an eternity.
Avril is fifteen, as far as she said she was, and has served many young nobles before she accepted mother's offer.
Apparently, she was consistently fired from being a personal maid because all the noble children she has taken care off was scared of her foreign looks, but in my opinion, she doesn't look like a commoner to be honest.
She has violet hair and red eyes, stiff posture and always act with grace and poise. I seldom wonder if she is actually a commoner because of the way she acts but she says that she is, and she also has a younger sister who is the same age as me but is sick all the time, just like me.
Avril is a big question mark in my book since she doesn't appear in the novel but I do get a feeling that she is more than meets the eye.
'I just couldn't put my finger on it.'
"Don't open the window too much, you'll catch a cold." She commented as she pours tea on my cup.
She said that it is common for nobles to drink tea and eat pastries when relaxing or even when a guest arrives.
It is courtesy to even invite them if you are going to have a full-on conversation, not that I have any visitors but anyways…
I didn't like it at first since I became full even before dinner, in which the chefs even cried because they thought I didn't like their food anymore, but I explained it to them and cleared that up.
So now, I just consume small amounts of tea per Avril's strict guidance and as the days went on, it felt like the norm to me.
'I didn't know what sorcery that was but I enjoyed it now!'
I turned towards Avril and grinned at her, happy to see her at this moment, watching as she settled the plates down on the table, placing it in front of me.
"I was bored and I was in bed for quite a long time." I reasoned, reaching for the plate of cookies she brought.
"Besides, it is not as if I walk out of the room."
"Why do I feel that is going to be a foreboding problem in the future?"
I was seated near the window, where I could see the garden below and the vast trees that surround the estate.
It was the only thing that kept me entertained for the days that passed by.
Strange how staying in the room didn't drive me crazy.
"But still, it only has been 3 days. The doctor told you not to move much."
I swallowed the cookie before speaking.
"It is only a couple of steps."
I didn't even sweat when I walked!
Truth be told, I hate being in bed and staying put there as my mind goes wild imagining what this world may offer to someone like me, someone who is supposed to be dead.
'I am in the novel I liked before I died, of course, I won't stay put in my bed!'
However, the sad part about this is that my eight-year-old weak body can't handle movements that will tire me, like walking for a long time.
Yes, I have been transmigrated into an eight-year-old sick noble girl, unlike my previous energetic sixteen-year-old self.
Meaning, if I am eight years old now, that means Elishia is twelve and Ekrisilia is ten.
'Hoho! Even if they are still kids, they look so adorable!'
Of course, that includes myself!
It has been an upgrade from my previous self because Eristheria is a beauty and I'm not even kidding, like I was honestly simping for myself.
I didn't know what I look like, I just know that I am a kid, not until yesterday when Avril finally bathes me that I can finally see it.
I saw my very first reflection in the mirror and damn was all I could say.
'The genes of the Holstead are just perfection!!!!'
When I saw my new body in the mirror, I saw a pretty kid staring back at me as her long, smooth black hair drapes over her small shoulders, the length going past her waist.
She has bright green eyes that seem dim because of the bags under her eyes, but it shines like an emerald gem when it meets the light.
She has a very, very pale skin tone, probably because she doesn't go and it can be one of the factors from her lack of mana.
She also has pale lips and a body that is just skin and bones; she is also dressed to look like a sick patient.
That is probably why I am so pale.
I mean, it's understandable as her clothes are composed of pale colors that will not hurt her eyes and are comfortable to wear, but c'mon! I look like a dead person!
Anyway, even if I look like I have risen from the dead, the Holstead's genes pulled through!
"Still, we don't want the doctor running here and worrying the countess."
I sighed, "Okay, fine."
I will never win against Avril, who always has an answer and a response to me.
Is this what that spoiled brat felt when I did that to her? No wonder she hates me.
'Still, it is not enough reason TO KILL ME!!'
Avril nodded, satisfied with my answer, and poured some more tea into my teacup.
I glanced at her and mentally smiled evilly as I leaned on my chair.
'I did agree with her, but I didn't say I will commit to it.'
My body kept tossing and turning after the first night of being Eristheria, a feeling kept bugging me to move my body, like a sense of numbness all over.
I hate it.
Although I hate it, I have no choice but to follow their orders or they will become paranoid.
After all, who recovers that fast from mana depletion?
It is like your life force being sucked into the afterlife and suddenly being okay after sleeping overnight.
"What shall I do today?" I whispered under my breath as I watched the trees sway.
I sighed in boredom as my eyes followed every leaf that fell. After a while, I see a small clearing of a town as the trees swayed and my eyes glimmered.
I peeked once again when the trees danced, giving me a short view of the buildings.
Wait…Is that…!
"What are you looking at, My Lady?"
I slightly jumped at Avril's sudden appearance by my side, not noticing that she had walked near me.
I recovered from this almost instantly and happily pointed at the roof of the buildings from my place.
"Is that the capital?!"
The capital is where the novel 'Lovers in Bloom' sets other than the academy and the palace. The scenes from that mostly happen in the bustling streets of the capital as it witnessed the couple's romance blooming.
My smile grew wider just by thinking about it. The stores in the capital are mostly inspired by real-life stores, branded and local ones.
If I get better, if I could learn how to walk without collapsing, then maybe I could ask---
"That is not the capital, My Lady. That is the fief owned by the Holstead's."
My daydreaming was cut as I turned to Avril, confused.
"What do you mean? I thought the capital is just near here?"
And… A fief owned by the Holstead's?
The novel, or rather Elishia and Ekrisilia, didn't mention that their family owned a fief?
Does that mean they are not just regular nobles? They are the Lords of a whole town?!
She shook her head, "The manor is near the capital using transportation through carriage. However, you won't see it from this distance."
I frowned, "By transportation, does that mean…?"
"Yes, the earliest time that you will arrive at the capital is 2 days."
'2 days?! The capital is that far from the manor?!'
If I remember correctly, in one of the chapters from the novel, it was explained that this world is ruled by a kingdom that oversees all ruling from other kingdoms but it doesn't rule them all entirely.
The other kingdoms have their respected kings and queens, but this kingdom is just the main head of how they should govern their land and sets the rules for them.
Although this kingdom, the Alynthi Kingdom, acts as a role model for the other kingdoms on how to run theirs, it is still under the empire.
'And that empire is the Vlatka Empire.'
Also, the Alynthi kingdom is where the Holstead House belongs and the setting of the novel.
I hummed as I recalled that and turned to Avril once again.
"Does that mean that we are closer to the capital?"
Avril nodded, "Yes but at the same time, we are not."
My eyebrows furrowed at this but it slowly clicked into my brain as I nodded too.
"Ah, if by carriage you mean that we are near."
"Correct."
Ah! If we think about the earliest estimation of arrival from here to the capital is 2 days at most, then the House is much closer than the others.
"Then, do nobles live in the capital?" I followed up, getting more interested in the kingdom's affairs.
Avril paused for a moment before turning to me completely and nodding once again.
I wave my hand to her urging her to continue and explain. She sighs at this but did it anyway.
"Like any other kingdom, the capital can also be lived in by the hierarchy of nobles ranging from the Duke to the Baron. They can choose to live their life there or have their place to live."
In other words, the nobles have so much freedom when it comes to living choices.
Interesting…
"Sometimes, the king will give the nobles their fief when they accomplished something for the kingdom."
'Oh, I see.'
The Holstead's may have something they've done before so they are awarded a fief to manage.
But, how did the Holstead's fall? Like, how did they lose their standing?
In the novel, Ekrisilia and Elishia are already known as fallen nobles who lost their home and their fief, but they didn't specify or elaborate as to why.
Dear Heavens! Does that mean we will also fall into ruin?!
'I can't let that happen!'
But, how am I supposed to save this family from falling into ruin?
Gah! My brain is overloading!
"You know a lot about the capital, Avril." I complimented her as I finished thinking.
There is a lot that I don't know about this world and maybe I should try to get to know this world more.
The novel didn't really dabble on the politics and livelihood side of the characters nor did it elaborate the world.
But if they did, they will just briefly discuss it then it will be forgotten after a few chapters.
Let's just say that the author likes romance more than explaining her world's setting…
Avril turned to me after I spoke and she shrugged, her face still stoic.
"I originally came from the capital before your mother hired me."
This piques my interest.
I turned my head towards her completely while my elbows rested on the table as both of my hands are under my chin.
"What was your life there? Is the capital really that beautiful?"
The novel described the capital as the life of the kingdom where many foreign people from other kingdoms would come to see its glory and beauty.
"The capital is not what it seems and I'm afraid I can't tell you, My Lady." She said rather coldly.
I pouted, "Why not?"
Avril stayed silent after that and I decided not to push it, or else I won't get snippets of information out of her. I will be wise not to annoy her this time...
But only this time!
I sighed as I stare out the window, realizing that the world inside this novel is so vast and...alive...
Then, I have decided. I should act like Eristheria and try to survive in this world, after that I shall find a way on how to get back.
For now, let's play along and be the extra character!
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