Looking left and right, I hesitated, unsure which direction to take. Both paths seemed endless, and I became slightly dreadful. How big was this place? How would I ever find Lorelei?
The silence in the hallway was discomforting, with only the sound of my own pacing footsteps echoing off the walls.
“Which way should I go?” I muttered to myself.
I thought about my choice, and as I did, my feet took me to the other side of the hallway, where the arched windows revealed a sunlit courtyard. The green plants and colourful flowers outside called out to me, calling me to explore further.
The courtyard looked inviting. And my mind began to ramble on again...
Did Celeste play here as a kid? Having a happy childhood… Happy memories... I wondered.
Well, really, I couldn’t even imagine what a happy childhood would be like.
As I thought about Celeste’s past, my eyes met the mark on my arm.
Right… Celeste had this mark… Her childhood might not have been as happy as I believe… Was she considered different because of it? I felt bad for Celeste. Her life might not have been as easy as I thought.
I turned my gaze away from the courtyard and back into the the hallway. I was on the second floor, and drawing rooms were typically on the first floor. Meaning, I needed to find a staircase.
“Why did Cecilia have to leave me here…” I sighed as I aimlessly wandered down the hallway, searching for a staircase that would lead me to the first floor.
All I could think about was how much I wished I had someone to guide me through this place, which would be strange as I was supposed to be Celeste, the daughter that lived here. But, like, no one had prepared me for this.
Eventually, after walking for what felt like hours (and tripping about seven times), I finally stumbled upon a grand staircase leading down to the first floor.
The railings were polished to a shine, and the steps were wide enough to accommodate several people at once. The steps were covered in the same plush carpet as the hallway; no detail was overlooked in this luxurious home. They split at the top, and merged at the bottom with a graceful curved design that gave the staircase an elegant touch.
This staircase is too beautiful to be real. I thought as I made my way down, trying not to stain the handrail with my fingerprints.
The subtle patterns on the bannisters and the soft glow of the chandelier above made me feel like royalty, descending into a grand ballroom, which, I shouldn’t be. My body may be royalty, I didn’t know, but my soul was anything but royalty.
“Walking down the stairs felt weird. I didn’t belong here, well maybe not my soul, but everything was so beautiful.
Making it down to the bottom of the staircase, I was greeted by the first floor, which was essentially the first floor but with twistier and turnier hallways and overall, the whole place was a labyrinth I didn’t quite understand.
I was contemplating where the drawing room would be until suddenly, I heard distant footsteps, chattering, and… perhaps some trays? The footsteps were getting louder and I had no idea what to do, I wanted to hide, to blend in with the walls and become invisible. But then I realised that whoever was there could possibly help me navigate through the hallways and find my way to the drawing room.
Taking a couple unsteady steps forward. I took a turn down the hallway and…
Thud!
Trays clattered.
Cups shattered.
I instantly fell to the ground. I bumped into someone.
A groan escaped the person I had collided with.
My head slammed against the hard floor, yet no pain was felt.
Instead, adrenaline kicked in, and I scrambled up to my feet, apologising profusely.
I expected to get shouted at. Beaten, or worse. But instead, the person, a blonde maid, looked at me, accepting my apology.
Frozen, my mind raced. I stammered, and the other person, a pink haired maid, smiled kindly and reassured me that accidents happen, but I couldn’t shake the fear of being reprimanded. She helped the blonde maid up while I stood there, trembling and slowly backing away, anticipating the worst.
I could feel myself trembling, but the two maids simply exchanged a knowing look and approached me. I was definitely going to be scolded for sure, I believed… but instead they both asked what I was doing outside of my room in an unusually friendly manner.
"Uhm… Uhhh… I was, uhm, heading to the drawing room." I managed to blurt out without running.
"I see… Well, would you like us to escort you there? We don't want any accidents to happen along the way." The pink haired maid said with a smile.
"Ah… um, I'm… I don't need an escort—"
"Please… We insist! It's our duty to ensure your safety. At least, I think that's what support maids are supposed to do..." The pink haired maid continued with her gentle voice.
"——I think guardian maids are supposed to do that..." The blonde maid whispered to the other.
"——Really? I thought support maids were in charge of that... Do we even have guardian maids among us? If so, why haven't I seen any?"
"——I don't know! Did you not read the manual or the list of duties when we were hired?"
"——I skimmed through it quickly. I have no idea."
The blonde maid sighed at the pink-haired maid. I wasn't sure if they realised I could hear them, but I didn't want to say anything wrong and potentially get myself in trouble.
"——Well, either way, we'll make sure she gets to the drawing room safely." The pink-haired maid turned to me. "Follow us, please."
I decided it would be best to just comply with what they were offering. It would at least allow me to have some company on the way to my destination, though, saying I wasn't scared out of my mind would be a lie.
They led me through a series of twists and turns, which were confusing and intimidating. They kept chatting about things that I didn’t understand, and I didn’t want to interrupt them, so I stayed quiet.
Finally, we reached a door that had a small plaque on it that read:
> The De Vil Drawing Room <
Ignoring the fact that my surname seemed to be “De Vil,” my heart started to race as I realised that I was about to meet my mother, Lorelei De Vil.
I gulped nervously, and eventually took a deep breath, trying my hardest to steady my nerves as the two maids opened the door and gestured for me to enter. It was not easy in the slightest.
Inside the room was a singular person sitting beside a posh coffee table, sipping tea while cake just lay there, waiting to be consumed. The room was lavishly decorated, with soft, plush carpets and ornately carved furniture. The windows were covered with heavy curtains, blocking out most natural light. However, the chandelier compensated for that, bringing a soft, warm glow into the room.
As I walked in, the features of the woman became more prominent—with long, sky-blue hair and piercing green eyes, which were staring right at me. She had a regal air about her, and I instantly knew that she was Lorelei De Vil.
“Ah, Celeste! How nice of you to join us…” Lorelei spoke, her voice smooth and commanding. “I was beginning to wonder if you would ever emerge from your room.”
"Ah... uhm... hi?" I said, my voice trembling slightly.
Lorelei raised an eyebrow, and I quickly added, "Sorry, I was just... um, taking a nap. You know... um... because of everything that happened and all."
The others in the room exchanged glances, but no one said anything. I shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, unsure of what to do or say next.
"Well, take a seat, Celeste. We have something to discuss with you." Lorelei said, gesturing towards an empty chair next to her.
"We...?" I hadn't noticed anyone else in the room until now. A platinum-blonde woman, and a purple-haired lady.
They both looked at me with curiosity, and I realised that they were waiting for me to sit down.
"Oh, uhm, okay..." I mumbled, sitting down in the chair and trying to hide my shaking hands.
Lorelei smiled at me, but it didn't reach her eyes. "How are you feeling, Celeste? You've had quite the ordeal lately."
"Uhm... I'm fine... I guess."
"Do you remember what happened?" The platinum-blonde woman asked.
"N-no... I don't."
I don't have any recollection of what happened before I took over Celeste's body, so it was hard to answer the question.
"Well, that's interesting..." the purple-haired lady said, leaning back into the plush sofa she sat on. "Do Soul Reapers normally shatter a person's memories?"
No, they didn't, and I didn't know how to respond to that. I wanted to say something, but I felt like I was in a room full of strangers, even though one of them was my new mother.
"We were hoping you could provide us with some answers, Celeste..." Lorelei spoke, her voice low and dangerous. "Were you perhaps attacked? Do I have to raise security?"
I took a step back.
"I-I..." I looked away.
Everything was becoming too much for me. Who were these other two people? When did Celeste's mother become so terrifying?
"You were struck with a Soul Reaper; you don't just magically forget what happened after, especially through Soul Restorations." The purple-haired lady asked, her eyes boring into me.
"I really don't know. I don't even remember what happened."
"Hmm... You don't remember anything? Not even your own name?"
"I'm sorry... I don't."
"Mother, Lysirel, I think both of you are being too aggressive." The platinum-blonde lady spoke up, her voice soft and soothing. "Celeste's just survived soul death, and it's clear that she's confused and scared. We shouldn't be interrogating her like this."
I felt my body relax a little.
"Thank you." I whispered, not sure if anyone else heard me.
"Right, you're right, Cynoria. We should be a bit more gentle with her." Lorelei said, smiling at her daughter. "Why don't we start from the beginning? Would you like a cup of tea, Celeste?"
"Uhm... yes, please."
As Lorelei poured me a cup of tea, I looked at the other two women sitting with us.
"Take a seat, will you." Lysirel said, quite harshly too.
I nervously sat down next to her, feeling my palms start to sweat.
"How do you feel, right now?"
"Well... I feel fine. I think..."
"Good! That's good to hear. We were all so worried about you, Celeste."
"We were?" Lysirel joked.
"Lysirel..." Cynoria sighed. "You can be so cruel. No wonder you got suspended from school."
"!!!"
Lorelei's gaze suddenly turned dark. "You got suspended...? I thought you told me the school was closed for a week due to an attack!"
I flinched at the sudden change in tone and looked between Lysirel and Lorelei, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. Lysirel simply smirked, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
"So what if I got suspended? It's not a big deal. I'll just catch up on my beauty sleep at home. Plus, there was an attack at the school." She replied nonchalantly, brushing off the concern of mother.
Lorelei's eyes narrowed as she exchanged a knowing glance with Cynoria, silently communicating their shared disapproval of Lysirel's attitude.
"You're grounded for a whole month. No more excuses, Lysirel. This behaviour is unacceptable." Lorelei stated firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Cynoria nodded in agreement, making it clear that there would be consequences for Lysirel's actions.
"Oh, come on, mother. It's not like I'm the only one who has ever been suspended. You're being too harsh." Lysirel protested.
"Am I supposed to just let this slide and pretend like it's no big deal? You need to take responsibility for your actions, Lysirel. This is a serious matter and I expect better from you." Lorelei's voice held a firmness that brooked no further argument. "You know how important this school is for your future. Not to mention how much it costs just for you to attend, then you go and get yourself suspended. I won't tolerate this kind of behaviour."
"U-uhm… Maybe we… s-sh-should calm… down?" I stammered, feeling the tension in the room rise.
Lorelei's expression softened slightly as she looked at me before taking a deep breath, considering my suggestion before responding.
"You're right. Let's all take a moment to cool off before we continue this conversation." Her gaze turned back to Lysirel. "I'm not done with you yet, but we can discuss this later when we're all in a better frame of mind." Lorelei's tone was firm.
I was glad no one attacked me for speaking up. Maybe I could trust them, my new family
"Well, luncheon is soon—well, now, actually, so let's all take a break and reconvene after we've had a chance to eat and relax a bit." Lorelei's decision seemed to be met with relieved nods from everyone in the room.
And, as if on cue, two maids entered the drawing room, Beatrice and somebody else.
Instinctively, I backed away from Beatrice, still unsure whether to trust her or not after seeing how she glared at me earlier. The other maid, whose name I didn't know, gave me a warm smile that put me at ease.
"Luncheon has been served in the dining room, please follow me." she said calmly.
"Thank you, Lilith." Lorelei said gratefully before turning to us. "Well, shall we proceed?"
Lysirel didn't seem to hesitate, it was more like she'd been waiting for this moment as she bolted through the door, leaving the rest of us to follow behind.
"…That child…" Lorelei sighed. Cynoria just giggled.
Is this how a normal family works? I thought to myself, feeling slightly confused by the dynamics between them.
Either way, Lorelei, Cynoria and I began to follow the maids to the dining room, with Lysirel already disappearing around the corner.
Lorelei's gentle laughter filled the hallway, easing any lingering tension in the air.
However, I noticed Beatrice approaching me quickly.
"Excuse me, Lady Celeste?" A voice called out, making me freeze in my tracks. I turned slowly to see Beatrice approaching me, her expression unreadable.
Before I could react, she grabbed my arm firmly and forced me to face her. My heart raced as I instinctively tried to pull away from her grip, but she held on tightly.
Her eyes, which were once again a disturbing crimson instead of the golden hue I first saw her with, bore into mine.
"After you have finished your meal, please meet me in my room." She whispered. "There is something important I must discuss with you."
A cold shiver ran down my spine. Despite her calm tone, something about her eyes and the way she held me made my skin crawl. My fear intensified.
I shuddered and made another attempt to free myself from her grasp. My movements were frantic, desperate to escape the hold of someone who seemed so unsettling.
Beatrice seemed to notice my distress and reluctantly let go.
I stumbled back, breathing heavily, my heart still pounding in my chest.
I looked at her, eyes wide with fear and confusion, but she remained silent, her expression unwavering.
Without giving her any indication that I would comply with her request, I turned and bolted down the hallway.
My footsteps echoed loudly as I ran, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
"What does she want with me?" I wondered aloud, my voice trembling. The question hung heavily in the air as I hurried away.
There was no way I was going to willingly go to her room after that strange encounter.
I should tell someone about this. I thought, and my mind flooded with possible explanations for her behaviour.
Perhaps she had sinister intentions, or maybe she simply needed help. Either way, I knew I needed to be cautious moving forward.
* * *
We arrived at the dining room. It was big—bigger than anything I'd ever seen—and the grand chandeliers hanging from the ceiling cast a warm, inviting glow. The ellipse table at the centre, where everyone was seated, was adorned with elegant tableware and fresh flowers, making it clear that this was no ordinary lunch.
The food itself, however, was a different story. It looked… over the top? It was hard to describe, but the presentation seemed to match the opulence of the room.
"This… looks amazing…" I said, gazing at all the foreign foods that I couldn't even begin to identify.
"Well, of course it does! We have the best chefs in the kingdom!" Lysirel replied with a proud smile, as she began to explain each dish in detail, making my mouth water in anticipation.
"Maid Cecilia made sure it was up to Lady Celeste's liking, the chefs seemed to obey Maid Cecilia for some reason, so Maid Cecilia used that to her advantage in ensuring everything was perfect." Cecilia added.
I took a seat at the dining table.
I was about to taste something from another world, it was something I was eagerly looking forward to experiencing. It looked better than the burnt piece of toast my mother would go out of her way to make for me.
I noticed there weren't any chop sticks on the table, which made me wonder if they used chopsticks in this world.
Still, either way, I took a bite.
And it was absolutely delicious.