My Wonderful Second Life

Chapter 5- A cold breakfast

I filled my first days in this new reality in constant bewilderment and frustration. There were times I pinched myself, believing this was nothing but a weird nightmare, while other times I put myself to sleep trying to ignore the nagging truth. That I was Lucreatia Mountnero.

Now, there was only resignation.

While I still felt wronged by death, there was not much I could do about it. I would have to survive. Play against my odds. I just wished my head and intellect hadn't been affected. On this body, I was slower in reasoning, cried way too much, and got tired too easily. The reason, I deduced, was because of my child's brain and body. This, while unavoidable, was a gigantic pain in the ass and would take time to adjust.

I had ventured a few times out of my room, but each time I felt overwhelmed with all the expensive rugs, the magnificent walls carved with enthralling details, the old and large paintings and the constant wave of servants that circled me wherever I went. So I had never gone far.

However, tired of being couped in my room for days, I decided it was time to face my reality head on and have breakfast with my new sister, hoping the tiring Duke wouldn't be there so late in the morning. I mostly avoided him by pretending to sleep whenever he came to my room, but eventually, I would have to face him, too.

Since I didn't know where the family took their breakfast, I requested the help of Fanny, who was happy to help me get out of my room. I realized that with her company, the other servants kept their distance, merely acknowledging my presence with a dip of their chin.

After minutes of walking and descending an enormous staircase that led to the bottom floor, we arrived at a large dining room of eggshell colour with drapes of navy blue. Like the rest of the manor, it was luxurious, although I sensed this was neither the main dining room nor the formal.

On the large table, of mahogany wood, was Jennifer, or Jenni, as she had made me call her. She greeted me warmly and helped me go to my designated seat. It was on the right side of the table, in front of her and next to the seat given to the lord of the house. The heir's seat.

Not wanting to sit close to the Duke, in case he appeared, or being considered his heir, I moved instead to a seat beside Jenni. I had not expected to cause such a shocked reaction from the people present in the room.

"Lulu, what are you doing!? You cannot seat here. Father will be disappointed." Her big blue eyes were shaking in confusion. Seeing her, with a small blue navy dress, her pretty blond hair, and her cute cheeks, made me realize how pretty she was and how beautiful she was yet to become.

It was no wonder she would be the mother of not one, but two main leads.

Though Jenni tried to be tough with me, I knew she had a soft spot for Lucreatia. Besides, she was too nice to be mean to anyone.

"But... I want to sit next to sister Jeni." I tried my best cutesy voice and an adorable pout. Irresistible to caring sisters. "I missed my sister so much. I want to eat closer to you."

Jennifer couldn't say no, and neither could the attendants.

Victory for me!

We sat together, and for the first half hour there was only bliss and laughter. Jennifer, as I had expected, was super sweet, and a brilliant sister to Lucreatia. She filed me in on her preferred subjects in her training as a lady, where should I go for fresh air on the property, and how she would try to have some time off to be with me. I was enjoying immensely when the door opened and there he was, the Duke.

My smile disappeared while his grew. He started by hugging us and saying how much he missed having breakfast with his daughters. According to him, he ran from his office the moment he heard about us eating without him. Not wishing to miss out on such wonderful occasion. The sugar-coated words and his dramatic mannerisms were enough to make me want to throw up. I, now a dignified lady, held on.