5 Prince?

"Brother, how was I back then...before I fainted?," I asked.

The carriage is about to arrive. I can even see the castle in sight. But I wanted to ask him before we enter the ballroom. Thinking back, the last time I went to the castle is back when I was an empress. It was the only role I had that was involved with the royals. I once reincarnated as a duchess, but it was pretty short-lived because I was in a very weak body.

Most of the time I never have any problems blending in. I never changed much from the previous body owner. But I am a little nervous because this time, as Carina, I have no previous memories of hers.

Caspian tilted his head, pondering deeply. "Very cute,"

"Ugh, that's not what I meant,"

"Hm then…adorable?,"

"Hmph, you're hopeless," I blushed, looking outside the window.

Caspian chuckled and turned his head to the side, looking outside the window too. "Honestly, I am very worried. You seemed depressed lately,".

I glanced at him. "I must've been different," I said.

'But it's not your fault. A different soul resided in your little sister's body'

However, the fact that I am a reincarnated is never going to be revealed. It will never be.

"It's true you're a little different but…you're still you. And you're just like the late duchess," Caspian smiled, reminiscing while he's looking outside. So, Carina behaves the same as her mother it seems.

I looked at my brother closely. I noticed that he addressed my father as 'duke' and my late mother as 'duchess', but he called me little sister, sometimes in a very endearing way. Likewise, I suppose it's normal for such a family to have estranged familial relationships among each other, but I never expected to have a loving brother.

I've always heard that the Asperas is cold-blooded, evil, and they share the same bloodline with the demon king himself. However, the person in front of me is the opposite...well...a little. He takes extreme measures, but heavily cared for me like a fragile being. It was nice. It made me emotional, thinking back that this is not the first time I've been doted upon.

My brother always know the right things to say. Now I am not nervous at all. I will just be me.

When we reached the gates to the ballroom, my brother glanced at the Herald who is shaking. "I don't need to show an invitation am I?,".

"N-No! My lord does not need to do such cumbersome things," the Herald said.

Cumbersome? This person is exaggerating! Even the most important person such as an archduke has to show an invitation, especially in a ROYAL ball, held by the ROYAL family.

I need to remind myself that I am no longer a normal person but an Aspera. And Asperas are FAR from normal.

My brother glanced at me. "I've always been waiting for the day my little sister hold my arm, and escort her to a ball. But you don't seem to be nervous,".

I smiled at him. "I don't want to shame you brother,". Caspian smiled happily. Of course, I've done this so many times before.

"Announcing, Lord Caspian and Lady Carina!!"

With that announcement, the whole people in the room turned to us. Many of them were curious glances. It's their first time seeing the only daughter of the House of Aspera, and it is also the first time they saw the ducal heir is accompanied by a woman.

"That's her! I heard she was sick and in coma for 5 years,"

"Oh my, for someone who's sick, she's very beautiful,"

"The handsome lord is accompanied by a beautiful sister. They look like they came out of a painting,"

I gave a wry smile to the surrounding people. Their whispers are so loud. It's embarrassing to be complimented sometimes. What brought me back though, is their judging eyes.

It's not too bad to be a little cautious.

Because they expect me to mess up. Afterall, I am still '12 years old' in their eyes. I did not manage to grow up, so they expect me to behave like an inexperienced child.

They were curious because the word spread around very quickly. I woke up 2 months ago but now the whole capital knows about me. I think my brother's popularity might be a factor.

"Greetings to the lord," a man bowed down. His crimson hair and brown eyes reminded me of someone I know in the past.

"Lord Hill," brother addressed.

"My lady," the man reached out to kiss the back of my hand, but my brother pulled me closer to him.

"Excuse me, who are you to touch her?"

He laughed. "You haven't change at all my lord,". I am surprised. It seems he is used to my brother's attitude.

"My lady, I am Viscount Hill, the heir of Clementine. We never had the chance to meet,"

"I am Carina von Aspera. Pleasure to meet you," I curtsied.

Clementine. No wonder he looked familiar. Clementine is a family who is said to produce great alchemists. Back when I was a doctor 90 years ago, one of their ancestors worked under me in order to study how I create medicines and vaccines.

Now I am looking at one of their descendants.

I smiled at him, reminiscing the days of doing experiments together with my beloved assistant, Ares Clementine. It almost seemed like fate, that Ares and Hill both share the same characteristics.

Hill noticed that I gave him a smile, but felt a little strange. "I wonder why she's looking at me like I am an old friend," he thought.

Hill knows about his family reputation and what the rumours said about him.

Clementine=an eccentric family.

Nobody wants to be associated with a family that seemed 'crazy' and outdated. Day by day, modern inventions gain popularity and alchemy seem more like a witchcraft. Clementine who was once a family important for civilization is now ousted from the society. They seclude themselves to their study and research.

But Hill wants to change this. So he befriended someone who everyone stayed away from, the ducal heir of Aspera and so he attends every banquet and parties to slowly change their favour.

But he never thought that there will be a day someone looked at him with no ill thoughts.

His favour towards Carina grew immensely.

"Yes, I've always wanted to see the 'dearest little sister' of my friend here," Hill said, brushing his own thought.

"Friend? I don't recall having a friend," Caspian gave an icy glare.

"Ouch, that hurts," Hill clutched his chest dramatically.

"Lord Hill, thank you for being a friend to my dear brother. Having the heir of an alchemy prodigy family, I am relieved,"

Hill was shocked at first, but then gave me a sincere smile. "For my lady to know my family, it means a lot to me. Us Clementine rarely went out to banquets and parties,".

It does seemed to be two conflicting logic that Clementine is known yet also unknown, but that itself explains that anyone from the Clementine family rarely appears in society.

'I was right about this lady,' Hill thought.

"And please my lady, just call me Hill. I would love for us to be friends,"

"Carina, are you hungry? Do you want dessert? Should I get one for you?," Caspian ignored Hill.

I shook my head. "We have to dance first," I said.

"Oh!! Then, may I have this-,"

"Sure, let's dance," Caspian cut him off.

"But Lord Hill," I turned towards Hill. I was aware he was the first one to invite me to dance.

"Come," my brother smiled as he dragged me away from Hill.

Well… I will dance with you next time Hill. Hill shrugged it off and waved me goodbye, while I bowed my head a little.

Being at the centre of the ballroom, with everyone looking at us, it's not something I feel nervous about. "Carina, you dance really well for your first time. And you're not nervous too,"

"I worked hard. I hope I studied enough,"

I didn't lie. I did work hard to practice dancing, to be in the centre of attention, to greet nobles. Well…that is…in the past.

"I knew it. My dear little sister have always been a genius. Even without looking at the family crest, you were able to recognize the hermit Clementine," Caspian said, smiling.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man. He is breathtakingly beautiful with his black hair and golden eyes. His appearance seemed like a panther except for those eyes. His eyes don't seem ferocious but a little zoned out and distracted. He is so handsome which made me wonder why he is alone in the corner.

He met my gaze for a moment but I quickly turned towards my brother.

Handsome men doesn't faze me. I am used to it.

I curtsied, finishing the dance with my brother. "That was great! Let me get some drinks. Wait here okay? If there's any weird men, no, if ANY men ask for a dance-,"

"Okay okay! Go and take some drinks brother," I nudged him lightly.

God, he is exhausting sometimes.

Anyways, I was curious about that handsome man. I've never seen him before, even in my past life. But I know for sure that those golden eyes are the very signature of the royal family.

If he's really a prince, then his appearance should be the last to appear, coupled with a grand announcement. Me and my brother arrived at the ball early before them as it is a common etiquette.

"Oh my if it isn't the daughter of the Aspera. I congratulate on your recovery, though I didn't doubt much cause you've always been a healthy lady," a woman with a haughty voice walked to me, accompanied by two women. I am pretty sure she is mocking me behind that fan of hers.

I almost rolled my eyes. What she said is a literal translation to 'you fainted because you wanted attention very much. So all this time you've been acting'.

Ah, I almost missed this. I somehow feel nostalgic.

Do you think I won't know the little schemes you're planning?

I raised my eyebrows. "My, I would be happy with your words, but I dare not to accept it from such ladies who don't even introduce themselves,".

The ladies flinched, and the woman who spoke earlier frowned but quickly composed herself. "I apologize, I am just very hasty to congratulate you. I am Eila Clarence, daughter of Duke Clarence," she introduced and curtsied. The two women behind followed.

"You see, you've never fainted before. It was a suprising news," she continued. Her followers string along her statement.

"It's true! The Asperas have always been strong and powerful, I would have never imagined,"

"Have you forgotten? Lady Carina is unlike other Asperas. Though she looks the same as them, she has more of the late duchess blood,"

Just a queen bee leading her mobs. It's a typical sight that I thought I would never see again.

"I see. I believe you know me since you approached me first so I will skip the formalities. However, if I were you, I would rather put my energy into doing something more meaningful as a person who is engaged, no?," I said, indifferent to their mocking. They went too far when they mentioned my mother.

I smiled a little as I saw her shaking in anger while her three little 'followers' tried to calm her down. You think I don't know Eila, with her fancy curls and overly decorated gown? She is in love with my brother, Caspian, but quickly rejected her. Caspian didn't give her a chance at all by introducing a count to her father and now her father wants Eila to be engaged to that count. So I expected that she will vent her anger and embarassment towards me, the little sister.

I studied the connections my brother had before going to the ball of course.

I just remembered about that prince. "Y-You, I know you're the daughter of Duke Aspera, but can't you compose yourself?," Eila said.

I ignored her and glanced towards the direction where he is at.

Wait, why is he surrounded by a bunch of nobles?

"Hey, I am talking to you!" Eila grabbed my wrist.

This pesky insect.

"Let go of me, before I order the Aspera knights to cut your wrist," I glared. For the first time, Eila experienced the power an Aspera holds. She underestimated her.

Eila released my wrist and slowly backed away, looking at me with fear.

I quickly walk to the nearest pillar and peek at the prince.