11 We Are Family

When I arrived at the dining room, I found that Viollete's family has already started eating. "Sorry for being late…". I apologized before walking towards the dining table. Meanwhile, both Ayla and Rita walked to the side of the room to stand in line with other maids. As I sit on the chair, I heard the duke cough which pulls my attention towards him.

"Fancy having you to eat with us today...". The duke said without changing his tones. " You should eat with your family instead of spending time in the library all the time". The duke glance at me for a few seconds before continue eating.

I stare at him for a few seconds before looking at everyone's face on the dining table. Charlotte, Viollete's stepsister is eating silently while looking down, Silas Viollete's stepbrother is ignoring me while eating, Viollete's stepmother gives a smile to me when she realized that I'm looking at her which made me looked away. Then I look at the empty sit on my right side before looking back at the duke's face.

"Where's Old man?"

When I asked that question, I heard a slapping sound behind me which I know was the sound of Ayla's slapping her own face in frustration. "I keep telling her not to call Sir Argon like that….".

Of course, I decide to ignore her, despite that, the duke's face is not looking too good as he starts to frown.

"Old man? Why do you call your grandfather like that? Where's your manner?". From the way his tones change, I realized how serious the matter of manner in this world. Even the room has turned quiet when the duke starts to questions me.

"Gulp…" I can't help but swallow my drool when I feel the atmosphere is not right. If I turn my head right now, I'm sure Ayla is making an `I told you face' at me.

"Where's Sir Argon?" I corrected my former rudeness with a smile. `I'm sure I look really awkward right now '.

"Hum…" The duke stares at me for a few seconds before turning his face and calling for the butler. "Prepare for a personal instructor for Viollete starting tomorrow. If she wants to study, she will need more guidance".

"Right away your grace!" The butler nods and walks away right after receiving the order.

After the butler went on his way, the room is still filled with awkwardness. Especially for me.

`He didn't even answer my question'. I just let out a small sigh before picking up the food in front of me and start eating. Good thing my eating manner is fine. In my former world, It's normal to eat like this on public occasions so, it's important to learn. But, to eat like this every day is still a hassle. "sigh…"

"Is there anything troubling you, Viollete?"

It took me a while before realizing that someone is talking to me. "Huh?" I look up to see the duchess is now looking at me.

"Sorry?" I look at the duchess for a minute when I didn't hear her question.

"You look like you have something troubling you…Are you okay?" She asked again as she put down the spoon and fork in her hand on the table.

"Nothing wrong… I'm fine" I shrug as I continue to eat not wanting to continue this topic. `Even if I have any problem, I won't rely on them. What if they know that the person inside Viollete is not their real daughter but a dead girl from another world? I bet my life is at stake right now '.

"We aren't even family…"

It took me a full minute to realize that again I have spoken something that shouldn't be said at all.

When I look up, everyone is staring at me. Even the timid Charlotte and Silas who has been ignoring me since the beginning is staring at me with eyes wide open.

"Viollete…that…" The duchess has a hurt expression when I look at her face this time.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU THIS TIME VIOLLETE!!!??" It was Silas who shout this time.

"MY MOTHER DID NOTHING WRONG! SHE IS WORRIED FOR YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT HER!!!?"

"Bro…Brother… Calm down…" Charlotte is pulling on Silas's sleeve when he stands up and seems like he wants to pick up a fight.

"It was just a slip of the tongue, my mistake…" I try my best to keep my face calm and not look scared in front of him. He has super strength, after all, I don't wanna be beaten to a pulp. Unfortunately, my nervous calmness is mistaken as indifference.

"YOU!!!" Silas, with gritted teeth, lift up his hand and his eyes start to glow in yellow bright light with the spark of electricity enveloping his body.

My pupils shrink when I see his aura changed to red.

`DANGER!!!!!!!!!' I want to run but I didn't even have time to blink when someone pulled me to the side.

In just a millisecond, I saw a big crater appear in my original sitting position. Also, the lightning keeps moving until it hit the wall behind my original position and a big hole was created.

I didn't even manage to utter any single words when I was pulled again and the second crater appears. In just a short second, I almost died twice.

"DON'T YOU DARE MOVE!!!!!!" Silas screams as he prepares for the third attack.

I quickly shut my eyes as I prepare for the second death. But, after a few minutes, I realized that I don't feel any pain. When I open my eyes, a transparent glass appears in front of me. The transparent glass glows with dim light a few times before disappearing.

At this moment, Silas has already fallen to the ground unconscious.

I am sitting on the ground, still can't believe that I almost died, three-time. If I include for this week only, I almost died 6 times. I feel cold all over my body just thinking about my first time fighting with Silas where he breaks the table and when there's an assassination attempt.

'Is this a curse for me being reborn?' I can't help but question my luck in a trance before I feel a tap on my cheek.

I lift up my face to see the person who is calling me. "It's Rita…" I mumble her name.

"Lady Viollete! Are you okay? Can you hear me? Please respond!!!"

"I'm alright…" I replied weakly.

"Viollete!!! Are you okay!!! I- " The duchess stops talking when she sees me staring at her.

I don't know what to say… I saw her aura changes to different color again. If before, I don't really understand what do the changes in aura mean, but now I've got the gist of it.

'It's the change in peoples' emotion and will…"

"Bring Silas to recovery room…Make sure you have barrier ready around him.." The duke said with a cold voice. "who would have thought he would awaken his third abilities… Your son is really amazing…" The duke grins widely as he watches the servant lift Silas and brings him away.

"Alastair!! Not now!!!" The duchess scolds the duke when she hears the duke is complimenting her son.

'That's right… what kind of person compliments their child when their other child almost get killed in this situation…' I sigh.

" I will take my leave too…" I said weakly as I stand up with Rita and Ayla's help.

"Wait… Viollete… you need to go to the recovery room too… We need to make sure you are not injured…" The duchess try to convince me but,

"I'm fine… I will stay at the library for now…" I paused a little before saying, "I don't want to be disturbed…" Then, I start to walk away…

"Viollete!! You need to trust me and your father, we are here for you anytime you need us!! I want you to know that…"

At this moment, I have already walked away from her for a few steps before stopping.

"No matter what you are thinking… we are family…" Said the duchess again.

I turn my head to look at the Duchess and the Duke. It's true, they love Viollete… There's a blue and pink aura around them. 'It's sincerity and love for Viollete…' I said in my heart.

I don't dare to give them any reply aside from a hum. Then, I leave them in their own thought while I'm in my own thought.

' I'm not Viollete, I'm Akemi… I don't know where your daughter has disappeared and why I'm occupying her body…but, I'm not her. I'm sorry, but I might disappoint you a lot in the future. Enough for me to live as your daughter and occupying her life, I don't want to steal your love for her too…' I rant in my heart as I walk toward the library with my head down. Rita and Ayla have been very quiet behind me. I guess, they understand that I don't want to talk with anyone right now.

After I'm far enough from the dining room, I heard someone walk from the opposite direction. When I look up, I can feel my heartbeats accelerate and I stop walking abruptly.

'What's this!!??' I clench my heart as I do my best to keep my face calm. 'This person… this person…' I feel like my legs are about to give in when I see that he's coming closer and closer.

I bit my lips as I look down again, not daring to look at him in the eye.

'His aura… is so dark!!!!!!' I scream inside my head.