Volume 1 part 5.

The servants led her to a big ballroom. Many people in dresses, & suit, were there, some talking, some eating from the buffet table. The buffet had all kinds of snacks, & desserts on it, it was the most wonderful thing she's seen so far, & yet... she didn't have the appetite to eat.

One thing she noticed, was that it was really loud, & hard to focus in the ballroom. Even though she was in here only for a half-minute, she was already exhausted.

'Hello, Maria,' she looked up, to see a beautiful woman before the... no, her mother; Ugh, it's cringy to call her my mother. Her eyes kept focusing on the woman's blood red hair, as dark, & deep as a wine, even though she tried to drag her eyes away.

-Wow, did she get it dyed? It looks really pretty, though kind of scary...

'Ah, hello Luciana. It's been a while, hasn't it?'

'Oh ho ho, it certainly has,' she replied, as Kikyo's eyes bulged; what the f*ck? Just how did she laugh? Ho ho? Is she imitating Santa clause?

The beautiful woman smiled, & brushed her hair back with her thin hand; between the woman, & her mother, the woman was much more beautiful. Though her mother was still an incomparable beauty.

'Did Richard not come?' the woman asked, & her mother smiled; 'He will come soon, what about Ichiya?'

'...!'

'Ichiya's talking to some of his childhood friends, though he's looking most forward to Richard's arrival. I wish you'd seen the look of disappointment he had worn when he saw that Richard wasn't among you,' she laughed merrily, & then she finally noticed them.

'...'

'Ah, Renaquinn... I see you've grown to be a beautiful young lady, I still remember how small you were back then. You were such a cute kid, & Louis, has become such a handsome young man. Oh, look at this adorable child; Thomas?'

Thomas hid behind Kikyo bashfully, & peeked at the woman making her chuckle; 'He looks exactly like his father.'

'Well, thank you Lucy. Where's Akito? I was thinking of letting Renaquinn meet him, since the last time was seven years ago.'

-Seven... this body is thirteen years old then, & this woman... is Akito's mother.

'Oh, Akito's probably coming here now, he'll probably come a little late.'

'Moreover, let's have a chat Maria. It's been quite a while since we last saw each other, surely some news...'

'Alright. Louise, look after your sister, & brother,' she said, turning back to them before she followed after the beautiful woman; huh, and she's supposed to be descended from Japan right? Not to mention, she's older than me but... she looks younger, & more beautiful? What kind of unfair... no, this is an otome game. There are lots of beautiful woman here, especially the heroine, & even Rena's mother, now mine... Well, at least I look pretty fine, but of course. I'm the villainess, aren't I?

-Morimari-chan said before that on all the other routes, the villainess, & villain was killed. Agh! Why do you want her killed?! Why do I have to die?! No way, I'm not going to die, but... how do I survive?

The loud music, & chattering people made it so hard to focus, she almost screamed; Agh, I need to think somewhere quiet.

'Brother...' she called, as she looked up at the teenager watching them without a blink of an eye; ugh, I have to call him brother, even though I'm... I was supposed to be older, she reminded herself.

'What is it?' he asked softly, almost whispering, but the indifferent look in his eyes were still there; she hated being looked at with these kind of eyes. Revulsion at least meant that they felt something towards you, but these eyes...

'Are brother's friends not here yet?'

'I don't have any friends.'

'What? Really-'

'Lu!' a voice called, & when she turned back there were two guys approaching them; one of them had that heart-throbbing smile, & looks that would cause any girl to look again, with dark hair, & obsidian black eyes. He also looked kind of Japanese, but it was amazing how handsome he looked; f*ck, was I really from Japan? No, I don't even deserve to be called the same specie as him, though as Renaquinn...

Next to the handsome guy, there was another beauty with fluffy brown hair, small lips, & ocean blue eyes. At first she thought, he was a girl, but after looking at him carefully, especially at his black suit, & the air he carried himself in, she had to think otherwise.

'Ugh,' she heard her brother groan; 'Hey, Lu. So, you came even after all that denial. It hurt my pride as an Ichiya.'

'Ichiya? Could it be...' the boy noticed her, & smiled handsomely; 'So, this is Lu's younger sister; she's cute,' he claimed as he tried to touch her head, but before he could even get close enough, Louise slapped his hand away.

'Get lost, Hayato. Your face is irritating,' he said, & despite his insult, he grinned happily as if he had been praised instead. Only one thing came to her mind as she backed away in shock; a masochist!

'Oh, there's also your younger brother. Ugh, if only Akito would look this cute,' he reached out his hand to touch Thomas, & this time, it was her who slapped his hand away.

'Ow.'

'Oh... sorry,' she apologized after realizing what she did, & he sighed dejectedly; 'Like brother, like sister. She takes after you, Lu.'

'Anyways, I'm Ichiya Hayato, & this is Theodore Avion.'

'Nice to meet you,' she, no. He smiled softly, & bowed her, no. His head slightly; ugh, why does he look so pretty? And, Avion... that sounds familiar...

'Ah, yes,' flustered, Kikyo also bowed her head, & after that she turned back to her brother; 'Brother, I can look after myself, & Thomas, you should go with your friends.'

'Wait-'

'Have a nice time brother,' she waved her hand, & walked to the buffet.

'They're... my friends?' she heard him mutter behind, & almost laughed but somehow held her smile.

'Where are we going, Wena?' Thomas asked, & she patted his head softly; 'Somewhere quiet, possibly.'