Blast from the past

"Thank you for coming," Helly welcomed the nobles as they arrived to attend Mama and Papa's funeral.

I timidly hid behind him, stealing occasional glances at the gathered mourners. This was the role I had chosen, the vulnerable little sister reliant on her elder brother. No one would suspect anything. In their eyes, I was just a princess in need of rescue, while I worked covertly behind the scenes. I was willing to do whatever it took to ensure Helly's safety; he would survive, even if it meant making a dark pact. I glanced up at my brother, my eyes softening.

"Young Lord Aureliu," a noblewoman with a cultured, feminine voice greeted my brother. I peeked from behind him to see who it was.

Before me stood a woman with long but slightly faded silver hair, pale gold eyes, a slender figure, and impeccable posture. Her expression held a mixture of sympathy and a frown, just as it did the last time I saw her. Elizabeth Aureliu, she hadn't changed a bit.

"I'm sure you don't remember me, but I am your cousin, Elizabeth. My condolences," if I weren't operating with the wisdom of my previous life, I might have confronted her right then and there. But I was willing to play the long game. I'd make her, her odious father, and her entire family beg for mercy. After that, I'd serve their heads on a platter for the hounds.

"Oh, is that so," Helly commented. "We're grateful you could join us."

She gave Helly a quick nod before her eyes descended to me.

"Oh my, young lady Callista has grown so much since I last saw her," she said, crouching to my level. I clutched Helly's coat and huddled closer to him.

"I-it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," I said before retreating behind Helly. She promptly got the hint and moved along. Thankfully.

"Calli, why did you hide from her?" Helly asked, concern etched in his eyes as he peered down at me. His gaze held a depth of tenderness that I'd only seen when he interacted with me. Mama and Papa's deaths had affected not just me but also Helly, just as they had before.

"I just don't like her. She seems like a bad person," I replied, gazing down and fidgeting with my dress. Even if my words were perceived as those of a mere child, making him doubt her, even if just a little, was enough.

The funeral eventually passed, and a week later, the day I had dreaded finally arrived. After Mama and Papa's passing, Helly and I were left alone. We couldn't remain on our own because the empire's laws dictated that a young lord could only take control of a house after reaching the age of fifteen and attending the royal academy for at least a year. Helly hadn't accomplished either of these, making him unfit to assume the role of House Aureliu.

The branch families ultimately decided that Michael Aureliu, our distant uncle and Elizabeth's father, would become the temporary head of the house. Of course, the scoundrel was more than willing to take the role, relocating his family into our estate as swiftly as possible.

I know from my past life that Michael isn't the real threat here, but Elizabeth is. After I turned into a lout, Uncle did everything in his power to further ruin my reputation while making Elizabeth seem like an angel. I'm sure they blamed my death on something like an alcohol overdose or whatever. In the past, Elizabeth's greatest weapon was her influence and connections, so that's where I'll start, while also cultivating my reputation as a saint.

Another thought lingered at the back of my mind. Our other relatives and families friendly with House Aureliu might have seen Helio as a young boy devastated by his parents' passing, but I knew better. Helio was changing, but was this change for better or worse? I didn't know. I wished I had time to talk to him, but I had many things to take care of. I was doing all of this for Helio's and my own survival. I was doing what I had to do as the daughter of House Aureliu and Helio's sister.