Meeting Mother and Step-Sister (of the young miss)

Nicole silently stared at his step sister, who was currently sleeping on the floor with her book open. Just a few minutes ago, she was reading the book with so much interest but who knew that she'll fall asleep halfway through the reading.

Her right cheek was rested upon the book, showing only the side profile of her left cheek. Her cheeks were flushed with her small lips constantly mumbling words like, 'meat', 'more meat', 'milk' and all the items which she knew. Her long eyelashes seems to be touching her cheeks, while her back move up and down in rhythm pattern. Her long black hair covered her back and lazily cascaded on the white floor.

Seeing the girl sleeping peacefully without any worries of the world, Nicole's lips were raised into a faint smile. His step sister didn't look like the duchess nor like the Duke. Duchess Catherine had a noble yet cold aura around her, while Duke Cyril had a oppressive and murderous aura around him. His lovable sister, Ada had a cheerful and positive aura, bringing smiles to everyone to interacted with her.

But. Esmeralda had the aura of tranquility, which would bring peace to everyone beside her. She also had a mysterious vibe, which he couldn't pin point it out.

"Nicole?". Nicole snapped out of his thoughts and turn his head, only to find his father looking at him with a raised brow. Cyril never imagine that his son would be cross sitting on the library floor, beside his sleeping daughter. It was really out of his imagination. Smiling gently, he walked to them

two people. He crouched down and rubbed his son's head, "How long you've been here?". His son wasn't here for the whole afternoon, is he?

Nicole scratched his nose and simply said, "from afternoon". When he was with Emma, he totally forgot the time. Before he knew it, it was already pass 6. He was also surprised that he didn't realized the time, because it was rare for him to be absent minded for a longer period of time. Cyril smile after hearing his son. Whether Nicole came here out of guilt or out of curiosity, he didn't know. If his son was able to accept the change in Emma, then he needn't worry about other things. Speaking of Emm, Cyril let out a exhausted sigh.

As expected, his daughter had slept before having her dinner. He really didn't understand his daughter's sleep schedule.

Gently picking up his daughter's by her arm pit, he allowed her to snuggle against his chest with the young girl's plump face buried in between his broad shoulders. Seeing the girl's sleeping expression, Cyril eyes softened even more. After gesturing his son to replace the book and follow him, he slowly and quietly walked down the stairs.

Once Akari opened her eyes, she found herself being carried by someone. In her sleep- idled mind, she thought that it was either her father or younger brother but Yoshida never had muscular shoulders, rather he had thin shoulders which seems to break if she put any weight on it. So it must be her dad.

Completely relaxed and safe in her father's arm, Akari dozed off once again, a little aware that she was being carried to her room, only....

She didn't mind being carried bg her father, but why was he taking so long to place her on the bed. As long as remember, her bedroom was on the first floor (cause she's lazy to walk to the second floor). So it shouldn't take too long for her dad to enter into her room and place her on the bed. Nevertheless, she buried her face on her father's shoulder and breathe in the scent-

It was not her father. There's no scent of woods and tea which her father usually smelt like, nor did it smelt like tea and honey mixed scent of Yoshida. Her sisters and mother never had wide and broad shoulders, rather, they had small and thin shoulder. Even though her mother's shoulders were somewhat sloppy, it didn't effect the peace and comfort which she gave.

To make sure that the person was her father, she called out, "dad?". She never called her father 'father'. But rather dad or papa. It was her habit. Her father also didn't bother to correct her. Why would he even correct her, he also love the way of his daughter calling him dad. But the person holding her immediately stiffened and Akari knew something was wrong.

Hesitantly opening her bleary eyes, she saw a tan skin neck in front of her. Slightly lifting up her head with eyes wide, she didn't see the rugged and wrinkle face of her father nor the handsome and thin face of her brother, but she saw the expressionless and cold face of the young miss duke.

Oh Right....she died and transmigrated into a young miss body. No mom, dad, Yumi, Hana nor Yoshida.

Wow, how depressing...

Nevertheless, she buried her head on the Duke's shoulder and asked, "Are we going to eat dinner?". She remembered that she accidentally fell asleep in the library. Well, can't blame her though. The book was so boring and that she didn't have the interest to read it. Speaking of that, did the young miss's brother left her after she slept? She didn't remember.

Cyril and Nicole looked at each other and continued walking. While one of the boy was sulking for a reason, the other one was filled with excitement and longing. When Cyril heard Emma calling him dad, he was so happy that he wanted to fly to the moon and scream out his happiness out. Ada and Nicole never called him intimately. They call him with the boring title, Father. So he was glad that Emma called him with an intimate title. He wished that Emma would call him dad again.

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In the large dining hall, several maids were smiling and chatting with the young miss and the Duchess of the household. Unlike the Duke and the young master, who always remained aloof and cold with them, the maids sought pleasant atmosphere with the Duchess and first young miss. Afterall, a woman could be only understood by an another woman. The young girl, who had long long silver hair and ruby pair of eyes giggled and presented gifts to her maids.

For the past one week, she and her mother stayed at the Evadne Kingdom, where her grandfather taught her how to hold swords and ride horses. She really enjoyed learning those things. It was refreshing and exciting, unlike her mother's teachings of etiquettes and manners.

All she say is, "Correct your posture", "Don't sleep!", "You shouldn't butt in between adults speech", "Stand straight!" and all the lady like manners. She was really grateful that her father allowed her to visit the Evadne Kingdom. Because of that, she was able to befriend few young males, who were going to be a great help during her messy future.

Just as she was giggling and chatting with her mother, she saw her elder brother: Nicole, walking in the dining hall. Climbing down the chair, she happily ran toward him, "brother...". She hugged his waist and buried her face on his chest. As expected, her brother had grown again, causing her head to reach only till his chest. She was somewhat jealous of his growing capability. He seems to be growing non-stop. Ah! how she wished to grow like him.

"Miss me?", Nicole smiled and rubbed his sister's head. Since he had few paper works, he wasn't able to travel with his sister and mother, but he was able to experience unbelievable moments. Seeing his sister being so clingy, he couldn't help but smile wider. His sister was too adorable.

"Ada, what are you doing? Did you forget all the things which I taught you?", Duchess Catherine, Ada and Nicole's mother asked sternly. Even though she was scolding her daughter, it couldn't hide the happiness and amused tone of her's. Ada giggled and shook her head, "I want to stay like this a little longer". Saying so, she hugged her brother's waist tighter.

Nicole and Catherine could only sigh in response. Ada was being clingy as usual. Just as Catherine opened her mouth to say something, she froze. Seeing her husband walking in, with a little girl in his embrace, she couldn't help but gasp in shocked. Her eyes were wide as saucer while her mouth gaped in utter shock.

"Cyril..", she slowly stood up and called her husband name. Seeing the sleeping child in his embrace, she shakily pointed, "Is-Is that Esmeralda?". Her question caused Ada and Nicole to snapped out of their happy reunion.

When Ada saw her father, she wanted to run and hugged him, but after seeing the girl in his embrace, she was stunned. Did something happen while she was away from her father? She didn't know. Even she, herself didn't hugged her father to that extent. She wouldn't even dare. But....

Seeing the shocked and bewildered expression of the daughter and mother pair, Cyril chuckled in delight. Previously, they were the ones to be shock, but now, it was the ladies turn to. He patted Emma's back, silently saying her to wake up. He didn't have the heart to wake his daughter up, but he also wanted Emma to interact with her mother (nor biological) and sister (step). After all, Emma was part of the family, and she should understand the goodwill of everyone around them.

Akari groggily fluttered her eyelashes and rubbed her eyes. Yawning in an unladylike manner, she asked, "Dinner?". After dinner, she should probably take rest and look out for new informations tomorrow. She simply can't stay in the mansion. It was so boring that she had no other option than sleep or read books (which was also boring).

When she turned her head, she froze. A few cm away from her, there was a girl, who look 10-12? (probably below 20). She had long silver hair and ruby round eyes. Her cheeks didn't contain any fat nor did it look chubby. It was normal (I guess). Her lips look bubbly (please don't mind her discription, she's probably trying to find a proper way of describing) and her skin was white as milk. She's beautiful (8/10).

And after a little more centimetres away from her, there was a new woman, who look 30-40 (probably below 100). She had silver-pink hair and oceanic blue eyes. She had white skin and was wearing a beautiful dress (which she can't describe). She's also beautiful (7/10, don't blame her way of giving marks. The woman looks scary).

Are they a part of the family? She never saw them (probably due to her laziness of going outing).

Cyril gently placed his daughter down. Rubbing her head, he asked, "your sister Ada and mom came back from Evadne. Won't you greet them?". Evadne? Is that a place name? (sounds weird). Shaking her thoughts away, she held her skirt and elegantly curtsey, "Emma greets Mother and Ada".

Sigh, seems like she can't call the woman by her name. After all, she didn't know her name nor was she allowed to. Why? The Duke told her not to. Probably it's a bad manner or something. But still, Ada is Ada. Nicole is Nicole. They ain't her sister and brother. Speaking of Ada, it seems like she heard or saw this name before. But she didn't know where.

Lost in her own thoughts, Akari didn't get to witness the shocked and stunned expression of the two new ladies. The maids and butlers simply sigh and gasp in response. No one expected this kind of greeting from the second young miss. After all, she hated the Duchess and the first young miss. If someone called you as master for years, and one day you find yourself as his slave, then how would you feel? That's what Duchess Catherine and first young miss Ada are experiencing now.

Ada held her skirt and curtsey, "Ada greets little sister". She couldn't believe this. What happened for the evil and malicious girl? Did her father brought the dark magician and put Emma under a spell? Or is Emma pretending to be good? And if she was, what is her purpose? Whose her target? Mom? Dad? Brother or Her? So many thoughts were running in Ada's mind.

She wasn't like her father nor like brother, who would immediately accept that Emma changed for good. Rather, she'll wait for the things to be revealed. After all, humans can hide their thoughts but they can't hide their true character.

Duke Cyril proudly rubbed his daughter's head. As expected, Emma had changed. She wasn't sneering nor spitting in disgust. She also didn't have an ounce of disdain on her face. It seems like she had really changed for good.

Akari looked at the delicious aromatic dishes on the table and eagerly looked at the Duke. Her eyes were round and filled with expectations, causing Cyril to chuckle and the remaining people to stared at her in daze. Why does the second young miss looked like a little glutton, ready to devour all the dish on the table, and why is she so adorable?!

Cyril gently rubbed his daughter's head and waved his hand, "let's have dinner". In other words- the young miss is very hungry, let's not wait. Akari eyes brightened and she dashed to the dining table. Finding the nearest chair, she climbed on it. Obediently sitting on the chair and eagerly eyeing the dishes, she couldn't help but licked her lips, 'Meat'.

Cyril rubbed Ada's head and said in a low voice, "Emma is still a child". Then he led her to the dining table. He knew Ada wouldn't believe the change in Emma, but he also wanted to remind her that Emma was only a seven year old child.

During the family dinner, no one spoke. Ada, who was always cheerful and talkative, also didn't bother to speak up. She quietly sat on her seat and ate the given food. Her eyes would repeatedly glanced at the girl, who was sitting beside her father and gobbling the food like she haven't ate these kinds of dishes. It really surprised her for a moment. The girl, who always held herself high and arrogant, was greedily gobbling all the food. It's really feels surreal to witness this by herself.

Catherine was facing a lot of emotions. Surprised, shocked, happy, excitement, confused and enraged. It was like blowing into a filled balloon, threatening to burst out any time. Conflicted, she looked at Emma. Emma wasn't her real daughter. She was the evil female elf's child. Even though she hated the woman, she didn't hate the evil child. Probably because she was her husband's blood. So she adopted her. Even though the girl tried to hurt her family, she didn't bother to kick her out. After all, she was still an innocent child, who couldn't accept her mother's murderers as her new parents.

So she waited. Waited until Emma grow seven and she was finally able to see the fruits of her patience.

Akira was oblivious to all the thoughts running in each member of the family. She didn't want to leave nay single scarp of food on her plate. It was so delicious! Whenever she put the meat roll in her mouth, the flavours would burst and give her an heavenly taste. Sadly, she couldn't eat more than 4 meat rolls. Why? The Duke said her not to.

Ah, how she missed her father, who would give and buy everything she asked for. He wouldn't say no to anything she asked, but her mother would usually interrupt and spoil all the things she listed. If her father was her saviour, then her mother was her nemesis. And Hana, she can be called as her little angel. Yumi and Yoshida are both useless.

"Ada, prince Edward would be coming tomorrow. I want you to tour him around the mansion", Cyril said in a low and stern tone. He was soft and gentle to his children, but when it comes to business, then he'll be their strictest teacher. Ada uninterestedly nodded. She didn't want to meet that Prince, but seems like their fate is connected. How troublesome.....

Prince Edward? Akira was suddenly struck dumb. Did she heard it right. Prince Edward? Ada? Nicole? Her eyes widened in realization.

Aren't the names from - ?