“Emma! Bring some towels!”

“Yes!”

Amanda watches as the other maids hurry to clean up and manservants fix up things that have been rigged. There were also familiar faces she recognizes from the towns folks who have come to fix up the big gap the intruder destroyed when they invaded.

She turns around, walking through the noisy halls, and orders the workers when she sees them lacking.

“Amanda.”

She turns her head at the mention of her name, narrowing her eyes at her uncle who was grinning from ear to ear.

“Uncle Drew! How’s your injuries now?”

She quickly approaches him and scans him from top to bottom with worry. Drew waves his hand as he reassures her by stretching his arms and legs then feeling out his shoulder.

“Thanks to our amazing alchemist I just need about a week until they heal up.”

Watching him grin without a care, Amanda sighs with relief then smiles at him with her signature smile.

“Then if that’s all then I will get going.”

She curtsy then walks past Drew who’s looking bewildered, turning around blurting out for her to wait but she was already gone. He scratches the back of his neck as he sighs in defeat.

Amanda knocks on the door then opens it when she hears the permission to come in. Her eyes still down, she shuts the door back and curtsy to the people in the study room.

“Is everything going well?”

Hearing her mentor’s voice, she nods in confirmation which makes another familiar voice who told her to raise her head tiredly. Raising her head, she sees the duchess sitting at her study desk with Nadia standing by her side with files in hand and her children seated on the couches and sofa at front.

“Thanks as always, Mandi.”

“It was nothing, Your Grace.”

Amanda turns and smiles at the young masters and ladies in greeting, leading the twins to smile back as they greet back with a hyper and a gentle wave from each while the eldest returns a nod of acknowledgement.

She moved to stand behind the twins, who were seated on the left, and nodded at Cassion, who was behind Maverick's seat. Cassion nodded in return then turned his attention back to the duchess.

“Good, I have something to show you all.”

Rebekah rested her chin against her intertwined fingers. She gazes at Nadia who gives a nod in response and approaches the table and places the files in front of Maverick, Edwin, and Linda each. The Bernstein children looked over curiously, picking the files up.

Watching her children flip them over, amusement gleamed in her golden eyes seeing the twins’ frowning faces and couldn’t help but grin as Edwin glanced over the files, watching Maverick who was silently going through the files with a peace of mind while Linda leans over Edwin trying to break and piece the words out but in the end unable to obscure what the files contain.

“Edwin. Linda. You can hand them to Amanda.”

They might be children but they are also high nobles with royal blood. She can’t always hide them away even if they aren’t even fit for age to join society yet. She frowns at the thought of her ignorant children being approached by crooked and greedy nobles. Maverick isn't her biggest worry but rather the twins who had only visited the capital once to continue living clueless and unable to tell what the outside world is like.

(Unknown to her, her children were possessed by two grown adults)

“Mother. It appears the casualties of the villages that are near that forest are increasing the past few months, how did that happen?”

Maverick’s expression turned colder thinking about the causes that lead to this situation. Smiling knowingly towards her eldest ignoring the fact that Drew silently slipped in the room and stood next to Amanda who was silently glaring at him.

“Yes. Apparently from the reports I received there is an unknown increase of mana explosions by newly formed demonic beasts but due to them turning into nothing but dust when they die, I still haven’t confirmed if that was the cause...”

Listening to the short interactions, Linda couldn’t help but frown and think they might’ve been dragged into a dangerous issue. Raising her hand, Linda spoke clearly puzzled.

“Um, shouldn’t you be discussing this with the vassals rather than u-us? Wouldn’t it be best to ask them for possibilities and advice from them?”

Linda hesitated, nervous if she had crossed the line. But then noticing everyone's eyes were on her, she completely regretted asking.

Seeing her trembling shoulders but still with a firm gaze, she felt proud. It’s true her question shocked her, unable to believe that a 4-year-old actually asked her and knew what vassals are, but realizing her only daughter is not fully ignorant despite being sheltered most of her life, she might’ve jumped into conclusion way too quickly due to her young age.

‘I don’t even remember being thoughtful whenever my dear parents have family meetings like this and question their actions.’

“Those are valid questions! Thanks for mentioning about the vassals!”

Wagging her index finger, her grinning and notable expression quickly turned stoic.

“I suspect there might be a pesky rat planted among the vassals.”

Nadia and Drew's expression grew dark at the thought of a traitor among them. Standing up, Maverick gave the files to Cassion who accepted without a thought and placed a hand on his chest.

"Let me handle this task and expose the traitor."

The mother and son gazed at each other silently for a minute before Rebekah sighed in defeat, waving her hands.

“Ok, ok. You can take it. Just don’t get caught and inform me if you are stuck or in need for help or advice.”

“Of course.”

Maverick stares at the back of her head as she gazes out of the window for a few seconds but then gives up realizing she isn’t going to turn her head and walks out with Cassion following with the files in hand. Hearing the door shut, she exhales heavily then boredly turns back and gaze at the shut door.

“Do you think it’s alright to leave Lord Maverick out like this?”

Drew couldn’t help but frown at her obvious childish behavior. He can't believe she hasn’t gone over it yet.

“I agree. You should separate those meaningless feelings of yours and focus on your children who are still in need of you.”

Rebekah glares at them and pouts. She couldn’t believe her friends were looking down on her like this. When she was about to retort against their blunt responses at her childish antics, she quickly shut up upon seeing the two staring at her distastefully as if telling her to give up.

‘But they look so much alike! I can’t help it!’

Watching their duchess grumble at how unfair this is, Edwin couldn’t help but chuckle but was quickly pinched by Linda making him choke.

“Ow! What was that for?!”

“Show your manners, especially around here.”

Amanda stares at the two who started bickering with surprise. The trio watching the twins quickly left behind what strained the room for later and Rebekah requested Amanda to take the two back to their rooms which led them to leave the three alone.

Linda crosses her arm and glares at the innocent floor as they walk back to their room.

“L-linda…”

He never thought just him laughing would cause her to ignore him. It’s not even a big deal!

“Ok. ok. I’m sorry. I will never laugh again, I promise!”

Linda spins her head and stares at him with narrowed eyes.

“You clearly don’t remember anything do you?”

“Huh?”

Edwin blinks at her strange question but then realizes she meant their discussion earlier before they were brought to Rebekah’s study room. He scratches his cheeks guilty and turns away.

“I-I really don't remember.”

Feeling her intense stare that felt like it was digging the back of her head, he backs away and turns to face her. He doesn't have a single memory of whatever his sister was talking about. Displaying overwhelming power? If he did, he would be all excited and jumpy and show no hesitation trying them out. The only supernatural power he can pull out is restricting small creatures with strings apparently out of mana like he did with the mimic.

“I really don’t remember! Really!! Look. How about we talk about it again back in our room rather than here…”

He whispers the last part clearly pointing out Amanda who was watching them in silence. Linda purses her lips and sighs, nodding her head. Seeing her stop, he felt his tense shoulders relax. Feeling the need to lighten the mood, he smiles towards his sister playfully.

“How about we go visit the garden again?”

“Are you stupid? In this cold weather?”

“What’s wrong with that? Don’t we have whatchamacallit stone blocking the chilly weather out?”

“Still…”

“Come on! I mean you don’t have an everyday chance to play around, I mean like you have those planned out and I thought we should relax and have fun while we can.”

Edwin threw his arm to the back of his head making Linda gaze at him clearly displeased. She can’t believe he forgot what just happened a few days ago! How carefree can her brother be? Now that she thinks about it, his mood swings are also the worst!

He’s clearly not taking this second chance in life seriously.

“Young master, young lady.”

The two turn their heads and stare at Amanda who kneeled down without them noticing.

"I hope I’m not intruding, but may I also suggest that you take some time to get to know the new young lady?"

‘The new young lady?’

Oh. The twin grasped at who she was referring to. Linda fell into a deep thought and wondered the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a good relationship with their now acquired sister. They already have the second prince on their side which was unexpected and felt like it was all a dream. Before she could come to a decision if it was a good idea or not, Edwin quickly agreed at Amanda’s suggestion.

Oh how she wants to knock the living crap out of him.

——— 

Edwin and Linda were sitting across Romana who was fidgeting in her seat, glancing at them from time to time, speechless. The former was smiling whenever they made eye contact, waving, while the latter was silently watching her but gave her a smile from time to time.

She turns to Juliet for help but only receives a smile. Romana wasn’t the best at conversing. No, to be more specific she wasn’t exposed to children who are around her age despite living in a small rural village along with her parents. Thinking about them she couldn’t help but tear up.

‘From now on, you aren’t my child.’

Her father’s words still rung in her ears like it was just yesterday. And it was like before whenever they were surrounded by strangers, he only spoke through her mind, telepathically. She bit her lips in frustration. She was already big! She can continue to grow as a boy, as Romeo, with her dad without anyone noticing!

So why?! Is it because I was a bad girl for running away like her mom told her? Was she not supposed to run away and stay by her side until dad came back? Was it her fault that father was cold? After all, she was in the end apprehended. She doesn’t even remember what happened to the village as the only thing she did was submissively listen to her mother like she always did.

She wants to see him again and apologize and beg him to take her with him. To tell him she won’t be a hindrance and grow strong in any way! She put her face into her hands, unable to restrain her tears. She can’t help but resent the twins for taking her away from her father. She should be grateful for saving her from there but at the same time she would have refused their help and waited for her father. She’s an idiot. A big idiot.

“Lady Romana.”

She flinched, looking up to see Juliet staring at her. She quickly wipes her tears away and sniffles , ignoring her conflicted feelings and rejection, gaining the courage to look up at the twins who were looking at her with concern.

“U-uhm… I-I…”

She couldn’t stop her stutters nor her sniffling. She felt pathetic.

“Romana was it?”

She looks up and stares at Linda with wide eyes. She quickly shuts her agape mouth and hastily nods in confirmation. Linda smiles at her response, gets off her seat and approaches her, stretches her hand out in her direction.

“Do you want to hang out with us instead of sitting idly?”

Her fingers twitch at the thought of hanging out. How did the children of the village hang out again? Right.

“Like tag or hide ‘n seek? O-or or maybe play pretend? Or rock pilling? Or a Tisket a Tasket or red light, green light?”

She yearningly stares at her. Linda gazes at her with surprise. She wasn’t thinking about those types of activities but…

“Yep! Let’s play them! How about it? Sounds fun right?”

As always Edwin pops out from nowhere, standing next to her. Seeing Romana's eager expression, nodding with a big smile, she couldn't help but resign.

‘I guess we will be doing that…’

Ignoring the urge to rub her temple, she sighs tiredly realizing her plan in relaxing and exploring without so much movement was thrown out of the window. She should’ve expected her introverted life was already thrown away when she first arrived in this world.