I gasped.
Not because I was in shock or anything... but because my lungs now in mini baby version weren't used to breathing this new world's air.
The result? I cried.
Yep, literally, the loud, shaky newborn kind of cry. So not cool.
But I had zero control over my body, so all I could do was... well, cry like the red potato I currently was. Which, unfortunately, was exactly what I'd become.
"There, there, my dear... Mama's here..."
A soft voice echoed again, and I felt myself being lifted into a warm, gentle embrace.
This woman whoever she was held me with such affection, stroking my head with her fingers. Her silver hair cascaded like a curtain of light.
She was beautiful. Like... main heroine in an otome game kind of beautiful.
And now she was my mom?
A few minutes into being born and I already had a new mother. And... a dad?
"Our little princess will grow into a wise and strong woman," the man beside her said, his deep, commanding voice sounding like some RPG general.
His eyes stared at me with pride, like I'd just won a grand tournament between kingdoms when really, all I'd done was be born and cry.
"She shall be named Ariellee La Astrax."
Ah. There it is. My new name.
Ariellee.
Not bad. At least it's not something wild like 'Zeylviathra' or 'Lilith Doomshade of Eternal Flame' or whatever.
Still... I'm a girl now. Completely.
I wanted to scream, "DO YOU EVEN KNOW I USED TO BE A GUY?!"
But all that came out was:
"WAAAH! AUEEEK!!"
Ugh. Being a baby is the ultimate helplessness.
A few minutes later, once I'd exhausted myself crying, the massive room I'd been born in finally settled down.
Servants and midwives bowed in respect, and I got the feeling I was some kind of VIP baby.
Which... yeah, I guess I kinda was.
Then, suddenly, the huge doors at the end of the room opened with a grand THOOM
Okay, okay, more like a slow and elegant creak, but it sounded dramatic, alright?
A girl walked in.
She looked about five years old, long dark hair tied in a half-ponytail, eyes sharpbut not in a scary way.
More like, "Touch my baby sister and I'll yeet you out the window."
She marched right up to Mom's bedside and stared at me.
In silence.
For a long time.
Too long.
I felt like a hamster being judged by a dragon.
"...This is her?" she asked coolly, but not without emotion.
Mother smiled. "Yes, Aristelle. This is your little sister."
Aristelle.
Now that sounds like a mix between an ice mage and a military commander.
And she... was my big sister?
"Can she talk?" she asked innocently, but her eyes were clearly evaluating my intellect.
"She was just born, dear," Dad chuckled.
Aristelle stared at me again, then frowned.
I gave her my best I don't know why I'm here either face.
Then, out of nowhere, she poked my cheek.
"Ugh!"
"Okay. She's alive."
She straightened up like a knight inspecting her gear.
"If anyone dares hurt her, I'll cut off their hands."
...Okay.
Big sister protection mode: terrifyingly activated.
Mother just laughed softly. "You'll protect her well, won't you?"
Aristelle nodded seriously, like she'd just taken an oath.
"Of course. She's ours."
...Why does that sound mildly threatening?
Weeks passed.
I got used to the baby routine: wake up, cry, eat (let's skip the breastfeeding part...), sleep, repeat. Every day.
In my old world, I could read novels.
Now I just stared at the ceiling, wishing this life was a wholesome slice-of-life and not a survival horror.
And yeah, I used to dream of being the cool OP male MC with six-pack abs, romance, and epic battles...
Instead, I ended up as a baby princess. T_T
Hehehe.
At least there was one thing that made it all bearable.
My sister.
Aristelle would come visit me often, even though she always looked super serious.
But I knew... she cared.
Sometimes she sat beside my crib and read aloud, even though I clearly couldn't understand a word yet.
"This is a history book about Emperor Xalven, who decapitated a traitorous minister. I like this part."
...Thanks, sis. Early education, huh?
Sometimes she'd leave me weird wooden toys in my crib.
Sometimes she'd just sit there and watch me.
But whenever a servant tried to touch me without permission...
She'd immediately stand up.
"Don't get too close. She's my sister."
The servants would give that nervous smile and say, "Of course, Young Lady…"
And when I accidentally peed on a nanny while being held, Aristelle stared at her and said:
"That's your fault for not reacting fast enough."
God.
By the time I'm five, I'll probably have a personal guard squad with real swords and she'll be their captain.
One day, I was lying in a fancy baby carriage, taken to the palace garden.
Fresh air, colorful flowers, birds chirping...
And me? Still trapped in this tiny body with zero motor skills.
"Ariellee, look, a butterfly," Mother said softly, pointing.
I followed her finger with my eyes.
The butterfly fluttered closer... and landed on my nose.
I wanted to sneeze, but... I didn't know how to sneeze as a baby.
What happened?
HAAA-CHU!!
I burst into tears.
The butterfly bolted.
Mom panicked.
Aristelle stood stiffly, then said:
"That butterfly crossed the line."
...Do butterflies need permission now?
Months passed.
I learned to sit.
Kinda started crawling.
And began developing a new skill: Crying on demand.
Want to be picked up? Cry.
Hungry? Cry.
Bored? Cry.
Need attention? Cry Deluxe Edition.
Sometimes, I'd mess with my sister.
Activate dramatic crying mode.
"UWAAAH!! HIKS HIKS!!"
Fast footsteps.
She appeared over my crib.
"What's wrong? Who did something?"
I stopped crying. Smiled.
She narrowed her eyes.
"...You were faking, weren't you?"
Oops. Busted.
But she just sighed and patted my head.
"Dummy."
Her tone was soft.
And I smiled again.
That's how my first days as Ariellee La Astrax went.
A noble baby.
Former guy.
Now the little sister of a girl who could solo an entire army if she wanted to.
This world... is weird.
But somehow, just maybe, I think I can live here.
Especially if my sister keeps protecting me like this.
...As long as she doesn't start sword training before I can even walk.
What worries me?
She's already bought me a wooden sword.