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Translator: uly
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Cousins' Cruelty and Sudden Emergence
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Staring blankly at them, Rebecca whispered quietly in my ear.
"The Duchess Lillia Diorus and Young Master Riki Diorus, children of the late Duke Diorus 7th and the Grand Duchess. Though they grew up like siblings, they are your aunt and uncle, miss. Do you remember them?"
What nonsense. From Rebecca's whisper, I only caught the last question about whether I remembered them, and I shook my head vigorously.
From the atmosphere alone, it seemed like they were in a sibling-like relationship with me...
But if I had to guess, our relationship was the worst. If it were good, they wouldn't come visit someone who had nearly died and just barely survived, saying things like that.
"Ugh, so sweet it'll make you diabetic."
Riki, the boy sitting with his legs arrogantly crossed, picked up a pastry from the table, popped it into his mouth, and made a gagging motion.
"To think you were eating stuff like this even right before jumping into the pond. No wonder you've gained weight."
"Rubette, don't tell me... Cedric told you yesterday that your face disgusted him and to get out of his sight, so you jumped into the pond?"
Lillia went even further, grinning as if it were amusing.
I had no idea why they were hostile, but one thing was clear.
'This girl has been relentlessly bullied and mocked her whole life.'
Judging by the level of mockery, it wasn't just light teasing. If it were bearable, she wouldn't have thrown herself into the pond with the intent to die.
Just as pity for the owner of this body I didn't even know began to well up inside me...
Riki approached with a snicker.
"Eek!"
Then he sat beside me and reached out, pinching and squeezing my side hard.
'You crazy bastard. What the hell is this?'
The prank, backed with real force, hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes, but the feeling was even more disgusting than the pain.
I, Juliet Karennina, swear I'd never been treated like this in my life.
There had always been envy and jealousy toward my fame, of course, but even that didn't feel pitiful because I was too perfect to complain about it.
But what was this? Right now, I couldn't even mentally win by telling myself 'it's because I'm so great' while being treated like this.
"Ugh, disgusting. It's all greasy and slimy. Is this what Cedric was talking about?"
"Hahaha... Ah, you idiot. Don't make me laugh."
The little demons were busy openly mocking me right in front of my face.
Rebecca bit her lip with a pained expression as she watched me just take it. Apparently, as a mere maid, she wasn't in a position to step in and help.
"Hey, where's your neck, anyway? Let's see, shall we look for our lost Rubette's neck?"
Riki, who had been cackling, now reached for my chin.
Smack!
But before he could touch me, I immediately slapped his hand away hard. Riki's eyes went wide.
"What the— you?"
It was still too early to be surprised.
Slap!
I swung my hand and struck Riki's cheek squarely. His delicate-looking head snapped back nicely.
"Gasp!"
"C-Crazy..."
Rebecca covered her mouth in shock, and Lillia flinched in surprise.
If it had been my original slender hand delivering the slap, it might have tickled, but getting hit by this chubby hand would hurt plenty. Even amid it all, it felt satisfying.
Riki, trembling, slowly cupped his cheek and turned his snapped-back head to look at me.
"You, you, you..."
"Extremely unpleasant. Do that crap one more time, and I'll report you for assault."
"W-What?"
"Where did you learn such manners? Touching a lady's body without permission? You don't look young enough not to know that non-consensual contact is a crime."
Riki's eyes wavered, confused by my reaction. He jumped to his feet, pointing at me furiously, shaking with rage.
"Y-You lunatic dare lay a hand on my face? You, you... Do you think my mother will let this slide when she finds out?"
"Haa..."
He looked young, but he really was just a kid. All he could say was 'I'll tell my mom!'
The fighting spirit that had risen to the top of my head deflated like it'd been doused with cold water, and I felt deflated.
What the hell was I even doing with these brats?
"Fine, go ahead and tattle all you want. But no matter if you're my siblings or whatever, do that crap again and I won't let it slide twice. I'll show you life is no game, so get ready."
"Y-You... what the hell does a pig like you think you're saying!"
"R-Riki. Don't engage, let's just go. The doctor said she's lost her mind. As soon as Mom gets back, we'll tell her right away."
"Sh-Shut up... You're dead! Just wait!"
Lillia dragged the fuming Riki out of my room.
A heavy silence settled in the room after the storm had passed.
Amid it, Rebecca was still staring at me, mouth agape.
"M-M-Miss..."
From her reaction, it seemed the whole sequence—slapping Riki's cheek and causing the commotion—was utterly unlike anything the owner of this body would do.
Suddenly exhausted, I flopped back onto the bed and said to Rebecca.
"Could you leave? This dream is too shitty; I need to wake up soon. I'll sleep it off."
Rebecca hesitated, then nodded and left. I forcibly closed my eyes, trying to sleep.
This situation felt too real... but please, let it be a dream. I desperately hoped so.
* * *
Did I sleep for six hours?
Staring alternately at the darkening window and the mirror, I despaired. Even after waking, my unfamiliar appearance remained the same.
"This is driving me insane, seriously..."
The reflection was just an ugly, chubby little girl. Nowhere was the glamorous celeb Juliet Karennina to be seen.
My eyes welled up with ridiculous, aggrieved tears—right then.
Something pitch-black and wobbly suddenly burst from my head.
"Oh, shit!"
Startled, I froze solid.
At first glance like a lump of black sludge from a trash heap, it fully detached from my head and gradually took shape.
"Oh my god, oh my god. Please, no..."
Backing away in horror, I wished I could just faint.
Soon, the 'thing' fully formed...
'What the hell is that!'
A person? No, it had a human shape but wasn't human.
Black, sticky-looking skin and a muscular body. Where eyes should be was empty, the nose just two holes, and a long white tongue flicked from its slit mouth.
It looked just like a terrifying alien from some movie.
"G-Get away! Don't come closer!"
"Wait. Calm down. Don't get excited, Juliet Karennina."
The alien caught up to me as I fled in panic and spoke.
"H-How can I not! Look at you!"
"Aha."
The alien stopped abruptly and snapped what looked like a finger. Magic happened instantly.
'I-It changed?'
The alien transformed in a flash into an unfamiliar young man.
A boy about the age of this body, with brown hair and blue eyes.
"Better now? It's Cedric Raizer's face, Rubette's favorite."
"..."
Faced with this utterly unbelievable situation, I began deep breaths to calm myself.
Maybe because it looked human now, my racing heart slowed.
I'd been through enough absurdity already; another alien wouldn't faze me.
"Whew..."
Fully calming, I said.
"I don't know if it's this body's owner's taste..."
"..."
"...It's not my taste."
"...What?"
Do people here only speak Korean? I specified clearly so he'd understand.
"I like, um, more mature? With a solid body? That kind of thing."
"Aha."
The alien let out a blank exclamation at my firm tastes, then snapped his finger again.
As per my order, he transformed into a young man this time.
Silver hair, golden eyes—strikingly handsome, manly without a hint of boyishness.
"Oh my god..."
Stunned by how gorgeous the alien was, I forgot the gravity and stared, mesmerized.
Satisfied with my reaction, the alien smirked.
"Famous as the handsomest in the empire. Lark van Rashumah Decard, the Crown Prince."
"...Yeah. This face is definitely my type."
"Thanks."
Gotta give credit where due. I nodded readily at the smiling alien.
And then.
"You."
I lunged forward, grabbing his collar as if I'd never retreated.
"..."
"You clearly called me 'Juliet Karennina' earlier. You know why I'm trapped in this dream-like reality, don't you?"
The alien, staring down at me with his handsome face, replied with an odd glint in his eyes.
"...That's right."