"It's all your fault this is happening to us!"

"Run away! Before her bad luck catches onto you!"

"Don't look at her."

"I just wished I've never given birth to you."

...

I woke up.

Even though it was dark but I was able to see an unfamiliar ceiling.

Ah... it was just a nightmare.

My mind was still cloudy from just waking up so my memory was still hazy.

Also, the nightmare felt too realistic that it got mixed up with my memory for an instant.

I sat up and looked around the room.

It was a large room with luxury furnishing.

Definitely a huge contrast to the rundown place I was put to live in.

So, I was really taken to another family.

Now that I realized, the bed was extremely comfortable.

The feel of smooth and silky texture from the beddings was transmitted through my skin.

A strange nostalgic feel hits me.

It has been a long time since I was able to feel something like this.

No, I believe the beddings here have even better quality than the beddings I used to have in my previous life.

Ever since I was reincarnated to this world, I lived in the shed at the backyard of the mansion.

All I was able to sleep in was rough rags with moldy smell.

The bed frame creaks each time I turn, the window in the shed was never fixed ever since it was broken.

Too many unpleasant things to list and it really brings down the mood just thinking about it.

I sighed as I summoned my Status Window.

The name Cecilia Blackthorn entered my eyes.

My family name was the proof that I was adopted into this new family.

It was also because of this did it occur to me that I've been reincarnated into the world of an otome-game I used to play in the previous world.

Was it correct to say I was transported into the game or I was reincarnated into a separate reality? I can't give an answer to that.

One thing I could put my finger on was the fact of being reincarnated.

At first I thought I was reincarnated to a random fantasy world with sword and magic, and I was able to live in this world with game-like features.

It turned out, only I was able to summon the Status Window of myself.

No one else could see this game-like element nor could they even summon their own Status WIndow.

They don't even know of the existence of Status Window.

It rang a bell to me when I was told that I will be adopted by the Blackthorn family.

My mind and body was already in a bad shape when I was living under harsh conditions, then it was even more shocking when I found out I was reincarnated as a villainess from the otome-game.

That's right, Cecilia Blackthorn was one of the villainesses from the otome-game.

And that person was me in this reality.

I certainly lost some part of my sanity remembering the fact that this character only have exile or death endings throughout the whole game.

Even worse, I met with the person responsible for many deaths of Cecilia Blackthorn in the game.

Zack Blackthorn, the step-brother of Cecilia... in other words, my step-brother in reality.

The last memory I have of him was him freakishly approaching me in just his underwear... there were blood marks visible on the naked part of his body...

Just like those murderers from those cheap B-rated thriller movies I've watched...

I shook my head to get that imagine out of my mind.

No, it must be my imagination! That's right, my imagination must have gone wild!

There was no way someone like Zack Blackthorn would act like a freak and walk around his house in just his underwear.

Zack Blackthorn was the secret boss of the otome-game and has struck fear to the playerbase.

I could vaguely remember my feeling when I first encountered him in the game.

The menacing aura he gives off just by sitting on his throne, the pressure each time he took a turn and the despair each time he enters the next phase... all could be felt past the screen of the console.

This battle made me doubt whether or not I was still playing the same otome-game I started playing just to enjoy my time with my husbandos.

Now I have to face the reality that such person has became my step-brother...

Just thinking about it gives me chills.

But that memory Zack Blackthorn approaching me in just his underwear was indeed my imagination... then when did I lose my conscious?

I was sure I was wide awake on the wagon en route to the Blackthorn mansion, though my mind was occupied at that time.

Maybe I did fell asleep somewhere when all the fatique and stress I've accumulated over the years caught up to me...

...I don't have an answer to that.

I decided to stop pondering about it.

There were other pressing matters I should be more concerned about.

*Stomach growl*

I sighed as I put my hands over my abdomen.

The meals given to me back in my previous family was very little and I don't have any recollection of me eating anything before I lost conscious.

Judging from the furnishing and size of the room, I was sure I was in the Blackthorn family's mansion.

There was no one in the room besides me.

So asking someone for a meal was out of the option.

Next to the bed was a chair facing towards me.

If I have to make a deduction, I could tell the chair was used for the person tending me while I was unconscious.

But the chair was currently empty.

Did the person go off for a toilet break?

'Or was I simply neglected?'

...Maybe I was overthinking a little too much.

It seemed negative-thinking has became a bad habit of mine over the years.

I can't help but scoff at this change within me.

I was sure my personality when I was in the previous world did not have such a trait.

I slid to the side of the large bed and hang my feet over the edge.

My feet wasn't reaching the ground.

I gave myself a little push and hop down the bed.

Just as my feet reached the floor, the night gown I was wearing was also touching the ground.

Now that I have noticed, it was a high quality and light night gown that I was wearing.

Though, the night gown was a little too large for me... or maybe I was too small for it.

Years of malnutrition has indeed affected my growth.

I reached for my chest and... I felt nothing in that area.

While this body was still of a child's body but never had I thought I'd feel empty inside when things I've once had were now missing.

Of course, that's not the only area that was currently empty.

*Stomach growl*

My stomach once again reminded me of the reason why I got out of the comfortable bed.

I walked to the door and reached for its handle that was at eye-level.

Turning the handle was effortless, and once turned, the door felt as if it was free from what was restraining it.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The door was not locked.

I slowly opened the door and peaked.

The door leads to a dark corridor that extends sideways.

There were no lights in the corridor.

The darkness in the corridor wasn't a problem for me, my eyes were accustomed to the dark after-all.

Even so, I still have difficulty to see the full content of the protrait hanged on the wall in front of the room.

Out of curiousity, I approached the protrait and saw it was a figure of a person.

Though, I was not able to see the face of that person.

It may be because of my height and the lack of lightning that made it seemed as if there was a shadow over the person's face.

Though, there's this strange eerie feeling to it when I looked at the dark area of the picture.

The same feeling I felt the moment I stepped into the corridor.

I looked down the corridor to my left and right.

The corridor that seemed to extend to endless darkness, felt really lifeless.

'Maybe it's their bedtime now.'

That was a reasonable explanation that I could come up with.

However, I was unable to come up with a reason for the lack of lighting in the corridor.

There were lanterns on the wall, they were just unlit.

Does this family practice energy-saving? Is that a thing here in isekai?

My previous family did not have such an idea, the mansion was bright as day with the amount of lights they have.

Since I've never set foot outside of that territory so I was not able to confirm whether energy-saving was a trend or not.

Just in case, I should not light up those lanterns.

I was just adopted into the family so I shouldn't use things that doesn't belong to me without permission.

I don't want to take risks that would make me end up living in the shed at the backyard.

Only if I know how to use magic.

Even though I'm in the world of sword and magic, yet I was not able to use any form of magic.

The list of magic in the Status Window was empty, meaning I don't have any magic available to use.

Ironically, I do have a MP bar right below my HP bar.

The Cecilia in the game also couldn't use magic.

Instead, she has shown results for her physical examinations, though she was just ranked among the average.

Maybe that was one of the reason why she was jealous of the player, the main heroine of the game.

A commoner yet being able to excel in rare magic and got the attention of handsome capture targets.

Hehe, to think I started to feel sympathy for a villainess of no importance in the game.

Me being reincarnated as Cecilia and having experienced what she has been through, has made me feel connected to her on spiritual level and I can't help but to feel sorry for how unfortunate she was.

While feeling sorry for her, I'm also feeling sorry for the current Cecilia... which was myself.

A magic to summon a small fire on my fingertip would have been very helpful in the current situation.

But I guess I will have to wander through the dark corridor with the hope to find the kitchen as soon as possible.

*Clank*

My foot kicked something just as I took my first step.

There was a chair right next to the bedroom I came out of.

The chair looks strangely out of place.

I could understand the reason why there was a chair next to the bed but not for the lone chair outside of the room I was in.

I feel the chair didn't belong to the corridor.

Out of curiousity, I reached for the chair...

'I don't think I should touch that.'

There was a bad feeling coming from the idea of touching it, even my mind was warning me of my action.

However, my body did not stop.

My hand continued reaching forward as if it was attracted to the chair.

That's right, there was this strange feeling of attraction that made my body act on its own.

Even though I had a bad feeling about touching that strange chair but curiousity has gotten the better of me and I did not try to stop my hand.

I touched the chair.

"..."

The texture of the wooden part was smooth, I could tell this was the work of a very skilled craftsman.

Indeed, a high quality chair fitting the standards of a noble family.

"..."

There was nothing else other than it was a chair.

Nothing bad happened; the chair didn't explode nor did it turn into a mimic and swallowed me.

It was just an out of place chair.

I sighed, out of relief.

The strange uneasiness I had before was gone.

I felt as if some weight in my chest has been lifted, there was no tight feeling when I breathed.

It was an weird experience, a first ever since I have been reincarnated.

Even though it was a lifeless object but I could feel some warmth coming from the chair.

I felt at ease.

Suddenly, a soft blue light caught my eyes.

My eyes followed the soft blue light going down the dark corridor, it left a faint trail in its path.

The faint blue trail hovered in the air looked like a hagoromo waving in the wind.

Though, there was no wind in the corridor.

The trail left behind seemed to be leading a way for me.

I took a step...

'I don't think I should follow that.'

Once again, I had a bad feeling about following the faint blue trail.

There was no way to know what was at the end of the trail.

Furthermore, the strange feeling I have ever since entering the corridor and this strange occurence has made me feel quite perplexed.

However, again with curiousity at work...

I extended my hand and gently stroked the hagoromo-looking trail.

The trail, of course, was not an object that I could physically touch.

Though, touching it gave me a warm feeling, the same warmth from touching that strange chair.

I felt at peace when I'm in contact with it.

The doubt I have was no more, I followed the trail.

The mansion was big, it felt like a maze.

If it wasn't for the trail I would have gotten lost inside the mansion.

It'd be embarrassing if morning comes and people find me lost in their home.

Though, I also don't know where the trail was taking me.

But something tells me this trail will lead me to something good.

I did take a look back to make sure I could find my way back to the bedroom.

At least I know that bedroom was a room I was given permission to use.

Luckily, the trail does not disappear even after I've walked past it.

The trail led me to a large open area that seemed to be the lobby.

I walked down the curved staircase to the ground floor.

Just like in the corridor, the lobby was dark, there were no lights even in the lobby.

I could manage to make up shapes of my surroundings with my eyes that were accustomed to the dark, though I won't be able to make out the fine details of each object in this darkness.

There was a large double door next the staircase.

Even though the faint blue trail led away from the door, the double door has caught my attention.

My intuition tells me that this double door leads to outside.

An opportunity to leave the mansion.

This thought suddenly came to mind.

I have yet came across anyone on my way here, no one was awake at this point in time.

There won't be anyone to stop me if I leave.

Leaving the mansion would of course meant I would be able to avoid the Bad Endings.

I won't be involved in the main events taken place in the game, therefore I won't meet my end just like the Cecilia in the game would.

Especially staying away from Zack Blackthorn should be my priority.

I don't think staying with someone who would potentially murder me was a good idea.

Plus, it scares me!

Leaving the mansion would definitely change the fate of Cecilia Blackthorn.

There was no way I'd want to die or be exiled at a young age.

I mean what are the chances that I was reincarnated into a fantasy world, a world of the otome-game I used to play too!

There were so many things I wanted to try out and so many places I wanted to see in this world.

I wanted to live a life with happiness!

For that I reached for the handle of the door.

'I don't think I should leave the mansion.'

A bad feeling surged up within me, unexplainable anxiety and pressure suddenly built up.

The memory of my time in the previous family resurfaced in my mind.

The cold, the hunger... the scornful looks, the beration, the shame...

I...

My body involuntarily pulled my hand back.

This world was not like the otome-game where everything was shining and sparkling.

This was the reality, I've experienced the ugly side that was not shown in the game.

And I firmly believe it's the tip of the iceberg of the world's ugly side.

Will I be able to survive?

Monsters exist in this world.

Would I be able to fend them off with a body of an 8-year old girl? Without any ability or magic?

There were also bandits too, and I don't want to think about what would happen to me if I ever was caught by them.

Furthermore, how would I satisfy my daily needs?

Food, water and shelter?

Would people happily accept a girl with no skills for their work? Or would they have other things in mind?

Me? With this omnious black hair? Black eyes?

I...

Before I realized, I was already a few feets away from the double door.

My breathing was heavy, my heart was pounding and my night gown was soaked in my sweat.

I slowly lift my hand and touched my face with it.

Aah, I felt it, the real feel of my skin.

My skin was cold... was it due to the sweat?

I could feel the small tremble coming from my hand... or was it my body that was trembling?

Regardless to all those questions, I knew I have snapped back to reality.

I did not leave the mansion.

I failed to take the first step.

The first step that could change my fate.

The disappointment and sympathy was mixed into this strange feeling.

Is this what Cecilia had to go through in the game? If it is, isn't this just too sad?

*Stomach Growl*

My stomach responded to the question in my mind.

"..."

There was silence after that.

"Hehe..." I can't help be let out a small chuckle.

Even when I had such a struggle in my mind, my stomach was true to itself.

My stomach was empty and I was hungry, and the reason I'm here was to look for food.

I looked up.

The faint blue trail was still present. Even the trace leading up the staircase was still there.

My way back was still present.

It was as if the trail was patiently waiting for me.

Such irony that I felt more warmth from such lifeless object than from the people I've met.

With my eyes, I followed the trail that was at the ground floor.

It led to an opened door.

Wait a minute...

I noticed a warm flickering light coming from the room.

But that was not what has caught my attention.

It was the smell, I smelled something nice.

A smell I really longed for was coming out from that room.

I quickly moved to the door and looked inside.

The room was a kitchen.

My eyes were fixed onto the counter with a lit candle.

Right next to the candle was freshly cooked food.

I ran to the counter, ignoring the knife and fork on the side, I picked up the steak from the plate and bit into it.

"~~~!!!!"

Meat juices gushed out of the soft texture, the saltiness was mixed with the enhanced flavour from the spice.

The flavours had me going for second bites and the meat was so soft that it was easy to chew.

The steak was delicious.

In no time, the steak in my hands was gone.

There was only the sauce left on my palm.

I looked at the plate, there were vegetables and bread.

Next to the plate was a bowl of steamy creamy soup.

I grabbed a spoon and the bowl of soup.

I got myself a spoonful of the soup, sent the spoon into my mouth and gulped down the soup.

"~~~~"

The warmth from the soup spread out to other parts of my body.

I felt the warmth before I even noticed the tasty flavour.

It was delicious.

There were other words needed to describe this.

I could feel my stomach was being filled along with my heart.

H-Huh?

I found it strange.

There was some ticklish warm feeling coming down my cheeks and there were droplets of liquid dripping into the bowl of soup.

This is really weird.

Why were tears coming out of my eyes?

I'm crying? That's right, I was crying.

But why was I crying when I should be overjoyed?

No... I'm wrong about this.

I am happy now... I am really really happy right now.

I was just crying out of joy.

I was crying over the food on the plate.

They were not stale bread and tough meat, and other leftovers.

They were delicious food that was made to be enjoyed.

I continued to cry as I stuff my mouth with the other things on the plate.

This was the first time I've felt such happiness in this current life.

Even though it was simple but it was happiness nonetheless.