Another Chance To Bloom

Chapter 13

After the detention was over Odelia went back to her dorm, not before promising to never utter the words 'slut' or 'bitch' ever again.

I had no opinion on what she thought on her own but in public, as the prime minister's daughter, she could get in bigger trouble for acting indecently.

This time she got off with just a warning and detention but I couldn't guarantee that, that was what was going to happen everytime.

Gossip was a powerful tool. It could take people's lives, as shown by the example of Ciel. Each and every one of her acts were being scrutinized by the public. For now maybe the prime minister's estate could brush off her behaviour as those of a rash child but what about in the future?

Such a lively girl, it would be a pity to be cut apart by the knife of public opinion.

If the new student, Ms Burton, was as Odelia had said, then the less words uttered the better. I didn't think Odelia could beat her in acting like a white lotus, so it was better to act dumb and avoid any implications.

I was on my way to the meeting point Oswald and I had fixed.

I briskly walked down the path that led to the greenhouse.

I was excited when Oswald suggested meeting up at the greenhouse, I hadn't gotten time to visit it yet.

The greenhouse was where they carefully grew various plants, trees and herbs from all sorts of places, from different parts of the continent, from far off lands, some which could not be accessed anymore.

It was a huge collection which had been grown from a long time back, way before the construction of the Academy even. It had seen a lot of history and was an important part of the history of the Kingdom of Helios.

However, not many people visited it because not everyone was granted entry inside. Only the caretakers and wood elemental mages could get inside. If other people wanted to enter, they had to be under the supervision of a senior wood elemental mage (level 3).

When I got to the entrance of the greenhouse, Oswald was already waiting for me there.

I greeted the gaurd there and after showing my ID, I was granted access inside. Oswald was written under my supervision.

As soon as I entered this humongous building that housed a whole forest, probably,  I could feel the brimming wood essence all over. No wonder this was a favourite spot for wood elemental mages, this was their zone.

It seemed to be the first time Oswald had come in as well, as he was looking at all the plants and trees curiously.

I forgot to mention, but, Oswald was not a mage. He was a warrior at the military academy. A talented one at that. In Ciel's memories I could see various instances when the Prime Minister was caught boasting about Oswald's achievements in banquets and balls.

However that was all I knew about this person. Or is he that person anymore? If he was from my world, how long had he been here? Was the Oswald in my borrowed memories the Benjamin I just met or someone else entirely?

What exactly did he mean by "what world I was in"? Well, it looked like I was going to find out pretty soon.

Oswald and I roamed around for a bit before settling in a secluded corner to discuss business.

We were silent for some time, not knowing how to breach the subject.

"Well, let's start with the basics. Introduce ourselves as we are in this world and who we used to be back on Earth." He finally said.

I agreed, "Yeah, let's do that."

"My name is Oswald Valentine. I'm 17 years old this year. I'm the older twin of Odelia Valentine and the second son of the Prime Minister. I have been in this world since the day this body was born. My name was Benjamin in my old life. I was 17 years old when I was hit by a truck and died. After losing consciousness, the next memory I have is of crying in the hands of a midwife. Nothing in between. I have no idea how I got here. Before you came by, which was today, I was starting to think that all of my previous life was probably just a dream." He let out in one breath.

Woah... So his situation was a bit different from mine, huh.

"The infamous truck-sama, right?" I said, trying to lighten the mood.

He chuckled at that.

"Yeah. What about you? Tell me your story."

"Well, my name is Ciel Heroux. I'm 23 years old. I'm the third son of the Duke. A level 3 wood elemental mage. Nothing special. I was named Ebony in my last life. Yes, I was a girl. I was a few days shy of 23 years old when I was stabbed to death by some mugger when I was going back home from work at night. I've been here for a month and one week. I had the previous owner's memories, so it was easier to adjust. That's it, I guess."

"Stabbed to death!"

"Yeah..."

"Did it hurt?"

"It felt exactly how you would imagine yourself to feel when split into two by a knife."

"..."

"You were born into this world, huh?"

"Yeah, the baby was stillborn so I'm assuming my wandering soul occupied it. I'm still hypothesizing why my soul would be wandering in another universe. So yeah..."

"Ohh... Seems plausible. Wait, how do you know for sure that the baby was stillborn before you occupied it?"

"Yeah... you have no idea what world you're in, right?"

"What does that have to do with the question I just asked?"

"I know because I've played the game derived from this world."

"What...?"

"This world was the setting for an otome game. Ok, not the entire world but at least this kingdom. I know because I've played the game. Numerous times. I had unlocked most of the routes and read ALL of the character guides. I was obsessed with it and that's why I knew where I transmigrated into."

"Otome... game?"

"Yes."

I let that sink in.

Wow.

I wondered whether Ciel knew he was in a game, or is it?

Perhaps understanding something from my gaze, Oswald took the initiative to explain.

"This world isn't solely the world of the game. At most it can be referred to as a segment in its long history. The game can just be said to be derived from the events of this world and not the actual events themselves. Just possible outcomes."

Ohh...

"But how do you know all of this." I asked.

"These are just my assumptions. It's not like I could ask anyone. Before you, I didn't even know other people could be transmigrated as well, from my old world into this world."

"Say, what happens to me in the game?"

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A/N: 21/12/'21, Tue

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