Extra-Changing Fate

Chapter 16 ==Her Brother==

"You've seemed quite troubled these past two months, my lady,"

Ellie remarked gently as she began to help me get ready. Today was supposed to be a special occasion, at least according to everyone else in the mansion.

The entire household was bustling with activity because my brother, the heir, was finally returning home from his studies at the academy. His twin sister was going to great lengths to please him, meticulously arranging everything to his liking. She was desperate to be in his good graces before he inherited the Duchy, a transition that would occur in two years, after Father inevitably succumbed to a rare and incurable disease.

That would leave my brother, Francis Jin Silverton, in control of the Duchy when he turned eighteen in a couple of months. Mother wouldn't arrive until the following month.

Brother Francis was very much like Father – impartial and reserved. He idolized Father, which was why he generally ignored our sister's emotional displays and manipulations. In the novel, on the day Amelia was executed, he did nothing to intervene, just like Mother and Father. He was, in essence, a cold and heartless individual.

I suppose that's why he eventually fell for Catherine, the heroine of the story. Unlike his own dark and difficult past, Catherine had offered him kindness and light. However, he chose to step aside, seeing that Catherine would ultimately end up with the Crown Prince, the obsessive male lead.

The story never really explained why the second male lead, Marquis Allen, fell for Catherine. It merely stated that she reminded him of a first love he couldn't forget, and upon seeing the pink-haired beauty, he saw a resemblance and his feelings were rekindled. Even at the story's conclusion, the author never revealed the identity of this first love. Fans had clamored for a side story from Allen's perspective, desperate to know more. But just as the author was about to announce it, I had fallen asleep and somehow ended up in this world.

If my theory was correct – that the heroine was similar to me, and that was why the Prince was so fixated on her, and Allen fell for her because she resembled his first love – then it logically followed that Alyssa was Allen's first love!

Two months had passed since that bizarre encounter with Kian, the leader of the underworld, who was now a strange sort of acquaintance. We met frequently, and he never failed to shower me with flirtatious remarks, making both me and Mr. Smiley increasingly uncomfortable. Smiley clearly disapproved of the rumored black sheep of the family potentially becoming the mistress of their organization.

Did Kian even consider my feelings on the matter?

No.

I was tolerating it all because I desperately needed his help to find Virgo.

"There's a certain pest who's been getting on my nerves, but I can't exactly push him away," I replied to Ellie as she finished my hair and makeup.

"I understand. Then good luck, my lady," she whispered, a knowing look in her eyes. I simply hummed in response, feeling a wave of boredom wash over me as I looked at my reflection. The outfit was neither too extravagant nor too plain. I caught Ellie's reflection behind me; she always seemed to carry a mysterious air about her. I often wondered about her true identity. Well, Grandfather would likely reveal it to me in the future, so I would have to be patient and continue to prove my worth to him.

"You're all set, my lady... and just in time. Lady Amelia has also finished," Ellie informed me, having sensed my sister's approaching footsteps. Amelia walked past my room and went outside to wait for our brother.

"Well, I'll head out now too, Ellie. See you later," I said, rising from my seat. She opened the door for me, and I stepped out into the bustling hallways, alive with preparations for the celebratory lunch for Brother's return.

The maids offered me half-hearted greetings as I made my way towards the main entrance. There, I saw my sister and Father, along with some of the higher-ranking maids. These maids greeted me with disdain, as if I were some insignificant insect.

"You're late, sister..." I heard Amelia's sharp tone as soon as I joined her, standing beside her.

"I'm not late... you're simply too early, dear sister," I retorted, turning to face Father.

"Good morning, Father," I greeted him, but he only responded with a curt "hmm." I gave him a polite bow before retreating to my original position beside Amelia.

"Brother will be so pleased with everything I've done for him," I overheard her say, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting under the scorching sun, clutching my parasol tightly – without Ellie by my side, I felt quite alone – I watched as the maids fussed over my sister and Father. Not that I particularly cared.

Finally, I saw the gates near the mansion swing open, and a fast carriage sped towards us. My heart pounded with nervousness. This would be the first time I truly met Alyssa's brother, the formidable warlord, Father's chosen successor.

The carriage drew to a halt in front of us, and the door swung open.

"Welcome home, Young Master Francis!" the maids chorused in unison, perfectly timed. Then, my brother stepped down.

He was the spitting image of Amelia, as twins often are, with the same striking purple hair and the signature purple eyes of the Silverton family.

"Welcome back, Brother," Amelia greeted him immediately, but Francis merely gave her a cold, indifferent stare as he walked past her.

Turning his gaze to me, I offered a respectful bow. "Welcome home, Brother..." I said simply. He responded with a curt nod before proceeding to Father.

"Did you have a safe trip, Francis?" Father asked, his tone not gentle, but his usual detached one.

"Yes, Father,"