Chapter 5 - A Guide, huh...
Translator: Yonnee
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When I woke up at the usual time, I washed up with Mary's assistance. Then, I went downstairs for breakfast. However, I had an inkling that there's something going on here.
"Good morning, my dear."
With a jovial expression, my father walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek, and after him, my mother kissed me on the other cheek. Then, my older brother came up as well and readily kissed me on both cheeks.
It still flustered me to receive morning kisses from my family, but I also kissed them back familiarly. We went to the dining hall together.
"Did someone visit just now?"
At my question, Mother's eyes went wide, then she spoke in a slightly raised voice.
"An official letter came from the Imperial Family."
"The Imperial Family?"
Our fief was the furthest from the capital. What kind of official letter would come to this place?
David was the one who answered my unsaid question.
"Remember the book I bought you last time, Rin."
"...The romance novel?"
"Yes. Actually, it's not just a novel. It's a prophetic book that the temple has distributed."
"...Prophetic book?"
"Yes. God has sent a Saintess to this world, and at the same time, it's said that God has also bequeathed that book to us. Was that how it went... Perhaps instead, that book was something the Saintess left behind."
This time, it wasn't my brother who answered my question, but Father. As he spoke, he pulled out my chair so I could sit.
I couldn't hide my surprise and confusion as I sat down on the chair. A prophetic book, not a romance novel.
Did this mean that someone's going to travel through dimensions, from Korea to this world?
As though reading my thoughts, my brother commented on the same thing. And my mother also responded after him.
"Really though, wow. Dimensional travel. Isn't that just something so hard to believe?"
"This is the first time I've heard of anything like this, too. Traveling through dimensions? It's like the stories of mages from ancient times."
"As expected, it's your first time hearing about it too, right, Mother?"
"Of course it is. I guess it's the prophecy of the Saintess' coming. It's overwhelming just thinking about it."
What my family was talking about was the female lead in the novel.
But if it's true that this was a prophetic book and not just a normal novel...
The dimension that the female lead previously lived in was also where I once existed.
Did this mean that there were also Espers in the empire?
If so, then did this mean that I transmigrated into that same novel?
Trapped in a turmoil of chaotic thoughts, my mother's subsequent thoughts snapped me out of my reverie.
"How exciting is it that there's such a joyous occasion? To commemorate the Saintess' coming, the Imperial Family is inviting all young noble ladies and lords to the palace for this year's coming-of-age ceremony."
"...Huh?"
"It seems like the Saintess is going to become an adult this year as well. It's also said that a few young nobles will be selected to become the Saintess' close friends so that she can get used to living here faster."
"...Really?"
"That's right. Maybe because we're the furthest territory from the capital, but we're a bit late in hearing about this. That's why the emissary who delivered His Majesty's decree just stopped by and left right away. I'm sure he's terribly busy-the coming-of-age ceremony is just around the corner, after all."
I couldn't wrap my head around anything I'm being told. I couldn't keep up with any of it.
David chuckled and held out a glass of water to me as I was unable to lift my spoon.
"Seems like you're still half asleep. Rin, you always need to have a drink of cold water first before anything else, right?"
It was one of my habits. Drink cold water first thing after waking up.
Unfortunately, this was a habit that I developed due to living with my husband in my previous life. Since he wielded fire and wind, I always felt hot after guiding him.
However, it was a habit that didn't exactly fit in with the culture in this world. People here usually drank hot tea, and ice wasn't an easy thing to procure unless you're a noble.
I was also born in a family of nobles, but I'm conscious of the fact that I'm needlessly spending on expensive ice all by myself when we're already short on funds.
On this table, the only one who had a glass of water was me. My heart felt full as I thought about how my family always put me first, but on the other hand, I also lamented how foolish it was that my habit carried over until now.
"I'll also just drink spring water from tomorrow onwards."
It was impossible to just keep receiving their affection forever. Shouldn't I at least repay the love I've received thus far?
I'm still terribly confused from finding out that this world was inside a novel, but somehow, it's all making sense in my mind.
For the past ten years, I lived with the singular mindset of shaking off the past and picking myself back up. In my previous life, I was driven by only spite and depression.
But after I reincarnated, I met my family, and it was all thanks to them that it became possible for me to shake off such a heavy past and live happily now.
I poured half of my cold water in my brother's glass and laughed softly.
"What kind of new breeze has come that my dear daughter suddenly changed?"
"Haha, you can just go ahead and drink the cold water, Rin."
My whole family watched my small action with interest. I may be more used to it now, but I still sometimes find myself at a loss whenever faced with my family's affection.
