Mirror of the Past: The Villainess' True End

CHAPTER EIGHT: Fated Proximity

The pungent scent of antiseptic mixed with the slightly smoky smell of disinfectant was not the reason why I woke up from my deep slumber, dragging me out from my nightmares, but the hushed murmurs behind the white curtains, surrounding the bed where I rested, mingling with the subtle whirring of the AC.

"I don't get why she fainted." Keiran uttered, a mix of confusion and worry is laced on his voice. "She looked fine just moments before."

"What did you talk about before she fainted?" My brows furrowed upon hearing Kairos' voice.

I slowly sit up, resting my back at the steel headboard of the bed, listening closely to their conversation. The bonds in this world are quite different from mine, the shock from Keiran and Achilles' relationship in this world hasn't fully sunk in to me, but strangely as it sounds, the affiliation of these two men behind the curtains doesn't truly surprise me. I wasn't sure how, but at the night of Keiran's death, is when I found out that he's friends with the Duke of the North, and that the duke was more than willing to set the Capital into flames if something bad would happen to me or my family. Unfortunately, it was too late for him to get into the Capital in time, I never had a chance to see him even before my death.

"Nothing serious, I just introduced myself, then she asked what's my relationship with Achilles, I told her that I'm his twin, and then she started hyperventilating." Keiran explained.

Kairos sighed, "No wonder." He exhaled once more before I heard the chair move as he walked towards my bed and drew aside the curtain to check on me. He gave me a weary smile upon meeting my gaze. "Are you feeling better now?"

"Rin!" Keiran rushed beside me, reminding me once again how cruel this world can be, for robbing me of the privilege to be his sister. He was meant to be my twin—my only ally—and not by that heartless man.

"Are you fine now?" he asked after settling himself in a chair beside my bed, while Keiran remained standing at the foot of the bed, looking at us with amused expression, with his hands in his pocket.

I forced a smile at him, gently brushing aside the loose strands of his crimson hair on his face, revealing the Orion's belt moles above his right eyebrow. The sight of it stirred something in me, and I felt a lump rise in my throat. I swallowed hard and coughed lightly to steady my voice, "I'm fine, now. Don't worry." I replied to Kairos' question as I pulled my hand away from Keiran.

"Are you sure? You're not hurt anywhere?" Keiran pressed for answers, like a doting older brother—worry etched on his face while checking on me—not even noticing the gesture I did just now. My heart aches as I fought the swell of emotions threatening to break free. I shouldn't confuse myself—the person in front of me was no longer my brother. He wasn't the twin I lost back in my world. In this cruel reality that I now have, my twin brother, Keiran, was merely a fictional character who had a strong influence on my life.

I took a deep breath, pulled away my hands, and nodded at him, a reassuring smile plastered on my lips. "I just...freaked out a little when I learned that you are related with his—" I paused when I almost said the word his highness, and swallowed hard, correcting how I address that person in this world, "I mean Achilles Dimitri."

The way that name curled into my tongue feels like venom slowly spreading in my body, paralyzing my senses from the pain, numbing the little emotion left in my heart. My eyes flickered down for a moment before meeting Keiran's confused gaze, hoping he wouldn't notice the façade of calmness that I was trying to maintain.

"Why? Did my twin do something to you?" he asked, a mix of confusion and worry etched on his face.

I shook my head, "Let's just say that I had a complicated relationship with your brother, so hearing his name kind of freaked me out." I told him a white lie, hoping to stop him from digging for further information.