Did I reincarnate as a villainess in an otome game?

Chapter 13

"Sister, why do you look so happy?" My brother, Syd asked me when I greeted him with a big grin on my face once I stepped inside the dining room.

My father was seated at the far end of the table while my mother sat beside him. I hurriedly took the seat parallel to my mother's seat and grinned.

"Just to be clear, tomorrow is supposed to be your birthday and not today, why do you have such a silly expression on your face?" My father asked as he took a bite of his food.

"I'm going to be 10 years old, isn't that amazing? I'm going to be a 2 digit!" I grinned.

"You shouldn't be happy with that Rachel, Girls know best that when they age they will lose their beauty, well you're growing up into a fine lady right?" My mother sighed as she placed her fork on the table.

"I can't imagine that."

"..."

The four agreed over the silence that reigned.

I feel so offended.

Sebastian coughed,

"But I think sister is fine by being herself!" The three eyed him with an "are you being serious?" making him nervous and chomped down his food.

"Of course! I am pretty cool by myself!" I said with a smile.

"..."

"I guess...It's good that both of you are getting along?" My father said after a long moment of silence.

I nodded at him and smiled. Actually I also don't know why he decided to take Syd as his adopted son, but It's good that way, at least I have someone to take on when I feel bored. I kinda feel bad venting all my boredom and anger to Sebastian, he must be exhausted with all my antics.

"Syd is a very good brother to me, He is always there to accompany me whenever I feel bored, he also has amazing stories to tell about his life in the orphanage! I have always wanted a little brother and now I have one, I am completely satisfied with it." I said happily.

"N-no, It's because of my sister,  she treated me equally even though we do not share the same blood...S-she also had interesting stories to tell me like...the one when she almost burned the whole mansion....." Syd trailed.

"I see, that one huh?"My father said as he smiled. Father your eyes are scary!

Following that incident, that became a taboo in our mansion.

"But that's not all! I mean sister, she welcomed me warmly into the family and invited me for a cup of tea and..."

The atmosphere began to drop once again.

"So, what are your plans for today?" My mother asked, quickly changing the topic when she sensed my Father's change of aura. 

"Duchess--!"

"Oh please, call me mother. We're one big family now!" She retorted.

"Then...M-mother, Sister and I wanted to visit the orphanage if it's okay," Syd awkwardly said. Mother smiled gracefully,

"Of course it's okay, but please take some guards to protect you, we don't know if there are bad peoples out there, plotting something evil." My mother said.

"Yes, we will!"

Eh? A guard huh? That's too much hassle.

"Especially you Rachel, don't stray away from the guards. We don't know what will happen outside."

"Don't worry Mother! I will protect Sister!" Syd proudly stood up.

Sebastian coughed, again.

"I don't think the Duchess meant that," Sebastian said.

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't you protect those people instead of your sister?" Father replied.

"..."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"Ohhh...Alright, I'll keep that in mind." Syd replied.

?

"We'll be going now, I will see you later then. Mother, Father" I said as I curtsied and headed for the door with Syd, trailing behind him.

"Also Syd," My mother called out to him, making him stop and look at her.

"Bring a rope with you, just in case." My mother winked.

"I understand, then I'll be going now," Syd said as he smiled, and bowed politely as we both exited the room.

"By the way, I'm also joining." Sebastian piped in.

"What?! No way!"

"The Duke's word."

"The carriage is ready, I also picked out a few guards," Sebastian said as he walked to us.

"Okay! I'm excited to see the friends that Syd spoke highly of!" I said as I ran towards the carriage.

---

"Hey, Jones! Woah! What's with the preparations for?" A brown-haired boy asked once he stepped foot in the orphanage.

"Oh hey, Al! Actually I'll talk to you later, I need to move these to the storage room" Jones said as he disappeared, carrying the boxes towards the room.

"Hey what's happening?" The brown-haired asked a girl who's cleaning the floor. She looked up happily and said,

"Oh hey, Al! You see, Syd was chosen to be the adopted son of the renowned Duke Vallemont! He's coming over right now to visit and play with us, we all missed him. That's why we're trying to welcome him as warmly as we could!" She beamed.

'I see, so this is all about it.' He thought as the orange-haired boy appeared in front of him after carrying the boxes to the storage room.

"Sorry, We wanted to clean up the place, we wouldn't want a son of a noble to find out how dirty we are living in right?" The boy laughed as he rested his hand on the brown-haired boy's shoulder,

"So? What are you up to now Al?" He asked.

"Still practicing your swordsmanship skill?" He snickered as the said to be Al removed his hand harshly from his shoulder.

"Believe me, I will become the best knight in the whole country! Just you wait! I will build a name for my family and serve the kingdom!" Al proudly said.

"Okay, fine, I get it."

"By the way Jones, what do you mean by the son of the duke visiting here?" He asked.

"Oh, that? Remember Syd? That blue-haired one?"

"Yeah, I heard, what about it?"

"He got chosen as the adopted son of the Vallemont family, pretty cool right?" Jones said as he grinned at him.

"Syd? Do you mean Syd?! my Syd?" He asked In disbelief.

"Yeah, Our Syd." Jones corrected him.

"What about my brother?" A feminine voice resounded as the two boys looked at the owner's voice, it was unfamiliar but a white-haired girl with a pretty face stood in front of them, and behind her was the blue-haired boy, Syd who was smiling faintly at them.

"Syd!"