"... Wake up, sleepyhead." 'No, I don't want to! Uhm, I don't want to go to school...uhmmm...so cozy...I don't want to...' "I guess you're not feeling hungry, eh?" Sighing loudly she added, "And to think I cooked all those delicious meals. A pity... a real pity. I guess I have no choice but to give these away and bring you some porridge..." ?! The mention of the loathsome thing, immediately woke him up with a scowl. 'No! No porridge... anything but that! Huh?' Looking at his surroundings with droopy eyes, the little boy drifted back to sleep. 'Oh, it's just a nightmare... by the damned gods! For a moment, I thought...' "Ah. So you were awake, little El. I was just about to leave. I thought you wouldn't want my cooking anymore and would prefer the cook's good ol' porridge. Well it can't be helped, I'll let the cook know." Yon was confused... when did his Nana start playing dangerous games like this. 'Did I do something to upset her... No, no. I'm sure I was on my best behavio

"Mother...?" I asked. "Yes, Mother," she affirmed. "You... you can't be my mother. My real mother passed away the day I was born," I spat out, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and wariness. To my anguish, the entity wearing my mother's form laughed. However sweet its laughter was, it didn't please me at all. I felt anger welling up inside me, directed both at the impostor before me and, in a bizarre twist, at myself. Exasperated, I demanded, "Enough! Tell me who you really are and where we are!" In response to my request, she offered a soft smile. "We were here, we were there, we were everywhere." I was left utterly bewildered by her mystifying words. "W-What are you playing at?" She looked at me with a gaze that mirrored the way my real mother used to look at me, as if I were the most precious thing in the world. With that same soft smile, she replied, "Why? I am not playing games. And please, one question at a time. As for the question of who I am, I believe I alread

As he had not been born into nobility, he had never considered the possibility that it was customary for the father of a noble family to refrain from meeting his second wife's child until the child reached the age of six. He couldn't place blame on his dutiful caretaker for this unexpected twist. Many times he had asked, and many times she had denied him an answer. All in a span of a day. But with his persistent questioning, she had no choice but to spill the beans. She did so as gently as possible, considering the circumstances, but it didn't lessen the shock and bitterness he felt afterwards. Aggrieved and steadfast, he was resolved never to forgive and forget this day! He was sure of it! Already harboring grievances towards his siblings, the addition of the entire family now felt cruel, saddening, and...chaotic, yet strangely but surely necessary! It was a tumultuous experience, and to add insult to injury, the gifts thrown his way served as a reminder of the previous year.

I reached my destination and couldn't help but feel a pleasant surprise at how smoothly everything had unfolded. I was mentally preparing myself for delays and all sorts of complications. But here I am... It's truly astonishing how 'effortlessly' things fell into place. I mean, just a moment ago, I was drowning in boredom, and now, in the blink of an eye, everything has transformed into this exciting whirlwind! My luck seems to be going absolutely bonkers! "Should've sneaked from the start." Standing before the towering, old oak door, I couldn't help but feel a bubbling sense of anticipation. It's just a door, right? But there it was, perhaps my excitement playing tricks on me, making it seem so imposing. Regardless, this door was the only thing standing between me and the library. 'Finally!' Just the thought of it brought an almost silly grin to my face. Wait, did I just call myself silly? Shaking my head, I dismissed the self-accusation. Who am I kidding? It's me we're tal

Before I could even process those words and integrate them into my thoughts, I instinctively leaned back, trying to create distance between myself and the book. Suddenly, my surroundings shifted, and in an instant... ...gone was the library basement filled with books, replaced by a tall and majestic structure that towered before me. I couldn't quite discern its exact form, but it loomed above me, tall and expansive. "What's happening?!" I managed to stutter, my voice trembling. I dropped to my knees, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. It was as if the air itself had been sucked out of the space, leaving me short of breath. Panic surged through me, and I found myself struggling to regain my composure. The tightness in my chest overwhelmed me. And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the sensation vanished, leaving me gasping for air. "What the hell is going on?! Where am I?!" My confusion only deepened with each passing moment. Everything seemed to defy logic, la