I was staring at myself in the mirror, utterly mesmerized like a lunatic, when a knock on the door interrupted my trance.

Usually, the first person to step into the room would be like a harbinger - probably a maid -providing me with crucial information: where I was, who I was, whether I was some cherished daughter of the household... From there, I could deduce which novel I had landed in, whether I had possessed a villainess or a tragic heroine. If it was either of the two, I wasn't sure I had the strength to face the calamities ahead.

I hesitated, debating whether I should open the door, when a young man's voice called out:

- Aria? He knocked again.

I jolted as if struck by lightning. That deep yet perfectly alluring voice sent a strange sense of familiarity through me. But wait... Who the hell was Aria? Did I know this character?

- E-Erm... I'm here...?

I nearly fell over from shock. Since when could I understand and even speak French? Wait, was this even French?

- What's wrong, Aria?-  His voice carried a hint of worry.

I hadn't fully wrapped my head around my sudden linguistic prowess, but I still had to respond:

- N-Nothing... Sir. P-Please, come in...

The door creaked open, revealing his face.

Yes, he was handsome. But that wasn't the problem.

- Big brother...?!

I screamed as if I had just seen a ghost, involuntarily blurting out a word in Vietnamese. From his physique, features, even his voice - it was unmistakable. This was my brother, wasn't it?!

I felt like I was losing my mind. The man before me bore an uncanny resemblance to my actual brother—except for his hair and eye color. But that was irrelevant. What mattered was how his appearance sent a shiver down my spine.

- What are you saying, Aria? - "My brother" tilted his head in confusion, clearly puzzled by his strange little sister.

My body remained frozen, unable to utter a sound. My hands trembled, my jaw locked in place. My eyes widened to the point of nearly popping out, and my face paled as a cold sweat dripped down my cheek. If my real brother saw my expression right now, he'd probably be doubled over in laughter.

But he wasn't my brother. I knew that. His elegant face was filled with concern, and his luxurious suit - with a massive sapphire pinned to the collar - only added to the surrealism. His voice, as gentle as ever, brought me back to reality:

- Are you hungry? I brought lunch for you.

Ugh. That doting tone, coming from someone who looked just like my actual brother, made me nauseous. If only my real brother were even a tenth as considerate as this guy.

I quickly adjusted my emotions before my "nausea" got out of hand. I forced a smile and replied:

- Thank you, brother.

Gulp. To be honest, I had never thanked my brother so sincerely before. The moment the words left my mouth, my face flushed red, as if I had just been caught doing something shameful.

His violet eyes flickered with surprise. He ruffled his cherry-colored hair—identical to mine—and asked:

- Why are you being so nice to me today?

Wait, did that mean this girl was usually a menace?

- Are you saying I'm not usually nice, brother?-  I squinted, feigning composure while internally panicking. I had no idea if he was easy to fool. Heck, I wasn't even certain if he really was Aria's brother.

- No, it's just that... -  He averted his gaze.  - You didn't call me an idiot today...

Ah. So that's on her, not me. My condolences, big bro.

- I'm just in a good mood today. My apologies, brother, I won't let it happen again.

His expression immediately brightened. His smile was so dazzling, it was as if I had just gifted him a mountain of gold.

- Alright, Aria.

~~~~~~

Turns out, this delinquent girl's name wasn't Aria.

It was something far more unique - Ariette. Good lord, what a gorgeous name. Her full title was Ariette de Selia Meithyt la Bellouis - an aristocratic name that completely contradicted her personality.

With my 5.5 IELTS English skills, now magically buffed with god-tier French proficiency, I preferred reading her name the Vietnamese way: A-ri-et Se-li-a de Mei-thid la Col-g-nis.

Apparently, her mother had a passion for music, just like me. According to Henry - the kind older brother from last night - "Ariette" was a variant of "Arietta," meaning "melody." Just the meaning of her name alone was enough to satisfy me.

Henry, despite being the polar opposite of my sly fox of a brother, shared the same age and impressive talent - both were nineteen, handsome, and outstanding. He was studying at the Royal Military Academy and had just returned for a break. That school's name sounded ridiculously prestigious.

Another thing I discovered, thanks to the family's grand library (which might as well have been the National Archives): My family was obscenely wealthy.

I wasn't particularly surprised, but I was definitely thrilled. A dazzling protagonist like me, blessed with an enormous fortune - what a massive advantage for the battles ahead. If I auctioned off this wealth back on Earth, I'd make an absolute fortune. Scientists and all sorts of "experts" would go wild over it.

I'd buy a penthouse and a Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. I'd own a separate mansion solely to "store" my laptops, designer goods, and high-end electronics. That place would be my official headquarters. Ah, just imagining it made me giddy.

My family would be the richest in the world - richer than E- lon Musk, Bill Gates, or War-ren Buf-fett. Hehe.

Oh, right. Before indulging in all those materialistic dreams, I should "serve my country" first.

I'd clear the national debt and pour money into charity, aiding those in poverty and helping allied nations caught in war. If they ever erected a statue of me in the heart of the capital, that'd be pretty cool too, ahaha...

Just thinking about it sent a thrill down my spine.