I know it's November in reality but okay

I've waited for Aphrodite to take me home. After meeting with Seraphina and Delaphina, we all have agreed to exchange letters with each others. Since Delaphina has a pigeon to deliver letters, it was even easier but I still need to get a letter pigeon for myself.

Under the tree shade, I watched the clouds slowly floating and the pastel pink and blue sky reminded me of a lyric video song I used to listened and watch.

I remembered what the queen said and what Elina said about my eyes. But turned out, it wasn't only me who have that unique kind of eyes.

"Adele!! Mommy is back, did you have fun with your cousin you met today?"

That startled me for a little ==, don't do that next time. Aphrodite who came behind me without notice, lifted me up and hug me tightly.

Ahh, I'm not a pervert but her feminine scent really made me feel secured every time I am unhappy. Her motherly scent is what I yearn for when I'm scared. Sometime, I wonder how I will live without her as I grow up.

I snuggled into her neck and hug her back. This is so comforting for me.

"Good girl, what made you stay silent today?"

Aphrodite stroke my head while walking. She must have noticed my strange attitude today, as everyday I would run to her and cling onto her but today, I just stayed silent.

I shook my head, not giving her any answer. Aphrodite seem to understand me and just continue to stroke my head until I fall asleep in her arms.

Today was very exhausting. I remembered all those pain I experienced when I was Ria as a kid. It was so hard for me not to try and look at other kids with parents. Sometimes, there are kids  whose parents were late and waited for their parents to pick them up, but later on, it was only me who was left behind in the kid playground.

I would went back to the orphanage and cried myself to sleep because I didn't have any parents to kiss, hug, laugh with, to show them my achievements, those achievements I earned are pointless.

Ever since I returned from the palace, my happy idiot mood disappeared and each day, I would stayed inside the library or my bedroom, sleeping or studying.

Aphrodite did try to get in touch with me but I only respond to her with a big smile on face, saying that it was okay.

I was thinking what would happen if the original female lead come back. Will Ares  divorced Aphrodite and separate me from her or will he just abandon both of us and live happily with his new family?

Can I stay strong until then?

This world is nothing but a novel written by human. What if someday I return back to that small room with one bed, an old blanket and a pillow with a study desk and just some books?

Each day of mine is no difference from a ticking bomb, waiting for the original female lead to make her appearance. Ah, whatever! This is it! This is my last year being the happy lucky going kid! There is nothing for me to drink to drown in my sorrow! Only tea with ice! No alcohol! No Cola!

I had finished reading all those history books, it's no different from reading the details of the novel's extra mention.

[ Adelliana Ivan Valentine, Level 24: A depressed shut-in neet ]

Before I knew it, a month has passed. I did nothing but studying and sleeping all day, not realizing that there will be a event today.

I was lying on my bed in my white night dress and a blue shooting star pattern nightcap. Today is just another boring day of mine.

Ah! There is no more water, I should go and refill it then quickly return to my room.

I grab the empty water jar on my nightstand and hop off my bed. The upstair hall is silent than usual. That was what I said before I came down.

The running maids and servants made me wanted to ascend back to stairs backward. I feel Deja Vu...

Everyone was too busy to notice me so I sneak into the kitchen and it was spotless. No, no! Usually, it was clean but today is even extreme. It's like the whole kitchen is shining =∆=.

Fortunately, no one is present in the kitchen. Probably is helping with the cleaning the whole castle. I opened the ice container and quickly drop the medium size of cube ice into the jar then refill the water.

It wasn't even hot but I always need to drink cold water no matter how cold the weather is, even if I am inside a new body, I still can't abandon my old habit.

When I was about to open the kitchen the door to return back to my room, the door was opened from the outside by someone already.

"AHHHH!!!"

"KYAAA!!!"

Since none of us expected to have someone here, we both screamed and it turned out to be Yvonne.

"Lady Adelliana, what are you doing here inside the kitchen?!!"

Yvonne returned back to her sense and quickly demand an answer from me after not being able to see my whole face for a month.

"To refill my water." I simply answer her with a dead plant.

"What is going on here inside the castle? Why are you guys cleaning up?"

"Lady Adelliana, don't tell me you forgot what day is it?" Yvonne blinks and smile at me.

"Uhh..May?"

"That's right but today doesn't ring you any bell?"

I absolutely have no clue of what today's event is. Jingle bell rock? But it's only May and it's Spring.

I shook my head because I absolutely have no idea.

"I'm going back to my room now. I need to study now."

I'm lying. I will probably just gonna drink two more glasses of water and read more romance books I stole from the library secret place. And who bought all of those books and sneak it in a deep place where no one almost could find them?

I brought many romance books as much I could. To my surprise, there are erotic novels here among these books. Surprisingly, these erotic books are even more erotic and detailed than modern ones.

Yikes, these people are scary. Must have many experience to write all of these. Some erotic book authors back in modern world are virgin.

Base on my experience as a reader...

Before I could reach back to my room, I encountered the head maid. She is the new head maid apparently, and is daughter of the previous head maid.

"Lady Adelliana?! Good timing, her grace has been looking for you."

Where else could I be aside from the kitchen, library and my room? ==

I was dragged (because I was too lazy) by the head maid to my Aphrodite's room.

"Your grace, I have brought lady Adelliana here."

"Jamaica? Ah, thank you very much!!" Aphrodite in her cream color dress gave Jamaica a huge smile.

Jamaica shook her head, saying it was only her duties and excused herself. Great, now this is awkward. I have lost all of my communication skill during my self quarantine so I didn't know what to said.

"Adele, what were you doing alone in your room?! You never let anyone come in, and you've been acting weird ever since you have returned from the palace. Did something happen brtween you and your cousin?"

Yes, but it wasn't a fight though.

"You really made me worried right there. If you have problems, tell me. Don't just randomly lock yourself in your room."

I nodded my head, feeling guilty. She poked my conscience hard. I was dragged by some of her maids into the bathroom and 40 minutes later, I came back to her room with a new dress and my hair was tied into a high ponytail.

I also shower everyday by myself but with the help from maids, it was like comparing hell to heaven.

I sat on my mother's bed, looking up at the bed canopy. Soon, I lied down and roll  around until I feel sleepy. Should I sleep again?

As I was about to close my eyes to sleep, my mother came out of nowhere.

"Adele, come with mommy. I will take you to somewhere."

I lazily rolled to her side and was about to reject her but once I saw her amethyst eyes, I immediately respond yes.

Everyone was still cleaning the castle. Even though I was at the back door, I could still smell the deliciousness from the kitchen. I'm hungry....

But I had to follow Aphrodite to the garden. Seeing her hand, I suddenly wanted to hold her soft hand like always and I did it. Aphrodite was abit startled but she also hold back my hand, tightly and gently.

When we walked pass the garden, I only have one place in mind of where could she take me. It was the hill I always came with her and one time with Ares.

"Mom, what are we going to do up there?" I asked her, wondering if she's suddenly feel like taking me for a picnic on that hill under the tree shade.

"You'll know." Aphrodite only gave me a mysterious smile.

We stood on the edge of the hill where I could see the whole dukedom, including the palace.

Aphrodite pointed to the direction of the dukedom gate and there they are, Ares' troop was marching in.

"Dad?" He returned? Is that why everyone was working so hard on cleaning the whole castle when it's already been cleaned.

"I heard from Yvonne that you didn't know your dad is returning. You will see your dad soon, are you happy?"

I am happy that Ares returned back safe and sound. But half of me was still hesitating on accepting this feeling.

"Umm..." I only replied with a sound.

We watched his troop making their way to the castle. When they reached the castle, Aphrodite still stay here.

"Mom, aren't we going back? Dad is here."

"Your father is here, but let's wait for him."

Aphrodite was smiling. I was taken back by her smile but I still stay with her and wait for Ares while killing my time by plucking out daisies.

I hummed the Daisy song I sang for Ares last time we were here together and unknowingly, a tall shadow was towering me. When I turn around, Ares was standing behind me, blocking the sunlight.

His handsome face was smiling, and he was still wearing his knight uniform.

"Dad! You're back!!" I already forgot about my depressing mushrooms growing inside of me when I saw him.

Ares picked me up and head to tree shade where Aphrodite was sitting. He sat down beside her and they were so close that it weird me out.

Yea, I know their relationship did went well after they slept together but this closeness between the Villainess and the male lead is kinda..novel?

Did they exchange love letters without me knowing or what-

But Ares wrote something like "My lovely wife, I really miss you and our daughter. I wish you were here beside me." I can't imagine that.

If it's Aphrodite then I can imagine it, Aphrodite is pretty romantic.

"Did you miss me for this whole month?"

I can't say I forgot about him and only miss him when Aphrodite reminded me about him, right?

"Yes, I miss daddy alot!!" I'm spitting half fact and half lies.

"I heard you've been locking yourself in your room. What made you do that and worried everyone? I was really worried back when I wasn't home."

Fuck, so they did exchange love letters.

I was feeling very guilty about this. Not only did I worried everyone, but also my dad who was on border inspection and might get assassinated any time.

"I'm sorry for making you guys worried. It's just there are many things that worried me, I always thought what if one day I'm suddenly waking up and found no one home. What if you guys disappear or what if I disappeared and everyone forgot about me. It's nonsense for me to suddenly think of this, but...what if...?"

I can't help holding back my tears. Tears wet my cheek and the salty water went pass my lips.

I didn't see their reactions because I was crying in Ares' chest. I am always paranoid about this stuff and ended up making them worried about me.

"Silly Adele, there is no way we would forget about you. You won't be forgotten or abandoned. There is no way we could have the heart to abandon you like this."

Aphrodite was smiling but her eyes were drowning in sadness. She must have no idea that I've been thinking about all of these stuff when I'm just kid..physically.

"Stop thinking about those. We won't suddenly throw you into river of forgotten." Ares said with his expressionless face.

Aphrodite and I were shocked by what he said. Aphrodite slapped his arm and shouted at him.

"What the heck are you talking about?!! Don't scared her like that. It's definitely your fault if Adelliana locked herself in her room again!!!"

"I'm sorry...."

What is this? Puppy Ares ==? I know he won't throw me into that river but I can't help but raising my guards against him.

"Anyway! Adelliana, do you know what day is it?!" Aphrodite turned her attention back to me.

"Uhh...May 5th?" Did I get it right?

"Um, it's May 5th but today is a really special day." Aphrodite grinned even more.

"W-what is it?"

"Don't tell me you forgot about your birthday?" Ares raised his eyebrow.

Ohhhhh!!! It's my birthday?!! Already? What? Did I just forget about my birthday? My special day of the year?

"I-I forgot..." I confessed.

"Oh dear, no more quarantine for you. If this is going to continue, you will forget everything. Never mind the river of forgotten, quarantine is enough to make you forget about everything."

Aphrodite was sighing at me while I was still lost in my thoughts.

I am very offended by what she said but I agreed with what she said.

"Then, is that why everyone worked so hard today?"

"What do you think?"

I thought they were cleaning to welcome Ares but I won't said that.

"Never mind that, did you guys get me a birthday present? Hehe."

I laughed to myself like a greedy goblin. Aphrodite and Ares can't help but shook their heads.

Ares took a small box out of his uniform and handed it to me. Aphrodite also took out a box but it was more like a treasure box and the size is pretty big but big enough for me to hold.

"Thank you for your presents!! I will open them up if you don't mind!!"

I sat on Ares' laps and opened his gift first. Cough cough, I didn't open it first because it was small, okay? Cough cough!

Inside contained a ruby shaped square diamond ornament pin, huh????

Why do I feel like I have seen this somewhere else before?

"Thank you for your gift, daddy!"

This time, I open my mother's gift.

Gahhhhh!!!! My eyes!! What the hell is this?!! A sun?!!

When I calm down, and properly take a good look at it, it was my mother's ruby tiara, gifted by the emperor 3 years ago.

????

So..this fancy expensive looking ornament ruby pin is also....

"Huh!!!! Mom, dad!! Why are you casually handing me the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess' treasures?!! These are priceless!!!"

Of course, these are priceless. They were made from the one and only magical ruby gems that only exist one in this world.

"Your birthday gifts are these." Ares said nonchalantly.

I know that but have you lost you lost your common sense?!

"That's okay. When the Grand duke and the Grand duchess handed you their ornament pin and tiara, it's meant you are   the future master of this dukedom. We have been thinking about the heir to the dukedom and we have you. Adelliana, take good care of these. From now on, you are the future Grand duchess. This castle will yours, this dukedom will be yours."

Ares patted my head and Aphrodite kissed me on my cheek.

"Happy birthday, Adelliana. You are our one and only treasure that nothing in this world can compared. Your birth is most joyous event of our lives."

I hugged those two boxes tightly. I thanks whoever sent me here with all my heart. I thanks the last slice of that pineapple pizza. I thanks that author who wrote this novel. And I thanks my parents for giving me this live.

Thank you for being my parents, I am always grateful for you and my birth. I will always be grateful to live as your daughter and as Adelliana Ivan Valentine.

You guys are my first parents and the irreplaceable people in my whole life.

"Thanks!"

Volume 1 ended

I am very sorry if this were too rushing but I know that even if I continue to write ss1, it would be still pointless because I would like to save all of those events for next volume.

But I was able to complete this volume thanks to everyone's support.

I will never forget about those funny and encouraging comments I received. I may didn't reply to all of them but I want you to know that I have read them all.

Receiving a comment for me to read is one of my happy things to do.

If you want a Q&A, I will do it but only do it if there are enough questions for me to answer.

Of course, ask anything you would like to know. About the next volume, released date of the next volume, next project or me? *wink wink*

I'm sorry, please don't kill me.

That's all!!! I am very thankful for you guys! For your vote, your comments and for reading this! I know there are alot of flaws in this book but you guys still keeping on reading it.

Thank you for spending your precious time on reading this.

This is my last gift for you for this volume

Have a great time “ψ(｀∇´)ψ