"Don't eat the book!" They screamed
Before Ella could come get me, I took a book from the table and smelled it. Then started chewing on the hard cover.
It was bitter.
Then I tore a page and started chewing on it.
I could feel it, the power flowing through my veins.
The taste of nothing.
This tastes like crap.
Crap, I could hear Ella coming. I looked at my daughter and gave her a thumbs up, and I ran.
"Did the book taste good?" Illaine yelled to me from her seat as I ran away.
"Nope," I turned back and grinned, but I chewed the pages even more.
Why?
Because Ella told me not to.
And Ella and Martha ran towards me.
But I, I am seven and scrawny.
So I turned right and ran to another hall, why the fuck was this place so big? Old money woohoo!
I ran into Mia, and I threw some leaves at her. She thought it was gold.
Stupid Mia.
And I ran into a bedroom. I climbed onto the bed, and Mia, Martha, and Ella surrounded me. My child, Illaine, watched with curious eyes.
I gave her another thumbs-up.
"Oh my God, Illaine, where did the blood come from?" They all turned towards her, and I ran, eating another page.
"Young master," Ella shouted, Wow, I am so dead.
"Catch me if you can!"
"Ah," Ella shouted, and I turned towards her. She was holding her knee. "It hurts!"
I ran to her, "You are too old for this, are you oka–"
She grabbed me, "I am only twenty-eight!"
She used my own spell against me!
I'll win next time!
She took the book from me and counted the missing pages.
She closed the book, I was about to run.
Martha held me fixed. Shit.
"Twenty-seven, that's how many pages are missing."
"Hey, bookworms?" I joked. She smiled, I'm dead.
"Young master." She started.
"Yes?" I gulped
"Today we are going to have carrot and radish soup, the whole day." She emphasised the whole.
"No."
"No."
"No."
"NO.
"If you can eat paper, then you will like carrots too, and radishes as well." Ella giggled, pouring hot soup over my wounds.
"No, they taste awful, I don't like food that is not green!" I cried.
"Congratulations, you will move one step up!" She clapped her hands and asked Martha to prepare some.
I sat on the ground, mourning the harsh treaty.
Illaine patted my back.
"My child."
"I'm not your child." Illaine shook her head and cut me off.
"What do you mean? I have scars from the C-section!" I screamed, rubbing my tears away.
"Huh?"
"See, there is so much for me to teach you!" I stood up and held her hand.
"Shut up!" She squeezed my hands, smiling softly.
"Wanna eat grass with me–"
"I heard you'd been causing trouble, Lucas." A voice like water that has been left beneath an ice sheet.
"Father." A man with red hair and brown eyes, exactly as mine, walked in.
I bit my tongue and stood still, Illaine squeezed my hands.
I looked at the father I've had for two weeks, and felt the hatred of all of Lucas Green's life.
I could not look at him for more than a few moments. He was too similar to—let's not.
"Lady Noble, I heard you have been keeping my son company, I am honored a rock caught your diamond eyes." My father bowed to Illaine, the northern duke's daughter.
"No, the privilege is mine, plus Lucas is the brightest emerald, some people need glasses to recognize that." Illaine smiled, as soft as a feather.
"Is that so? I have clear vision, far clearer than young children's." My father did not look at me. He never did.
"Well, people who get used to dogs, don't mind the smell." Illaine replied, I did not understand anything, were they speaking in noble code?
"You are quite the fun person Lady Noble, it was a pleasure to meet you." My father bows and walked away.
"Illai–"
She hugged me.
I hugged her back.
It was warm like your stomach being full.
But sometimes warmth was suffocating. Because I don't think—-no no no don't think about that
"Illaine, let go." I said, my tone soft.
"No," she hugged me tighter.
"Please." I begged. I hate how I always become like this.
"Fine." She gave my palms one last squeeze.
"I'm going to my room, please go home." I asked and she bit her tongue.
"Okay." She said without any actual wish to.
She ran away.
I walked away, my room suddenly felt real. This castle and its people, all of the jokes died.
I lay on my bed. Like I always did back then.
I turned to my drawer and took out an earring.
It was a system.
[Hello]-the system spoke.
Why was I brought into this world?
[I thought you forgot me]
I did.
I just remembered.
Can you say all that you said back then?
[Yes]
[So you are in the world of (Love You)]
You know what, where is the heroine?
[Currently in some orphanage, why?]
Illaine needs someone smarter
I'm a terrible parent, so I should get her a sister.
Ok thanks.
I keep it back in the drawer.
[Why don't you just wear me?]
Nah.
And the drawer is shut.
That thing looked sad, but, let me tell you its a God, with better jobs than sitting in a kid's drawer.
So no need to feel bad about those above you.
I sighed.
Ella's habit is catching up to me.
Now what even is my aim?
Eating grass?
Obviously.
Then?
Should I look for tastier grass?
Wait no, I need to look after Illaine too!
Ah, this is confusing.
For now.
I woke up and my feet touched the marble floor. The cold made me shiver.
I think its time I realize this world is real.
I looked at the flower crown Ella made for me a while ago.
It was always real though?
I ran down the stairs. Almost slipping.
I went to the garden, where Ella was.
She showed me radishes, and smiled.
I smiled too.
"I want a personal maid my age!"