"This can't be real…!" Leeka shot up from the bed in pure shock.
The entire room jumped along her.
The maids yelped, Victor almost threw his glass into the air. Even the Duke flinched. The Duchess gasped softly, eyes are widening in alarm.
"G–Garnette, dear? What's wrong?" her gentle voice trembled.
Wrong? EVERYTHING IS WRONG!
Leeka screamed internally. Her mind was running laps like an Olympic sprinter.
THEODORE WHITEPEARL?! THE Theodore?? The second male lead?? My fictional crush from 'Flower That Blooms In Darkness'.
WAIT—Does that mean HE'S MY BROTHER IN THIS WORLD?!
What Kind of tragic irony is this?!
"Garnette?!"
the Duchess called again, louder this time.
Leeka nearly jumped out of her skin. Then turned to her.
"Huh-yes? I'm fine I think I just saw a... mouse... over there." Leeka lied, desperately trying to hide the truth.
Think, Leeka. Think. Maybe this might be an absurd dream. But everything feels too real to be a dream... could it be... I-
The Duke seems to be buying her fake excuse. He said with a serious expression, "A mouse, you say? In your bed chamber? How positively...distressing!"
He continued ,"We must take immediate action, of course. I'll summon the palace pest control at once. In the meantime, I'll have your maid prepare a spare room..."
But Leeka wasn't listening anymore. Something else caught her attention:
A large standing mirror in the corner. Tall, silver-framed. Almost glowing in soft light.
The Duchess noticed her gaze. "Darling?... Do you need something?"
The Duke also stopped his yapping and focused on them, "What happened?"
Leeka didn't answer. She walked slowly, her bare feet brushing the carpet - until she stopped in front of the mirror. Her heart started pounding as she looked into the mirror.
A young girl appeared inside the mirror. Black hair- long, soft, wavy, cascading like dark silk over her shoulder to her waist. Her skin pale and glowing like moonlight. And the eyes- Deep crimson, darker than blood, a colour that felt ancient, dangerous... yet beautiful. She wore a white night gown, elegant but simple, floating around her like a soft cloud.
With trembling hands, Leeka lifted her finger toward the mirror and the other girl did too. She pressed her fingertip against the reflection.
Cold glass.
"So this is how Garnette look..." Leeka whispered to herself.
"So pretty..." The words slipped out before she could stop them.
The Duchess placed a hand on her shoulder, looking worried, "Is everything alright? Garnette?"
Leeka flinched a little then turned to her, "Yes ma'am- I mean mom."
Hearing "mom" for the first time after she woke up, her lip curved into a smile, her eyes also softened...
Duke also smiled for the first time since Leeka saw him, "Everything will be fine. Garnette just woke up almost a week later. I'm sure she will remember everything in no time."
After everyone finally left the room, Leeka was left alone with just a young maid standing quietly near the wall. The silence helped her thoughts settle, and the pieces clicked together far too easily.
This world… these names… these people…
There was no doubt now.This is the world of a novel.
And not just any novel — "Flower That Blooms in Darkness", her favourite web-novel.The one she had been reading at the very last moment before…
Before…
Her thoughts stuttered.
A headache pulsed at her temples.
But what happened to my real body? Did I die? But how? WHY don't I remember?!
She pressed her hand on her forehead. Her eyes wandered across the room until they landed on the maid standing quietly near the wall—straight posture, hands folded, eyes lowered.
"Um… excuse me," Leeka spoke first, trying to sound calm despite her internal meltdown.
The maid immediately bowed.
"Yes, Lady Garnette? Do you require something?"
Leeka blinked. Up close, the girl looked around her own age — soft brown hair tied into a neat bun, bright eyes, and a cute, like an anime character.
She cleared her throat. "Uh… actually, I have some questions."
And then she began to ask questions... about herself i.e. about Garnette, about the maid, the family and most importantly Theodore... Her favourite character who is now her older brother.
After hearing her questions patiently she answered them carefully. She started with introduction herself:
"My name is Marry, my lady. I am your personal maid. And my lady is the youngest daughter of Duke and Duchess Whitepearl."
"Marry…" Leeka repeated. "Right. And Theodore—he is…"
"The young master," Marry answered quickly. "First child of the Duke and Duchess Whitepearl. Also your older brother."
Unfortunately, Marry had little information about him.
"As for your unconsciousness," Marry added, looking uneasy, "the Duke and Duchess did not explain the cause. They… do not wish others to know."
Wonderful. Mystery parents with secret drama. Classic fantasy-novel behaviour.
Leeka sighed. So basically she learned nothing useful at all. "Thank you, Marry," she said politely.
The maid bowed again. "It is my duty to serve you, my lady."
Leeka managed a tired smile. "Marry, I… want to rest for a while. Alone, if that's okay."
Marry immediately understood. She bowed deeply.
"Of course, my lady. I will be just outside the door. Please call me anytime."
She slipped out of the room, closing the door gently behind her. The moment the door shut, Leeka collapsed onto the pillows with an exhausted groan.
Great.
Perfect.
I transmigrated — not as the heroine, not as a side villainess — but as the little sister of my favourite character.
What kind of karmic prank is this?!
To be continue ~