Chapter 2 First night

Chapter 2

That's exactly how my mom used to worry about me. A small scrape from playing, and she'd act like she was having a heart attack while calling our family doctor.

I cleared my throat before answering. "I'm doing well now, Mother." I hesitated to call her "Mother" because in my past life, I only ever had

"Tsk," Asta, who was sitting across from me, interjected. Thanks to Astrid's memories, I already know what kind of person this guy is-completely opposite to his physical appearance. Sure, he's handsome, but his attitude is awful. "If you're feeling better, why don't you stab yourself again? This time, make sure you die," he sneered.

'Oh, Asta dear, if only you knew that Astrid did succeed in killing herself and that the person in front of you isn't her anymore.'

Too bad, I'm no longer the Astrid who would take all his harsh words. I was about to respond, but the door opened, and familiar faces walked in. Thanks to Astrid's memories, I recognized them all.

'Well, hello there, Royalties. It's a pleasure to meet you in person

I don't know whether to laugh or what, but... Ugh! Why is it like this?

"Farrahko~"

"Stop it, Asta. If I lose my patience, I'm really going to fry you."

That's it! That's the reason why I'm trying not to laugh. Who would've thought that Asta, who always talks tough to his only sister, is actually a certified lover boy?

Ever since these so-called Royalties arrived, Asta has been acting like a completely different person. He's been clinging to Farrah-the princess of the Pyrovia Kingdom-like a leech.

Earlier, the King and Queen asked how I was doing, even giving me some comforting words before they excused themselves to rest. And so, here I am, left at the dining table with these newcomers, who are now eating.

I found out that they had already been here since morning. I didn't see them because I spent the whole day resting in my room, while they were touring the kingdom's territories. They've just returned, and they're staying the night so it'll be easier for them to head to the Academy tomorrow, where they study alongside my so-called siblings. The Aeris Kingdom is the closest one to the only Elemental Academy in this world.

Their vacation is over, and they need to return to the Academy tomorrow. In Astrid's memories, she was supposed to go with them to retake the so-called preliminary exam.

But Astrid could never pass because she had no powers! What do they expect from me? Hello? I'm a stranger in this world, so I have no clue about this powers thingy.

I wanted to go back to my room since I'm done eating, but... I want to take the round cake in the center! I want to bring it to my room so that when I get hungry in the middle of the night while thinking about my plans for this new life, I'll have something to eat!

Back when I was still alive as Jamie, I couldn't eat much because I would gain weight easily! Aside from being the CEO, I was also the face and body of my company. My pictures and videos were everywhere-on social media, plastered on billboards, or shown on TV to advertise my business. I was like a model for my own company, so I had to maintain my figure and appearance! I couldn't afford to be too full during training either, because I might just throw up.

Now that I have a new body and no reputation to maintain, I can eat as much as I want! Hopefully, this body won't gain weight easily. As for my training, I can't do it yet because my stab wound is still fresh.

The Royalties are currently eating. When they arrived earlier, they greeted the King and Queen but went straight to the dining table. We met, but they didn't even bother to greet me. It's like I'm invisible here.

There were six of them-two women and four men. Based on Astrid's memories, there should be seven of them. One man is missing.

Including my three siblings, there are ten Royalties from various kingdoms. I'm not included because they don't consider someone like me, who has no powers, as royalty. They didn't even greet me earlier.

Right now, yes. I've accepted that Astrid's old life is now my new life. There's nothing I can do since I'm already in her body. If there's a scientific explanation for what's happening to me, I still don't know what it is.

I've been sitting here for a while now, watching over the cake I'm planning to take once they leave.

"There. Take this too. And this. Eat all of that, okay? You know I don't like it when you're hungry." I heard Asta say. I saw him putting all sorts of food on Farrah's plate, while she looked helpless.

It's still hard to believe that Asta has this side to him. I thought only hurtful words came out of his mouth. The others seem used to it, so they just let him be.

This isn't in Astrid's memories because whenever the Royalties would visit, she would lock herself in her room. If their paths crossed, she would immediately avoid them and retreat to her room.

I turned my attention back to the cake, but it was too late. It was gone from its spot. I checked the plates, and I saw that the cake had already been cut and placed on the plates of the twin royals-Prince Walter and Prince Warner from the Aquaria Kingdom.

'My cake...'

They're eating the cake now while I just sit here, dumbfounded. I should've grabbed it earlier and run away.

I noticed someone sitting next to me, and when I looked, I saw Arthur with a concerned expression. He probably noticed the look on my face, as if I had just suffered a business loss.

Among Astrid's three siblings, Arthur is the only one she's close to. He's the only one who shows her any care as an older brother.

"Why do you look like that? Is there something wrong? Are you in pain?" He asked question after question, making me feel like I was talking to Jackson 2.0.

'Astrid was close to him, so I guess it's okay to be vulnerable with him, right?'

I pointed to the cake the twins were eating and looked at him with teary eyes, like I was tattling.

"You want cake too?" He asked with a smile. I nodded in response. He chuckled and gently ruffled my hair. "I didn't know you liked cake. Before, you always asked me to buy donuts." He added with a smile. I didn't respond. "Don't worry, there's more cake in the kitchen. I'll have them send it to your room later."

"Really? Wah! Thank you!" I said happily and hugged him, which surprised him.

I may look childish right now because of how I'm acting, but I don't even know why I suddenly feel so comfortable with Arthur. He really is like Jackson 2.0. Jackson was the only one I ever showed my childish side to. You can't blame me for being childish sometimes, because from a young age, instead of playing and enjoying my childhood, I was in the training grounds, learning how to fight.

I let go of Arthur, who still looked shocked, and noticed that the Royalties were now focused on me. Uh-oh. Like Arthur, they seemed surprised too.

The reason I think they're shocked by my behavior is, first, Astrid used to be so shy and timid that they've never seen her act like this. Second, I spoke English! The old Astrid only ever spoke pure Tagalog when talking (except for borrowed words like cake, donuts, etc.). She grew up feeling inferior because of her lack of powers, so she only used Tagalog as a sign of respect.

I heard Arthur chuckle softly, so I looked back at him. "I guess I've been too focused on studying lately that I didn't realize you've developed this side of you."

"Maybe she stabbed her brain too, and the doctor didn't notice," someone butted in.

"Asta." I heard someone, probably Farrah, scold him.

"Here's your cake. Make sure to finish it, okay?" Arthur said as he handed me a box with cake inside. We were standing by the door-he even escorted me to my room to help me out.

"Thank you, Brother."

It felt strange calling him kuya (older brother), considering I was older than him as Jamie, but now I had to.

He smiled and ruffled my hair. "I was really worried when we found you by the river with a stab wound in your stomach. I thought we'd lose you. I'm glad you're awake. Don't do that again, okay?" he said. I couldn't reply-after all, I wasn't the one who tried to end their life. It was the original Astrid. "Rest now; you'll be coming with us to the Academy tomorrow." He ruffled my hair again before leaving. I went inside, placed the cake on the table, and lay down on the bed.

'Serves you right.'

This is my first night as Astrid. So far, things are fine, but who knows what's coming in the next few days. Especially with tomorrow's entrance exam looming. I don't feel anything unusual in my body that might indicate I have powers. I was reincarnated into someone with no powers-how complicated.

The other Royals are in their rooms here in the palace. Nothing much happened earlier, aside from Asta's annoying interference. They eventually got over my dramatic entrance and continued eating as if nothing had happened.

To Be Continued...