It was the following day, an early sunny afternoon, unlike what the previous rainy night had been. Outside, there were two figures present.
The two individuals sat across from one another on a small table as a couple of houseworkers accompanied them.
"Angelina? Is something the matter?"
The mellow voice of a man spoke, directing his question and attention to the dazed woman sitting across from him.
In no time, his voice had brought the stunning beauty out of her occupied mind. Drifting her eyes away from the far distance, she now gazed upon the lovely face of the young man before her.
Precisely, the face of her fraternal twin brother, who held an adorable expression. One of a sad puppy.
Gavin's golden eyes were like hers, yet the shade in his eyes was more vivid and richer than her own. The shiny silver-blue hair of his enhanced the gold tone in them as well.
If she were to describe his features, he'd be considered an elf species rather than a human being. His beauty was truly majestic and unreal to be human.
In fact, only one word came to mind whenever she saw the male.
'Cute.'
He might've been older than her by a few minutes, but he had an endearing optimistic and gullible charm.
Oddly enough, she felt extremely protective of him because of it. The innocence in him showed he hadn't experienced every part of life.
The good and bad.
She knew the real world would be a huge change he'd undergo compared to the comfortable life he was currently living in.
Clearly, it'd be an entirely different lifestyle from the harsh self-upbringing and survival of abuse she went through before her transmigration inside the novel.
The cruel reality she had faced at an early age in her past existence.
Perhaps because she was mentally a few years older than him, she believed he had a long way to go before he matured as an adult.
The age at which her brain had fully developed into adulthood, and she had more experience with being an independent adult.
At least, the present him has yet to become independent and confident like in the novel. Of course, not until he goes through various obstacles that he'll face soon enough when the story takes its course.
Once her attention got drawn to Gavin, he expressed his worries about her quiet demeanor as of late.
"You seem to be in your head a lot lately. Is... the imperial ball causing my lovely sister grave distress?"
Gavin's beautiful fox-like eyes slightly scrunched as he spoke. Those striking eyes of his held deep concern and care for his younger sister. It made her heart ache at the sight.
Throughout time, she came to know that it troubled him whenever she got lost in her thoughts.
'It seems I've grown easily attached in a matter of time.'
In truth, she wasn't someone who would get easily attached to people. Not after her brother Jaxon's passing and the various betrayals she endured for years in her past lifetime.
At least, that's what she strongly believed when she made a vow to herself not to.
At the moment, the two siblings were drinking a cup of tea and eating sandwiches for lunch. The area they chose to stay at was located in their extravagant backyard garden.
A beautiful and radiant place.
Staring into the vibrant eyes of her handsome brother, Angelina smiled brightly before easing the concerns he carried for her.
"Not at all, Gavin. I'm merely imagining the various kinds of beautiful dresses that'll be presented to me for the fittings."
She assured.
"Is that so? Well, I'm positive that every dress you decide to try on will look phenomenal on you, Angelina."
He smiled, a faint dimple making its way to the corner of his left cheek. His anxious face relaxed after hearing her response.
"Technically, it'll be your debut as well."
She pointed out as she held a slight cheeky smile. The playfulness evident in her voice and eyes.
Without her knowing, she was regaining herself again. The sweet and lively side she once held for Jaxon. The young naive girl she once was.
Before the time of her idol life when she forced smiles and laughs. Solely ever feeling emptiness, despite having her loving fans and supportive team.
Even then, the happiness she felt with them would only last momentarily. Being alone was another story.
"You're right, but that's different. You should be out there enjoying yourself. Not locked up the majority of your life in the estate."
His beautiful eyes gleamed as he spoke with a cute pout. An older brother lecturing his youngest sibling.
Someone who cared for her in this new world, along with plenty of others in their household.
"Besides, I'm content with my arts and crafts. It brings me joy and peace, unlike those fancy social gatherings."
He told her, handing a marshmallow-filled cookie to her with a smile. Apparently, his sister's favorite.
"Then, I suppose that makes two of us."
She pointed out, taking a bite of the cookie he held carefully to her.
Seeing a pleased smile on her face, Gavin nodded contentedly at his sister's compliance as he put the rest of the cookie in his mouth. He chuckled as he ate the soft dough.
In truth, those close to him understood the reason behind his long absence from attending social events. Into why he has avoided making his first official appearances—his debut.
He didn't want to cause a commotion by attending these grand events without Angelina.
A target she'd become for not giving a proper and truthful response about her ongoing absence at social gatherings. Nor the clarification about the rumors of her fabricated Beta status.
After all, nobles love to gossip.
Particularly, if it came to tarnishing and speaking ill of someone whenever they could. They were foolish for their actions. Arrogant to believe the dirty gossip wouldn't affect them personally.
However, she knew that Gavin also didn't attend those dreadful gatherings because he found them uncomfortable. He had made it clear to her beforehand.
It was the reason he busied himself with his arts and crafts, so he wouldn't attend those annoying noble parties.
Plus, he didn't wish to debut without her, either. He simply stuck to her like glue whenever he got the chance.
The effect of being twins.
Meeting Gavin's eyes, Angelina held his gaze with unknown intensity. More than ever, her heart felt heavy about what was to come.
Right now, the handsome male is a Beta, yet he would soon become a desirable Omega in the empire. Exactly how the original story had attended him to be.
Seeing the innocence on his clueless face, her eyes narrowed with determination to change his fate.
'I won't let them take you. Those bastards won't get their slimy chance to trap and force themselves on you. Not as long as I'm here.'
As she thought so deeply, Gavin had took note of her demeanor. The matureness she carried herself with. The elegance in her speech, posture, walk, and actions.
Everything about her now was unlike the Angelina from before. Prior to when they had found her unconscious self in the forest.
He found it remarkable, yet sad that one could mature so much from experiencing something unfortunate.
"It's a bit... interesting how much you've matured. Sometimes, it feels like you're the oldest and not me."
At his comment, her body became stiff for just a second before she relaxed and cheekily grinned his way.
"Oh, dear. You think so? I suppose my efforts to become more lady-like is truly paying off."
She uttered, raising a hand to her cheek while the other held the teacup.
"Hm... perhaps."
He murmured, looking down at the tea table with multiple pastries placed on it.
"I don't know. At times, you just feel like another person. It's quite strange that I have these unpleasant thoughts, right?"
As he shared his thoughts, he looked up from the pastry he was admiring and faced her figure.
In seconds, he became paralyzed and his eyes widened at the unexpected sight. Without her knowledge, her cheerful expression faltered as the teacup in her hand lowered.
In his eyes, she appeared to be sad and distraught by his words, which shocked him gravely.
"Ah..!?"
Wasting no time, Gavin jolted from his seat and began to comfort her in any way he could. He disliked witnessing her unhappy and troubled by whatever it was she had in mind.
Actually, he just hated seeing a speck of negativity crossing her face or emitting from her. It saddened him more than anything in the world.
"But of course, I wouldn't mind if you changed in any shape or form! You'll always be my baby sister, and I'll never stop loving you whatsoever!"
In his desperate attempt at consolation, Angelina's eyes softened as her facial expression grew bright again.
'He's so lovely. It's endearing.'
She was once like him, too. Before her idol career and separation from her brother Jaxon. Before her twin's unfair tragedy.
"I know, which is why I'm so fortunate to have such a wonderful brother like you. Thank you. I mean it."
Her soft hands held his larger ones from across the table, and her thumbs rubbed soothing circles on his knuckles. A gesture of appreciation and comfort.
At that moment, she came to realize something.
'No. It's not because he's young that I feel protective of him. It's because...'
She felt a sense of remorse for not being present, like she should have been for Jaxon. The immense guilt and sorrow she felt at the news of his death.
What she regretted the most was not being there for Jaxon when he was at the worst point of his life. During the peak of his prosperous idol career.
Every night, when she was alone in the dark, she would ask herself questions that she'd never have an answer for.
Why didn't he ever tell her about it? Was she untrustworthy in his eyes? Was she a bad sibling for not noticing? Why didn't she ever notice? Would he have told her if she asked? Did he hate her for failing him so terribly as his sister? As his twin? As his other half?
Those were the common questions she kept asking herself every single night. Then, she would ask herself a different one as the days went on. Alas, her heart and mind could never rest.
Not even after their old company held his funeral for the public, which they didn't grant her the right to hold a private burial for him. A proper one as his only family member.
Their shitty excuse was that they were doing it for his fans, so their conscious mind could rest peacefully after seeing him for one last time.
However, she knew better than to believe the words of those who worked for that old bastard. The geezer who made the beginning of their career and life miserable.
Only to fill his filthy greed for money and his company's fame. His shady way of business. A contract she was under in the beginning.
"Alina, no matter what happens in the future, keep your head high. Don't dread yourself in the past. Not even for me."
Jaxon's word rang inside her ear, recalling one of the few last moments they had together. At the time, she found his words odd, but now, she understood why he uttered them.