Chapter 3

...New Family in the Magical World...

After Seraphine disappeared her surroundings again darkened; Sara felt that heavy feeling like before. This time she tried to open her eyes and she finally succeeded.

**

Ah, finally, I reached my destination.

As I opened my eyes, my eyes were immediately drawn upward to the ceiling, a masterpiece of artistry adorned with intricate paintings and delicate carvings. The dazzling chandelier cast a warm glow over the room, adding to its enchanting allure.

I think I should get up and see the mirror now. Though I know what I look like.

With a sense of curiosity tinged with apprehension, I approached the mirror, knowing what I would see yet still feeling a sense of disbelief. As I gazed into the glass, the reflection that greeted me was not my own, but that of Seraphine Arial Blackwood, the only daughter of illustrious Blackmoor Dukedom. This is a surreal moment because I have actually stepped into the pages of a fairy tale.

Though I recognized Seraphine's beautiful features mirrored in my own, there was a youthful innocence in my appearance that belied the weight of her responsibilities.

I am only fifteen now. But my debutante ceremony is in three months. Also the day I will be meeting that scumbag fiance of real Seraphine and the novel's male lead. That means my reputation in the noble society remains intact.

** A/N: In this world, girls step into adulthood at sixteen, while boys await their turn at eighteen.**

Before I could dwell too long on these thoughts, a gentle knock broke the silence, signalling the arrival of a visitor. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, I answered, "Come in."

With a clack, the door opened and I found a familiar face 'Mili', a woman in her early twenties came in. She has brown hair and green eyes.

Her familiar presence offers a sense of comfort in this unfamiliar situation.

Good morning, my lady, Mili greeted me.

Good morning, I wished her back.

Mili's warm smile and greeting brought a sense of normalcy to the moment, grounding me in the reality of my new identity.

As she busied herself with fetching water, I couldn't help but ponder the timeline of events that now governed my life, realizing that my debutante ball loomed just three short months away.

As I was thinking Mili came back with basin water.

With a resolve born from years of theatrical training, I pushed aside my nerves and focused on the task at hand.

I freshened up and chose a suitable dress for breakfast, With a final glance in the mirror, I smoothed the fabric of my dress and made my way to the dining room, where my newfound family awaited

**

As she entered the room, the sight of her new family seated around the long dining table filled her with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Her father, mother and two elder brothers.

Everyone is sited in their rightful places.

And as she entered, she greeted them with a polite smile.

They greeted her back.

On the other side of the table, her mother's warm smile welcomed her, reassuring her in this sea of unfamiliarity. And then there was her seat, beside her mother.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Seraphine gracefully made her way to her place at the table, feeling the weight of every eye upon her.

She straightened her posture, channelling the poise and confidence of the noblewoman she now embodied.

As she settled into her seat, the clinking of silverware against fine china filled the room, accompanied by polite conversation. Seraphine listened intently, catching up on the family's affairs and the intricacies of courtly life.

"How's your preparation for the coming-of-age ceremony, Sera?" The Duchess suddenly inquired.

As she asked, all eyes turned in her direction with keen interest.

"Pardon! Oh, I have already prepared everything; the only thing left is my gown," she exclaimed with a blush on her face. "I would like assistance in selecting one, of course if you are okay with it. "This is a good opportunity for me", she thought.

The Duchess was visibly taken aback by Seraphine's cuteness, and a silent wave of appreciation swept through everyone present for their daughter and sister's adorableness.

They could see that Seraphine was making an effort to engage in conversation with them, and they appreciated her courage despite her shyness.

"That's a wonderful idea. Actually, I'm also heading to Countess Lara's boutique. So, why don't we go together?" Duchess suggested. And also, "Darling, you don't need to be so polite; you're our only daughter, and we're always here to do anything to ensure your happiness."

Others also agreed with the Duchess. The duke said, "If you want anything you can ask 'Daddy', I will get it for you. And Call me dad, I know you are strict with your etiquette; but can you call me dad or daddy, please, look at her with puppy eyes and invisible dropped ears.

Duke's two sons looked at him with speechless looks on their faces. Then they also joined their parents and said at the same time, "Yes, my little sister deserves the best."

Then they looked at each other and started arguing about who said it first. Even though the eldest one is twenty-three and the second one twenty they still fight like a child from time to time.

Seraphine was touched by their appreciation and felt the love in their every word. She thought, now I understand why Seraphine entrusted me with the task of taking care of her family.

**Flashback**

Real Seraphine: I struggled to express my heart with my introverted and shy personality. Despite having a loving family, I found it difficult to open up to them. I felt that I couldn't express myself fully, and that's why I hoped you could provide the understanding and support that I couldn't. Then she looked at me and said with a smile, "I am sure they will like this version of me."

Sara: I smiled at that and assured her,

"Of course, I will." And...

To be completely honest, I'm not sure if I should even bring this up, but in the world I come from, the world you lived in is a novel. And, well, you were portrayed as the villain in that story. It's a bit embarrassing to say, but there it is. However, please believe me when I say that I never saw you that way. In fact, I always believed that you were actually the victim in all of it. *looked down and bit her lower lip*

Seraphine suddenly patted my head and assured me, "I know this; after my death, I found out that I was just a villain to make the protagonists have a happy ending." "And thank you for believing in me when the whole world called me a villainess."

Sara: *sigh*... I don't know how I should console you. But thank you for giving me a chance to live as Seraphine and I can assure you that I will love your family as mine. I am also missing my family; *sigh* well, they were a little crazy but loved me so much that it is making me want to cry. When I think about, how much they must have been crying after seeing my lifeless body.

Then I felt Seraphine suddenly hug me and console me, "Don't worry, my family would love you more than you can even think of."

I just smiled and replied, Yeah.

*End of Flashback*

Her sudden beam lit up her face, and her blue eyes sparkled like the stars in the night sky as she looked at them.

Everyone was taken aback by her reaction, but they were happy that finally, their youngest was opening up with them.

Despite her initial apprehension, she found herself gradually sinking into the rhythm of the meal, her worries melting away in the warmth of familial bonds.

With each passing moment, she grew more confident in her newfound role, realizing that she was not just playing a part, but embracing a legacy centuries in the making.

As breakfast came to an end, Seraphine couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging settling over her. She may be Seraphine Arial Blackwood, the daughter of a duke, but she was also Sara, a girl with dreams and aspirations of her own.

At this moment, amidst the splendour of the dining room, she knew that she was ready to navigate the intricacies of her new life with grace and determination.

**

Seraphine's POV...

In a world where magic reigns supreme, everyone is born with the gift of wielding one elemental power. But if you're really lucky, you might just be blessed with two—an incredibly rare and coveted feat.

I am from "the Solarian Empire."

In the heart of the empire, four noble duchies stand as the pillars of power, each wielding the mightiest elements after the royal family. Speaking of which, the royal family hold the legendary lightning magic, a rare gift passed down through their bloodline.

Most of the lucky few who possess dual elements hail from these four duchies or are born into the royal family. But don't count out the other noble households—they've got their powerful magics too. And even among the common folk, there are whispers of magical abilities blooming in unexpected places.

In this enchanting empire, where the air crackles with the energy mana and magical powers, though not every individual holds the power of magic many magical tools are used for everyday things. They use magical tools because we don't have science in this world, but people study mana manipulation.

In our world, there are those blessed with the extraordinary gift of healing. They are the lucky few who possess the power to mend wounds, soothe ailments, and bring comfort to the suffering. Many of these gifted individuals are drawn to the sacred halls of temples, where they dedicate their lives to serving others as priests and priestesses.

At the pinnacle of this hierarchy stand the high priests, revered for their mastery over healing magic. And among them, there exists a figure of even greater renown—the Pope, whose powers of healing are said to surpass all others.

Yet, in our land, we do not have such a figure among us; our Pope resides in the distant holy kingdom, a beacon of hope and divine grace.

In our society, women who possess exceptionally powerful healing abilities are known as "saintess," a title reserved for those whose purity of heart and strength of spirit shines brightest.

And we also have one she is our one and only heroine—the saintess and she is the illegitimate daughter of a Baron. Actually, she was promoted to the title saintess after she became the lover of the crown prince.

According to the novel, her journey is one of courage, compassion, and unwavering determination as she was our dear heroine.

As for what kind of magic Seraphine was born with. According to the novel, as she is distant from the Blackwood Duchy, she wields the ice power of her father's bloodline. But from her mother's family in the Forestwood Duchy, she inherited a deep connection to nature itself.

I should try, "With a flick of my wrist, frost bloomed at my fingertips, a testament to my icy legacy. Yet, beneath the chill, the whispers of the forest called to me, urging me to embrace the lush vitality of my mother's lineage."

But in this world, I carry the weight of two realms within me, for I am not solely of this place. As a reincarnated soul from another world, I possess cheats that set me apart. With a mere thought, I can summon perfect clones of myself, aiding me in times of need or other people's clones to copy their magical powers but only when I am in danger. And with the power of my imagination, I can craft wondrous creations to aid my journey.

But there are limits, boundaries I must heed. I cannot breathe life into my creations, to conjure living beings from thin air. And I dare not create destruction of the creation of the God that could lead me astray from my true purpose and I would be punished.

These cheats, *sigh* come with their own burdens. They guide my path, shaping the destiny that awaits me as I navigate this world of magic and mystery.

**

With a determined gaze, Seraphine entered her bedroom, ready to prepare for the journey ahead. Little did she know, the events of the day would unravel secrets that would change her destiny forever.

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