Chapter 1: I don’t know anything

I felt like I’d had a long dream.
Waking up, I was drenched in sweat.

Wondering if it had been that hot last night, I pulled back the covers and suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Looking around, a spacious, adorably decorated room greeted me.

Definitely an unfamiliar scene.
Yet, at the same time, it was strangely familiar.

Like the teddy bear waiting for me if I opened the wardrobe, or the snacks hidden under the bed—I already knew about them.

It was odd that a room I was seeing for the first time felt so familiar.

I pushed back the covers to get out of bed.

My favorite frilly dress was revealed.
I must have worn it to sleep.

‘Wait a minute.’

Why am I wearing this?

That wasn’t the problem.
The curves and size of the body visible beyond the dress were strange.
As if it wasn’t my body…

I quickly lifted my skirt, revealing short, dainty legs.

But that wasn’t important.
My own magnificent, thick legs were nowhere to be seen.
Inside the cute panties was just empty space.

Even more frightening was the lack of discomfort I felt about this.
As if I’d lived like this all my life.

What was going on?
I retraced my memories.

I had a party for my tenth birthday.
Playing happily with my sister, a sudden burning pain spread through my body, and I collapsed…

No.

These aren’t my memories.

I was reading a novel.

I remember enjoying steamy Yuri novels.

Then, I came across a Yuri novel filled with heart-pounding love and excitement. My heart ached from beating so fast.
I don’t remember what happened after that.

The memories are mixed up, confusing.
It’s hard to believe, but it seems certain that I died once already.

In the prime of my life.
And from such a ridiculous cause as death by cuteness overload while reading a Yuri novel.

‘Sigh…’

Even I find my demise pathetic.

If anyone asks, I’ll say I threw myself in front of a speeding truck to save some children on their way home.

To be fair, my heart wasn’t in good shape even before I died.
Though hazy, I recall being hospitalized.
I think a vaccine for some infectious disease caused heart problems.

Now, I can only hope my phone battery died so no one could peek into my abyss.

Ten years of my life.
And the memories of a 25-year-old, military-served man who died from cuteness overload.

A bit confusing, but I decided to think calmly.

…Thinking about it again, that embarrassing stuff isn’t me.
I couldn’t be that creepy guy.

I’m just a cute little girl who doesn’t know anything.
If anyone asks, I’ll definitely say my name is Elena.

Pitter-patter

As I finished organizing my thoughts in bed, I heard running.

The sound grew closer.

The door burst open, and a small, cute puppy… no, a little girl, rushed in.

Gorgeous red hair.
Slightly drooping, gentle-looking eyes.
Her red eyes met mine, widening in surprise.

“Ellie! Are you feeling better?”

Ah, that cute voice and lovely eyes… It’s Anna, my older sister.

A child who looked smaller than me hugged me.
So small, yet a year older.

My vision filled with her red hair.
Tangled on the bed, I accepted her pure affection.

I must have seen her every day for ten years.

But the world seen through adult eyes was different.
Everything felt new, and my common sense was distorted.

I robbed the child of her innocent heart.

The word “sister” wouldn’t come out.

I lived 25 years as a man, and now “sister”?
To this tiny, cute child?

I opened my mouth to speak.

“…!!”

My throat was parched.
I hadn’t had water and had been sick in bed.

“Ellie, your… hair!”

My hair is strange?
It’s been ten years, but it feels familiar.

But Anna was looking at my hair.

My soft, ash-gray hair…

‘What is this…? ’

If my memories are accurate,
my hair should be Estelle’s symbolic red.

Anna also seemed surprised.

Normally, I’d cry over losing the house symbol, but
it didn’t matter now.

I’m an adult in mind, a child in body.

If this is reincarnation, is this the novel’s world?

Looking in the mirror Anna gave me,
it seemed like a normal fantasy world with magic.

No mention of the Mado Empire of Caplea,
or Elena Estelle in any novels I recalled.

My mind felt like a maze. I put my thoughts on hold.

In the mirror, a girl with ash-gray hair stared back with sleepy eyes.

House Estelle’s symbolic red eyes seemed darker,
but still reddish, so it’s fine.

People called me cute, so I knew,
but objectively, I’m an angel.

Unlike Anna, my sharper eyes make me look impudent, but it suits me.
I anticipate my future beauty.

I evaluated a ten-year-old’s appearance.
Despite having no looks in my past life.

Anna watched me anxiously.

Did she sense the man inside?
Children’s intuition is sharp.

My throat felt drier. I chugged water.
Finishing the bottle calmed me.

“Phew—”

“Ellie…? Are you okay?”

“Yes, Anna!”

Anna froze.

Her cuteness made me poke her cheek. No reaction.

“Anna?”
“…”

“Hello…?”
“…”

What is this?
Waving my hand did nothing.

Could it be?

“S…Sister…?”

She moved.
The joy of operating a toy filled me.

“Ellie.”

“Yes, Sister.”

“Ellie!”

“Yes, Sister!”

We hugged and giggled.

Something feels strange?
I don’t know. I’m enjoying the moment.

We shrieked with joy until we collapsed, breathless.

“Hungry? Wait a moment.”

I was hungry. Anna seemed to be getting something.

So thoughtful for a child, unlike me in my past life.
She brought soup and started feeding me.

I said I was fine, but she insisted, saying patients should rest.
I was weak, so I let her.
Her diligence was admirable.

Being fed by a child was more embarrassing than I thought, but not bad.

Finishing the meal, the sun was high.
It felt strange that no one came since I woke up.

“Sister, where are Father and Mother?”

She flinched.

“…Ah, hee hee, right. I forgot to tell them Ellie woke up…?”

So, that’s it.

I trusted her too much as my “sister.”

“I’m fine now, let’s go together!”

Despite her attentiveness and genius,
she’s still a child.
I, as an adult, should understand.

We held hands and left the room.

The mansion was huge, as I noticed earlier.
Is it because I’m small?

Expensive decorations and numerous servants showcased the family’s wealth.

“Miss, you’re awake!”
“Thank goodness…”
“We’re so glad you’re alright!”
“Oh my, you shouldn’t be walking around yet…”
“Quickly, inform the Lord!”

Suddenly surrounded.
Were they waiting for me?

It was strange that no one checked on me in my room, with so many servants.
Were they busy?

“Ellie, let’s hurry!”

Lost in thought, Anna tugged my hand.
Her childish impatience made me smile.

“Yes, Sister!”

We navigated through the crowd, heading to the Lord’s office.

Knock, knock—

“Father, we’re coming in!”

Anna opened the door without hesitation.
Slightly intimidated by her boldness, I followed.

“My lovely princesses! I should have come to you first!”

Father, Duke Claude Estelle, greeted us with a bright, handsome face.
Then, he noticed me and his eyes widened.

“Ellie…!”
“Whoa!”

Lifted into his arms, I didn’t resist.

Though we were close, being held by a man felt uncomfortable. I couldn’t be as joyful as before.

“Please put me down, Father…”
“Ellie? Are you still very ill?”

He touched my forehead, checking for a fever.

I shook my head and pulled away.

Oops, now Father froze.
Anna looked strangely pleased.

Leaving Father frozen, we left the office, hand-in-hand.

“Lord? Lord, are you alright?!”

Ignoring the urgent voices, we searched for Mother.

A beautiful woman with flowing blonde hair walked briskly down the hall.
She must have heard from the servants.

“Ellie! My daughter, you were so sick, weren’t you?”
“Mother…Mmmph!”

Squish—

What’s this suffocating feeling?
But an irresistible force drew me in.

A pulling sensation.
Simultaneously, a pushing pressure…

“Mother…! Ellie!”
“Oh my, are you alright?”

…Just a little more…!

Almost transported to my next life, Anna’s intervention saved me.
But this bliss, transcending death, made me want to devote everything to it.

Squish, squish—

“Oh my, you…”
“…Ellie?”

…Huh!
A sudden chill brought me back to reality.
I was fondling Mother’s breasts.

“Hee hee, Mother. I was so sick…”
“Yes, yes, my daughter… I’m just grateful to the Goddess that you woke up.”

Phew, I think I got away with it.
If anyone noticed the man inside me,
I’d lose this heavenly bliss.

Looking up, Mother stroked my hair, gazing at me.

Our Duchess Cecilia Estelle was too young and beautiful to be a mother of two. My heart raced just looking at her.

Anna was glaring at Mother, so I should probably stop.
She must be upset that Mother’s attention was solely on me.

Anna took my hand again.

We ran back to my room.
She pushed me onto the bed.

 

TL note:

House Estelle-The Duke’s family.

Mado Empire of Caplea-The empire in the story.