Damn, I guess I can't do plan A. I need to think of another way to properly fix my family. I'll need to talk to my father, or rather make sure he doesn't become delusional. Is it a mental illness? I'm not an expert so I shouldn't think too far...
The two main factors leading to my doom, for now, is my brother and father. The hero that won't appear until later on should not be an obstacle now. I jot down the details of my plan inside my head.
For father, I will make sure to improve his mental health. Memory loss and delusional thinking will happen to him in the future. In short, he was so depressed when his wife died he became a madman. Aden who only looked like his mother but behaved like a spoiled brat wasn't enough to replace her. This caused him to go madder and madder.
He's a hard case to solve. Do I act nice in front of him so he is reminded of his wife? But then would he start thinking of me as his wife? That wouldn't be good. But if I improve his mental health by being a kind son then maybe his rationality would return. A heartfelt son to father talk could snap him to his senses. It's risky, but I can take advantage of his weakness. If he treats me like a wife then I'll just declare I want to leave unless he stops being delusional. I ain't a politician so I'll just use emotion to provoke him.
Next is my older brother Ian. He is also a difficult case to solve. This brat with an inferiority complex towards me. I will need to improve my relationship with father so he doesn't go mad, but if I do that Ian might think of it as me taking all the attention away from him. Additionally, the father rarely paid any attention to his first son. My brain was hurting from thinking so hard.
After a while, I finally came up with a solution. If his father doesn't pay attention to his hard work and only spoils the naive and dumb younger brother should I be the one praising him instead? Ian was always confused and angry at Aden for being dumb but the most loved. And the Aden would show off in front of him for small achievements he did. I guess showing off and wanting attention runs in the family. Since I am no longer the old Aden I could just praise Ian endlessly until his inferior complex is cured!
Let's start by helping my father's health get better and make my brother shine brighter than me in all aspects. As I get out of bed the maids come and check my body. Apparently, after my mother's death, I suffered a long fever. My legs were a bit shaky but the fever has subsided.
"I'm okay now. Dress me up."
Nobles usually have their maids dress them up, right? I think I'm getting the hang of it.
"Young master, would you like to join breakfast?"
"Okay."
As I finish changing the maids bring over a mirror for a final checkup.
Wow. So this is the beauty of Aden Silvermere. Holy cow, I look like a doll. I poke my cheeks hoping to check if it was actually me.
I poke my cheeks hoping to check if it was actually me
My cheeks were soft and creamy. My hair is icy blue and my eyes are slightly different shades. One eye is greyish blue while the other is a light teal colour. What was the condition called again? Heterochromia?
I am stunned by Aden's flawless beauty. If I didn't know beforehand then I would have thought I turned into a short-haired girl. I see why Aden's father would mistake him for his wife all the time now. Still, that doesn't mean I will let it happen.
From now on I will be on the battlefield. I need to make sure I don't die, oh and I'll need to fulfil the goddess's wish. To do both, I'll start by fixing up this family.
-
The door to the dining hall opens before me. There is a massive dining table placed in the middle, not fitting for a house of 3 people. At the end of the table sits my father, the current Duke of Silvermere a high standing noble house, Abelardo. My older brother Ian sits a seat diagonal to my father.
I walk up and proceed to sit across Ian. Abelardo flinches when he hears the seat move. It seems none of them heard me when I came in. Both have dark circles around their eyes, I guess they're still mourning my mother's loss.
"Aden!"
My father quickly gets out of his seat and proceeds to hug me. My back feels a bit wet.
"Oh...Aden..."
"Father are you okay?"
I try to comfort him by returning the hug. He moves his wet face away from my shoulders and his sad droopy eyes stare at my face.
"Aden...You finally woke up."
I guess I was in a fever for a while.
"I'm sorry father...I'm better now so I want to eat with you."
Abelardo slightly tightens the grip around my shoulders. I hope he's not thinking about making me crossdress already. In the novel Abelardo would start by Aden nicknames and buying frilly clothes, as his delusions get worse he will straight up call me by my mother's name and dress me up as a woman. It's quite perverted to be attracted to your son, you can't do that Albelardo, you are a duke. I'll need to fix you...the best I can.
I put my acting skills to the test.
"Father you look so tired, I know it's hard but please make sure you rest."
Yes, you need to rest so that you don't see things wrong. Lack of sleep can cause memory loss, I fear the day you forget that I am your son.
Abelardo looks surprised. His nervous gaze slightly softens but tears fill his pupils.
"Oh...My kind son."
"Father let's eat breakfast now..."
I lift myself onto the chair which is still a little high for me.
...
I'm sure I will grow tall soon.
Breakfast continues in silence. Ian, who looks equally as tired as Abelardo hasn't uttered a word. His eyes are unfocused as if he's lost his energy. I take this chance to look at him closely.
He should be 5 years older than me, meaning he is 10 now. Although he is still a child he has a manly charm. He defiantly resembles Abelardo, there is nearly no trace of his mother on him. His silver hair and dark blue eyes are common traits within the Silvermere household. Although my hair is somewhat silver, it has a blue glow to it making it an icy colour.
Ian was a really cruel bastard. He didn't hesitate in throwing away his subordinates. His hatred towards Aden slowly grows as he gets older. He pulls a lot of schemes that shamed Aden in front of other nobles. Aden naturally grew a fear of strangers and clung onto his father even more.
Ian is extremely moody, so I should wait for him to find me. It's not good to pamper him in his current state.
-
It's been 2 weeks since I transported. Aden mother's funeral was arranged and many relatives on her side came to mourn her death. I was able to take a glimpse of her face, and she truly was a beauty. Her hair and face were similar to mine. She was the youngest daughter of a duke's family from another kingdom. I took a glimpse of my relatives from my mother's side. They were undoubtedly all stunning people but none of them could match her beauty, only I resembled her the most.
It seems Abelardo has gotten more tired since the funeral. Perhaps he's struck with reality again making him more depressed. Ian is completely out of my sight. I haven't seen him in days. He's been locked up in his room not replying to the servants or even eating. When I look at it, he was still a young boy who had just lost his mother. Being the first son of a noble gives him a lot of stress, and his mother who was there to comfort him during his hard times was now gone.
I hesitated to knock but part of me pitied him. Even if he's a villain it's not like the kid's done anything wrong so far. Yeah, I'm only checking on him to make sure he doesn't ruin me in the future...
"Brother are you ok?"
There is no reply. I knock a few more times.
"You haven't come out in days. Have you eaten? The servants can bring food to your room."
No reply. As I expected. I call out a few maids from the corner and tell them to inform me when Ian comes out or starts to eat.
More days past and no news from Ian. I'm currently trying to brew some tea for my father. Back in my first life, an old lady who I lived next to was a tea-loving maniac. Since I had no relatives she reminded me of a grandma. Although I could barely understand her talking she taught me a few ways to brew tea.
I brewed a cup of lavender tea and was barely able to hold the tray without shaking.
"Young master! We can do this!"
"Nuu, ugh I'll carry it to my father's...room..."
I reached my father's room and when I opened it there was a strong stench of whiskey. Glass bottles covered the table. On the couches, there was a slumped figure.
"Father!"
I put the tray on the side and check his complexion. He was pale and the bags under his eyes were still visible. He is struggling with her loss. His lifeless eyes drift onto my face. It lights up for a moment and he sits up.
"Callista?"
That was Aden mother's name. Not good.
"Father? Are you okay?"
I call him father. Wake up Abelardo! You can do it fight on!
"! Aden! I'm sorry...Father has been tired recently...It seems I'm still struggling..."
Abelardo looks at my rosy complexion and sighs.
"Since you are still so young it probably doesn't have a heavy impact on you."
No, it's because I don't hold any memory of her at all. I'm sure the original Aden missed his mom too.
"Father I also miss mommy a lot. But she wouldn't be happy to see our family crumble like this. Father, I'm sure mommy is watching over us praying for our happiness."
I hold Abelardo's large hands and bring them to my face. I look at him with heartfelt expression.
"I also hate seeing you like this Father...I love father very much I hate seeing him suffer. It's so lonely these days I want to see brother and father."
"Aden...I"
"Father please stop drinking, father's health is important."
Abelardo looks at me with shocked eyes.
[Aden he worries for me so much when it should have been me taking care of him. Aden is right she...she wouldn't want this. But It's so hard to deal with her gone.]
Abelardo recalled the memories of Callista and his happy times. Tears well up again.
"Aden, I'm sorry you have to see me like this."
"Father don't worry I will be here with you!"
I quickly dash to the tray I set aside and bring it over. I start pouring the lavender tea. The fragrance is refreshing,
"Wha-what's this Aden?"
"Father, you drink so much these days and don't sleep well. I prepared some lavender tea for you so it can help with your sleep."
"Aden!"
[My second son, he resembles Callista so much. Such a caring soul at this age. He has matured a lot since her passing.]
"Father please allow me to drink tea with you!"
I place a teacup by his side and sit on a couch across him. Abelardo takes a sip of tea.
"Is this your first time brewing tea?"
"Father...as expected it's bad right?"
"No Aden! I think you have some talent! It has a refreshing taste."
Although the tea couldn't be compared to the professional work of the servants Abelardo was more than pleased his beloved son cared so deeply about him.
We lightly chat, I tried my best to sound childish. Dragons, heroes, myths everything little kids would be fond of. Abelardo finally broke out a small laugh as I was ranting on about these topics. It seemed my hard work paid off.
"Father, let's do this again! Talking with father is so much fun!"
"Aden thank you."
Abelardo softly rubs my cheeks as he bends down. He smiles and lifts me up. I was slightly started but took this as a chance. I lift my arms up and laugh like a child. I hug him around the neck and softly whisper.
"Father I'm sleepy now~"
I didn't trust the mentally unstable Abelardo to sleep if I told him to so it would be easier to watch him sleep with me by his side. I used the excuse of being a child to my advantage.
"Aden you should rest then. I'll bring you to your room."
"No, I will sleep with father, since father looked so tired it made me want to sleep!"
"Haha"
Abelardo slumps back onto the couch and hugs me on top of his chest.
The warmth of his son's tiny body covers him like a blanket. Abelardo looks down at his son who was tightly clutching onto his clothes. His small breaths starting to calm as he falls into slumber. Abelardo recalls what his son told him.
Callista would want us to be happy. His broken heart felt softer. He looked at the son Callista left behind, who looked and acted the same as her, who was almost a carbon copy. His headache slightly subsided as he watched Aden fall asleep. His eyelids felt heavy and muscles started to relax.
The maid who saw this quietly left the room to not disturb her masters' slumber.
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