I make it to the last page of the book and close it with a sigh. I slide off the side of my bed and walk towards the large bookshelf near the wall next to it. I place the book back and look around for anything that piqued my intrest. Nothing, like usual.

It's been 7 years since I first arrived here and although I have gotten used to living here, there are still some things that I cannot accept. One of them is enjoying the riches that come with being apart of this family. Like I've said before, my family was not the wealthiest, but we made do with what we got. I thought that living in luxury would be the dream, but most of the time I just feel uncomfortable with the big rooms and even bigger house which I often get lost in. 

And, since this world has nobles and aristocracy, a lot of a persons daily needs are tended to by servants. Having some one dress and wash me made me a tad bit... uncomoftable, so I tried to explain it to them that I will be dressing ad washing myself, but it seems they didn't belive me and kept coming to my room anyways.

That is why I am up this early in the mroning, despite me not being an early bird. Well, recently I have been getting nightmares so waking up early is really nothing. Anyway. if I just dress myself before they come to me, they will have no choice to back off. 

As expected, someone knocks on my door. 

"Come in." I say. I was surprised when our family butler came in instead of the usual maids. 

"I see that the servants were right and that you do indeed dress yourself, sir." He said, not in any particular tone. "My Lord has invited you and the young miss to breakfast in an hour, will you be joining them?" He asked.

"Yes, I will." I answer. The butler nods and walks out of the room, closing the door softly.

Ah, yes, and there's the matter with my family. The Duke and I barely speak, maybe some small talk if we pass each other in the hallway, but that's it. And with Alice it's even worse. Just like in the game, she does not like me. Thankfully, she has not yet resorted to bullying and has just been ignoring me as soon as I try to speak with her. 

The Grendbell family in the game was not close either. Antony tried to make up for his lack of presence in Alice's life by giving her all she wants and since Allen had been tormented by Alice for all those years, he didn't speak up and was left to be ignored by The Duke. 

When I first discovered that I will be apart of this kind of family, I wanted to try and fix it. I would be lying if I said I don't miss the family I had before I reincarnated. Although I say I have gotten used to living in this world a bit, my memories of my past life till remain, and I can't fully accept myself as Allen. I can't look in the irror and recognise the face I see as mine.

It seems reincarnation is not as simple as it seems.

I make it to the hall where everyone is seated and has already started eating. I expected the table to be extremely long and fancy like I see in many movies, but it seems just like any regular table for a family of four. I sit down quietly and Alice and The Duke are already engaged ina  conversation.

"Yes, I know I should study more, but the tutor is just making everything so hard for me!" She says. Alice's black hair is tied up in two high pigtails with little red bows. I am reminded that Alice is actually 3 years older than Allen, which explains how she is taller than me and her hair longer. 

"Oh, Allen, how nice of you to join us." The Duke smiles. "I have been busy with work so it seems we haven't been able to enjoy dinner together with all of us three. How have you been doing recently?" I see Alice's shocked face and how she sends a small glare my way afterwards.

"I've been doing well." I respond. What am I supposed to say? I haven't seen these people for at least a few weeks, and our conversations rarely go further than small talk! I'm lucky my face takes after my father so my facial mucles barely move, sometimes this is convenient, sometimes it's not.

"Ah, I see." The Duke says. "Your 8th birthday is aproaching soon, what do you think of getting a tutor? Alice started her studies a little bit after that." He asked.

Something to maybe relieve my absoloute boredom? Sign me up! "Yes, I think I would really like that" I said, trying to lift up the ends of my lips, but to no avail. But it seems the Duke got the message as he smiled.

"That's great! I'm sure you'll be as excellent a student as Alice!" 

Alice has been quiet since I have arrived but it seems something in her had snapped at that moment. 

"WHY ARE YOU TREATING HIM LIKE NORMAL, DADDY?!" She yelled, banging her fists on the table.

"Alice, what's wrong? What do you mean?" The Duke asked, concened. 

Alice turned to me and glared, "STOP ACTING LIKE YOU BELONG HERE!" she quickly got out of her chair and sprinted out of the hall. 

The Duke was the first to go after as he told the servants to go look for her.

I myself left the hall and started looking for the girl. I wasn't expecting her to have this kind of reaction, but it kind of made sense. I must've been stupid to think that people's feeling could be as two-dimentional as the games was. Alice is 10 and all she had left of a mother is memories from when she was 3. 

It made sense why she desipsed Allen and it seems the hate didn't stop even after she had grown up. This family I was born into might not be the best... but it's not like it can't grow, if I just leave it like this, with Alice not being able to take care of her feelings, we will end up on the same road we were in the game.

I wander the gardens every corner for a while until, sure enough, leaned against a tree a small girl has her knees huddled up to her chest, her face burried in them.

I quietly walk over to her and it seems like she's in her own little world, seeing as she doesn't notice me until I am already behind her, tapping her shoulder.

She turns to me in schock, small tears still in her eyes.

"Hey."