I continued to scream into my pillow.

This would be impossible. I didn't trust Ophelia Phorest, especially since I can't even control her, so we were all doomed. I couldn't even move away because this affected the whole world. And the worst of it all? I couldn't remember anything of the game past act 5. That meant that whatever happened in year 5 would all be a surprise to me. I won't remember how this 'ancient evil' would be released until it's too late. 

And that wasn't the end of my troubles. I had Ru Hasselt looming over me. Considering how he'd killed Rael from growing too close to Ophelia, I had to go against him. 

I also had the question of which game mode I was currently 'living' in. If I was in normal mode, I could make it. I'd played all three routes in normal mode and while it was still difficult, I got all the good endings. If this was the hard mode? I'd be sending prayers in advance. 

The hard mode was the game adding another love interest into the mix. Except, unlike the other four, he was destructive. He was basically another villain. I wanted to cry. What was this horrible fate? I had so many death flags that it wasn't even funny. I also had to help Ophelia because that was Rael's role in the game. 

He was the buddy character. You'd ask him for advice and he'd give hints or vague answers to lead you on the right tracks. Except I didn't know shit. So she wouldn't progress nor grow as a protagonist. 

I raised my head and shook my head. No! I couldn't give up before I'd even started! I had to make plans. If I remember correctly, the boy in the garden had to be Wei Vandergarden, my older brother, by a year. And if he looked that young... I still had a few years to prepare!

I rose to get out of bed when I heard a knock. The person didn't wait for my response before opening the door. He looked blankly around before focusing on me. "There you are. I thought you went to the bathroom?"

"Um, yes but I wanted to grab something here first." He didn't seem to believe me as he crossed his arms. "Father told me to keep an eye on you considering how you like to trouble others, so you better watch it." I gulped. "I wasn't planning anything. Was it anything you wanted?" I tried smiling. If I was going to survive this world, I had to be kind and sweet. Leave a good impression rather than a bad one. Wei frowned. "Did you forget?"

"Forget what...?"

"You're supposed to go to your dance practice. With me." I stopped. Dance practice? Why would I need to—

Oh no. I knew exactly where in the story I'd begun. This had to be before Rael's debut. That debut had solidified Rael as a pathetic excuse for a prince. And I had to somehow change his fate. 

"Right! Silly me for forgetting. When is my debut now again?" I tried to make it sound like a joke but Wei looked at me like I was stupid. "It's tomorrow. I hope you've improved or you'll humiliate yourself in front of hundreds of people." My smile froze. A day? I had a single day to improve Rael's atrocious dancing? You might as well say 'GAME OVER' now, this was a near-impossible feat. 

I tried thinking of my previous life skills and found that my memory of my previous life was... gone. It had vanished, as though it never existed, to begin with. With my heart beating loudly in my chest, I decided to put my lost memory on hold.

I forced a smile.

"Well? Let's get going."

——

"Ow!"

"Sorry, sorry!"

"This is the fourth time, get into the rhythm!"

"But it's too hard!"

"And you think being stepped on isn't?"

"Er..."

I was currently trying to dance with Wei. We had been going on for a few minutes and he'd already grown tired of me. I couldn't believe how horrible Rael was at dancing. The dancing wasn't even that difficult, but having become Rael, I couldn't quite right wrap my head around it.

"Don't I have an actual teacher for this?" I stopped when Wei shot me a spiteful look. We took a break when Wei couldn't feel his toes anymore. I wanted to feel guilty, but he was being so rude about it, so I laughed quietly at his misery.

"A teacher? After what you did?"

I paused while sipping my water. "What did he—I do?"

"Did you forget? You caused at least four teachers to quit on the spot, one to injure themselves so badly that they had to be taken away to a healer and the other two neglected their work and lied about it." I was speechless. Rael was that bad at dancing? 

"Is that why you're helping me? Because you care?" I gave him a small smile. Maybe he isn't so bad after all. I watched Wei snort his drink out and began laughing loudly. "Hell no! I couldn't care less, in fact, I'd be delighted if you failed in front of hundreds. But father said it'd reflect badly on the royal family and forced me to babysit and train you."

"Babysit? You're barely a year older than me."

"At least I can dance without gravely injuring someone." Touché.

I rubbed my legs and focused on the issue at hand. Dancing was one of the reasons for Rael's horrible reputation. There were already rumors brewing about him and when he, at his debut, not only failed to dance properly but caused his and his partner to fall, he was mocked by all. No one could respect a royal who couldn't even dance. Dancing was the very essence of an aristocrat. And the fact that I was an illegitimate child of the king served to prove their point. Rael Vandergarden is a commoner who's dressed in prince's clothes. 

Being an illegitimate child was the downfall for Rael. So I had to prove everyone wrong. Show them that illegitimate children were just like them. And the first step was... dancing. 

I groaned. I had to get through this. One step at a time. I stood up and saw Wei scoot back. "I'm not ready to dance—"

"Just tell me how to move and I'll do this by myself." Wei raised an eyebrow but complied. I stood up and stared at the wide mirror that covered the entire wall of the room. This was the room where everyone was taught how to dance. I raised my hand and bowed, this was a must before you began dancing.

I lowered both my arms and pretended a partner was standing in front of me, putting my arms around their invisible waist. 

"First, sway from side to side, listen to the music as you do." Wei started the music again, and instrumental sounds began playing from the crystal he was holding. I complied and started swaying. It was awkward without anyone there, but this was the best way to practice without any casualties. 

"Follow the rhythm. No, don't start speeding up, go slower. Right, like that." Wei was quick to point out any faults. I began tensing up from the pressure. "Don't dance like a doll, relax, or your dancing will look stiff and boring." I tried relaxing while remembering all his rules. So far, it wasn't going too badly! My eyes lit up as I began grasping it.

And then Wei cranked up the difficulty. "That's enough, it seems that you're at least decent at following the rhythm and not falling on your face. Now it's time for the real dancing."

"That wasn't dancing?"

"No? You didn't even move your feet properly." My jaw dropped. I was struggling even now and he expected me to suddenly move? With my feet? I clenched my teeth. I could do this! All I had to do was believe!

"Alright, the first step is deciding whether you want to lead or follow."

"What...?"

"Good grief, I don't think there's a single thought behind those eyes. Here, let me show you." Wei stood up and raised my arm and straightened the other. "You'll lead and pretend that someone is following you. This is the position you have to stay in." I felt my body tense and tried relaxing. 

"Now it's time for the actual steps." Wei stood next to me and showed me how to step through our reflections. He began lecturing me on how to do a simple box-waltz. I had difficulty remembering the steps at first but it grew easier on the fourth attempt.

"Now, do all the steps while I do a three-count rhythm before we add the music. Does that sound good?" He didn't wait for my response before he began counting. 

He kept shouting "1,2,3" as I tried following all his demands. I felt my head grow dizzy from all the instructions, but with my whole body moving, I let myself dance to the beat of Wei's shouts. I smiled as I did the box-waltz for the tenth time, with no mistakes. 

"Hm, not bad." Wei applauded. "I honestly thought you'd never get it. Alright, try and dance with me this time." Wei became the follower and I awkwardly placed my hand on his shoulder and the other under his shoulder blade. And then, we danced. 

At least that's what I want to say...

It started well, I began walking left and doing the dance in the rhythm I'd learned. But having another body doing the same thing distracted me. I began mirroring his steps and the graceful dance quickly turned ugly as I began panicking. My pace grew quicker and Wei grew annoyed. "Hey, slow, do it slow—" 

I couldn't hear him anymore. I was moving as quickly as I could, turning the box into a complicated mess as I dragged Wei along with me. We spun around in the room, his complaining growing louder and my anxiety starting to surface. Until it became too much and I let go of Wei. He fell to the ground with a roll and I fell on my back, crying out in pain. I had no strength left. I was exhausted and the stress caused me to go haywire. 

Wei was silent and I had stopped moaning and groaning about my back pain. The dance room was silent. And then I heard giggling. I turned my head and saw Wei on the ground, trying to suppress his laughter. He failed and began laughing loudly. He held his stomach as he continued to laugh and sat up, wiping tears from his eyes. He had a large smile on his face, threatening to break into more laughter. 

"I have never seen a worse dancer than you." I knew he was insulting me but the joy in his eyes almost made me smile too. 

"Only because you're a horrible teacher."

"You couldn't even hear the music, how is that my fault?"

"Because I said so!" I was acting childish but it was only to enjoy this moment. Strangely enough, it felt like we'd bonded like siblings while we argued with each other. I couldn't help but smile. Maybe Rael's life wasn't so hopeless after all. 

Wei mumbled. "I'm glad."

"Hm?"

"I'm glad that you aren't acting so distant like before. You'd grow tense when I tried teaching you and flinched whenever I corrected your mistakes. It's almost as though you treated me like I was above you." I blinked. So that's how Rael was when he was younger.

"You aren't that bad when you learn to loosen up." Wei teasingly remarked. I stuck my tongue out. Maybe I could befriend Wei and have someone to back me up? Wei was a bit of an ass, foul-mouthed, and too selfish for his good, but that's how all older siblings were. 

As I continued to joke around with Wei, I wondered what happened to Wei after Ru had killed Rael? Would he have cared if Rael died? Probably not.