Kana And Hina (2)

Kana was dreaming.

In the darkness, a beautiful woman glowing white held the reclining Kana on her lap.

(So pretty… but who?)

Perhaps noticing Kana’s awareness, the woman spoke in a mysterious voice that echoed clearly in her mind.

“I’m sorry. It seems I made a slight mistake in your settings. As an apology, I’ll reincarnate you once under any condition you like. What would you want?”

(Huh? Reincarnation… like those popular reincarnation stories…? Then is she a goddess? Wait, she messed up the settings!? Gods are surprisingly careless…)

Thinking honestly, the goddess laughed softly as if to dodge the point. She must have read Kana’s thoughts.

“Go on, tell me your wish. Only now, I can grant anything.”

(My wish… my wish… I should’ve read more about this stuff. What’s the best deal in situations like this… I don’t know, so anywhere my efforts are rewarded is fine…)

No matter how hard she tried, Kana’s life always dissolved to nothing before Hina. She was done with that.

Thinking half-resignedly, the goddess chuckled again.

“Very well. Then I shall take you to a world where you are rewarded according to your effort.”

Saying that, the goddess gently stroked Kana’s head. Led by that kindness, Kana’s consciousness sank into darkness once more.

When she next awoke, “Kana” was on a wide bed.

The genuine softness—nothing like the cheap one she used living alone—made her unconsciously hug the nearby pillow. To her surprise it felt wonderful and even smelled like flowers.

(Nice smell… Did I use aroma oils? Wait… why am I sleeping? I was working with Hina…)

At that point Kana sprang upright.

Before her spread a luxurious room straight out of a historical drama. Perhaps Rococo style—every piece of furniture looked expensive, and the wallpaper overflowed with tiny flowers. Even the princess-like canopy bed had small angel sculptures attached.

“Cordelia-sama! You’re awake!”

While Kana stared blankly, a woman’s cry rang out. A slightly plump woman in her forties grabbed Kana’s hands and burst into tears.

“I-I’m fine, nanny.”

(Wait what!? I just said that naturally—what do you mean nanny!? And my voice is so high!)

Kana was shaken by the voice that came out of her own mouth.

“Please let me see your face, Cordelia-sama… Ah, you look well. When I heard you slipped on the stairs, I thought my heart would stop.”

The nanny wiped tears with her apron hem.

Watching her, Kana—now called Cordelia—thought blankly.

(Ah… right, my name is Cordelia. I just turned five recently. Yeah… somehow I remember that…)

Memories of being born as this household’s daughter and living happily with kind parents and the nanny—

(Wait that’s all!? Don’t I have more distinctive memories?)

While internally protesting the vague memories, Kana hurriedly pulled over the round mirror on the side desk.

—Reflected there was a girl so beautiful she could be mistaken for an angel.

Golden hair glittering in sunlight, deep navy-blue eyes like the sea, almond-shaped eyes framed by thick lashes slightly sharp yet large and clear, a finely pointed nose and lovely lips in perfect balance.

(Wow, a beautiful girl! No, a beautiful little girl!)

She immediately touched her face with both hands. Her skin was fine and soft, pleasantly clinging to her palms.

(Did I really reincarnate? That wasn’t a dream?)

Still enjoying her squishy skin, Kana thought.

(Maybe my memories are vague because I’m too young right now… But who did that goddess-like person mean by “you people”…?)

Then she suddenly felt intense déjà vu from her own face and nervously asked the nanny.

“Hey nanny. What’s my name again? The family name…”

“My, Cordelia-sama is taking interest in her name? Your house is Harmonia—the prestigious Duke Harmonia family.”

Cordelia Harmonia.

She could never forget it. It was the name of the villainess from the otome game Flowers of Lakisen that Kana had been obsessed with in college.

“No way!?”

Hearing her own shrill scream, Cordelia clutched her head.