In the opulent chambers of the palace, Princess Sylveria sat poised and serene, her delicate hands cradling a steaming teacup. Beside her, the 8th Princess praised her younger sibling, her voice tinged with admiration. "You're simply exquisite, Sylveria. At just nine years old, you embody a maturity beyond your years."
The 7th Prince, a sixteen-year-old with a penchant for mischief, chimed in with a playful smirk. "Relax, sis, and let loose a bit! You're too rigid for your own good sometimes."
Sylveria's piercing gaze lingered over the tea leaves before meeting her siblings' eyes. In her current life as a royal, she had grown accustomed to a very different dynamic. Many of her siblings harbored resentment towards her, because of her logical, calm, and icy demeanor that doesn't suit a kid. Arin and Celeste are her blood siblings unlike the other prince and princesses.
The 8th princess, Celeste, leaned forward with a conspiratorial grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Tell me, Sylvie, what's behind that icy exterior of yours? Surely there's more to you than just a cold, beautiful facade."
Her younger sibling, Sylveria, regarded Celeste with an impassive expression, her fingers still wrapped around the delicate teacup. "There's nothing more to uncover, dear sister. I am simply...different from you and the rest of our family." Celeste pouted playfully, pushing a stray lock of auburn hair behind her ear. "Oh, come now! Don't be so aloof. We're siblings, for goodness' sake! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Across from them, the 7th prince, Arin, chuckled softly, observing the exchange with amusement. "Leave her be, Celes. Sylvia's always been content keeping to herself."
"Btw Sylvie, there is a rumor going on around the capital that a girl commoner is beating up boys older than her, she is using a peculiar swordsmanship too" Celeste said and Sylveria stood up with surprised, her eyebrows shot up in surprise as she set her teacup down with a clink, her attention fully captured by Celeste's revelation. "A commoner girl, you say. Using an unusual sword style to defeat boys her seniors?"
The princess leaned forward, her cool composure giving way to a spark of intrigue. "And her hair color? Is it color white or silvery-white, perhaps?" A hint of hopefulness crept into her voice, though she quickly masked it with a nonchalant shrug.
Arin and Celeste exchanged a glance, taken aback by their youngest sister's sudden interest in a commoner's affairs. It was a rare occurrence for Sylveria to exhibit such curiosity, let alone express a desire to learn more about someone not of royal blood.
"No, according to eyewitnesses and palace servants, her hair is actually brown." Celeste reported, a note of amusement coloring her tone at the princess's unexpected reaction.
Sylverria's reaction was immediate and intense. Her icy composure crumbled, replaced by an unsettling intensity that made her siblings worried. "Then who is she?" she demanded, her voice sharp as icicles. "And what manner of skill does she possess?" Celeste and Arin exchanged wary glances, unsure how to respond to Sylveria's sudden interest. They had rarely seen her exhibit such fervor over anything outside of her own training.
"The rumors are vague, sis." Arin offered tentatively. "Just whispers of a commoner defeating boys with swordplay that seems... unusual. Nothing concrete."
"But that's precisely what troubles me," Sylveria interjected, her eyes narrowing. "A commoner, wielding swordsmanship that sets tongues wagging? It sounds like a myth."
She began pacing the room, her mind racing with possibilities and scenarios. Princess Sylveria's delicate features crinkled into a perplexed giggle as she pondered the enigmatic rumors circulating around the capital. Clearly, the culprit had to be one of her friends in her previous life - either Isla or Isao, both of whom shared her own reincarnated fate in this unfamiliar world. Yet, the puzzle pieces refused to fit neatly together. If indeed it was Isao or Isla, wouldn't their distinct physical characteristics persist, just as Sylveria's own striking light blue locks remained unchanged, then so as Isao's black hair and Isla's silvery-white hair.
Sylveria's siblings, the prince and princess, watched her with a mix of bewilderment and concern. Their usually reserved and stoic younger sister seemed almost fascinated by the news.
"Confounded..." Sylverria muttered under her breath, frustration etched onto her usually serene features. "Why would they disguise themselves so thoroughly? The hair color is completely misleading."
She stopped pacing and turned to face her perplexed siblings, a flicker of determination in her crystalline eyes. "Arin, Celeste, I require your assistance. I aim to unravel the mystery surrounding this 'commoner' swordswoman. Perhaps you two can help me get out of the castle so I can see her remarkable abilities." Sylveria's stern expression softened slightly as she addressed her siblings. "I know my methods might seem unorthodox at times, but trust that my intentions are pure. This curiosity has sparked a fire within me, one I intend to fan into a blaze of discovery. Will you stand by me in this endeavor?"
A beat of silence passed before Arin spoke up, a thoughtful look on his youthful face. "Of course, Sylvie. We will gather information and give it to you as soon as possible along with acquiring permission from father so you can visit the capital with Sebastian."
