As dinner commenced, she went into the dining room, taking a seat on one of the plush chairs. It had taken her quite some time to navigate her way there, still feeling somewhat unfamiliar with her surroundings. Positioned beside her were the aged butler and her personal maid from previously, standing attentively. Lifting her fork, her eyebrows twitched at the sight of the meal before her. It was evident that vegetables were lacking in every dish she had been served. The plates consisted mainly of chicken, beef, and fish, with only a little amount of vegetables accompanying them.
"Next time, make sure there are more vegetables," she uttered with a cold tone, her words slicing through the air. Taking a bite of the steak, she observed the startled expressions on the faces of both Mr. Dan, the butler, and the maid. She shot a piercing glare in their direction. "Must I repeat myself?" she challenged, before resuming her meal with an air of indifference.
After dinner, Hara swiftly made her way to the kitchen to place her plate, not wasting a moment before retreating to her room. This left Mr. Dan and Clara, the maid, to handle the remaining tasks.
"Well, that was rather peculiar, wouldn't you say, Clara?" Mr. Dan initiated the conversation, his curiosity piqued. "She specifically requested more vegetables, despite expressing her hate for them when I first arrived as a butler."
Clara nodded in agreement, her brow furrowing. "Indeed. And did you notice? She finished her meal and even put away her plate. Usually, she would run to her room after a bunch of mean words at us."
Both Mr. Dan and Clara exchanged perplexed glances, wondering what could have possibly triggered such a sudden change in Hara's behavior.
Clara's voice trembled with worry as she voiced her concern, "Could it be due to her previous fainting episode and illness?"
Mr. Dan responded with indifference, stating, "Perhaps." He contemplated that this situation is likely only temporary.
Seated quietly in her 'room,' Hara gently lowered herself onto her bed. The sole source of light in her spacious room was the night light positioned on her nightstand. Strangely, the gentle glow rendered her room cozy instead of eerie, considering that there was no other light sources.
She racked her mind, trying to figure out her plans for tomorrow at school. Having read the novel, she had knowledge of the school's name and her assigned class, but she was uncertain about the route to get there.After some contemplation, she stood up and began rummaging through her room in search of items that might help her in this unfamiliar world. She could have done this earlier, but she had been preoccupied with gazing into the distance, contemplating how to navigate this new life, memories of her own family flooded her mind. She longed for her mother, recalling the constant nagging about her late-night sleeping habits.She also recalled her younger brother's joyful requests to play online games together, sharing moments of laughter and connection. A wistful smile crossed her face as she wondered, "Does father still snore in his sleep?". A single tear escaped her eye as she whispered, "Mom, I should have listened to you." She quickly brushed away the tear, gathering strength and determination to continue. As she sifted through the bookshelves, a piece of paper slipped and fluttered to the floor. She retrieved it and discovered a photograph depicting a boy and a girl seated next to each other. She glanced at the image briefly before tucking it away, choosing not to dwell on its significance and proceeded with her search, continuing to sift through various items.
After some time, she settled down on the floor. Despite the clock striking midnight, she hadn't discovered anything of use. "I suppose I'll have to manage on my own tomorrow," she sighed, resigning herself to the situation. She rose from the floor and made the decision to tidy up her cluttered surroundings, starting with cleaning the study table that was piled high with books from the shelves and school books. While focusing on the task, she proceeded to open one of the drawers and discovered a luxurious-looking phone that appeared to belong to this character.
Fortunately, the phone could be activated using her fingerprint. As she navigated through its contents, she discovered that it was surprisingly empty. The contacts list consisted of 'Dad', 'Mr. Dan', 'Clara', and 'Driver', with no names indicating that she had a close friend and even acquaintances. Hara couldn't help but wonder about her 'dad'. Since her arrival, she hadn't even caught a glimpse of someone who could be identified as her father. Perhaps he was a busy and affluent businessman, she speculated. Could he be Mr. Chen? She thought. The absence of any contact information regarding her "Mom" puzzled her as well. Shaking her head lightly, she pushed these thoughts aside and continued on. Puzzled, she furrowed her eyebrows, contemplating the limited information on the phone. Next, she turned her attention to various social media platforms but found nothing of interest. "That's odd," she mused. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, she proceeded to gather the necessary items for school and swiftly retired to bed, hoping to wake up early the next morning.
In the morning, Clara made her way upstairs to Hara's bedroom. As she raised her hands to knock on the door, it unexpectedly swung open, revealing Hara already attired in her school uniform. Hara took a moment to look at Clara with a mocking gaze, before nonchalantly uttering, "Breakfast is ready?" She then proceeded to walk past Clara, not waiting for any response. Clara was deeply shaken by this turn of events. It was highly unusual for Hara to wake up early for school on her own. In the past, Clara had to wake up Hara every day, often facing resistance and even verbal or physical aggression when trying to get her ready.
At the dining table, she ate gracefully, ensuring to finish every bit of her meal. Afterward, she curtly asked Clara, "Show me the way out." Since becoming 'Hara,' she hadn't ventured beyond the confines of the mansion she lived in. She hadn't explored anywhere except for glimpses from the balcony. The mansion seemed to be situated on a hill, offering a breathtaking view of the city and the beautiful garden below. Occasionally, she would step out to the balcony at night to admire the stunning scenery.
The driver, who had been waiting outside, appeared quite relaxed and let out a yawn. He believed there was still a lot of time for the young miss of the mansion to awaken and head to school. However, his tranquility was abruptly interrupted as he noticed a figure approaching the car. At first, he doubted his eyes and rubbed them a few times, thinking it might be a figment of his imagination. Once he confirmed that it was indeed her, he became startled before promptly entering the driver's seat.
A luxurious car glided along the road, and the driver discreetly cast a glance at Hara. Throughout the journey, not a single word was exchanged between them. "Has she suddenly matured?" the driver pondered, astounded by this unprecedented turn of events. Unbeknownst to Hara, the driver's thoughts remained concealed as she gazed outside, contemplating how she would carry herself at school. And, more importantly, how she should behave when encountering the protagonists of the novel.