Lona brushed my hair as she got me ready. I could only glare at my reflection. In the reflection was a girl who was not me. She was covered with scars and only knew anger. She was selfish. She was a traitor.

The other me was in the reflection smiling wickedly. She laughed at me, "You really are-"

"Trash." I finished and looked away.

Lona paused, "What was that?"

I didn't answer her. She continued getting me ready and spoke, "I think my young miss is still the most beautiful one around."

I responded spitefully, "Beautiful? You must be blind. I'm hideous inside and out."

She looked at me with a troubled expression, "Seri..."

Outside my door, Bertram was standing and waiting. My mother came up and scowled at him, "Bertram."

He looked down in dejection and nodded at her. Ever since he had returned, he had been shunned by my parents. Although they wouldn't kick him out because of me, they also made it clear that he was no longer in their good graces.

My mother knocked on my door and walked in. She smiled at me and spoke in a soft voice. "Seri... I was thinking... Maybe you should go back to school?"

I glared at her, "I'm not going back."

She spoke quickly, "Alright! You don't have to go back... But what about a private tutor?"

I walked past her indifferently, "Do as you wish."

I walked outside to practice with my sword as Bertram followed after me. Bertram looked as though he wanted to say something, but hesitated.

"Just say it." I said irritated with his hesitance. Lately he had been tiptoeing around me as if he was worried I could erupt at any moment.

"Your friends... Have been sending you several letters... What about responding? I know I've been strict concerning Dante and William in the past, but I really think you should-"

I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him. I growled, "I'm not your dead daughter."

He flinched at this. I continued, "So stop acting like I am. Mind your own business and just do what I tell you to do."

Bertram made a troubled expression and nodded sullenly, "You're right..."

The other me stepped out behind him grinning ear from ear. She tossed her knife as she talked, "Wow. How cruel. You know how much you and his dead daughter means to him, yet you still said such terrible things."

I turned around overcome with guilt. I clenched my hands causing my nails to dig in my skin. The other me laughed as she taunted me, "No wonder your friends betray you. You treat them so cruelly."

I met Simon and began training. I charged at him with anger. *Clang* He knocked me back, not even trying to go easy on me. He smiled sadistically as I held the new wound across my chest. I clenched my teeth.

The other me laughed, "You're such a disappointment."

I charged once more at him, fueled with anger. As we fought, my father witnessed the scene and noticed me bleeding. He ran out in a panic, "Stop stop stop!!"

Simon jumped off to the side, intending to stop. But I didn't have that intention. Simon could only smiled as I was overcome with fury. My father jumped in and held out his hands to stop me. "Seri!"

I turned to him with fury in my eyes. I kicked my father in the stomach causing him to fall backwards on his butt. I swung my sword down at him.

A unfamiliar voice screamed in my mind, "Stop!"

I instantly stopped and blinked. My sword stopped so closed to his face, it was almost touching it. My father was pale as he stared at the blade cross eyed.

I pulled away and muttered, "Training's over for today."

As I walked away, Simon chuckled and looked at Kane, "You really shouldn't disturb training like that. She may have killed you."

Kane looked to Simon with a scowl, "How could I just sit by and watch you hurt her like that?"

The other me laughed in my ear, "You were going to kill your own father."

I spoke through clenched jaw, "He's not my real father."

....

A few weeks passed.

Private tutors came every day. But they didn't make it long. I would mock them and use my knowledge from my previous world to embarrass them. Then, they'd leave in a fit of fury vowing to never return.

My mother groaned as she looked at new candidates, "Who can we hire next? Everyone has been scared off by her!"

My father nodded, "Our daughter is too smart for her own good."

My mother mumbled, "Yet she can still be so stupid..."

My father pushed over a document, "What about him? He has awards in math for his advancements in the field."

My mother looked at it and frowned, "But he's a commoner..."

My father raised an eyebrow, "So?"

She sighed, "Fine. It's not like we can ask anyone else."

The next day I sat on the couch reading a book in a carefree manner. My mother knocked and opened the door, "Seri. Your new tutor has arrived. Please don't scare this one off."

"Hmm." I said not even bothering to look up from my book. I just flipped through the pages indifferently.

The tutor sat down across from me and unloaded his briefcase. He spoke, "My name is teacher Lin."

I ignored him. He pulled something out and slid it over. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of it. I instantly froze and looked at it in surprise.

Teacher Lin spoke, "I heard you like sweet things. I brought along a chocolate bar. Would you like it?"

I looked up from the chocolate bar to him. He smiled at me with a gentle aura. He was an average looking man with dark hair and brown eyes. One look and you could tell he was a commoner.

But he seemed too familiar to me. I swallowed down unwanted memories and grabbed the chocolate bar. "I don't take candy from strangers."

He chuckled, "You say that, but you are taking it as we speak." I didn't answer him and just stared at the chocolate bar with a complicated expression.

He continued, "Your parents said that you were really good at math. Should we start with that?"

He wrote down a problem and showed it to me. I rolled my eyes. Too easy. All of these tutors are the same.

I solved the problem without showing my work and then wrote down a complicated problem. I smirked at him, "Solve that."

He looked at it and furrowed his brow. Yup. Now he's going to get embarrassed and then start shouting in anger.

His face lit up. He laughed in excitement, "It's so complicated!!! I don't even know how to solve it!!"

My mouth dropped. Well this wasn't the reaction I was expecting. Is he actually... Excited?

He looked at me with sparkling eyes, "Show me how to solve it."

I nodded, "Alright." I wrote down the answer making sure to instruct him carefully.

He grinned ear from ear, "Incredible. Okay, I got one."

He wrote down another problem. This one was far more complicated than the one before. Suddenly, I felt as if my chest was turning lighter. I felt a warm smile cover my face.

Lona entered the room with refreshments and almost dropped the plates after seeing my smile. Her eyes widened in surprise.

Teacher Lin and I continued sharing knowledge and I couldn't help but laugh at it. I glanced at him, "Aren't you angry that I know something you don't?"

He shrugged, "Why would I be angry over that? One who gets jealous or upset over such a thing is too immature. There will always be someone who is smarter and better than you."

I laughed, "You are one of a kind."

He smiled proudly, "I've been told that before." He looked at me, "By the way, what would you like to do in the future? I think you'd make a skilled mathematician."

I paused and shook my head, "I don't like thinking about the future."

"Oh?"

"The future is uncertain. I don't want to make any plans because it probably won't end up happening."

It's only a matter of time before everyone figures out I'm an imposter. My parents will kick me out. My friends will no longer care about me.

And I will be alone once more.

The other me nodded, "It's only a matter of time. You'll be back on the streets in no time."

He smiled at me calmly, "Just think about it. It doesn't hurt to think, right?"

Just think about it?

That night I roamed the halls unable to sleep. I came to the glass door that led to the balcony. I opened the door and stepped through. I looked over the edge. It seemed to be a long way down.

I heard someone step on the balcony behind me, "Seri..." I recognized my father's tone. I grew ridgid at his somber tone.

He spoke in concern, "Why are you out here so late? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

The other me leaned against the railing and chuckled darkly, "Poor man. He doesn't even realize that you're not his real daughter."

I clenched my fists.

I spoke in a spiteful tone, "Why do you act so kind to me? Why do you act like I'm such an amazing perfect person?" I turned around to see him staring at me speechlessly.

Just watch. You'll throw me away soon enough.

I spoke coldly, "Don't you realize? I'm not your real daughter. So why are you treating me like I am?"

His eyes widened as a sudden realization came over him. He took a deep breath and bent down on his knees. He looked at me with a tender expression.

"And what if I told you that I wasn't your real father? Would you still treat me the same way?"

My mind went blank. I wasn't expecting this reaction. However...

I answered in a low tone, "I wouldn't treat you any different."

You aren't my real father, but you're the closest I've ever come to having one.

He pulled me into a hug and held onto me tightly as he rubbed my back. He whispered in my ear, "That's how I feel as well. I don't care about who your biological father is. I don't care if you became a totally different person. You're still my daughter. And you'll always be my daughter."

I felt my eyes water as a smile slowly spread across my face. I hugged him back tightly.

This was the feeling I desired.

This was the thing I was missing.

Happiness.

The other me watched as my anger dissipated and was replaced by joy. She frowned before disappearing.

As I cried in my father's embrace, I realized my parents story was a lot more complicated than I had previously believed.

Well, well Seri. It appears we have missed something very important.