After getting home, I was met with the very angry gazes of Ethan and Seth.

'Oops-' I forgot to tell them I was going out. They probably would've tried to stop me if the knew anyway. It was probably better this way.

"Are you crazy?"

"Have you lost your mind?"

They both asked angrily at the same time. I looked softly at them for a while before responding.

"I am very much sane."

"A sane person wouldn't go out right after an assassination attempt." Seth said through gritted teeth.

I looked around at the servants who had all lowered their head, showing they were not paying attention. Although, I knew they very well they could. It's just that this is what they are paid for, to close their eyes and ears, and only do their job without spreading rumors.

Noticing me looking around at the servants, Ethan and Seth closed their mouths, no longer saying anything. Rather they held out a hand to escort me back to the mansion.

Walking back with them, I felt a strange mixture of emotions. My mind wandered to Alina and her relationship with her family and the only thing that came to mind at this thought was...

Loneliness.

She was a person who had almost everything at her disposal, but she had no one she could trust or rely on. She had no memory of affection, only the cold wall that separated her from her family.

If you really looked closely at her personality, you could see she was only someone who hated pretenses and boldly said her opinions out loud. In the calculative high society, that only whispered rumors behind other back with charming smiles, this did not sit well.

She was made out to be an arrogant and impulsive person when she was only a straightforward person. Although she did not go about stating her opinions in the best way, this was simply her personality... she had no tact.

My heart felt heavy.

Me and her held very similar backgrounds, but the path we took was very different. While she held resentment and refused to shape her personality to those around her, even with the sacrifice of pushing everyone away, she stayed strong to her beliefs even if she was misled in the end.

On the other hand, I conformed to the society surrounding me. I learned to please those around me and carry a customer service smile, hiding my inner thoughts to get ahead in life. Even though in the end I got nowhere with it, in the end all I amounted to was a replaceable employee who was a scapegoat for someone else's mistake.

She braved life alone, knowing she fit in nowhere and through out a terrible pain ate away at her. While I only put up a cowardly struggle to maintain my middle class position in the economy.

I let out a bitter laugh at how I couldn't even begin to compare to her.

"What are you thinking about." A deep voice pulled me from my thoughts.

Turning to Seth, I realized I had been too immersed in my thoughts.

"...Nothing." Seeing I wasn't going to answer his question, his brows frowned.

"The look on your face didn't seem to be nothing." Ethan said with a hint of frustration.

I tightly closed my mouth, and pondered how to respond. I knew there was no getting out of this, they were not going to let go of it. especially not after I had left right after an assassination attempt.

"I was thinking of the past, of someone I used to know." I finally said after finding the right words.

"Who?" Seth asked while Ethan gave a inquisitive look.

"...You do not know them. They are no longer the same person, they can no longer be recognized." I said with a bitter sweet tone. It's true, I was no longer the person I was... in mind or body, ironically. I can no longer truly recognize my self, it is still strange to look in a mirror and see a unfamiliar figure. I would say it is nice, but no person truly likes change. Especially in this way.

"Do you miss them?" Seth asked as Ethan gave a hum, showing he wondered that too.

"In a way, I think it is the idea of them that I miss." I hesitated before responding. Like every human, I prefer familiarity rather than the unknown. I would prefer to see my own face in the mirror rather than a strangers, but we don't always get what we want. Plus, a living body was better than a dead one.

"When did you mee-"

"I need clean up. It's been a busy day for me. I'll see you both at dinner." Before Seth and Ethan could continue their interrogation, I cut them off since we arrived at my room.

Ethan gave a hum in acknowledgement and walked away, while Seth carried a dark face for a moment before turning to leave. However, he stopped but did not turn back to face me.

"I hope there is a day where you no longer keep secrets. I will wait." Without waiting for a response he walked away.

I couldn't help the sadness that flooded my eyes. Would he truly continue to think so once he finds I am nothing but a stranger. That his true sister has long left this body to an intruder.

I couldn't help the self deprecating smile that made way onto my face. Although, I felt fond of this family...

"I'd prefer it if you hated me, it makes my hope rise." I whispered to no one. I had hope that they could accept me, but I knew it would not happen once they found out about my true identity. I would probably receive looks of disgust and anger.

I knew I wanted to survive, there was no question about it. The real question was what I would do once I had survived. I hadn't thought that far, but I would have to leave here. Away from the characters and... this family.

The guilt I had ignored until now swirled in my stomach, making me nauseous. Looking blankly at the floor beneath my feet, I turned to enter my room with a tired mind. The only thought in my mind was, "I have to leave here."

I could no longer face this family genuinely with my conscious in tact.

Numbing my mind and heart, I continued to play part of a loving daughter until I could survive and leave.