“Welcome, everyone! Let's celebrate the night in the company of our esteemed hosts – the Baron and Baroness Fritzroy, along with their children, Roselle and Ethan!”

The crowd erupted with applause as the four of us made our way inside the hall.

Roselle’s father raised his hand to quiet the crowd in order to deliver his message.

“Good evening, everyone and thank you for gracing us with your presence for this event. Tonight is extra special as we celebrate not just graduation but also my son Ethan's birthday.”

Audience cheers and claps as Ethan acknowledges with a smile.

“Ethan has achieved so much, and I couldn't be prouder. Let's raise our glasses to him – for graduating and for another year of life and possibilities!”

Cheers and clinks of glasses fill the room as Baron Fritzroy raises his glass.

“Happy birthday and congratulations, Ethan!”

Crowd cheers louder as the celebration continues, focusing on Ethan's dual accomplishments.

Ethan turned towards me and held out his hands, asking me for a dance.

Here, it's a common thing for the main person to dance with their partner first at a ball.

I smiled at him and placed my hand on his. My gloves felt smooth against his hand. I made sure to wear gloves with my dress tonight so I wouldn't accidentally touch people since this is a social event where skin contact is expected.

As we moved to the center of the hall, my dress flowed gracefully with each step.

We took our positions as the music began. We danced in sync, and all the practice I put into learning these dances paid off.

I wasn't familiar with the traditional dances in this world, so I practiced a lot in the days leading up to the event.

It’s not like this world is not ready for twerking or throwing it back.

I laugh at my thought.

In the grand ballroom, I glided across the floor in a gown that resembled the night sky. The midnight blue silk rustled with every step, a dance of lace and satin that caught the eyes of everyone watching.

Next to me, my brother, looking sophisticated, danced a waltz that silenced the room. The chandeliers bathed us in light, and everyone's eyes showed admiration.

As we spun around, the gown turned into a dreamlike creation, its stitches telling stories of elegance.

Sob Sob

We gazed into each other's eyes, and then we heard someone sobbing. Following the sound, we saw Roselle and Ethan's parents.

The baroness had tears on her face, but she smiled at us. The baron nodded, assuring us that everything was okay. Luckily, he was a composed man, always there to comfort his wife and not one to join in a crying parent party.

Ethan and I exchanged a look, chuckled, and refocused on our dance.

"Hick. Why do they grow so fast?!" The composed baron surprised everyone by breaking down.

The onlookers awkwardly shifted their gaze back to us as the baron and baroness continued with their emotional moment.

"Now, there are two of them," Ethan chuckled.

I gave an awkward smile too because I wasn't sure how to feel about the adults crying over their grown-up children.

Technically, Roselle is about to celebrate her coming of age in 6 months. I guess I should expect more tears from her parents during that celebration.

But I won't be there to witness it. Not that I want to. I'll probably be back in my own world by then.

I felt a gentle squeeze on my hand, the one Ethan was holding. It made me look at him once again.

Studying him now, he really resembles the Baron, although his hair is like his mother's—dark brown. Roselle, on the other hand, doesn't resemble either the Baron or the Baroness, but her hair is just like her father's—beautiful locks of snow-like hair with light blue highlights that seem straight out of a fantasy world.

Roselle's features actually strongly resemble the Baron's mother, her grandmother. She passed away soon after giving birth to the current head of the family. So, it's no wonder that the guy who came to rescue me with Ethan didn't recognize that I am Ethan's sister.

"Roselle, I'm sorry," Ethan interrupted my thoughts.

"For what?" I asked since I didn't have a clue about what he was sorry for.

He smiled, but it wasn't the same smile he showed earlier. There was a hint of sadness and regret in his voice.

"I couldn't rescue you earlier. If I had just prevented it, you wouldn't have lost your memory," he said referring to the time I was kidnapped.

It’s not that I lost it… It’s because I am not the real Roselle in the first place.Keke

"I'm sure it's hard for you to re-learn all the things you worked hard to know before, and it's tough not remembering the times with all the people you love," he added, his voice almost cracking.

"I'm sorry that I lacked the skills to protect you just yet."

I stared at him for a while as I processed what he was saying. I wasn't sure how the original Roselle would respond to his words.

Considering Roselle's characteristics—she's kind, speaks kindly, and is just too kind.

Kind words only.

“Young lord Sebastian Beaumont is just too good for just a baron’s daughter like her.” A female voice reached my ear.

“Bullshit.” I unknowingly blurted out.

I overheard their conversation as if they wanted me to hear. I didn't bother looking at them because I was sure they were just a bunch of irrelevant faces.

Sebastian Beaumont is Roselle's current lover. People here think he's a great catch and too good for a lowly baron's daughter like Roselle, but in reality, he's not such a catch.

I gritted my teeth at the thought of him when suddenly, I felt a gloomy aura near me, bringing my attention back to my dance partner.

"Ahh... I-yeah," he stuttered.

I looked at him, confused.

"Oww." It dawned on me that I had spoken my thoughts out loud.

His face shadowed with gloom as he absorbed my words.

Uh, how do I console someone? Way to go, Kim Aera.

"Look, the important thing is I'm here now. Safe and sound," I forced a reassuring smile at him.

He smiled, but the gloomy aura didn't leave him.

We continued to dance in silence as other partners joined the dance floor. The music eventually came to an end, so we bowed to each other, and he guided me out of the center.

He was about to leave when I held onto his sleeve.

"Thank you for coming to my rescue, my lord," I said in a calm tone.

He turned to face me again and leaned forward to be at my eye level, like how a big brother consoles a younger sibling.

"I may be lacking in many ways as your brother, but I promise to do everything I can to improve myself to protect our family and you. I promise you that, Roselle," he said, holding both of my shoulders.

I nodded abruptly.

"Please call me big brother once again, Roselle."

Now that he mentioned it, I had been addressing not just him but all of Roselle's family too formally, using their titles.

I contemplated his proposition for a moment.

Would it be okay to call him big brother? Would it be alright to even call Roselle's parents mother or father? I mean, it doesn’t sit well with me since I am not the real Roselle.

They are not my real family. Even though I feel like I don’t even have one. No. They are not my family. I am not the real Roselle, so I should draw a line to not forget who I really am and not get attached to these people who are actually strangers to my real self.

"I don’t feel like calling you that as of now," I said firmly my gaze unwavering.

His face couldn't hide the pain he felt with my words, and oddly, I felt a throb in my chest knowing that I hurt him.

"I will try," I looked away sheepishly.

"Okay. I will wait patiently for you to call me big brother again," he chuckled.

"Yes, please," I said, not meeting his eyes.

I suddenly felt his light pats on the top of my head. I flinched.

I looked at him. He was smiling widely, then proceeded to turn away to make his exit. I was left there not knowing what I was feeling.

I touched the top of my head unknowingly. The sensation was foreign, a gentle touch that transcended the formalities of their aristocratic world.

I don’t know what kind of feeling this is. It feels strange. Is this how it feels to have a brother? The way he patted my head felt like he was telling me that everything is alright.

I was brought back to my reality when I felt someone hugging me. I realized that the baroness, who had been sobbing a while ago, was now hugging me tightly and whispering warm words for a daughter who is soon to be an adult.

It’s odd. It feels warm. I rested my chin on her shoulders as she hugged me tightly. The foreignness that I was feeling melted away, replaced by a sense of belonging that lingered.

Just how far should I draw the line between playing Roselle and being the real me, Kim Aera?

How far should I draw the line between two me?