Raven finally realized the reason Izer's name and the Langston's name felt familiar to her.
This world, the body that she unexpectedly possessed, the original owner's family, everything and everyone was in a novel, following a plot to have its ending, and meeting their destined fates that could never change.
According to the novel, Izer Langston, the original owner's second brother, was the main villain, one of the important characters needed for a plot development.
If Izer was the main villain, then as his youngest sister, what character was she?
'Ha!' Raven's eyes darkened as she thought of the story background regarding Izer as the main villain. The Grand duke as Izer's father was mentioned, and his six half-siblings were also mentioned in the novel.
However….
That was the problem.
Right now, Izer had seven half-siblings and not six.
Who was the seventh sibling? Why was the person not mentioned in the novel?
Thinking of how she entered a dead body, Raven understood how the seventh sibling of Izer died long before the beginning of the novel. The death of Izer's seventh sibling was never mentioned, and Raven guessed the reason was because she was an insignificant character fated to die at a young age.
No one cared about her, as her fate was useless and insignificant to the plot.
That insignificant character was the original owner and also herself now.
Izer's seventh sibling.
Raven Langston, the body of the person that she entered on that day.
Angelina was the name of the novel.
A tale of the life of an orphaned girl named Angelina. The ending of the novel was Angelina becoming the highest ranked lady in the Amarian empire, The Empress. That also meant that she married the emperor, and they lived their lives happily ever after.
Now…how did the emperor, the highest-ranked person revered by many in the Amarian empire, notice an insignificant orphaned girl, a person trying to survive at the slumps of the Amarian empire?
This question was easily answered in Raven's former life. She had stolen the novel from a prison guard and read it to pass away the time. She had finished this novel of over 100 pages in two days, and returned it back to the same prison guard.
'I can't believe I am inside a novel...is that even possible?' Raven did not think there was something like magic or witchcraft in her former life. But looking at the reflection of her perfect face on the plate, she started to think there was something like that.
How did she become this character with an unfortunate fate?
Was this world really a novel or a real world?
Were the characters real people or just characters?
Now that Raven had a guess of her situation, questions began to appear in her mind, but it seemed she would have to ask herself later as another set of large doors on the side of the room suddenly opened and entered the Grand duke with his wives.
Staring at the handsome man surrounded by his six beautiful wives, Raven was pleased that she had the chance to admire another set of beauties. Now she understood where the original owner and Izer got their fine features. Her other siblings were not shining less than them.
The Grand duke was really blessed with good genes. His wives were no exceptions.
Earlier, Raven noticed their absence, but it had always been like that in the original owner's memories. The children would wait in the dining hall, and the six wives would meet up with the Grand duke before arriving together.
''Greetings Father.''
Raven and the other children acknowledged the Grand duke according to the etiquettes they were taught by their tutors; the males bowed, and the females curtsied. Their movements were perfect and fitting as the children from a prestigious family.
''um.'' The Grand duke responded with a low hum, not saying another word, and sat on the chair at the head of the table.
Once the Grand duke was settled, the wives followed after, and the children sat back down in their seats. Seeing that, the servants waiting to serve the meals, began to place the plates on the table without a single mistake.
Raven stared at the plate of soup placed in her front. Eyeing the shredded lumps swimming her plate, her nose twitched at the familiar aroma.
'I-Is this chicken?' Raven's brows twitched at the sight of the plain, shredded chicken and soup. This must be chicken soup, since there was only shredded chicken and nothing else in the soup.
'What blasphemy is this....?' Raven wanted to cry. Was this only her dinner? A simple chicken soup, and nothing else?! Would this even hold her throughout the night? Chicken in her former life was garnished and marinated to perfection. Even one could drool from its picture.
The food from the prison was also better-looking than this!
''You've been staring at your soup for quite some time, fourth young lady.'' A feminine voice disturbed the trials of Raven's thoughts.
Raven looked up from her plate and her vibrant eyes were directed to the woman seated by the sixth madam's side. She was the same woman who glared at her on the battle grounds, the mother of Edwin.
The fifth madam of the Langston family.
''What does fifth madam mean?'' A small smile appeared on Raven's lips.
They couldn't just wait to bully her. How impatient of them.
''Child, you are the only one who has yet to enjoy the family dinner. I wonder if there's something wrong with the soup? Is it not to your taste or there's something actually wrong? Perhaps her excellency can do something about the chef.'' The fifth madam 'kindly' suggested, looking worried for Raven like her own daughter.
But…her choice of words was clearly targeting Raven's downfall.
'A poisonous tongue.'
Raven's smile did not drop as she studied this fifth madam. This woman and her son had always targeted the original owner for unknown reasons. As always, they came out victorious, and the original owner suffered more in their hands. No one pitied her or tried to help her out, even if they were aware that she was the victim.
'Even you won't help me.' Raven's gaze shifted to the side, staring at the sixth madam peacefully sipping her soup as if her own daughter wasn't bullied.
'Well, I wasn't expecting anything since it has always been like that.' Raven did not bother with the nonchalant attitude of the sixth madam. When the original owner was in danger, the sixth madam never helped out as her mother. If this mother did not help out the real daughter, why would she, the fake one, expect anything?
'Such useless thoughts.' Raven's eyes moved back to the fifth madam waiting of her words. Her heart has been long dead since her former life. She never understood the relationship between a mother and daughter or family when she was never placed in one.
She only had an idea of how families should be, because of the therapist in the special organization. This new family of hers was definitely not like the words from the therapist.
''Fifth madam, did I ever complain about the soup?''
Everyone in the dining hall had to pause and stare at the little girl, who asked that question with a small smile. The only exception was the Grand duke, sipping his chicken soup as if nothing was happening in the room.
'W-When did this girl learn to talk back?' Fifth madam looked taken aback. She had to control her stunned expression, and quickly looked for words to say in her defense.
''Y-You never did. I only assumed there was something wrong. You have yet to lift your spoon.''
''You just assume, fifth madam.'' Raven's lips went up higher, as she calmly dealt with the older woman. ''This is father's manor. His manor, his rules. Who am I to complain about the soup that father enjoys? You dragged mother's name as well. Makes me wonder what fifth madam is trying to do?''
If the fifth madam's words were poisonous, then Raven's words are deadly.