A few things have become clear to me.
First, this is Hollowbrook—the place where the baron first meets Heide Atrel.
I glanced at the wooden bed, the poorly fixed frame barely holding together. Liese was curled up in a ball, breathing softly.
God, it took forever to calm her down. I looked down at my hands, flexing my fingers. This body isn't mine. This life isn't mine. Heide Atrel is dead. In his place, a complete stranger sits.
…How would I have felt if the sibling I loved had been replaced like this?
I slapped my cheeks. Not the time for this.
Right now, my plan is simple.
Avoid the baron.
Keep Liese alive.
Don't get adopted.
The baron only came here looking for one kid—someone well-educated. That was Heide. That was me. But if I play dumb, he won't take me. Liese and I can stay together.
I smirked. Easy. I'm a full-grown adult in a child's body. Outsmarting some aristocrat should be as easy as reading a newspaper.
Don't worry, Liese. I'll make us rich.
---
…What the actual fuck is this?
I stood frozen in the middle of town, gripping Liese's tiny hand. The newspaper in my other hand crinkled slightly.
This is bullshit. I can't read it.
What? This isn't right. I read the birthday message on my cake earlier. That was in English. So why—
The letters on the newspaper twisted like some eldritch script.
Not English. Not even close.
"Heide… why did you come here? You never read the news," Liese asked, tilting her head.
I forced a smile. "I just felt like it."
Okay, Calm down. Breathe.
The newspaper was distributed for free. That meant someone wanted everyone to see it. Probably the baron. He's looking for someone who can read. And yet—
None of us can.
The villagers took the papers anyway, stuffing them into baskets and pockets, probably to use for firewood or whatever else. It didn't matter to them.
But it mattered to me. I need to know what's going on.
As we walked, Liese bounced beside me, still holding my hand.
"Heide, when did you last braid my hair?"
"Today."
"What did we eat on Thursday?"
"Bread."
"What did Grandma Rosa give me for my birthday?"
"A hairpin."
Liese beamed, tightening her grip.
My answers weren't guesses. They came naturally. Memories are returning to me. Heide's memories.
I sighed, glancing up at the cloudy sky. I wasn't the only one taking care of Liese. An old woman—Grandma Rosa—had been looking after us too. Kind, but completely insane.
She never calls us by our real names. Luna and Dorak—her actual grandkids, long gone. We've corrected her a thousand times. She never listens.
Not that it matters. If she keeps feeding us, she can call me whatever the hell she wants.
What Do You Mean I Can't Read?
Something's wrong.
I can't read the newspaper, but I read Happy Birthday just fine earlier. That means—
I snapped my fingers. The cake.
"Liese, whoever reaches home first gets most of the cake."
She looked at me with wide, excited eyes. "Give me a head start!"
This little shit. Already negotiating for benefits. But why not? I could easily outrun a child.
"Alright. I'll count to three."
Before I even said one, Liese bolted.
...
What in the actual hell?
I was panting at the doorstep, barely standing.
Liese was fast. No, not just fast—twice my speed. Even if we had started at the same time, I wouldn't have caught her. What kind of monster was this kid?
"I won! So can I eat the whole thing?" Liese grinned up at me.
"Haha… no." I forgot I am in a child's body too, but how weak was Heide to not even be able to run as fast as his sister?
I staggered inside and collapsed onto the bed, still catching my breath. She pouted but didn't argue, keeping the cake safe as she sat down beside me.
I glanced at it. The icing letters were still there, just like before.
But when I looked closer—my eyes widened.
It changed.
It was the exact same script as the newspaper.
"Liese… was this always the same?" I asked.
She tilted her head. "Yeah?"
My fingers tightened slightly.
…So it wasn't the letters that changed. It was me.
I see. Let's eat.
I split the cake with my hands, the sponge crumbling slightly. I gave the bigger half to Liese.
"Here."
She beamed and happily kicked her legs while munching away. Watching her, I smiled faintly—just for a moment.
But my thoughts didn't stop.
So That's How It Works…
I get it now.
What I saw as nonsense earlier wasn't a different language—it was English itself.
Since my mind took over Heide's body, I could read English just fine. But Heide couldn't. And since his memories were filling my mind, his illiteracy was affecting me too.
But it's temporary.
I'll adjust. Heide knew how to read some words, and I can read too. It'll sort itself out.
By the time we finished eating, the sun had nearly set. The cool breeze slipped through the cracks in our worn-down house.
"Liese, are you hungry?"
She shook her head.
"Then let's sleep."
I lay on the bed, and she curled up beside me.
There was nowhere else to sleep except the floor. And I wasn't about to sleep on the floor. Heide always slept next to Liese. If I changed that, she'd worry.
The wooden bed creaked slightly as I stared up at the ceiling.
…Even now, I couldn't sleep.
The moonlight spilled through the window. The breeze carried the distant sounds of Hollowbrook settling into the night.
If I'm ten… and she's seven…
Then in a few days, Liese will die.
That's how the story goes.
And during my despair, the baron will find me.
But I don't even know how she dies. That's the first thing I need to figure out.
My thoughts swirled in the quiet night, tangled between memories—mine and Heide's.
I don't know how Liese dies. I don't know when, where, or why.
As the cool night air drifted in, my mind slowly quieted. The weight of exhaustion pulled me down.
My thoughts faded.
And I fell asleep.