As the days passed, my suspicion waned, and I learned to accept things for what they were. It had been almost three months since I woke up as Seraphina by my count, it was roughly January 15th or, in this world, Dule XV.

  I stood up and gazed into the mirror. The reflection I saw so often no longer seemed like a stranger. Or perhaps, my mind was finally coming to terms with the truth. That the stranger is me.

  I turned away from the mirror and walked to the window. The courtyard below was full of activity.

  Soldiers were clearing snow, and carriages were being unloaded. Maids were cleaning the manor, and the chefs had been cooking since dawn.

  Marin bustled into the room. She carried a scarlet red dress.

  "Happy birthday my lady!" she beamed. “I’m here to prepare you for the visit to the church later."

  “Thank you Marin" I said.

  "Are you nervous?" she asked as she laid the dress on the bed. "The Rite is a big moment my lady and everyone is talking about it."

  "I am fine." I said. "It is just a ceremony."

  "And the party!" she added. "Half the nobility of the province will be downstairs."

  "Then I suppose I should look the part then."

  Today was the celebration of my coming of age.

  In this world thirteen was the threshold. It was the moment a child became a young adult in the eyes of the law and the church. It meant I could sign contracts. It meant I could legally own property. And it meant I had to undergo the Rite of Affinity.

  I stretched my arms over my head and yawned. As Marin prepares the clothes I will wear.

  The old Viper would have spent the last week researching this rite. I would have stolen books from the library, bribed a priest for information, and mapped out every possible variable of the ceremony to ensure I could control the outcome.

  But I had done none of that.

  I knew the basics. A priest would come, there would be a blessing, and there would be a test of magic to determine my potential. I think.

  I decided to let it be a surprise.

  Marin finished lacing up the back of the red dress. It was sleek and perfectly fitted.

  She quickly rushed to the mirror, tilting it so I could see myself. In my head, I had expected to look ridiculous, but somehow... it felt right.

  "You look beautiful, my lady” Marin whispered.

  I nodded, staring at the reflection. “Who chose this dress?”

  “It was Lady Isolde” Marin beamed. “Your mother chose it herself."

  "I see" I murmured, smoothing the fabric of the dress.

  Suddenly, another maid knocked urgently before bursting in. "The Duke and Duchess are waiting at the courtyard gate!"

  Marin gasped. She returned the mirror to its stand and ushered me out of the room.

  When we reached the courtyard, my mother and father were already waiting. Marin immediately began to apologize for the delay.

  I looked at my mother. "Where are we going?" I asked.

  "Did Marin not inform you?" Mother asked, raising an eyebrow at the maid.

  Marin went pale and bowed low.

  "My deepest apologies, Your Grace. I failed to-"

  "Enough" Father said, cutting her off. "We are going to an early mass. Into the carriage, all of you."

  "I nodded and climbed into the carriage. To my surprise, Marin followed us in and took a seat. I glanced at Father and Mother, but they seemed unbothered, implying her presence was intended.

  The carriage lurched forward, and we rode for some time in silence. As the minutes passed, the atmosphere grew awfully quiet. It occurred to me then that this was the first time I had seen my parents together in such a confined space for any length of time. The heavy silence was broken only by Marin, who was softly humming to herself.

  Unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, I turned to Father.

  “Why are we attending a mass now?” I asked.

  Father sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed. "It is your first time going out. Aren't you excited to see the world outside the manor?"

  I glanced at Mother. She was looking at me with wide eyes, making a subtle, frantic motion to silence me.

  Realizing I had to play along, I quickly recovered. "Oh-no, I am excited. I was just wondering... why the church specifically?"

  "Since you have taken such an interest in religion lately" Father said. He opened one eye to look at me. "I thought it would be nice for you to experience the local church before you set off to the academy next month."

  I simply nodded in response, turning my gaze back to the window.

  We arrived at the church shortly after. The first thing I noticed as I stepped out of the carriage was the sheer scale of the building. It was massive, almost comparable to the Notre-Dame from my previous world.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  I scanned the area. It was pristine and spotless, with people bustling about. Yet, the contrast was staggering. The surrounding houses and stores were tiny specks against the church’s shadow. Even our own estate seemed to pale in comparison to this structure.

  Mother and Marin drifted away, distracted by a street artist near the entrance, but Father did not move. He reached down and took my hand firmly. I couldn't see his expression from where I stood, but his grip was tight, and the air around him felt tense.

  "This is our local cathedral, Seraphina." he said, his voice devoid of any religious wonder. "It took nearly two centuries to build in honor of the gods."

  He let out a sharp tsk of disapproval, As I felt his grip tighten slightly around my hand.

  We approached the entrance, we were escorted by men in heavy robes. Judging by their attire, they appeared to be cathedral guards and beneath the fabric. I could glimpse armor, and each man held a heavy staff.

  As we entered the cathedral, the atmosphere felt off. Gold, silver, and rare minerals adorned the unfamiliar statues lining the hall. Paintings covered the walls and stained glass filled the windows, all converging on a central symbol I couldn't quite identify. The scent of an unknown cologne permeated the air. It was a stark contrast to the church Father Mikhail managed.

  The High Priest greeted us as we made our way down the aisle. He shook Father's hand and they exchanged a few words. Then, the priest turned his gaze toward me, offering a soft smile, before having us escorted to a private seating area.

  Throughout the mass, I found myself instinctively watching Father’s expression. I would frequently glance at him, unable to shake a sudden sense of nervousness. Perhaps it was the sheer scale of the cathedral, but something about this place felt off. The priest spoke of how the Creator had died, passing His mantle down to the local deities.

  “We humans are indebted to these successors" the priest’s voice boomed across the hall. "We must offer them our total obedience and love, for they now hold the mantle of the Creator.”

  The priest spun toward the strange symbol in the center and dropped to his knees, beginning a dramatic performance.

  “Glory to His direct descendant, Dysiaa! Our goddess who led the people of Aesoria to the Promised Land!” His voice boomed across the cathedral.

  Everyone stood up. Confused, I stood up as well. Then, everyone knelt. But before I could, my father stopped me.

  Before I could process his defiance, Mother’s pale hands grabbed my arm, forcefully yanking me down to the cold stone floor.

  “Corvin!" she whispered, her voice trembling. “What on earth do you think you are doing?"

  Furious, Father stormed out of the cathedral. While everyone else knelt and prayed, he turned his back on the altar and walked away. I had never seen Father look so illogical. I knew he wasn't a religious man as he had never shown any interest in faith before. So I hadn't expected such a strong reaction.

  This whole situation is odd. Why would father intentionally bring me here and get mad right after.

  As I pondered Father's reaction, Mother gently patted my hand.

  “Pay him no mind” she whispered. “Your father has... complicated views on faith.”

  “Mother” lowering my voice, I asked “Who exactly is Dysiaa?”

  “Dysiaa is the goddess who led our people to this Promised Land" she explained. "She saved us from divine punishment when Aesoria and its sinners sank beneath the waves.”

  My eyes narrowed slightly. That was a direct contradiction to the texts in the library. The records stated a human prophet led the migration. More importantly, our family claimed descent from the First Wave of conquerors who colonized this land before the fall of Aesoria, not the desperate refugees who came after.

  Why was the narrative different here? I wanted to press her for details, but I decided not to, as religious topics often lead to the dumbest answers.

  An hour had passed, the mass finally concluded. As Mother, Marin, and I stepped out of the cathedral, we spotted Father standing alone near our carriage. I stared at him in disbelief. He was a Duke standing unguarded on a busy street, moments after brazenly storming out of a religious service. I might have misjudged him. Either he is the biggest fool I have ever known, or he was a predator so dangerous that he didn't need protection.

  Father strolled up to us, his expression unreadable as always.

  “I apologize for my rude behavior” he said, offering a slight bow.

  Mother didn't hesitate as she smacked the back of his head with her folded fan.

  “Goodness, Corvin. Must you act like a rebellious heretic in plain view of the city?” she hissed.

  Father lifted his head, unfazed, and looked at Marin. “It is almost lunchtime.”

  Marin beamed and guided us down a side street.

  “It is humble, Your Grace” she said nervously as we stopped in front of a cozy, timber-framed shop. "But my family is deeply honored to host the D’Ardens in our establishment."

  Stepping inside the restaurant, my nose was greeted with a savory aroma. It was reminiscent of local food sold all over the world in my previous life as V?i?p?e?r?.

  We were seated and weren't given a menu, but as quickly as we sat down, Marin helped pull out a tray of dishes, as it had been prepared in anticipation of our arrival.

  I couldn't help but chow down on the different cuisines. It was different from the food from the manor. This food was greasy and savory.

  As I ate away, I stopped, realizing my parents had been looking at me.

  Mother let out a small laugh, reaching over with a handkerchief to wipe sauce from my cheek. "Slow down, little glutton."

  I froze, embarrassed by my lack of discipline, but Father didn't scold me. He offered a rare, genuine smile, then turned to the maid. “Join us, Marin” he insisted, gesturing to the empty chair.

  Marin looked terrified, but at Mother's encouraging nod, she finally took the seat.

  It was the strangest dining experience of my life. A former a?s?s?a?s?s?i?n?, a maid, and two of the most powerful nobles in the empire, sharing a greasy meal.

  We finished our meal and rose from the table. I felt as though my stomach was about to burst, only for Father to remind me that there would be yet another feast this evening.

  I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my full belly.

  Mother laughed softly. “Oh my, it looks like Sera is back to her usual self again.”

  Usual self? I thought, frowning. What does she mean by that?

  Father offered a faint smile. “Maybe that meal was what she needed to fully recover.”

  The three of them shared a laugh while I stood there in confusion.

  “Well, for the past few months, you've acted... differently, Seraphina” Mother admitted.

  “Differently? How was I strange?” I asked. I’ve always just been me!

  “Do not worry about it” Father interjected. “We should head home now.”

  I quickly ran to the carriage, strutting happily, as Mother warned me from behind not to run when my belly was full.