I was born the Unloved Twin

One of my major selling points, especially in comparison to my little sister, is that I'm healthy. I'm a physically active, well fed, well developed two year old child with what the adults think is a good head on my shoulder. As Ms. Gerda would describe me,

"She's smart, a too much trouble for her own good but smart."

It's assumed that I'm just a faster developer than Lilyanne, being a little larger and a lot faster at walking and talking. I came out first after all. What an easy explanation.

While I have yet to see myself in a mirror in this world, I am told when asked that look I like the "healthier" or "livelier" version of Lilyanne

"The troublesome tomboy version more like it."

As Ms. Gerda calls it, I think recently father adopted the term as well.

My sister looks similar to how I remember she did in her early years, but fuller. I can't say yet but it seems she's not getting sick nearly as often as she did before. She's a sweet cherub looking child, one that anyone could easily see growing into a beauty. Her light chestnut hair was more of a milk tea color than mother's and fell in looser curls to frame her little heart shaped face. Those honey amber eyes were large, often times teary, and lashed like a baby brown cow. Hey that's a good thing, aren't cow eyes cute! Should I have used the word doll instead? No, she really does look more like a baby cow to me.

Her delicate features are accentuated with skin that was fair and tender soft with a warm hue of color, like the insides of a sweet freshly baked honey bun.

"You're more the shade of the light sides on these buns Miss Rosalia. You play outside a lot more."

Said George the Jr. Chef, who's turning 15 this year and treats me more like a little sister than a bossy young Miss. Maybe that's why I keep using him, uh I mean allowing him to create my recipes. Those honey buns are now a Ventrella household staple by the way.

So despite being the supposedly evil twin of this angelic creature, people can tell us apart without too much difficulty. Even in the past, it must have something to do with our general aura and personalities shining through. There was also make up and Lilyanne's general frailness. It's quite easy to tell us apart when you know what to look for.

Just not right now.

Right now I'm just as pale, weak and listless as an tired Lilyanne. Our own grampa couldn't tell us apart like this, and he's the one who knows about me!

It's been two god forsaken weeks, going on three, on the road, and enchanted carriages or not I'm dead. Just end me now. My motion sickness has already killed then spat me back out to keep suffering this bumpy hell. While the long trip has been a tiresome toll on both mother and Lilyanne, I'm the most obviously affected one. I must look like absolute death since mother is doting on me on quite heavily. Her lap is usually reserved for me weaker younger sister but here I am, trying to avoid any painful consciousness. To be treated like Lilyanne, I must really be bad and boy do I feel it.

If only I could sit outside on the horses or with the driving escorts. But I'm only allowed to ride outside so often as it's a safety concern and improper nearing the capital in the midways lands.

To be clear the midway lands houses Republic city, where the Capital was moved to and established decades ago in Grampa's youth. It's is quite literally midway of various nations states and territories and is ideal meeting spot for international conferences. The name isn't very creative but it was established by Grampa after all. While we don't necessarily rule it, no one person does, we are obviously a prominent founding family.

Officially the Spring conference is held a day's ride outside of Republic city to avoid safety threats and nosy crowds. With our beast steeds and carriages it would take us two hours at most. While we have accommodation there it's more convenient to stop and stay at out family mansion in Republic City.

I could go on about the city life, intermingling of cultures and entertainment there but I'm too sick to notice anything outside my own nausea. I have no strength to do anything, not even cry.

Hey maids aren't you guys happy? This is the most well behaved I've been since, well ever. I wasn't even this quiet or still at birth!

When the carriage finally stops in front of out capital mansion home I could fall to the perfectly still ground, blessed solid ground, and kiss it. I think I tried to do just that but it looked like I merely collapsed face first.

"Oh my! Roslaia!!!"

"Quickly get the young Miss inside."

"Get the doctor!"

"My Lord has already prepared and a court physician is waiting inside."

"Is that the Dawn child they speak of, the rumors are right she's such a pitiful little child.

"Oh poor sweet birdie."

"On the contrary, that's the eldest one."

"Eh?! That's the healthy twin? Then what's the younger one like!?"

I did not collapse, I was merely showing the solid ground my love and appreciation. And then not make any motion to move.

The staff quickly carried me in and set me up in bed. If it weren't for the doctor prodding me and the worried crowd surrounding my bed it would have been comfortable enough to fall asleep immediately.

"There there Maria , the nice doctor said so himself. She'll bounce right back with enough rest."

"Well the child is rather on the dehydrated and malnourished side, her stomach is weak at the moment and should-"

"Will bounce right back, correct!"

"ER- yes of course My Lord. Don't fret My Lady, long term travel is hard on small children. Their senses are underdeveloped and get all jumbled, though this child does have a fascinatingly severe case of misbala-"

"Right and healthy! There, he said it himself."

I can still hear mother's awkward sobs despite father's warm comforts and the doctor's very assuring words. Great job you two, she's trying even harder now. Just let me die in this bed in peace. This is how I go after rebirth into a a rich noble girl, death by motion sickness.

----
When I finally wake up from my motion sick fueled exhaustion, it's not yet morning but the birds outside are chirping. The bed is incredibly warm with Lilyanne curled up by my side. It seems she insisted to stay and sleep with me as per habit. The bed is too large for a single child anyways.

We had arrived to the capital before noon yesterday and for me to sleep straight to now was a little excessive. While I could easily fall back asleep the doctor was right and I was feeling extremely parched. Lilyanne is a heavy sleepy and while she did cling on rather stubbornly I was able to escape her teddy bear hold.

It looks like I was washed and dressed for bed sometime after I passed out but as expected. It's a little awkward but I've gotten used to being dressed and pampered like rich young miss, ha like that's hard thing to get used to. It's perfect for a lazy person like me.

But I'm still a commoner deep down and always will be.

I could have rung for a maid, the bells that connect to the servant quarters are right there after all. Instead I patter down to the kitchen in my night gown. I've never been here before but it's a path I have memorized, as with the entire layout of the house.

At this time the servants are up and starting their day, no one even notices as I creep up to the kitchen.

"Excuse me, may I have some water?"

A pitiful little voice croaks out of my mouth, ah I'm really thirsty. The tiny sound causes a mass panic in the room though.

"Young Miss!!!"

"Young Miss what are you doing in here?!"

"Oh god how did she get down here, did no one do their jobs?!"

"Shit you guys really weren't joking, she really does just appear out of nowhere."

Luckily a few servants we brought from home are used to my habits and manage to get things situated. Two glasses of water later I make to introduce myself.

"Thank you very much. Pardon my disruption, I am Rosalia Therese Ventrella and am pleased to make your acquaintance. I missed introductions yesterday and gave many people quite a scare but am alright now. Again I thank you for your service thus far and hope to please take care of me from now on."

I curtsy to a mostly shocked quiet room. It would really be awkward without my home servants here, looks like I really have to rely on them the most. I was hoping to make a better impression here. It wouldn't do for to be ignored or feared like last time. Negative gossip would get around quickly.

I see George and a few other familiar faces in room and am glad they came along. Maybe they can help smooth things over with improving everyone's opinion of me.

"Ah that's our Rosalia alright, glad to see you're feeling better."

"Geez your motion sickness is really bad, you looked like a real dainty young misses from some old noble's house."

"...But she isn't she one though?

"Hmm not really, it's Rosalia."

"How can you speak that way to the young Mistress! Apologize right this instant, oh dear, please forgive us m-"

"Hey hey calm down it's alright, Rosalia is fine. She's usually like this. You can relax, she's always around in the kitchen back getting dirty at our place."

"Did you want a little something to eat? You missed all of lunch and dinner yesterday"

"Yes please! Is that leftover stew I smell?"

"Haha you know it, always better the next day."

Those from the capital staff are still either staring at me in shock or ready to pounce into action, a particular maid's face seems to be experiencing a seizure.

"But you can't! Please wait a little while longer and we'll have a proper meal fit for you served"

"Oh? Is there not enough to go around? I'll be sure to note increasing the food budget of the staff here, please let me know if you're facing any other difficulties."

I try to keep my smile pleasant but I'm tired and hungry here. It's rude to keep your young miss waiting like this you know? Can't be helped with these newbs but still.

"That's not I- we meant, My lady it's not suitable to your taste."

"Oh just let it go, you'll get used to it soon enough. Come up here Rosalia, you can sit next to me. And here you go, bread?"

"Thank you Donna!"

A dark haired staff member helps set my seat but overall lets me climb up by myself, as I like. Let's practice independence as soon as possible! But I am a very small child so I need all these cushions to reach to table and help in getting my food. I can feed myself just fine though, as soon as I can reach. Besides, it's kind of hard to mess up with something as simple as stew and bread. At least it's tasty, especially after the next day. 

"But!!! At the servants' table!" cries a senior servant, ready to declare the rules of proper behavior and blah blah blah. Just let me eat.

"Haha, you'll get used to it!"

"She's an excellent critic on the food too- out of the mouth of babes."

"Excellent? I don't know about that I'm still recovering from the last scathing review."

"That's because your last recipe really sucked."

The conversation flows into a much more comfortable territory and my morning meal becomes much nicer.

My hometown team staff is really a blessing to have. I"ll be sure to reward them in some way later. Perhaps another recipe? What do I crave next? Hmmm, it is still the tail of winter so I need to consider the seasonal ingredients available.
They're all turning into gluttonous foodies with me lately, or maybe they were already like that? Well, we're a good match either way.

The capital staff here are still rather shocked and don't know what to make of me yet. But it's better than being ignored, it's better than being hated and avoided. It's a start.

Hey everyone, let's all get along from now on. I promise I won't mistreat you if you just follow my every command!
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