I’m Reincarnated In Otome Game?

"So… you picked up Lady Blauvelt, is that it?"

"I call it rescue. She's not some stray animal," Randy replied, sounding annoyed, as he stood before his father, Alan Victor—a man with a thick mustache, head in his hands, and also the viscount ruling the Victor family estate. 

Even though the term "picked up" wasn't entirely inaccurate, Randy looked away from his father.

"It was beyond my control," he added, pouting.

Alan sighed deeply but softened his expression slightly. "Clarice will be thrilled to hear about this."

"Good thing she's with Grandpa right now," Randy muttered. 

Clarice, Randy's younger sister, had always wanted an older sister. 

She would surely be excited to welcome Elizabeth, the young lady Randy had brought home. 

Randy's mother and younger siblings were currently visiting her family, so Clarice wasn't around to meet Elizabeth yet.

"But… she won't be living with us, right?" Randy asked with a frown.

"Hmm," Alan murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps I should meet this young lady first."

Alan's gentle smile made Randy feel a small pang of guilt for causing trouble for his kind-hearted father. And yet, Randy felt gratitude as well; in that moment back in the forest, he chose to help Elizabeth while ignoring the aftermath of the problem.

"She should be done with her bath by now," Randy said, glancing toward the office door, as if to hide his embarrassment.

Keith, the family's steward, then announced "Lady Blauvelt requested audience with Lord Randy and Lord Alan. She is here."

"What? Really?" Randy asked, his surprise evident. Keith nodded, signaling that Elizabeth was already waiting outside the office.

Alan quickly stood and adjusted his jacket, and Randy turned to face the door. 

Even though Elizabeth was no longer a proper lady of rank, it wouldn't have been right to greet her while they seated relaxedly.

Once Alan and Randy had stood up, Keith opened the door slowly. 

Guided by her maid, Rita, Elizabeth entered, and Randy found himself momentarily breathless. 

He had known of her beauty—she was famously called the "Ice Princess." But her fresh, radiant appearance after a bath, dressed in a nightgown, felt like a whole new vision, making the reality of her presence hit him anew.

"It's an honor to meet you. My name is Elizabeth," she said with a graceful curtsy, prompting Alan and Randy to respond with polite bows.

"Welcome, Lady Elizabeth. I am Alan Victor… about my son, well—"

"I know him," she replied with a gentle smile, and Alan returned her smile.

"Please, have a seat," Alan said, gesturing to the sofa. Elizabeth hesitated slightly, her expression troubled. 

From her omission of her family name, Alan understood that Elizabeth no longer saw herself as a noble. For her to sit on the sofa while he, a viscount, remained standing might seem improper.

"I'm aware of your circumstances," Alan reassured her. "But right now, it's just us here."

"And I don't think I can just stand and talk with a woman"

With a shrug, Alan smiled and invited her once more to sit. 

Finally, Elizabeth gave in, lowering herself onto the sofa as Alan and Randy took seats across from her.

"Now, as I mentioned, we're aware of some of your situation," Alan began.

"Some of it?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, to a certain extent," he confirmed with a smile, causing her to straighten her posture.

"So, shall we hear what you wish to share with us?" Alan invited, indicating he was ready to listen to whatever message she had for them. Elizabeth looked at Randy, appearing slightly uncertain.

Randy wasn't sure why she was looking at him, but he gave her a reassuring smile and said, "It's okay."

With a small sigh of relief, Elizabeth relaxed, her platinum-blonde hair suddenly turning dark as her breath escaped. Her eyes turned crimson, and her entire presence transformed in front of them. Alan and Keith stared in shock, watching this mysterious sight unfold.

"We meet again, boy," said Elizabeth—or rather, the entity within her—grinning with her now blood-red eyes.

"It's you…" Randy muttered, remembering when he'd knocked her out in the forest.

The woman laughed. "I am Eleonora, an ancient great magician."

"Never heard of you," Randy replied with a smirk. 

Annoyed, Eleonora narrowed her eyes, "Ignorant..". Of course it was not just Randy; even Alan and Keith didn't seem to know her name, they just looked wt Eleonora in silence.

"And why, a mighty ancient witch inhabiting Elizabeth's body?"

Randy's attitude turned casual, and he leaned back in his chair, losing any noble decorum now that he was no longer speaking to a marquess's daughter. 

Alan nudged him slightly in the ribs, but Randy ignored him.

"Why? Because of you!" Eleonora exclaimed, eyes wide with anger. 

She explained that the black mist they had encountered had been her soul. 

Sealed away long ago, her soul had been released when the shrine—a part of the barrier—was broken, allowing her to possess Elizabeth.

"Her soul was filled with despair and fear, and she had immense magical power to serve as my vessel. If you hadn't knocked her out, our souls would have merged completely," Eleonora added, glaring at Randy with obvious resentment.

"So, just leave her body, then. Don't act so high and mighty while you're leeching off someone else."

"Are you sure you want to take that tone with me?" Eleonora said, smirking mischievously.

"Are you unaware that the little girl is also watching you through my eyes?"

"You could have mentioned that a bit earlier."

Randy, with an awkward grin and absurdly polite language, made Eleonora burst out laughing.

"No need to hide it now, is there?"

"Noble society has its… intricacies," Randy replied, still visibly uncomfortable.

Eleonora wiped her eyes and nodded approvingly. "I like you. I'll make you my second servant."

"I refuse."

"Why?!"

"Why not?"

As Randy looked away, Eleonora pouted and muttered to herself, "I'll get you to agree." At that moment, her hair shifted from black to platinum silver, and her eyes returned to their clear, sapphire blue.

"Lord Randolph…"

"Yes?"

Randy's smooth reply seemed to surprise Elizabeth. Recalling his recent change in demeanor, her shoulders trembled slightly until, finally…

"Hehehe…"

A soft laugh escaped her. 

Blushing, Elizabeth quickly covered her mouth and bowed her head.

"My apologies."

"No need to worry."

Randy's polite tone made her shoulders tremble again. "I'm sorry… The switch was just so quick," she admitted, trying to stifle her laughter, though she found it difficult to look Randy in the eye. 

Meanwhile, Alan and Keith glanced at Randy as if to say, "This is your fault," causing him to wrinkle his nose.

"So? What do you want from me, Lady Elizabeth?"

Though Randy's words were polite, his attitude was slightly dismissive. Even so, Elizabeth respectfully bowed her head.

"I'd like to ask if you could employ us here at your estate."

Seeing her serious gaze, Randy adjusted his posture.

"May I ask why?"

"I'm planning to search for her true body," Elizabeth explained. "However, to be honest, I don't have the funds…"

"Why are you looking for her body?"

"Because… she's like me. Abandoned by the world…"

Elizabeth trailed off, visibly distressed. Randy clicked his tongue softly. 

Having taken her under his protection, he couldn't just abandon her now. Even if he didn't have her live here, he intended to at least help her find a direction.

But now, she intended to search for the witch's body. If he turned her away, she'd undoubtedly wander off on her own.

(I guess I've already embarked this journey…) Randy sighed deeply, and Elizabeth's shoulders shook, perhaps mistaking it for anger. 

Instead of correcting her, he turned to his father, Alan.

"Father, you mentioned needing an civil servant, right?"

"I'd prefer you call me… Wait, what?"

Alan furrowed his brow, but as he understood Randy's implication, he looked back and forth between Randy and Elizabeth.

"Could it be?"

"Yes, exactly. Lady Elizabeth was top of her class and helped manage her family's Blauvelt estate… Right?"

Elizabeth gave a small nod.

"I see. That's wonderful."

Alan beamed, and Elizabeth, catching on, looked between him and Randy. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Randy shrugged. "You'll have a job, and we gain a talented person."

"Oh, but I should mention," Randy added with a grin, "we're incredibly poor. Half-hearted reforms won't be enough to restore this land."

Elizabeth responded with her first confident smile. "Leave it to me. I'll do my very best."

In that moment, the destinies of the exiled marquiss's daughter, the heir of a poor viscount, and an ancient witch took a major turn off from the original story.