Author's Note:

Sorry for not giving you guys a Christmas present, but here's a holiday update to celebrate both Christmas and New Year ^^ Hope you're all enjoying your holidays!

-------------------------

I know that some people would name their children using their ancestors, relatives, closest people's names... but...

I TOTALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THAT MY (PREVIOUS) NAME WOULD BE USED LIKE THIS, ALRIGHT?!

From how Clyde and Nicole talked about me (Reinst), I know that they were still thinking about me, and I was happy to know that... that they still remember me, that I actually mean something to them, but...

Not to the extent of naming their son after me!!

Yes, that's taking it to another different level!

This is totally outrageous, okay?

Now, how should I face this nephew of mine?

I'm lucky that they didn't decide his nickname with "Rein" or something like that, or I won't be able to face this little kid with a straight face!!

I still hadn't recovered from my shock when I noticed everyone was staring at me in silence...

Eh, w-what is it?

"Hey, Lyra, it's your turn to introduce yourself!" Alt-nii nudged my hand.

"Eh? Ah, y-yes! It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Alrescha Lyra Hartmann, you can just call me Lyra. Congratulations on turning six!" I curtseyed.

When I raised my head after I introduced myself, what I saw right away was... this cheeky brat's ridiculing smile!!

...At least, that was how his smile looked like in my head.

......Let me take back my words on how I said this child was angelic. Though it was only my hunch, but I still felt like being ridiculed! He must be laughing at me as I stuttered and forgot to introduce myself!

Excuse me, but that wasn't necessarily my fault! It was all thanks to your name, it totally gave me quite a blow!

...I should have asked to read the invitation that my parents received. I should have at least asked about his full name. That way, I'd have come prepared!!!

"It's about time for the party to start, right? We'd better return to the main hall," Mom calmly said, breaking this awkward silence.

"Thank you for taking us around, Clyde-san. Then, Nicole-san, Ein, we will see you there," Dad thankfully didn't turn into his doting parent mode—he was all duke mode now.

***

The only thing that managed to catch my attention in this party even while I was drowning in my thought about Ein's name was the appearance of the Grabberton family.

Let's not mention Kania-san (Clyde's mother) as she really doted on her grandson, naturally. Clyde's expression turned so gentle when he looked at his mother and son smiling happily.

That smile diminished and changed into a more insincere smile when Father came up and spoke a few words. ...I wonder what might it be?

Knowing Father, perhaps he tried to advise Clyde and Nicole with his ways—and focused on telling Ein to hold up the pride of the family. Perhaps... Clyde didn't want his son to be taught that way. Nicole definitely didn't want that, I knew her and her family after all. They were really a loving and harmonious family.

Then—Mother... Eh?

The Mother that I knew would definitely try to keep up her graceful and virtuous bearing, even when she felt otherwise deep down. I knew how she despised Clyde, she never liked him. ...That was why Mother told me to stay away from him.

But this time, upon facing Clyde and Nicole, Mother's virtuous face seemed to crack. She had this unpleasant expression—as if she couldn't stand being here. I thought of this as something interesting to note, so I tried moving closer to them so I could eavesdrop something.

"Oh my, Dahlia-sama, you've come! One did not expect you would be so kind to come and see us as you used to be so busy. It's been a long time since you last saw Ein, right?" Nicole surprisingly greeted her.

Dahlia-sama. Not Dahlia-san.

It was obvious how distant they were, judging from this alone.

"One could always spare some time when it's this grandson's sixth birthday. There's no way I could afford not to see him on his special day," Mother answered, she used her fan to cover her mouth as she spoke.

How should I describe it?

They were smiling, but their eyes weren't smiling. It seemed like there was an aura of hostility... Eh? What's the matter with Nicole and Mother?

Back when I was friends with Nicole, it wasn't like Mother opposed her. Mother felt a little bit happy that I got acquainted with the heir of the Loera family, although Nicole was also friends with Clyde...

I wonder what caused this hostility to spark between them?

And from Nicole's words, she implied that Mother never really came to pay a visit to Ein...

After that, it turned into verbal quarrel (sarcastically) between Nicole and Mother. They were saying courteous words, but there was a hint of hostility. Clyde would sometimes speak a few words of neutrality, while Ein... decided to talk with Domi!

I picked up some information like how Mother seemed to have avoided meeting Nicole, Clyde, and Ein—like when they visited during New Year, and so on.

In the end, I was most surprised by the fact that Mother lightly clicked her tongue after speaking with Nicole! Whoa, I never expected Nicole to be this amazing!!

Seriously Nicole, what did you do to be hated this much? Mother couldn't just go to hate you like this just because you picked Clyde as a husband, right? ...Or could she?

Suddenly, I felt like most of the nobles around me went even further away to give "this family" a privacy to speak, so I quickly ran off on my own, not wanting to be the only suspicious one!

Then, I went back to spend most of my time in the party to think about what might happen after I died between Mother and Nicole—for Mother to openly show her dislike like this... then, my ming wandered off to ponder about Ein's full name again... No, to be more precise, his first name: REINell.

Was I too confident or narcissistic to think that his name was derived from my past self's name? The coincidence was so obvious there...

......Or was I only being too conceited?

......The more I thought about it, the more I thought that it must just be me...... I was too sensitive when it came to anything related to my past self, after all.

Yes, let's just leave it at that! No need to complicate stuff!! My brain would get fried at this rate!

...

......

"Hey, you're that Lyra, right?"

When I attended this party, I thought of nothing except to see how my "nephew" looked like. I totally didn't intend to curry a favor with him or whatsoever, much less after I felt he was ridiculing me.

However, the source of all troubles never failed to come after me.

Yup, there he was, the devil, Eine, standing right in front of me.

"...Pardon me?"

"You're the Hartmann family's only daughter, Alrescha Lyra Hartmann. Mummy and Daddy talked a lot about you."

"...What did they tell you about me?"

"That Mummy and Daddy quickly took a liking to you. Not many could achieve that."

...Wait, WHAAAT?!

C-could it be that this devil was actually jealous of me? Or he was only curious because I managed to grasp Clyde and Nicole's interest?

"But I wonder what's so special about you?"

--Before I could even respond, this little devil added a very stabbing sentence.

"What do you mean by that? Your Mum and Dad didn't explain why they—uhm, based on what you said, liked me?"

"They told me why. But I couldn't understand it, still, even after meeting you."

"...Could you tell me why?"

"They said you're such a brilliant girl. You resembled... the one who should be my aunt, if she were still alive."

...As expected, Clyde and Nicole's favoritism stemmed from the fact that I resembled Reinst—well, that couldn't be helped. I was Reinst, after all.

"Well, I never knew your aunt, so I can't explain why, too, sorry."

...Based on facts, Lyra was born 7 years after Reinst died, so technically... yup.

"I expected you to be an extraordinary person, based on the stories Mum and Dad told me about my aunt. However, when we introduced ourselves earlier, it seemed that I had expected too much."

...WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!

It was only a slip of tongue—I meant, I was caught off guard!

Still, maybe Reinst wouldn't make that kind of mistake, indeed. Ever since I became Lyra—no, the more time I spent as Lyra, the more carefree I became.

"So, I don't get it. That's why, I'm speaking with you again."

"Uh... sure?"

Suddenly, I had an idea.

"This aunt you spoke of... Who might she be? Why did your Mum and Dad often tell you stories about her?"

Time to probe!

"Oh, she is Daddy's sister, Mummy's bestie. Died when she was young, I was told. She was a very superb girl who was the number one queen candidate at that time. Quick to learn, hardworking, and always calm. Her name is Reinst. Daddy and Mummy named me after her, in hopes that I would be as bright as her—quick to learn, hardworking, and always calm."

"..."

Daddy and Mummy named me after her, in hopes that I would be as bright as her.

Daddy and Mummy named me after her...

Named me after her...

After her...

SO IT WASN'T JUST ME BEING TOO CONCEITED!!

THEY ACTUALLY NAMED REINELL AFTER REINST!!!