Long, long time ago, in a small, secluded eastern village...

There lived a certain human tribe with the mysterious beings they called "The Harts".

The Harts were mythical beings that loved to play with illusion and could transform themselves to resemble something else. It was said that they never showed their real forms to anyone.

The Harts needed to "synchronize" with other living beings and lived off their energy. The human tribe needed to protect themselves from outsiders. As such, the two sides started an unlikely relationship that proved to be so harmonious.

Until one day.

A mysterious plague started to come for the said human tribe.

The Harts, who had grown attached to this certain human tribe, felt disheartened seeing that their beloved partners would soon leave this world forever. Leaving all of them alone again.

Not wanting to watch their cherished partners succumb to deaths and not wanting to return to their former lives of loneliness, the Harts decided to use their remaining power to save the human tribe, assimilating and fusing themselves with their respective partner. This way, they could save the humans they loved, and they could forever be together with their beloved partners.

Thus, the human tribe who were assimilated with the Harts shared some certain characteristics. Odd-colored eyes, abilities to create illusion and to transform. As if gaining the blessing of the mythical beings, most also possessed good affinity with magic.

The human tribe felt overwhelmed with gratitude of their beloved partners, and each time they closed their eyes to feel within themselves, they could feel the presence of the Harts inside them.

Therefore, the said human tribe decided to declare themselves as "The Hartmann"—the man of the Harts.

***

After I was reincarnated into the Hartmann family, I often heard such a story as a bedtime story. It was so dreamy and lovely—the legend of the Hartmann clan. In my opinion, it was a much better story than the legend of the Grabberton's origin.

The legend of the Grabberton's origin portrayed a heroic story where the founder of the clan was the sole survivor of the tragedy that destroyed his hometown. Vowing that he would exact revenge for his family members and friends, he departed on a journey, conquering many ferocious beasts and absorbing their power, and eventually—the fateful encounter with the hero, the founder of Riviera country.

While the tale really sounded all glorious and empowering, I preferred stories that emphasized more on "special bonds". Therefore, the Hartmann's tale won over my heart in an instant.

At that time, when I first heard of the story, a question popped in my mind.

"If the Hartmann was actually a tribe, why is it that the Hartmann becomes only a clan—or a family?"

And then, my question was answered in a story about the founder of Riviera and his connection with the ones who would begin the Hartmann clan.

Long time after the Hartmann tribe continued their way of living: secluded, peaceful, and closed off from the rest of the world... Finally, war began and people started to notice the Hartmann tribe's peculiarity.

Many of them tried to win over the Hartmann tribe for they wanted to make use of the Hartmann tribe's unique ability, yet the Hartmann tribe stood still with their initial standing: That they wanted to live peacefully, not meddling in another's business.

Eventually, many of the parties, who at first wanted the Hartmann tribe's cooperation, started to view the Hartmann tribe as a potential threat.

Until one day, one of the parties—if not a coallition of these parties—decided to make their move and annihilate the entire tribe.

Save for the last remaining Hartmann children. A pair of children, a pair of siblings... They were the ones who would become the founder of the Hartmann clan later on—a pair of twins.

Luchi, the older twin sister with red-green eyes and straight, long, and lustrous golden hair. Lanchi, the younger twin brother with blue-red eyes and his charming short golden hair.

The two vowed that they would end the war that caused them to lose their everything and not let anyone else go through the same sadness and pain they felt. That was when they met the hero and his allies.

It was said that the pair of twins were invincible when they were together. Together, they assisted the hero, Odis—also the founder of Riviera—and their allies in their journey to end the Great War and free the humans from their miseries, building the Riviera country.

***

I didn't know what caused me to dream that tale again.

It had been long since I last heard that as my bedtime stories.

Yet, I still dreamed of it again, and the twins' figures remained in my mind—at least, according to my imagination and the available portraits of them.

As I woke up in my bed, trying to figure out the meaning of my dream (although I'm not always this superstitious), I started to think that I might know what triggered me to dream of it.

Right!

I was reminded of how Dad kinda made suggestive remarks—or hints that I might become a real older sister in the future.

As I haven't heard anything from Dad and Mom... yet, let alone knowing what gender would my little sibling be... yup, thus I imagined both genders—in the form of the Hartmann twins.

I never really noticed that I wanted to have my own children—I meant, my own younger sibling(s) that much!

Wow, this dream really revealed my deepest desire!

I couldn't wait to hear a good news from Dad and Mom... soon, I believe!!

Soon...

Soon...?

Or not.

Even after I waited and waited, there didn't seem to be any signs.

I was expecting Dad or Mom to say that my new sibling was on the way, but...

What the hell am I seeing right now?

Dad, instead of spending more time at home to nurture his relationship with Mom, for the sake of giving me and Alt-nii the new sibling we hoped for...

Instead... he seemed to get busier and spent more time going on "work trip".

*Sigh*

Did Dad get ton of new work when it was time for him to get pumped to give me a younger sibling?

That's really a pity, but well...

I guess... my new sibling will come way later...

No matter, though!

I can wait!!