The academy had finally announced a full week off.
Apparently, due to the increasing reports regarding the North Gate, they were undergoing a series of security renovations—which meant no classes, no training, and, most importantly, no forced sparring matches that nearly made me collapse.
I should've been relieved.
And yet, even with a break handed to me on a silver platter, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just about security. Something was happening beyond those gates—something they weren't telling us.
But still, I wouldn't waste this opportunity.
For once, I actually had time to breathe.
Time to think.
Time to sort through the absolute disaster my life had become.
I sighed, leaning against the plush carriage seat, watching as the familiar landscape of Fiore blurred past the window.
Was this what character development was supposed to feel like in a novel?
Because I was pretty sure character development wasn't supposed to involve the original villainess invading your head, dropping cryptic hints, and handing you a million plot twists that made you question everything.
Ugh.
Transmigrating into a novel I was reading…
I still hadn't fully processed it.
Would I ever?
Would I ever want to go back to my original world?
That thought had lingered in my mind for a while now.
But the answer never came.
All I knew was that, at some point, I had stopped thinking of this as a temporary situation. I had stopped thinking of it as something I would one day wake up from.
At some point—I had accepted it.
This was my life now.
Before I could dwell on that any further, the carriage came to a smooth halt. The driver gave me a nod through the small window at the front.
"We've arrived, Lady Vandren."
I blinked, straightening up, and looked outside.
There it was—the Vandren Estate.
Even after all this time, I still wasn't used to it.
The sheer grandeur of it, the lavish architecture, the immense estate grounds that stretched endlessly beyond the towering gates—everything about it screamed wealth, nobility, and power.
It felt so different from my past life.
So distant from the life I had once lived.
I let out a quiet sigh, pushing those thoughts aside as I stepped out of the carriage.
"Thank you," I said to the driver, giving him a small nod before turning toward the estate doors.
With firm knocks, I called out.
"Mother! I'm home!"
For a moment, silence.
Then—
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from inside before the massive double doors swung open.
And standing there, smiling warmly, was Eleanor Vandren.
My mother.
Or rather—Sera Vandren's mother.
Her deep blue eyes softened at the sight of me, and in that instant, I saw the exact same warmth she had given the original Sera in that vision.
I wasn't the original Sera.
And yet…
That smile made me feel like I was home.
"Oh, my dear Sera! You're finally home!"
Before I could even blink, I was enveloped in a hug—no, an iron grip of pure motherly affection—that quite literally made me feel like my bones were seconds away from turning to dust.
Air. I needed air.
"Ahhh—Mother—I'm—dying!" I gasped, flailing slightly, but Eleanor Vandren only tightened her hold, her warmth practically radiating off of her as she pressed me against her.
"My precious daughter, you've been gone for so long!" she gushed, squeezing me even tighter. "Do you even know how much I've missed you? How many sleepless nights I've endured just wondering if you were eating well? Sleeping well? Wearing enough layers in this cold weather?! Have you been staying hydrated? Do I need to send more servants to take care of you?!"
I struggled to respond—not because I didn't appreciate her affection, but because I physically couldn't speak when my lungs were on the verge of collapse.
"Mother—I—can't—breathe—!"
"Oh!" She gasped in realization, finally releasing me from her grip. I stumbled backward, catching my breath, while she clasped her hands together and gave me a look so heartbreakingly fond that I felt a pang of guilt for nearly passing out just now.
"You poor thing, you must be exhausted!" she said, immediately cupping my face with both hands, scanning me with her piercing blue eyes as if she was looking for any sign of distress. "Are you eating enough? You look thinner! Have you been skipping meals? Should I have the chef prepare something immediately? Oh, and a warm bath—yes, you need a bath. And a massage! You must be so tense from all that work at the academy!"
I was never going to survive this.
"Mother," I wheezed, carefully prying her hands off my face before she could start pinching my cheeks too. "I'm fine! Seriously! The academy isn't a battlefield—I'm eating, I'm sleeping, and I'm—"
I hesitated.
I was mentally suffering, but I didn't think telling her about the original Sera Vandren suddenly popping into my head was the best idea.
"I'm doing well," I settled on, giving her the most reassuring smile I could muster.
Eleanor wasn't convinced. Not even a little.
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure? You've always been so reserved about these things—if something's wrong, you know you can tell me, right?"
I internally winced. She was a dangerously perceptive woman, so trying to hide anything from her was like trying to hide fire in the middle of a dark room.
Still, I forced a bright smile. "Completely sure! Nothing's wrong at all!"
A beat of silence.
She squinted.
I sweated.
Then, to my absolute relief, she finally let out a soft sigh.
"If you say so," she murmured, though her concern didn't fade completely. Instead, she simply gave me another gentle smile before wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Come inside, then. The maids have been eagerly preparing for your arrival, and I have plenty to tell you!"
With that, she gently pulled me forward, leading me into the grand entrance of the Vandren Estate.
And as I stepped inside, I couldn't help but think—for all the insanity my life had become…
This place, this warmth, this doting, overbearing mother of mine…
It still felt like home.
"You know, you were worrying me when you didn't send a letter or anything." Eleanor said.
"You know," Eleanor said, giving me a look, "you were worrying me when you didn't send a single letter. Not one, Sera."
I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my neck. "Ah—yeah, sorry about that," I admitted. "I was… kinda busy with the academy. It's been a lot so far."
Her expression softened, but her motherly instincts were still fully engaged. "Really?" she asked, setting down an absolutely stunning and ridiculously well-prepared meal in front of me. "How was it? Have you made any new friends?"
"It was—" I paused, completely derailed by the food now placed before me.
Meat, bread, fresh vegetables, perfectly plated dishes that smelled heavenly. It was as if my mother had gone all out for my return.
I stared at it for a full second, my brain short-circuiting from how good it looked.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, amused. "Sera?"
"It was fun," I blurted, my eyes still locked on the plates of food. "Yeah. Friends. They're… alright. Tasty."
She laughed, delighted. "Oh dear, you must be starving if you're mixing up your words like that."
I quickly shook my head, feeling my face heat up. "I meant— not that my friends are tasty! I meant the food! The food looks tasty!"
She smiled, shaking her head fondly. "I knew what you meant, dear. Now, come on, let's eat before your hunger makes you say something even sillier."
I didn't need to be told twice.
I grabbed my utensils, immediately digging in, and the moment the first bite hit my tongue, I nearly melted into my chair.
Perfection.
After eating at the academy for so long, I forgot what real, home-cooked food tasted like. The seasoning, the freshness, the balance of flavors—I was in heaven.
Eleanor simply watched me fondly, her chin resting against her hand as she sipped a cup of tea. "I take it the academy food doesn't compare?"
I swallowed, nodding vigorously. "Not even close," I mumbled between bites.
She let out a pleased hum, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. "Good," she said simply. "Eat to your heart's content. You'll need your strength."
I paused, my fork hovering over my plate.
"Strength?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Why do I need strength?"
Eleanor simply sipped her tea again, her expression far too cryptic for my liking.
"Oh, nothing," she said vaguely, setting the cup down. "Just… there's someone very excited to see you."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Someone…?" I echoed cautiously.
She smiled.
What? Did we have a guest I didn't know about?
Hey, mother, that smile isn't reaching your eyes! There was no way it was one of the heroines right? It was practically impossible for my mother to have met them, unless there was something else I didn't know about.
A knock echoed from the entrance hallway.
And suddenly, I had a very, very bad feeling.