In the same sprawling capital of the Imperial Nascan Empire, another residence stood in glory, a mansion so vast and golden that it rivaled the palace itself. Marble pillars, chandeliers shining like captured constellations, and banners bearing the crest of "House Rochelli" draped every corridor with silent authority.
Within one of its lavish chambers, a newborn stirred.
A soul descended—bright, restless, brimming with energy.
Then came the cry. Loud. Sharp. Unrestrained.
Suzuka had arrived.
Inside her tiny, fragile body, her mind sparked awake like a firecracker.
"Wha—?!"
The cry continued, echoing through the chamber as servants rushed in, but her thoughts were already racing far ahead of them.
"Okay—okay—calm down. I'm… small. Very small. That means—yep. Reincarnated. Again. You! God! You should warn us before sending suddenly!" I said in my mind
I tried to move, but my limbs barely obeyed. "Damn, in a newborn I can't move, of course..." The frustration only lasted a second before my curiosity took over for the surroundings.
"Alright, let's assess the situation…" I thought slowly blinking my eyes in the blinding lights.
I saw glimpses of the room. Gold-trimmed furniture. Silk curtains. Servants in uniform. Maid Costumes? Also this old man...Noble, by the look of him.
"Ohhh, fancy. Very fancy! This much luxury, Have I hit the Jackpot? Yay!"
A woman approached, her presence elegant yet warm. She lifted me gently, her expression soft with affection.
"My lord," she said, her voice calm yet touched with emotion, "a healthy child… a daughter."
Suzuka blinked internally. "Daughter? Oh, nice. Wait—no, focus. Daughter means something...what was it?…My brother used to read novels and usually Children are betrothed early meaning I will get married?! No Way in my life! I will make sure my future fiancee dumps me! Hahahaha!"
My attention moved toward the old noble man standing nearby. Tall, imposing, dressed in noble regalia that screamed power without needing to shout.
He stepped forward, his gaze firm yet softened by pride.
"A daughter of House Rochelli…" he murmured. "The future of our lineage."
Suzuka's thoughts lit up."Rochelli? That sounds like your average noble house in any country. Not a big deal of importance. I have free and tasty food, so I don't care~"
The man straightened, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
"She shall be named Katarina von Rochelli. The future Duchess of Rochelli."
The name settled into her like a spark finding dry tinder.
"Katarina, huh? I like it. Has a kick to it."
Before I could think further, hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. A servant burst into the room, breathless, pale and tired but enough to bow deeply.
"My lord! Urgent news from the Imperial Palace!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The man's gaze sharpened. "Speak."
"The Imperial Queen has given birth. The first princess of the Nascan Empire… Isodelle von Nasca. The Royal Mage has confirmed it, she bears the title of Holy Saint."
Silence fell.
Heavy. Electric.
Then—
"Hah!"
The laugh came from Katarina's father, deep and resonant, filled with something fierce.
"So the empire has been blessed like the legends say" he said. "A Holy Saint… born into the imperial line."
My mind, however, had already sprinted three laps ahead.
"Wait. Princess? Holy Saint? Hold on—hold on—"
I began connecting pieces.
"Reincarnation… siblings… same world…"
A grin would have formed in my tiny face if I could manage it.
"No way… one of them has to be there."
Images flashed in my mind—my older brother Yuki, my older sister Yuna, my younger brother Akio
"Imagine if Yuki got reborn as the princess—"
"PFFT—him? In dresses? Being all elegant? I'd never let him live that down. I will tease him for life!"
But then I paused.
"…No. Wait."
A more grounded thought pushed through.
"If there's a Holy Saint involved, then by Yuki's Thesis of Saints they have light magic… then yeah, that's definitely Older Sister Yuna."
The conclusion landed with satisfying certainty.
"Makes sense. She'd totally get something like that. Calm, responsible, powerful… ugh, she's going to act all big-sisterly again, isn't she? I hope she doesn't scold me"
A flicker of excitement followed immediately.
"Heh… this is gonna be fun."
Meanwhile, my father stepped forward, his presence dominating the room.
"The birth of the Imperial Princess, A Holy Saint is no ordinary event," he declared. "Her Highness Isodelle will shape the future of this empire."
He turned toward the cradle, his gaze settling on Katarina.
"And you…my daughter, Katarina von Rochelli…"
I looked at him. "He had a grim face? or was it a happy face? or maybe it is a prideful face?"
"You are born into the house that stands as the Empire's strongest shield. The Duchy of Rochelli does not merely serve, we protect."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"I, Duke Rochelli, swear this oath."
"This old man...I can already see where he is going with this"
The room seemed to hold its breath.
"My daughter shall become the sworn shield of the Imperial Princess."
"Her blade will guard the Saint. Her strength will defend the crown. Her existence shall stand between the light of the empire and all who seek to extinguish it."
A vow.
I processed it… then immediately flipped the tone.
"Oh? Shield, huh?"
"So basically… I get to stick close to Older Sis Yuna, fight strong enemies, and cause absolute chaos while 'protecting' her?"
My thoughts practically sparkled across my head.
"Best. Role. Ever. Yay!"
Meanwhile...
Outside the mansion in the capital city, pamphlets flew,
A boy darted through the stone-paved streets of the capital, his arms full of freshly printed pamphlets. He threw them into the air in the market square flying in every direction.
"The Imperial Princess is born! The Holy Saint is born! The Imperial Princess is born!" he declared as he darted around.
Celebrations began circulating the whole city,
"A Holy Saint… born into the imperial line?" said a merchant amused
"How fascinating!" said a noble strolling in the market.
"Long live the Princess!" one declared.
In just hours, the entire city was in celebration.
Again...Meanwhile...
Far from the noise of the marketplace, lay a quiet training ground bathed in the fading light of dusk.
The horizon burned in hues of amber and crimson, the sun dipping low as shadows stretched across the earth.
At the center of the field stood a young boy.
Barely Four years old.
Small, yet steady.
In his hands, a wooden sword.
He moved with focus beyond his age, each swing accurate. The blade cut through the slashing board.
No hesitation.
Only practice.
Again.
And again.
At the edge of the field, a pair of maids approached quiet so as to not disturb their master. They watched for a moment, before one finally spoke.
"Young Master… news has arrived from the capital."
The boy did not stop immediately.
His sword completed his attack destroying the slashing board whole.
Only then did he turn.
His eyes, calm and sharp, empty, met theirs.
"The Imperial Princess has been born," the maid continued. "It is said she bears the title… Holy Saint."
The wind stirred gently, brushing against his hair, carrying the last warmth of the setting sun.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"I see."
That was all.
No surprise. No excitement. No doubt.
He turned back to his practice.
He rose his wooden sword once more, steady in his grip as he proceeded to slash the slashing board into pieces...
"I..." he said before looking at his chipped wooden sword dropping it down in a pile of broken wooden swords. Atleast 100 of them are there in the pile.
He looked at the swords. "Nevermind" he said as he retreated inwards his maids alongside him.