Chapter 3

"What is Japanese? Miss."

Martha asks with a puzzled look.

"It's a foreign language. Probably from the Far East?"

I answer casually, but on the map of this world, the east is uncharted territory. Even the most detailed map doesn't capture the entire world.

"Are your parents and the others alright?"

Martha said they were fine earlier, but I ask for confirmation.

"Everyone except you regained consciousness after about an hour and has been back to normal since the next day. It seems they only had a small taste, while you ate the entire thing..."

You're hinting that I should control my appetite. But it was matsutake mushrooms? I didn't even eat that much in my previous life. Even without my memories, matsutake mushrooms are an instinct!

"But everyone seems a bit off... They look confused, even though they are used to your eccentricities."

Hey, Martha! Eccentricities!

Martha has been so cold... I'm still recovering, so I wish she would be a bit nicer.

"As I always say, Miss, you are turning 12 this year. You will be living in the capital next year, and I am worried! Please stop being interested in bugs and mushrooms and bugs and bugs."

Oh no! She's starting her usual lecture.

This is going to be long... Martha really hates bugs.

The family is planning to move to the capital when my uncle graduates from the Royal University. Our estate is a remote area, about 15 days by carriage from the capital.

The main industry is silk production, from silkworm farming to weaving. The high-quality silk produced here is always in demand in the fashion industry of the capital, and it is known as the silk from the Earl of Stewart's estate, Palais.

So, since I was born and raised in Palais, I consider silkworms my friends. I'm not doing anything wrong. The usual excuse pops into my head.

"Miss, you also collect other caterpillars, centipedes, spiders, and spiders, don't you?"

I haven't said anything yet... And why did you say spiders twice! Does Martha have a grudge against spiders? ...There might be a reason...

In the backyard of my current mansion, there is a bug house known as Emma's hut. It's a grand building, too big to be called a hut.

It was built for the purpose of raising various bugs, not just for my personal hobby of silkworm research, but also for collecting and breeding other bugs I find around.

Initially, it was a small hobby I enjoyed in my room, but due to complaints from the servants (mainly Martha) and the growing scale of my silkworm research, my doting father built it for me two years ago.

"Oh, I haven't taken care of my treasures (bugs) for 10 days!"

I panic at this shocking realization... They might have enough food for 2-3 days, but after 10 days, they might have started eating each other. The silkworm research room is separate, but the other bugs are all kept in one room.

I wonder if that beautiful purple spider is okay...? The spider I found in the forest about two weeks ago is my favorite, and I remember showing it to many people.

"Miss..."

Martha's eyes are even colder. I can't forget her scream when she saw the spider.

There was a hesitant knock on the door, so Martha interrupts her lecture and goes to open it. This perfect timing is surely...

"Sister, I heard you woke up, so I came to visit."

Peeking through the door is a beautiful, ethereal young boy. No, it's my brother William, with blonde hair and purple eyes, inherited from our father. In his hand is a large bug cage.

"Sorry, I completely forgot about the bugs... While you were sleeping, the silkworms were in a different room and were fine, but the bugs in that room... only this spider survived..."

My treasures had already been eaten by each other... The grasshoppers, mantises, crickets, centipedes, slugs, and pill bugs must have had a fierce battle royale... I wish I could have observed it.

"Ugh... It's a shame, but there's nothing we can do..."

In the bug cage, the purple spider was moving around. It's my favorite.

The winner of the battle royale is this one.

Is it just me...? Or is it... quite... bigger?

Its round eight eyes are looking at me.

Yeah, it's not your fault. I'm sorry I couldn't feed you...

I take the bug cage and check on the spider inside. It comes closer when it sees my face because I used to take care of it.

"EEEK!"

Martha runs away when she sees the spider I take out of the cage... She won't be back for a while. As always, Martha doesn't understand the charm of this spider.

Still, William... Using my favorite spider to clear the room, what a guy!

To clear the room... or to clear Martha...

William has been looking at me as if searching for something...

I want to say it, but I can't. I want to hear it, but I can't. I want to know, but I don't want to be known. He looks uncertain, unsure, and hesitant.

We probably think the same thing... When William firmly meets my eyes, he opens his mouth with determination.

"...Everyone, sister?"

I also open my mouth with determination.

"...Pee-ta?"

Our voices harmonize.

"「Is this a reincarnation in another world?!!!」"

Unfortunate brother appearance.