Chapter 4 - My white hair is said to bring bad things

Two weeks after I was born and started my second life in this unknown world, I was in the warm embrace of my new mother. She nursed me in her room and I drank her milk ravenously because I was so hungry now. My eyes kept falling on my new mother's face, she was so beautiful, her blonde hair shimmering, her blue eyes bright as the sky, her curves so beautiful, her body odor fragrant and her lips so seductive. My new mother's beauty is too dazzling, my father is very lucky to have married such a beautiful woman. I hope when I grow up I can be as beautiful as my new mother, well, I'm her daughter so I should have her genetics.

"Oh, my beautiful daughter, Racheli. Your eyes are so beautiful like blue pearls. And you're so cute too!" Duchess Marie, my mother, touched my nose with her index finger, she looked fondly at me and kept looking at me with an affectionate gaze.

This woman is a high class noble, the wife of a Duke, I know because I often hear the servants calling her; Great Mistress or Duchess. Who would have thought that I was born as a child with noble blood, normally people would be happy when they have noble blood flowing in their veins and have wealth. However, for some reason I felt like my shoulders were heavy, as if a great responsibility was waiting for me.

Of course I'm happy to be born as the child of parents who have luxuries and wealth, my life will be well-off, I'm grateful for that. Unlike my previous life, where I was born into a common and low-income family, this time I was surrounded by wealth from my parents, and I had to utilize this wealth in order to live a quiet happy life. No, I was wrong—I was supposed to spread happiness and make people smile happily with the wealth I had. I shouldn't be a selfish human being.

I reached for my mother's right hand and grasped her index finger. My mother responded by raising her right hand and bringing it closer to me.

"Your hands are very small, Racheli. Yet, even so, the grip of your hand makes my heart feel warm, as if you are pouring your warmth and love into me," My mother smiled gently at me, then she kissed my forehead and whispered in a voice filled with affection, "I love you, my daughter. You are precious to me."

Apart from being beautiful, my new mother is a kind and compassionate woman, she even speaks softly when in dialog with her servants and always smiles even when in trouble. Her positive aura radiates so strongly that it makes people around her feel admired and comfortable around her.

Well, I was also happier with my new mom than with my nanny, I used to always cry loudly when my mom left me alone in the crib with the nanny, so that she would come back and not leave me. This strategy was quite effective because my mom basically couldn't bear to see her daughter cry.

....

Moments later, I heard a knock on the door accompanied by a little girl's voice, "Mother, are you inside? Let me into your room, mother."

"Please come in, my daughter!" Duchess Marie's face lit up as she gave permission.

After getting permission, a seven-year-old little girl opened the door of the room and walked into Duchess Marie's bedroom, the servant behind her instantly closed the door of the room again when the little girl had gone inside. The young girl, named Alessi, had bright blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and was wearing a fancy dress, she was very cute and beautiful. On top of that, Alessi was my older sister, and for some reason she was obsessed with me, she visited me every day, held me in her arms, took me to her room, and even had a painting of me in her room.

"Good morning, mother. Please forgive me for coming to your room so early in the morning. Let me see the face of my newborn sister, mother." Alessi bowed her body and lifted her dress up slightly in a very elegant manner.

Duchess Marie chuckled, covered her mouth with her right hand, and said: "There is no need to be so formal, my daughter, Alessi. If you wish to visit your little sister, then come visit her whenever you wish. Come closer, dear."

When she was right in front of me, Alessi looked at me with her eyes showing affection and love, her smile widened when her fingers touched my chubby cheeks, and her face showed a charming blush. When seen up close, my sister was really very beautiful, surpassing my mother's beauty, even though she was only seven years old, but she was already like the angel I saw when I was in the afterlife. I smiled a little when I saw my sister's beautiful features, then I touched her lips with my tiny hand. I felt like protecting my sister's beauty, because I knew that beauty could be a double-edged sword.

"Awww, I was touched by Racheli! Her little hands are so soft like silk! Ah, this is my best day of all time!" Alessi looked delighted as her lips were touched by me, she grinned widely and her face turned even redder.

Duchess Marie smiled and chuckled, then she said in a smooth voice: "It seems that your little sister is beginning to like you after the many times you have visited her, Alessi."

"It's good that you're starting to like me, Racheli, because this sister of yours loves you so much, you know?" Alessi stroked my head with a gentle and affectionate gesture.

For some reason this made me feel like my heart was covered in beautiful roses, I was surrounded by people who loved me very much, for two weeks since my birth, I was always given affection that warmed my soul. Well, it's not like in my previous life I didn't get any affection or anything, my old mother also loved me very much. Ah, this is bad, I miss my old mother when I feel warmth like this. However, I must not be trapped by the memories of my old life, I must focus on living this new life wholeheartedly.

"By the way, mother, what do you think of Racheli's white hair?" Suddenly Alessi's expression turned gloomy when asked so, she frowned, her smile faded, anxiety and worry painted on every inch of her face.

Duchess Marie tilted her head slightly to the right, then she answered Alessi's question with a sweet smile, "Racheli's white hair is very beautiful, like a snowfield on a glittering end continent."

Alessi gawked at Duchess Marie's answer, she clenched her hands tightly, bowed her head deeply, then said in a frustrated tone: "But, but mother... doesn't that white hair symbolize the incarnation of the demon who brings disasters, calamities, and absolute misfortune? I'm worried that Racheli will be discriminated against because of her white hair. I can't accept that. If only there was a potion that could disguise hair color...."

Duchess Marie gently stroked Alessi's hair, she looked at her daughter with a warm gaze, then replied, "Don't worry, dear. Racheli will be fine. I will always be by her side to protect her from potential harm. Besides, I'm sure that this little sister of yours will become a woman with a big heart who won't fall easily. Will you also protect your little sister, Alessi?"

Alessi nodded determinedly, "Of course I'll protect her! I won't let people hurt my cute little sister, let alone discriminate against her!"

Duchess Marie chuckled. "Alessi, you are such a good big sister."

Now I understand why my nannies and the servants in this mansion sometimes feel frightened when they are taking care of me, they often have expressions that show deep anxiety, endless fear, and then I often feel a gaze filled with hatred. The cause is this white hair. I don't know what makes people think that white hair is the incarnation of the demon, but from this I realized something that people in this world are still hicks, I mean they still believe in mythical things that can actually be explained scientifically.

The cause of my white hair might be due to a genetic disorder, Poliosis, but usually this disorder triggers part of my hair to be white, while the rest of my hair is white. However, it's possible that I don't actually have a genetic disorder, but there's some kind of white hair DNA inside me, which causes my hair color to be white. I'll have to find out the lineage history of my mother and father's family to confirm this when I'm able to walk freely or a little mature. I don't believe in myths, science is number one.

....

Night time, Duchess Marie stood beside a man dressed in neat and elegant clothes on the balcony of the mansion, both of them looking at the moonlit cityscape. The man was Duchess Marie's husband, Duke Gunther, he had a charming mustache, his hair was blonde, his eyes were dusky green, his body was slightly fat, and his body was rather short—his head is almost the same height as the Duchess's shoulders.

"My honey, it's been a long time since we've looked at a beautiful view like this together. The last time we enjoyed a beautiful view together was when we were engaged." Duchess Marie gave her husband a sweet smile, her face flushed.

"Yes, it's been a long time... since we got married, we hardly ever go on dates like we used to." Duke Gunther turned to his wife and looked at her with a loving gaze.

"It's unfortunate, but that's marriage, we'll be busy with our household affairs, like taking care of and raising children of course," replied Duchess Marie, turning to her husband as well.

"You're right, my wife. By the way, how is our second child doing? Is Racheli in good health? Doesn't she show any signs of illness?" asked Duke Gunther, showing a look of deep concern.

"Racheli is healthy, my husband. Her nanny and I are always doing our best to maintain and strengthen her immunity. And I always give her warm hugs and love," Duchess Marie replied, smiling sweetly.

Duke Gunther breathed a sigh of relief, "Thankfully, Racheli's health has not declined."

"I won't let my baby get sick again, dear. It was enough that Alessi got sick when she was a baby," Duchess Marie said, her brow furrowed seriously.

"Yes, we must not repeat the same mistake. I am very grateful that Alessi was cured of smallpox that time."

"I am also very grateful, dear. When Alessi was cured, I always expressed my gratitude to God in the place of worship." Duchess Marie held her hands together, then she smiled as she closed her eyes.

"Then, it's about Racheli's white hair, I've been trying to suppress the spread of information about our second child's white hair to the public, other nobles, and the royal family. For the time being we can rest easy, but someday the information about Racheli's white hair will spread throughout the kingdom, and we must be prepared for that, my wife." Duke Gunther said this while looking down, he was fiddling with his fingers and looked very agitated.

"Take it easy, honey. Racheli may face social discrimination because of her white hair, she will be accused of being the incarnation of a vile demon, the bringer of doom, the bringer of unfortunate, the bringer of disaster, and the bringer of destruction. However, I am certain that Racheli will instead bring glory, prosperity, happiness, and blessings to our region, this region of Alcahess that we love." Duchess Marie said it with a beautiful, mesmerizing smile.

Duke Gunther was astonished at his wife's statement, he clenched his hands tightly, then looked up at the night sky filled with thousands of brightly shining stars. And then, Duke Gunther asked: "I also hope so. But why are you so sure that our second child will bring blessings to the Alcahess region? Don't you believe in white hair as the incarnation of the demon?"

"It's not that I don't believe. I believe what our ancestors told us in ancient times. Historical records also prove that great destruction such as wars, natural disasters, plagues, happen when a white-haired person is born into this world. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but it could also be that the curse of white hair is the cause. However, logically speaking, white hair has nothing to do with the destruction that happened in the past, I think the destruction happened because of the human's own conflictive behavior and disrespect for nature. I was just thinking logically. Then, my premonition says that Racheli will become a great and respected ruler in the entire world!"

Duke Gunther was even more stunned after hearing his wife's answer, he held his wife's right hand tightly, then spoke: "After hearing your explanation, my mind has been opened, my wife. It is strange to say that the white hair was the cause of the destruction in the past, I agree with that. However, your premonition said that Racheli would become a great figure in this world? Did you feel something that triggered your hunch to say so, wife?"

"The look in her eyes...."

"The look in her eyes? What does that mean?" Duke Gunther looked confused.

"The look in someone's eyes can tell many things such as ability, personality, determination, intention, and mindset. When our second child opened her eyes for the first time, the look in her eyes was sharp, firm, authoritative, and full of courage, just like the look in the eyes of a lion staring at prey. Honestly, when I saw the look in our little baby's eyes, I felt goosebumps, tension, and a heavy pressure on my shoulders. It was as if I was making eye contact with a great ruler."

Duke Gunther sweated and he gulped down his own saliva, "That sounds crazy, but I believe what you feel, my wife. If Racheli is a great future ruler, then this region of Alcahess is truly blessed by God."

Duchess Marie chuckled as she covered her mouth with her left hand, "Racheli will probably take over your position as Duke, my husband."

"No problem!" Duke Gunther frowned, "If our second child is more competent than myself, then I am ready to hand over my position as Duke to Racheli even though she is still young. I'm not a power-hungry person, wife."

Duchess Marie laughed once again, she still covered her mouth with her left hand, "I know that, dear."

To be continued....