Zach groaned as he rolled over, his small body tangling in the oversized blankets.
He had woken up in this strange new world, and while the initial shock had passed, he still hadn't fully wrapped his head around his new life. One thing was clear he was, without a doubt, a four year old child. Again.
"Young Master Zach! Time to wake up!"
A deep, refined voice rang out, followed by a series of rhythmic knocks on the wooden door.
Zach blinked, recognizing the butler-like tone instantly. Ah, of course. If he had a noble sounding name like Zachariah, it only made sense that there would be some well dressed old dude responsible for dragging him out of bed.
"Coming!" he called back, though his voice was way higher-pitched than he expected.
Yep. Still a child. Still weird.
He stumbled out of bed, his tiny legs making the journey feel way longer than it should. When he reached the door and pulled it open, he was met with the sight of an impeccably dressed man with slicked-back dark hair and a posture so straight it could correct a chiropractor's spine.
"Ah, young master, you're awake," the man Sebastian, his new butler said with a practiced bow. "Your parents are preparing for the morning's visit to the church. Lady Vivian requests that you and Lady Mia be dressed properly before breakfast."
Zach's brain was still buffering, but two things stuck out:
One, his mother's name was Vivian. And two, he had a sister named Mia.
"Uh, okay,"he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Guess I should get dressed, then."
"Indeed," Sebastian said smoothly, stepping aside to reveal a small figure standing behind him.
A tiny girl with big, curious eyes peeked around the butler's leg. She couldn't have been older than three, with chubby cheeks and an adorably oversized nightgown that made her look like a lost marshmallow.
"Bwother!" she squeaked excitedly before rushing forward and throwing her arms around his waist.
Zach stiffened.
Oh no.
Oh no, she was cute. Dangerously cute.
His heart was not prepared for this level of sibling affection.
"Uh. Hey… Mia?" he tried, patting her head awkwardly.
"Mhmm!" She nodded rapidly, her tiny hands gripping his shirt like she had no intention of ever letting go.
Sebastian cleared his throat. "Lady Mia was quite insistent on accompanying me to wake you, young master. She refused to proceed with her own morning routine until she saw you."
Zach glanced down at his little sister, who was still clinging to him like a baby koala. She beamed up at him with the kind of pure, innocent adoration that made his soul ache a little.
Welp.
He had a little sister now. And judging by her reaction, she was already his biggest fan.
"Alright, alright. I'm up. Let's get ready before Mom loses her mind," he said, prying Mia off with the gentleness of someone handling a very fragile, very emotional kitten.
Sebastian inclined his head approvingly. "Very good, young master. Lady Vivian and Lord Vincent will be pleased."
Zach paused mid-step.
Oh right. His parents. His new parents.
He hadn't met them yet, but from what he gathered, his father was some kind of noble lord, and his mother was young, beautiful, and (probably) the one running the household behind the scenes.
As Sebastian led them down the hall, Zach took a deep breath.
He had faced corrupt politicians, ruthless businessmen, and even death itself.
Meeting his new parents?
How hard could it be?
…Right?