I find myself shaking my head as I listen to that same fairytale my mother used to read to me. Fairytales are supposed to be for toddlers and pre-schoolers, so why are they using it as a reading material for secondaries? It's not that I find it odd. I just want to learn real things, not fictional shits.
"Yes, Mr. Lee? It seemed like you wanted to share something to the class, no?" Our literature professor, Mr. Park, called. He really likes to embarrass me in front of his lame class.
I only shake my head then lowered my vision ─ pretending to read on my notes, trying to ignore the mocking gaze my classmates are throwing at me. I wonder when it all started. Maybe it was that time when I tried to help a classmate being bullied by my peers. I was only helping that time, so why am I the one to receive all these suffering?
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"I'm home!" I removed my pair of shoes and lazily marched my way to the staircase. I bet father's out again, maybe doing some nasty stuff.
He's been like that after my mother's death. He started blaming me because I survived that car crash three years ago and my mother didn't. Cruel? I know, but what can I do? I heaved a sigh as I place my bag on my bed. I held on to the necklace my mother gave to me, a habit I developed everytime I feel too much. I suddenly remembered the last thing my mother said before she died on my arms.
"Magical things are bound to happen in your future. Do not lose hope at anything and always wear this necklace."
I wonder what she actually meant.
I didn't notice how deep my thoughts have become that I suddenly fell asleep. This usually happens whenever I think about my mother, I'll dream of a magical place where prince and princess exist. Just like that fairytale story she used to read to me. Other than 'The Tale of Amaranthia', mother used to tell me about the story of a princess who was bound to become an evil empress.
It was not by choice, but because of her family's demise, she prepared herself to resort to darkness. She punished everyone who defied her and threw out the people who tried to oppose her. She wasn't really a cruel empress, I mean, that's what I think.
Her relatives are the ones who should be blamed. They were the ones who tried to harmed her first and the reason why the empress' heart became colder than ice. Well, what can you say? Bad family/relatives are equals to bad child grooming.
My vision started becoming darker and the magical place I was watching was starting to crumble. Then I felt someone tapping my shoulder. It must be time to wake up.
I blinked a couple of times as I try to wake my body, but it felt useless. A sudden pang of pain brushed against my body as panic washes over me.
I can't move! How can that be?!
I tried squirming and pinching myself. It was too dark that I can't clearly see anything, yet my body can feel a heavy force of waves pushing me down further, as if I'm in the deepest part of a water, drowning.
"Ugh. What the..." I blurted out.
One moment It felt like I was drowning then in a flash, I felt someone dragging me upwards, as if it was saving me. I can't clearly see so I don't really understand.
"Your highness! Are you okay?" An unfamiliar voice spoke in panic.
I felt relieved as soon as I opened my eyes, but somehow, everything looked weird.
The first thing I saw were unfamiliar faces looking worriedly at me and then there's those people who looked terrified as they watched me.
"What... happened?" I asked as I tried to sit up.
I sounded so feminine, why is that?
I tried to examine my body and I almost scream in surprise. A colorful dress drenched in water.
What... What is this?
"Princess Henrietta!" That same unfamiliar voice called out as I suddenly passed out from exhaustion.
Just what the hell...
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My lips formed into a small pout as I stare outside the window. It's been a couple of days since I woke up inside this body. I wasn't even relieved, not even the slightest, when I found out my current identity 一 Henrietta Amethyst le Clair. It was that same crowned princess who turned vile after her relatives unruly behaviour towards her.
Now what should I do?
I surely don't want to end up as a villain inside this fantasy world. Magic is good and all but becoming the evil empress might lead to my quick death, like what happened to the original me.
A knock on the door broke my reverie. It was Eliza, my personal maid. "Your highness, dinner is ready."
"I'll be there in a minute," I answered, not bothering to let her in.
I know I needed to change clothes before going down for dinner, but too much layer might suffocate me. So I stood in front of my full-body mirror and fixed myself instead. Ah... Why does she have to look this pretty and have a pretty bad future? How can life be this unfair?
I really like her ashen-grey hair, it somehow resembles the moon. And her amethyst purple eyes looked like shiny gems that you'll rarely see in my previous world. Why do I have to be inside this pretty body when I'm in fact a male? This is one of the reasons why I'm having a hard time changing.
Oh, well. Time for dinner.
"How are you feeling now, your highness?" Duke Deus le Clair of the house le Clair. He's actually my uncle and my late father's younger brother, Emperor Augustus le Clair.
After the death of my parents, the Duke had decided to live in the imperial palace with his two sons to take care of me. In the story where they existed, the Duke was actually a cold-hearted person, voided with emotions and such. He didn't really plan on marrying anyone but because my late father insisted that he might feel lonely in the future, he married the late Lady Margarita Devereaux. She gave birth to his two sons before dying from an illness a couple of years ago.
In that story, he won't actually do anything to help me from the hands of his sons who'll eventually bully me and from the hands of our treacherous relatives who are after the throne.
Why? Well, I did mention that he's voided of emotions. The reason for that was my late mother, Empress Avery le Clair. They had a love affair before my mother was engaged with the previous emperor. No one actually knows that and because of that engagement, they had to break whatever they have. It was a rather complicated story that even I find annoying while reading.
They would've been fine if they run away or something, but because my mother's too loyal to her family, of course, she chose family over her only love.
Though as the story transpires, it was revealed that the evil empress in the story 一 me 一 was in fact the Duke and the late Empress' love child. Interesting, right? Even I was shock and dumbfounded with that sudden revelation yet it was already too late when that was revealed. The empress during that time was already lost to the darkness.
I can clearly feel that I'm going nuts. Why do I have to be inside this complicated story?
"You look pale. Are you alright?" I blinked a couple of times as I reverted back to this present time. I can't have my mind floating too much by recalling whatever happens in the book.
"
Apologies, your excellency. I'm still feeling unwell. Will it be alright to excuse myself?" I asked with all the humbleness I have.
It seemed that they were taken aback by my polite response. It might be because the real princess talked rudely all the time.
"Yes, please go ahead and rest."
I took that chance to stand up and stormed out of the dining room, not minding whether they'll think oddly of me. Who cares anyway!
With the help of my personal maid, I quickly freshen up and changed to my sleeping dress before comfortably lying on my bed.
"This feels so good," I muttered to myself as I casually stretched my limbs.
No matter how many days had passed, I can't seem to get used with my new body. I just can't focus right doing things with a female's beautiful body, like bathing and changing clothes. This is very awkward and somehow embarrassing.
Anyway, first things first, I think I need to establish connection with them, the Duke and his sons. This might prevent me from going cuckoo in the future. I'm still 15 years old, so I guess I can use my young physical age and old soul to an advantage to get their favors.
Secondly, I should secretly learn to control this magical prowess I have. This might become useful in the future since I have tons of enemies [relatively enemies].
Lastly, I should remain sane and composed and not get tempted to dive into the darkness. I think, if I'll be able to grow as a nice empress, I might even live longer than the real empress in the book. She died on the hands of the main hero, Prince Aurelius of the Nation of Talares at the age of 25. That's like, ten years from now. Shivers...
If I can live nicely, then perhaps I won't need to die that young and I might even be able to rule as a great empress.
I could feel my eyes sparkling at the thought.
Now to get some beauty rest. I have plenty of things to accomplish tomorrow since it will be the start of another childish war.
Ah, blessings to the undying glory of Amaranthia.
I can clearly feel myself fainting from exhaustion.