Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: The Reader(4)

Marinette (Sun-hee)'s POVIt was really bittersweet, leaving a bitter taste in my tongue when I left him like that.A perfect brother, the one who was always there for Diana, his sister.That was how the author described him. Everyone loved him, wished for his happiness because he was so considerate toward the female lead.I hated it. Those people, most of them didn't read both of the people's sides.His abandoning Marinette in the basement was correct and Marinette who chased after his love was wrong. They blamed her saying she was just jealous, she wanted attention, not like Diana who always did everything with kindness and spread love everywhere she went.That was the reason why she was called an angel because she was born with the day with the sky was blue and a rainbow while Marinette was born on the day which storms and lightning were everywhere.I really didn't want to be jealous of Diana, but people really made me this way.If only Tristan didn't...tsk.I could have hated him if it wasn't for that reason.I lost all my interest in preparing myself for anyone, I called Flynn who was walking behind me silently, "Take me to the royal palace.""But you haven't...yes, my lady."This guy was really good at reading the situation.I looked outside the rented carriage at the man who was searching desperately for his sister. I closed the curtain when our eyes made contact.God really knew me well to put me in this villainess's body, if I ever were Diana, I didn't think I could handle her pain when the time came when Tristan d%$.Although she was the one at fault for most of it and she put the blame on Marinette without knowing who was the real person behind all of her tragedies.The royal palace,"Lady Marinette Mortel has arrived!" at last we arrived at the royal palace, the palace was pure white with the green garden. The interior was even luxurious than the duchy I woke up in.With the announcer's voice so loud, everyone in the room averted their attention at me when the knight opened the door for me.I thought he invited me here alone, it looked like we had company."Greeting, my lady." he put his lip onto my new glove with praiseworthy courtesy.As expected of the crown prince, the son between the emperor and the empress."Greeting, my lady!!" those people are the nobles, he gained power faster than I thought.A son of a marquess, a son of a baron, the next heir of the dukedom, and...Huh?That man...Ash color hair with golden eyes, Asher?Duke Asher?!!"My fiance is here, so please take care on your way back, everyone."I bowed them leaving but when it was Asher's turn, he stopped and stared at me for a minute then left.I couldn't say anything to him because I didn't know the thing happening between him and Marinette yet.After all, he was the second male lead and the man who was rejected by Marinette.I should keep quiet, I didn't know what would happen if someone knew I wasn't the real Marinette--A slight relief calmed me down but when the male lead came to me with his arrogant liked eyes, he giggled."Hm? Pfft, I couldn't believe it."He suddenly held himself and laughed when he looked into my eyes leave me in disbelief and all confused."What's funny, your royal highness?" I was nervous. And for some reason, I got the feeling I already hated him when I laid my eyes on him."Wow, wow."Clap clapHe clapped his hand and wiped his tear from laughing then he walked closer and closer to me till my back hit the door.He put his hand blocking my way out. I was trapped in his hands and all I could see was his sapphire blue eyes and his golden blonde hair."Hey. You really didn't remember?!""...there are a lot of things in my mind. So please cut to the chase, your royal highness." I could feel his breath touching my cheek lightly and his callused hands stroking my hair."I love you, Marinette." that was really unexpected from the sly fox like him to say something like that.Huh?Was there any plot twist in the novel? There wasn't a single interaction between him and Marinette up to the current point.That was when it hit me.If I was Marinette..."Please don't say such a thing, my sister is still crying at the moment." that will be something the real Marinette would say."Ahaha...of course, you wouldn't fall for it. You're clever enough."I couldn't read his mind, his face and expression didn't give me a single clue. With only a grin appearing from ear to ear, that was all."Flynn, use your magic and prevent any sound from leaking out."'So Flynn could hear the conversation earlier.'This man in front of me was really shameless, it hasn't been a full week since he was engaged with Marinette and he dared to say such a thing while Diana was still heartbroken.He turned to me and then stared into my eyes, he murmured, "So what's your real name?"!!!How did he--Even Anna or Ella couldn't notice me. Was there some magic he used on me?But the only magic who could see soul was the death roses magic which was the magic of the Mortel dukedom and that only occurred to only one person too in the Mortel bloodline.The royal's light magic would never be able to see--"Do you hear me? The crown prince is asking you right now."Was that a test? He was the first person I couldn't read. He was like a history book."I'm Marinette Mortel, please remember my name since we're engaged now."He smirked with his eyes widened, he dropped my hair and walked back to the couch sitting on it."Of course, it won't be easy. I really can't believe Marinette could bring someone like...oh never mind."What was that?"What're you trying to say?""Nothing. Let's have fun in this...opp, I almost said something again."I could feel my blood vein pop up listening to this man talking, I had never been this frustrated like this in my life. My blood boiled from the frustration, the nail pierced my palm as I tighten it.I took a deep breath to calm myself down."Sit here. I invited you here to tell you something."If status meant nothing, I would hit this man already for ordering me around.I couldn't bear to stay with him any second longer but for the sake of the things he said earlier, I obeyed him and sat on the chair across from him."As you can see, we're engaged now.""About the engagement, could I say something?""Yes please do so. Don't be shy." he put the sugar in his tea and poured the tea into the cup in front of me.Was this the male lead I know? Well, the plotline already changed since I came to this world. Relying on the plot only helped me to some certain point, and the character's true personality will never be something I could figure out."Let's annul it." I finally said it, although..."Huh?!" the aura around him changed, I could say it became deadlier than before."I don't hate you or anything but I just have no feeling for you--""You shouldn't have said that, I don't know what your name is but isn't me the best person for saving your life in this world?""I know it's shocking for you but please don't change the topic."As long as I could keep my composure, just a little longer, he won't be able to discover me in the meantime."Well, I don't have any feeling for you either.""Then it's settled then. And the engagement ring will return to you at any moment now.""You! How could you take off our engagement ring?" he stood up from the couch glaring at me with his sharp gaze. My neck hurt from looking up at him."That engagement ring means nothing to me, I used it to buy my clothes."'Ah, he's even madder now.'Wait, was there a time the male lead mad in the novel? He was described to be calm in almost every situation even when the emperor, his father engaged him to Marinette the one he didn't love, he accepted it calmly and then waited in the dark to hide his fang to get what he truly wanted from Diana to the throne.But was that really his intention for keeping calm the whole situation or did he just want to test the water?I wasn't sure about the other time, but comparing the power status between Diana and Marinette. I was the one who was higher and the one who will put the crown on his head easily.Relying on someone like the male lead was the last thing I could've thought of.After annulling the engagement, one trouble will be lessened."It seems you're misunderstanding something." his eyes glowed darker as he smirked at me with his finger on my chin.My right hand traveled to the teapot, it was hard and heavy. That time, I wondered one hit of the teapot might kill him or not for doing such a shameless thing.But it seemed like the stupid thing as endurance from my path life really helped me from getting my head off.I got up from my seat as well, there was no need for any discussion further.This man didn't take any of my words seriously since the beginning anyway."Our engagement isn't up to us to decide. It is the emperor."'Oh? Try to scare me?"I didn't see any reason why he was so against this. He also knew too the fact Diana will get more power than Marinette even if she was the second wife's daughter. Diana will have many connections with the noble ladies.Maybe he wanted to annul the engagement the day before the wedding just like what he did in the novel humiliating Marinette in front of all people in the empire."I already thought of that, so you didn't have to worry. Then I'll see myself out now."!!!Was it just me or..."I really want to know your real name~"...that guy was really dangerous.+++The door closed after Marinette left the room without thinking about the man in the room who was left behind.That man after she left walked to the glass window looking at a man reading under the palapa with his butler."This life is gonna be exciting. Marinette really knew who she choose. What should I do if she kept seducing me like this?"'That man is crazy.'He picked up the picture from the drawer, it was the picture of Diana with Marinette standing behind her.A warm smile appeared on his face as she looked at one person among those two between Marinette who carried the ugly doll and Diana who held the bouquet of roses.Marinette (Sun-hee)'s POVI was disgusted and frightened at the same time when I left the study room of that man. I bet he was behind every suffering that happened to the female lead.The palace was way too big and Flynn didn't escort me on my way out of this palace. He must be busy reporting everything about me to that bastard.Huff huffIt was still spring but the weather was crazy hot. The weather wasn't exactly the reason, the reason was mostly because of this long dress with long sleeves.Now I lost all my feeling of meeting that man who I wanted to meet since I came here.The male lead only had a good face but that man, I wanted to see him, I wanted to know what his voice sounded like.There will be more chances in the future, I didn't need to rush it.Just when I was going to leave, suddenly my eyes started becoming teary out of the sudden.It was a chill of deja vu punching me when I heard that familiar voice, "How long do I have to read this?!"No way. There had to be no way.I ran and ran toward that voice."Your highness, you're holding it upside down.""What's important about studying anyway--"I finally met him, that time I didn't care about my appearance, I fell on the way a few times with my dress covered with dirt but I felt like I used to experience this thing before.It was as if I used to see his face and hear his voice in the past.His voice was exactly what I thought it would be when I read his dialogue, his face and hair and everything about him was the same as I imagined I would be which gave me a chill in disbelief.How could it be?"Lady Mortel?!" his butler bowed at me when he stood up and just stared at me.We both stared at each other like cat and dong making the butler confusing.Little by little, the sense of reality finally came back to me, that was when I noticed my hair was all a mess.Stupid me.I didn't want that to be our first meeting."Sorry!!" I bowed apologizing to him and then ran back to where I came from without looking back.It was really embarrassing. Just what I was thinking?But to be honest, the villain...That man was really hopeless.Reading a book upside down hahaha.Back on earth,Sun-hee's body was in the ambulance's car. Head dripping blood washed away by the ran. And Ji-hoon with his hand and white shirt stained with Sun-hee's blood cried as he begged her to hold on in that world she already abandoned.But Sun-hee wasn't the only one on the brink of death. Yet again, fate and God decided to mess with a couple of best friend's destinies.The luxurious car with the back full of the bottle of alcohol and the glass shattering by the crush against the light pole as it turned after hitting Sun-hee.And the jet black-haired woman, the birthday girl with the birthday crown on her head and the cream of the cake on her face.Never would she know that her eighteenth birthday turned out to be her death date."Where am I?!" her soul stood staring back at her body she left behind under the heavy rain but all the rain droplets didn't touch the ground as everything around seemed to stop even Ji-hoon who held Sun-hee's hands tightly stopped doing anything like he was a statue, and that was the same for everyone around her.Even the extra guy at the back who was peacefully eating ramen hadn't got a bite of his ramen yet.[Miss, you're in my realm right now.] the voice came from behind her back. She turned and looked at that little kid with a face similar to Ji-hoon."Realm?" the black-haired girl in the blue dress with pink fur at the end of the dress which was designed by the famous brand designer asked that little girl.[Name: Eun-Kyung. Third-year high school student. Daugther of the CEO A.U Group. Have one brother named Eunwoo. And a friend named Sun-hee.] that voice coming out of the kid's lip said everything in detail but then was cut off by Eun-Kyung."She's not my friend."[Hm? But in your memory, you--]"So what's your deal?"[As we speaking, I stop the time on earth just for you.]It gave Eun-Kyung chill down to the deep of her bone as she gulped facing the one who did that godly thing such as stopping time.[You're between life and death. So choose, whether to live the rest of your life crippled or transmigrated into the novel you read.]"What novel?"[You only read one novel! Why do you ask me?]"Ah, the novel Sun-hee told me to--" she couldn't say anything further when she accidentally mentioned Sun-hee.[So what will it be?]"I choose the latter but..."[What do you want to know?]"What's the condition?"[Ahaha, as expected of the CEO's daughter. The condition is easy...kill your friend.]"What?!"[Your friend, Sun-hee. Kill her.]"Are you saying she is in the novel as well? Who did she reincarnate as?"[You have three seconds to decide.]"Wait...wait, answer me!!!"32"Whatever, I agree."1!Her eyes became heavy, she lost all the sense around her but before she lost consciousness, she tried to reach the little girl smiling at her as she waved her little hands goodbye.[I hope you complete the mission and kill that woman, Eun-Kyung.][Eun-Kyung][Eun-Kyung]"Lady ****** is awake!!"To be continued...!