The rush of information from the system and memories crashing at the moment she finally arrived in a new world.
After finally being able to feel, hear and see, all of her senses came back to her like a violent flood. Mix emotions sitting up within her, as she felt the faint remnants of sensation from the original owner of the body.
Eve felt she couldn't breathe from the intensity of these feelings within her.
The hall had been in lively settings, filled with music and colorful fabrics decorated to display a happy occasion in the Emperial marriage.
Dancers were performing their tribute to the Empire's rulers and the entertainment was accompanied by music and singing.
Everyone was enthusiastic about the after-party. The marriage was a success between the house Ronan and the imperial family. Their children finally married today.
Amongst the red fabric around the hall, the newly crowned Princess of Rosemond had not garnered the attention of her subjects, as well as the imperial family, her new family.
Eve's tears flowed and her head throb from suppressing the heat of her rising emotions, she just want to sob and call to her Alexander's name, to run out of the hall and scream her lungs out, to curse out the system and the world's order for taking away the happiness she had finally have.
Eve really wanted to vent her anger, her frustrations to the system that had stripped her away from his world, but she stops herself there.
As quick as it arrive, the emotions that disturbed her composure leaves as if she didn't just cry silently a second ago.
The feeling of separation stings her heart, it hurts knowing her lover is somewhere in the multi-worlds inside a single system yet she will never see him again.
It hurts, knowing the truth and being helpless of her reality in front of her. She can never go back to his loving embrace, will never feel his warm hands on her skin, and will never again hear his sincere words of love and adoration.
She can never be with him again.
Eve Santana was just human, a lone person trapped in another place. She can feel mixed emotions and cry, be helpless and frustrated, as a human should.
She lets herself break down, how could she not?
She was just a woman that lost her first love. A love that was unexpected yet true, a comforting and warm love that she can only have once and might never have again.
As if the world slows down, she lets herself feel weak and lost, staying still in her golden seat as her head lowered to hide her forlorn expression.
But in reality, it was just within a minute that she pick herself up from her weak state.
Eve controls her emotions and wipes her tears away with a handkerchief that was present next to her seat along with a lace fan, before sitting properly with her head held high, she straightened her back and relaxed her shoulder.
Closing her eyes, she silently lets out a long and heavy exhale to calm her palpitating heart, steadying the tremors of her emotions.
And then when she opens her eyes, her emotions are now controlled and her beating heart calms down.
She finally let herself see the world and put her feelings behind her.
Just a few minutes, I'll stay strong for a few minutes.
She tells herself. She was in an unknown world, she could get hurt if she loses her focus.
Eve tells herself, to keep it together for now.
Later....
She can cry her heart out later..
The corner of her eyes was slightly glistening and red, which made her look vulnerable as her golden eyes look at the people enjoying the banquet.
Rosaria Elijah of House Ronan, was now a Princess of Rosemond after marrying her fiancé of 5 years, The Empires Crown Princes, and next in line to become Empress, was Rosaria.
And Eve had just arrived the day Rosaria married her husband.
It was an unusual situation where Eve wasn't sent in a recently deceased body, as she had been doing during her previous worlds.
Right now she had possessed the body which hadn't gone through any hardships and unfortunate events.
But there's an explanation for that.
[ Modified System: Installation complete.
" Rosaria Elijah Ronan's World: 2nd life of the thorny Rose "
This system will assist you in your new mission, accumulated points have been calculated: 1,100
Additional rewards are sent to the host for achieving 1,100 points. The system has now sent accumulated rewards
Unexpected Error had occurred in the last World.
Compensation: 1,000 points
Total Points: 2,100 points
Achievement Unlock: Exchange Points
Rewards: Mystery Items x5, Rosegold Ticket, Pirate's precious Treasure, Nine Tails, Chess piece: King, Witches Tarot Cards, A Magical Mirror, A Traveller's tongue, Juliet's Poison, Skysplitter sword]
[ Modified System:
Unlocked: Store, Mini Map, Bag
Please continue to Persevere.....]
Eve found the hovering system notifying more rewards, she ignores the popping system announcements ringing in her head.
She moves her fingers and saw her pale hand and the white sleeve of her dress. The ring on her finger felt disgusting as it settles in her hand.
It wasn't the golden band that she was used to, an uncomfortable feeling risen from her chest.
Her golden eyes then carefully glance to the hall filled with nobles, chattering, dancing, enjoying their time in the hall filled with the festive atmosphere of the wedding.
She catches the figure she was looking for.
A woman with curly blonde hair.
Like a flowing breeze, her aura made her peers around her smile and enjoy the conversation their having while holding a glass of wine.
A lovely noble lady with high status, unlike Rosaria Elijah Ronan of House Ronan, whose father and mother were bestowed with the title of Earl and Countess.
Caroline Madison Vanderbond was a daughter of the Duke and Dutchess, one of the highest ranks in the pyramid of ranks, with only three Ducal households in the empire bestowed with such title.
While the rest were wearing a dazzling shade of red dresses in the banquet, Caroline who had worn a fiery red gown in the church was now changed into a white gown that is eerily similar to a wedding dress.
In this hall, there should be only one person who can wear a color of purity and newfound companionship, and it should have been the bride.
At this moment, Eve shifted her body to a comfortable yet straight sitting position, showing her grace and pose. Her eyes still looked at the crowd in front of her, in her own wedding reception, everyone acted as if they couldn't see lady Caroline wearing a white dress amongst the sea nobles in red fabrics.
When was it, that Rosaria realized she was just used?
That her marriage was doomed from the start?
That she finally learned how her life is in danger and her prince charming isn't who he is?
She must have ignored the signs in front of her, denying the rumors about the crown prince and the duke's daughter. Ignored the past between these two and pretended everything had changed.
Eve had glanced at the person beside her, who had either ignored her or was inattentive of his new wife.
The Crown Prince Christopher, her husband, and the empire's future ruler didn't realize he was being observed by his newly wedded wife.
Royal blood runs through the veins of the people who inherited blonde hair and blue eyes, which the Crown Prince both have. House Vanderbond were a part of the royal family which is why Caroline, like her parents, has inherited blonde hair.
The same goes for the crown prince.
Christopher Henry Von Rosemond is a handsome man in his thirties, unlike Rosaria, he enjoys politics, trade, horseback riding, and reading philosophical books.
A man who finds comfort in peaceful settings and environments.
While Rosaria Elijah Ronan, on the other hand, was a lady who just recently turned of age.
A young woman in her teenage years, she finds pleasure in social gatherings such as tea parties and festivals, who wound travel and explore regions and visit orphanages to volunteer and donate. A very expressive lady who came from a humble house of a noble family.
It was unknown to some people how the crown prince found the lady and took a fancy on her when it was obvious they do not share the same interest.
Eve shifts her gaze and looks at Caroline, as she lightly laughs at her companion's words. As if she had glittered and diamonds in her body, she shined brighter under the lights from the chandeliers.
It was no secret that the Crown Prince Christopher had dated Caroline before Rosaria came into the picture.
" The second life of the thorny rose " Eve whispers to herself as she watched Caroline smiled in her white dress.
She placed her hands properly clasps on her dress, like an obedient and well-mannered wife, she lower her gaze.
Rosaria's memories came crashing in like a swiftly flipped picture book, showing from pages to pages, how her life was turned upside down.
She was not a red rose,
Nor a white rose,
But a thorny rose
She was plucked from her home, to marry the crown prince of Rosemond.
Unknown to her the secrets from the people she thought she could trust, a naive 17-year-old lady dreaming of marrying her prince charming.
And marry him, she did.
Yet what Rosaria didn't know was she was just an option. A spare, that could be thrown aside once her purpose was met.
Rosaria Elijah Ronan married the crown prince and gotten the attention of the nobles and the public. As the Princess of Rosemond, she showed her efforts and her knowledge as a lady in high society.
Sharing her newfound knowledge and experiences from her travels garnered a lot of attentive listeners, and her frequent visit to churches and orphanages were not untold. As well as a few donations to help the soldiers who were going to war.
Many admire her personality as she is outspoken with her emotions and work as much as her husband does, she listens to her people's problems and finds solutions to them.
It didn't take long for her to be loved by her people, and she too loved her subjects.
While her attention was focused on building a good reputation for her family and her husband, doing her duties as a princess of Rosemond, and preparing to be the next empress of the empire.
Unknown to her, Christopher had slowly reconnected with his old flame behind her back while traveling for business as a crown prince.
Rosaria and Christopher were forced to marry by the order of the Empress and even though they started as strangers, they did find love with each other.
They dated and found themselves more and more interested in each other, and five months later, she became his fiancée.
As a teen in love, Rosaria felt she was a character inside a romance novel who was loved by her prince charming, the handsome Christopher.
Rosaria then was told by the Empress and Emperor of the nation to immediately wed their first and only child, Prince Christopher.
Yet after they married, Rosaria was met with a lot of obstacles as a Princess.
She was graceful and eloquent but lacked the mindset of a noble lady, she was smart and social with her peers yet didn't have the same level of education as the daughters of the Dukes and Marquis. She's a woman yet she doesn't want to obey a man, her husband.
Rosaria was unlike any other noble lady, no one can change her mind and the way she act.
The nobles pretended to like her when in fact, they hated her guts while the rest of the people adore her.
Caroline was different, she was the crown prince's first love. His first woman and his one and only, yet they were unable to marry as there was an issue with Caroline.
She was not a virgin and was not a maiden anymore, she had divorced her first and second husband before, making her unable to be Christopher's bride.
Yet Christopher loved her more than his wife.
Rosaria, who had finally realized something was wrong with her relationship with her husband, had forgotten her place.
She was a princess but not of royal blood, as a wife, she wasn't supposed to raise her voice towards her husband, the crown prince.
Wasn't supposed to question his plans and decisions.
And especially, wasn't supposed to have a greater reputation than her husband.
It wasn't even five years in their marriage that things turned into a different picture, it wasn't she had imagined. From a normal couple expecting their first child, they suddenly became estranged towards each other.
Christopher had been frequently away from the palace, attending parties with Caroline and their friends.
While Rosaria, maddened by the shift of their relationship and paranoid by the changes of noble's opinion of her, became a new person.
Depression, anxiety, jealousy, anger, sadness, self-deprecation, and stress had built up within her and resulted in her gaining visible changes, postpartum depression had hit her after her first child had an accident during her labor.
And that was the start of their lives filled with arguments and blame, it was the start of Rosaria crying every night and questioning her worth.
" Princess " a voice calls her from her side, and a hand held her own. Tenderly holding hers and then their fingers intertwined.
Rosaria looks at her side, her golden eyes meet his blue ones, as she stares emotionless at the Crown Prince beside her, whose wearing a white royal wedding suit that showed his status from the gold woven in such fabric along with the white cotton and silk.
" What are you thinking my dear? " Christopher's voice was dripping in sweet honey as if he was in love with her.
With his action, holding her hand and looking at Rosaria lovingly, the rest of their subjects and the royal family present at the hall looked at the newly wedded couple.
Christopher brought her pale hand near his lips, then lightly kisses the back of her palm.
" My lovely princess, what had made you look so unhappy? "
Rosaria had watched from start to finished, she saw his gaze on a certain individual in the hall and the corner of Rosaria's lips lifted slightly.
" if I tell you, will you punish the thing that made me unhappy? " She sneered in her heart, but her voice didn't sound sarcastic. Like her soft wedding veil, her voice flowed into his ear smoothly.
" I'll do anything for you, when have I continue to make you unhappy? "
Eve then looks at the crowd of nobles and saw the music was slowed down, clearly the event was almost done based on the time and song selection.
Rosaria's golden eye's which was originally red as an apple were now the color of the golden sunshine, the system adjusted the world settings and no one questions or even remember how it changes from red to yellow. No one knew they were back in time, yet Rosaria was now just a vessel of Eve's consciousness in a string of data.
Eve smirks and Christopher saw the change in her temperament.
A Coward of a man, if you had just man up to your mother and married Caroline without roping in Rosaria, you wouldn't have to meet me.
" I never knew you were tolerant with the nobles mistake, I guess you don't want to cause a scene during our wedding day, " she smiles and slowly removes her hand from his, her words was heard by him clearly and he looks at her, surprised at how her attitude and tone changed.
" What do you mean? " he slightly furrowed his brow and followed her line of sight.
Caroline. Who else is brave enough to mock the princess of Rosemond? Thinking she can get away with it since your mother seems to tolerate her.
Rosaria was looking at Caroline, whose appearance couldn't be ignored seeing how she is the only one wearing white amongst the nobles in red.
Rosaria glance at her husband and smiled.
He had been looking at the duke's daughter this whole time and act as if he didn't see her wearing a dress similar to a wedding dress.
Looking at her with sincerity and fondness, in his eyes, ignoring his princess next to him.
Eve placed a finger on her handkerchief laying on her lap. She smiled, knowing how her next words might ruin everything he had hidden from her.
" Not one noble in this hall questioned Lady Vanderbond of wearing a dress similar to a wedding gown, if I wasn't sitting next to you, your highness, people would have thought you married Lady Caroline rather than me "
Rosaria chuckles heartedly as if the joke was coming out from an innocent and naive girl, she did not look at his reaction but continued to watch how Caroline's face turned pale.
Rosaria's voice was clear and even the royal family had turned their head, looking at the lady in white in the center of the hall.
Now the nobles gasp as if it had finally dawned upon them the realization of the dress.
Rosaria couldn't help but roll her eyes at their pretentious ass.
Rosaria's smile then disappeared from her lips and she sighs concerningly, her hand takes the fan from her lap and openly spread it to cover the lower half of her face.
Golden eyes judging the nobles in the hall.
" Should I take this as an open insult towards me from both nobles and the house Vanderbond? Did everyone think I am blind to see such a shameless act?? " Rosaria then closed her fan with a loud snap that silence the chattering of the hall, Christopher looked at her angrily but decided to stay quiet.
" Princess Rosaria, I will see to it that they will be punished, this mistake on the day of my wedding..... is unacceptable." Christopher gritted his teeth as he glared at his wife, Rosaria didn't spare him a glance yet she was listening attentively.
Your wedding? You really like to show how you never liked Rosaria, well that's fine for me, I hope it stays that way.
Christopher then looks at Caroline, apologetically looking at her sorry appearance.
Rosaria felt her unfaithful husband was doing sh*t next to her but she didn't care, she smiled as she stood on her feet and faced the Emperor and Empress, she then called unto her maids.
" Your excellency, I shall excuse myself, I feel unwell and uncomfortable in this reception while seeing this woman in front of me. " she didn't even act unwell
The Empress glared at her son, then looked at the princess with concern.
" You can rest, for now, the reception is almost over, it's okay for you to go in first " The old age Emperor smiles yet it was not clear if it was sincere or an act.
Eve had yet to know if the Empress and Emperor had been an enabler in Christopher and Caroline's relationship in the past life, so she can't make a reckless move at the two rulers.
Rosaria smiled and then excused herself, walking away from her seat, not even looking at her husband nor spoke to him.
Yet she glance at Caroline, the poor woman who was called out by a girl ten years younger than her, of course, she was embarrassed.
Rosaria couldn't help but laugh when she was away from the crowd. Yet her laugh wasn't happy, it was from her being tired of sh*t like this.
As a Villainess, nothing is right when things happen and every Main character can act good or evil, and can still be forgiven and continue to be the main protagonist of the world.
How stupid
Followed by her two personal maids to her chamber, they assisted her during her change and bathing, scrubbing her skin and then changing into a nightgown meant for consummation. Eve didn't let them stayed longer and locked the door.
Eve already knew the Crown Prince won't be with her during their first night together, and even if he was going to have any ideas in his small brain, she wouldn't let him.
Even if he is this world's main protagonist.
" He should be with Caroline right now having an affair " Eve shakes her head, finding her situation ridiculous.
I hope he never comes to my room, I'd rather be in the same bed with an ex-lover than a cheating bastard.
She was laying down in her bed and brushing her own silver hair, Eve then opens her system screen with a swipe of her finger.
Let's see what we have here
" Instructions: can only activate one talent card in each world, will only be effective in the current world. Will only be activated once..... "
Eve had closed the system when it was receiving rewards and didn't know what else she got.
[ Talent Cards: Mystery Items x5, Rosegold Ticket, Pirate's precious Treasure, Nine Tails, Witches Tarot Cards, A Magical Mirror, Traveller's wisdom of all languages, Juliet's Poison, Skysplitter sword ]
Most of the cards glowed in different colors on the edge of each side. Green, Purple, and Gold, she guesses these cards were separated in terms of use with these glimmering colors.
Eve tried to look at the information on each card but raised her brow when she read the short and vague descriptions.
[ Mystery Items x5:
Rank: Green (low level)
A talent that will bring lucky items randomly to the host, but there is only 50% chance for this luck to happen when activated. 5 lucky items are the limit. ]
[ Rosegold Ticket:
Rank: Purple (Mid level)
After activating the talent card, you can boost your character's reputation inside a world. Can be used twice, cooldown: Two world leaps ]
[ Pirate's Precious Treasure:
Rank: Gold ( High level)
Can only be used once, a talent of finding fortune and hidden treasures inside a world. ]
Eve had read more and wondered what's the use of some of them, if she could, she wanted a talent to be able to have eyes in the sky and gather information just like in modern times.
She scrolled more and paused at one Talent.
[ Juliet's Poison:
Rank: Green (Low Level)
Just like Romeo and Juliet, this talent can turn anything to poison. There's a 50% chance of this talent to work but will fail to kill an character. ]
Eve wanted to laugh but also cry. She wanted to activate such talent and kill the crown prince but she knew she can't do it even if she want to.
Eve looks at the progress bar of the world.
It was suddenly at 5%.
Why has it jumped up that quick? She thought long and hard as she laid in her white duvet.
She digs in Rosaria's memories and the system's information, it didn't take long to find her answer.
" Ah..... " she remembers now, Rosaria's wedding should have been nothing like how it happened moments ago.
Rosaria should have ignored Caroline and Christopher wouldn't have met his old flame. If it didn't happen, Christopher and Rosaria would have spent the night together and the next day, Christopher would have gone to his lover to apologize.
But because Eve isn't stupid nor blind, she called out the woman and now Christopher must have gone to her side and now in her bedroom.
Based on the system's information, Rosaria didn't have any clue about her prince seeing the woman until she realized too late.
" And how is she even the villainess in the world? The poor woman has a husband whose having an affair behind her back! "
Eve let her mind search for the information that she wants and sigh when she finally got to see everything.
Because she wasn't the female lead to the Main Character's world.
Rosaria Elijah Serpentine Ronan couldn't accept to divorce him in the future after her miscarriage, she couldn't produce an heir and she was no longer useful to him, she lied and said she could still give birth and became obsessed with his love.
Disgusted by her, he plans to kill her but it was postponed when Rosaria finally was pregnant again. A miracle happened and she gave birth to three children, Christopher couldn't remove her when she was needed to be his children's mother.
Their relationship was already sh*t and Christopher's affairs with the Duke's daughter had been spread to the Empire, angering the people as their beloved Princess had been cheated on.
Rosaria had long endured their relationship and the broken marriage, all for their children, she forced herself to be in a loveless marriage until she couldn't.
It was when Rosaria accepted the divorce that Christopher killed her.
Eve glared at the ceiling when she learned the reason why he didn't let go of Rosaria when she had stepped out of her title. Killing her when she finally wanted to find a new love and a new life.
It was because her child who was still twelve, was eligible to ascend to the throne as people's opinion of the crown prince turned morose.
If the child became the new Emperor, Rosaria could come back to the palace and Christopher couldn't move Caroline inside into the imperial family.
So he killed her.
When she was in another region, praying inside the church and even slain her new lover.
It was cruel but she was an obstacle in his plans.
Eve pressed her palms on her face and then runs her fingers through her silver locks. A feeling of disgust settles in her chest as she sees Rosaria's past.
Now she finally understands the story of Rosaria, Eve could decide what her next move was, but she can postpone that for another time.
Right now, all she needs to do was rest her mind. It wasn't long since she was sent into another world and lost her lover.
Eve needed to rest before her mind floods with images of those dark and warm eyes of Alexander.
Before she could imagine him next to her, laying in the same bed and holding her as he usually does.
A few tears escape her eyes thinking of him.
She missed him.
Eve laid there and silently let herself be weak.