Vera woke up in a cold sweat, her head in a daze as memories of her pitiful future flooded brain. Loneliness. Abuse. Pain. that was the life she lived as the wife of the beloved Crown Prince Nikolai. Quickly she flipped on the bedside lamp and grabbed her hand held mirror, she inspected her face gently with teary eyes. She was sixteen years old. Three years before she married the crown prince. Thirteen before she died a slow death from abandonment and neglect in her rusted cage. She cupped her plump youthful cheek with a bitter smile, she was beautiful once. Long platinum hair that shimmered like the moon, lavender jeweled eyes (a trademark of her prestigious and unique bloodline) and a clear, lively peachy complexion. She hadn't noticed her looks in the past, not until her death bed where the only reflection she could see was a sad, withered husk. Thin. Broken. She couldn't believe that last, dying image was her in such a short time. Ten years seemed long but not long enough to end in death. Vera's first step was to avoid marriage to the crown prince. She sat the mirror on the table and slipped from her silk sheets into her nightly robe. It was funny. Her clothes as the Grand Duke's daughter was finer than her clothes as the Crown Princess. Nikolai said fine clothes were a waste on someone who would never shown them off. She clutched her robe tightly, trying to forget her pain and humiliation.
She walked out onto her balcony, the sheer curtains billowing around her as the autumn breeze blew. This was something she had desperately missed. The feel of the vast world around her. The breeze through her hair, the stone on her barefeet, the smell of the crisp evergreens, the modern melodious harmony of the night. It all was an experience she had missed. She stumbled out, her body still use to the heavy shackles that had confined her for many years. Though awkward she gained her footing confidently. She felt resolute as she looked out at the sleeping land, this sight was always her peace of mind. Tears of joy fell in silent streams. She had never thought she'd gaze upon this sight ever again. "Never again will I be someone's possession." She thought to herself as she admired her home so proudly.
Vera watched as the sun began to rise and stretched its golden fingers through the fading purple sky. She turned back to her room, invigorated as she collect a pen and stationary. The first step to securing her freedom was to avoid the crown prince. Her social debut was the first time she had ever met Nikolai. It was the buzz of high society for a long time, the crown prince dances with the Precious Nightingale of the Everwyn Dukedom. She would need to draw the line without occurring the prince's wrath down the road. For safety and her family's. Her best bet would to be find a contractual partner. She had lived her past rejecting all romantic advances. It was bothersome because she could see into the hearts of others and each proposal of undying affection was just another man trying to use her as a prop or to boost their social settings. She knew their intentions because of the Eyes of Truth she received as first born. It was a magical blessing, bestowed by the late saintess Tessa to the first born of every Everwyn bloodline. Vera had the blessing, as did her father and her grandfather. It was the rite of the firstborn, regardless of gender. Thanks to the blessing she was able to see people's true intentions, there were exceptions like Nikolai whose mana was stronger and could blind her seeking gaze. She had to be careful of her decisions, she could end up worse off than Nikolai. She perused through gossip articles, pamphlets and old letters hoping to find an ideal partner. Vera was so focused she had been completely oblivious as her closest maid Minnie zipped around the room cleaning, preparing her outfit for the day and setting up a healthy breakfast close to the balcony for maximum comfort. She was only alarmed to Minnie when the young girl tripped.
Carefree. Honest. Loyal. Lovable. All words to describe Minnie but she had a major flaw. She was clumsy. Vera found her in an ally, fighting with an older kid who had stolen bread from two small children. She stood no chance of beating the boy but she was persistent. Vera watched her from a distance, trying to see if she should involve herself but even without her powers Minnie was a good person. She not only got the bread for the younger children but she even gave her share to the boy who had been subdued by her persistence. Minnie approached her curiously, her face was dirty and she barely had a dress but she was adorable with her weeks mousey brown hair and eyes of pure gold. Vera had found her quirky and took her as a maid despite other's protests. Ever since that moment Minnie lived beside Vera and their friendship blossomed. Vera giggled sticky as she helped her friends up.
"Good morning Minnie, how are you today?" Vera said as she sat gracefully at the table. The smell of honey milk tea, fresh berries and two perfectly fried eggs hit Vera like a ton of bricks. Forgetting all etiquette she devoured it like a starving hyena. She quickly noticed Minnie horrified expression and regained her composure. How long had it been since he had a good meal? In the learnt she ate a regular diet but in her past life she was lucky to receive enough to survive off of. Nikolai used food to control her, if she did what she was told and suffered in silence he would reward her with bread and clean water but if she did anything displeasing he would drag her out to the dining hall and eat a banquets worth of food while she was forced to sit and watch, helpless and starving. The last memories of starving to death still made her tremble. She composed herself as Minnie tried her best to comfort her. Vera smiled sincerely as she stopped the tears away. "Thank you Minnie, thank you. "
Minnie looked concerned as she patted her friend. "Should I fetch the physician? " It was a bizarre thing for Vera to consume food in such an unruly manner and to cry seemingly by random. Vera valued etiquette, she was born poised and dignified but she died humble and lowly. It wasn't something she could forget.
"N-no, I am sorry for scaring you. I..." Vera thought about it, if she told anyone she had transmigrated through time than she could be deemed insane and be locked away again. "I just had a bad dream." Vera tried to hide her emotions behind a fake smile but Minnie was never a fool. She hugged Vera tightly and comforting her with a loving hug.
Vera smiled, her tears finally stopped and the fear she had felt disappeared. She sat down and began to wash her face, warm rose water had always been her favorite and it felt so good to have it again. The little things she had taken for granted in the past were all blessings to her now.