"Are you alright? You look like you just died and saw hell," said the protagonist jokingly, raising her smooth white hand to her wide full lips; expressing an alluring laugh like an elegant queen.
Perhaps it's the way her hair is styled. Both sides of her hair were braided with its ends tied behind her back, making it appear like a fairy crown. I don't know if it was because of that. Or maybe it's the gentle breeze of the wind picking up her long wavy platinum hair, swaying lightly in the air. After the wind passes by, her hair would return to its original state.
I can't put it into words, but everything about the girl in front of me is stunning. It left me speechless and in awe. Especially the three flat moles on her face that made her milky white skin stand out even more under the lukewarm light of the sun. One visible on the tip of her small and pointed nose. And each mole is located on both sides of her temples.
The protagonist stood tall at the height of 5 feet and 6 inches tall. Because I was taller than her by 3 inches; I could clearly see her sharp collarbone from where I stood. Her white shirt and deep blue skirt fitted in a dark corset around her waist; it displayed the right curves in her body; the epitome definition of what aesthetic actually looks like.
Despite wearing something simple, the protagonist nonetheless still appeared like an angel in my eyes.
What a bad joke. After all, if the protagonist is the angel, doesn't that mean I'm the devil?
At that thought, my heart throbbed in uneasiness.
I tried to calm myself despite thinking that this person would be the reason for my tragic end, or so the end of the villain after bullying this angel.
Oh wait, that's right, if I befriended the protagonist, wouldn't the ending be different by then?
Wait, hold on, let's erase this idea. I'm pretty sure that it would not go as smoothly as planned.
'Let's just stay away from the protagonist,' I thought to myself. I release a sigh as I gaze at the protagonist complicatedly with my knitted brows.
As if feeling my conflicted thoughts, the protagonist cleared her throat awkwardly. "Ahem, I was just kidding, anyway, my name is Kendra Salamanca," the protagonist said in her charming voice, raising her smooth white hand in front of me.
I broke out from the trance and cleared the messy thoughts running in my head. I kept telling myself that this person will be the end of me, but that was in the book, and I am not the same as the villain, so I figured, why not just treat the protagonist normally as I should in my original world? Like how decent human beings treat others?
Thinking this way, my chaotic mind became clear like a sparkling spring of water. I hurriedly extended out reaching to shake the protagonist's soft smooth hand with an enthusiastic expression.
"Uh…hi Kendra, my name is Nasrin Urduja, and it was nice meeting you, uhm, this is indeed the registration lane, I hope we both successfully enter the academy," I said, stretching my lips in a nervous sincere smile.
In spite of my face appearing apprehensive, Kendra didn't show any reactions to it as she remained smiling friendly in front of me. "Thank you, let's do our best Nasrin," Kendra replied, giving me a blinding smile like an angel.
I nodded, then as if being scalded, I quickly released the protagonist's hand. I turned around like what happened was just something that happens in everyday life. My attitude towards the protagonist was like I'm talking to the queen of the country, because she is indeed the centre of life in this novel, and yes, this is how I would treat a future queen or anyone in the royal family.
I would give them sincerity, because this is how I give respect to others, which is also what I want to receive back myself. Like what the popular quote said; 'treat others like how you want to be treated.' Well then, this is how I want to be treated.
Regardless of my sincere intentions, deep inside me, I could feel the anxiety creeping into my heart.
I wanted to appear sincere, but thinking of the tragic end of Nasrin in the book always made me feel uneasy. So my smile just now doesn't look as sincere as I wanted it to be; my lips keep twitching as I feel some sort of disagreements in my thoughts.
Fortunately, it doesn't seem that the protagonist notices my abnormal and weird behaviour.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Lory looking at me from a distance. I smiled at Lory indicating that everything is fine. Probably understanding my message; Lory then nodded and walked back to where the carriage was positioned.
Suddenly meeting the protagonist made me forget; that Lory was still there watching my every move. I have been reminded by the cruel fact; that I can't let my guard down even for a second; lest I want Lory to be more suspicious of my identity. For that reason, I made sure I have a neutral face on the surface again; so as to not raise suspicions from Lory.
Oh right, Lory and Kendra met each other because of a similar scene a while ago, which Nasrin in the book started.
If I remember correctly, the villain was also asked by the protagonist about the same question I was asked earlier. And because Nasrin Urduja was a prideful second-generation aristocrat, the villain humiliated the protagonist in front of so many people. Which in turn attracted the attention of the inspectors who were in charge of the registration.
In the book, the Nasrin in the novel was almost disqualified by the inspectors. If it weren't because of Lory acting as a mediator apologising on behalf of Nasrin Urduja; the villain might not have been able to qualify for the entrance exam.
As a result of this, Lory gave compensation to Kendra, so the commotion can be resolved peacefully. And that's how the two became acquainted.
Little by little, Lory discovered that Kendra was her half sister because of a specific event, and that event is yet to happen. As of the moment, the two sisters haven't become acquainted yet, which is good for me since I am inside the body of the villain.
Recalling the event in the book, I let out a sigh of relief thinking that I just avoided the first event. However, I also felt a bit worried because now Kendra didn't become acquainted with Lory. But if they don't become associated then I wouldn't have that tragic ending, right?
Despite feeling guilty, I steeled my heart and reasoned that this is for the betterment of my smooth sailing ending.
I want to have a peaceful, relaxing end. I don't want to become like the villain in the novel. However, remembering the role Lory had in the book; I became bothered again. Not for myself. But for the sake of the protagonist and the ending of this novel.
I feel like there would be some butterfly effect with what I'm transitioning here. What will happen to this world if there are too many changes?
"Next!"
The loud call of the man on duty brought me back to reality, and seeing the person before me going in, I cleared my thoughts as I went to register my name on the list of incoming students.
As I step my legs inside the vast campus to take the entrance examination test. It suddenly came to me that I don't know any magic nor any kind of skills to pass the test.
If I was, perhaps, the original Nasrin Urduja; I might probably have something up my sleeves. But I am not the real soul of this body.
When I suddenly woke up in this world, I didn't even get any kind of cheat skills, or a system to help me through this bizarre situation. I don't even know how magic works in this world. After all, the novel is written in a soft magic system.
I'm only aware that there is magic and whatnot in this world because of the minor details in the book. But there is a huge difference between reading and real-life experience.
A deprecating sigh escapes my lips at this realisation. 'Well, I haven't had the time to think that through yet,' I thought to myself as I sauntered my legs inside.
I feel a little less smart that I didn't include this huge important matter in my brilliant strategy, and all of a sudden, I have no idea what to do.
'My shitty plan led me to my demise,' I cursed in my head, feeling troubled by my situation.
If I fail this exam, Lory might discover my identity, and who knows what could happen if that sharp maid comes upon the truth; that inside this body was no longer the Nasrin Urduja she served?
Well, I don't even want to think about it; I could only imagine myself dying in Lory's hands in a bloody way.
This sudden realisation brought a huge pressure on my shoulders; I felt each step I took inside the academy was as heavy as an elephant foot. Every step I took was as slow as a turtle's running pace.
Despite having a mental breakdown inside of my chaotic head, I made sure that on the surface, I look calm as the wind and as confident as a rock. I made sure I have a neutral poker face; so as to not appear weak. With a serene look on my face, I followed the inspector in charge of my exam inside the campus of the academy.
Deep inside, my only thought was that, 'I'm doomed.'