I don't know how and why…
But when I woke up, I was already in this world, trapped inside the body of the Princess of this empire.
Serolf Empire…
This empire is known for being the largest and wealthiest under the rule of Emperor Gustav Serolf.
She gazed into the mirror, her reflection bore an uncanny resemblance to her former self. The only difference are...
Golden hair and eyes as red as blood...
Kaye Jin Mañago, a 28-year-old illustrator. Despite the years of being single, she found contentment in her prosperous life, surrounded by the love and support of her family and friends.
As far as she recalled, it was a rainy night, and she had just finished the book cover for their latest novel when she heard a deafening thunderclap raged outside. When she looked out the window, there was a blinding flash of light and when she woke up she was already in this world.
I got transported??? This can't be real…
I can't accept the possibility of leaving my family behind. I can't stay here forever.
I must find a way to return to my world.
....
Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
The door opened, the maid who had been crying earlier entered the room, followed by a timid-looking guy wearing bandages on his face.
"Waaahhh Your Highness, we are very sorry!" She was surprised when they both kneeled in front of her.
"It's our fault that you lost your memories. Please punish us!" the maid implored.
"Y-Your Highness, it's my fault that I didn't follow you while hunting..i-if I just…just…" the man closed his eyes. "Please punish me for being useless!"
Why are they apologizing?
The Princess fell off her horse while hunting, striking her head on a huge rock. She's been unconscious for two weeks.
Because she's trapped inside her body, she feigned memory loss to shield herself from suspicion.
"Would you please stand up? I don't remember what happened, but I'm fine now, so don't blame yourself. "
"B-But.." the maid sniffled.
She smiled, which caused them to be surprised. Everyone knew that the Princess didn't smile at anyone.
Princess Aria Yvonne Serolf Faulkerson, the only daughter of Duke Ymir Faulkerson and Princess Amelia Serolf.
Infamous as the 'mad dog' of the imperial family, she lived with the Emperor and the Crown Prince following her parents' demise. Her mother succumbed to illness when she was a mere four years old and her father died in an accident while hunting two years later. The Emperor, being her only kin, lavished care upon her, perhaps to compensate for her losses.
She doesn't get along with anyone, even with her own cousin. She has no friends, everyone in this empire despises her. She does whatever she wants and punishes those who get in her way. The worst part is that she always brings men into her palace and sleeps with them.
"Tell me what's your name?" she asked.
"M-My name is Jenny, Your Highness. I am your personal maid," she answered, trembling.
"Your last name?"
"W-We servants and slaves don't have last names. "
"Oh?"
"M-My name is Cedrik, Your Highness. I am your slave."
Wait, what? Slave? Why does the princess have a slave?
"Slave?"
Cedrik kept lowering his head. "W-When you're upset or mad, you... you release all your anger...to me."
WHAT??? So the princess put all her anger on this poor guy?
Cedrik appeared utterly petrified. He's so skinny and you can tell that he is living his life miserably.
No wonder why people hate her so much. She was a true villainess.
.
.
....
Sighed.
"Since I am now inside her body, I can't live like this! I don't want to be hated. They believed the princess had suffered memory loss. Perhaps it's time for the princess to be perceived in a positive light!"
But, only those dwelling within the palace knew that the princess had lost her memories. The emperor prevented the news from coming out.
" Hmmm, this will be hard but I still need to try my best. I will change the Princess' image while figuring out a way of how to return to my world at the same time."
.
.
....
"Your Highness, are you really sure you're well now? What if you feel dizzy while walking?" Jenny expressed her concern while she was fixing her hair.
Among all the servants in the palace, Jenny and Cedrik were the only persons who showed care for the princess. Despite all the mistreatment they endured, they still worried about her.
"Do not worry. I will simply sit in the garden to breathe some fresh air. I won't tire myself," she reassured, wearing a smile.
"Waahh, Your Highness, you look absolutely gorgeous when you smile!" Jenny exclaimed, her eyes filled with admiration and excitement.
"Your Highness, I have already prepared your snacks," Cedrick announced, while holding the basket.
"All right, let's go and have some fresh air!" she said, and opened the door. However, she paused upon seeing a handsome man in a knight's uniform waiting outside.
"Greetings to you, Your Highness!" the knight bowed.
"Sir William!" Jenny called his name. "Your Highness, this is Sir William, your escort knight."
This knight was so fine!
Sir William Hughes, once a candidate for the position of Knight Commander but he refused. Instead, he chose to remain the Princess' escort knight. No one knows the reason why he made this choice. He had been serving her since she was fifteen years old. Everyone knew that the princess didn't treat her servants kindly, so why did he stay? He was a composed and quiet individual. After the princess's accident, he was severely punished for failing to protect her.
"Uh, hello," she greeted, with a smile.
William was also taken aback to see the princess smiling.
The Princess seemed different today…maybe because she lost her memories?
That's what William thought.
"It appears the Princess wishes to go for a walk. Allow me to accompany you," William offered.
"Sure," she replied, happily walking and greeting the servants.
All of the servants were also surprised by her actions.
'Heheh! I know you all are taken aback because the princess is behaving so differently today. But fret not, you will grow accustomed to it, for I intend to be the kindest princess in the entire world from this moment forward. Bwahaahaha!' she thought to herself while walking.
.
.
....
"So, she's already awake?" Claudius asked while engrossed in some documents.
Lord Claudius Rembrandt, eldest son of Duke Rembrandt of the North, had been married to the princess a year ago. However, their relationship was strained, to say the least. He despised the princess and resented the forced marriage. She forced him to marry her even though she knew that he loved someone else. Everyone in the empire was aware of his affections for Lady Lory, the daughter of the count of the North. But the princess had liked him since they were young and she did everything to separate the two. Being the princess' husband is like being in hell!
"Yes my Lord. However, the princess has lost her memories," his secretary responded.
He halted his reading. Is this a joke?
He wonders what's that evil woman planning right now? Perhaps she was feigning memory loss to garner more attention.
Nonetheless, he had no interest in the princess. He's still seeking a way to divorce that woman.
.
.
....
"Huh? My brother is busy? But my brother invited me to have lunch together!" Nikolai began to grow irate.
He was on his way to visit his brother in the palace when the guards stopped him from entering.
Lord Nikolai Rembrandt, the youngest son of Duke Rembrandt and Claudius' brother. Unlike Claudius, who was composed and mature, Nikolai is totally the opposite. He's hot-tempered and arrogant.
"I apologize, young Lord, but Lord Claudius mentioned he didn't want to be disturbed today," the guard informed.
"But I'm his brother! Do you want to be beaten?" Nikolai is now ready to create a scene in the palace.
"What's the commotion about?"
The disturbance ceased as Claudius finally emerged. The palace guards bowed.
"Brother!" Nikolai dashed towards him with enthusiasm. "What took you so long? These bastards are pissing me off."
"Nik, are you picking a fight with the palace guards again?" Claudius asked.
"Hmph! it's their fault, they aren't letting me in to see you," Nikolai retorted, glaring at the guards.
Claudius sighed. "We are in the palace. I hope you won't stir up trouble again."
"Fine! Fine!" Nikolai replied, rolling his eyes.
While walking, Claudius noticed the Princess who was now sitting in the garden.
He was taken aback to see her laughing.
That laugh…it's not the laugh that the princess used to show. It was different from before.
.
.
....
"This one suits you, Cedrik," Aria said, placing the flower crown she had made on Cedrik's head.
"Wow, it's so pretty, Your Highness," Jenny complimented.
Of course! She's the one who made it.
Cedrik's face turned red.
William stood by, observing them.
"This palace was so quiet, the servants don't talk unless you ask them. I also can't see the emperor around," she said.
"We servants are not allowed to make any noise, you hate noises and the emperor was residing in the palace in the east," Jenny explained.
"Y-You mean there's another palace?" she asked in surprise.
The three nodded.
"T-The palace where the emperor and the crown prince reside is called the Main Palace, while your palace is called the Ruby Palace," Cedrik explained.
"I see, so, I don't live in the same palace as them."
"You specifically requested your own palace," William reminded her.
"In fact, there are multiple palaces here inside the imperial palace for different members of the royal family to use," Jenny added.
The sheer size of the empire amazed Aria, with so many palaces for its members.
"But it's still so quiet," Aria pouted.
She noticed Cedrik chuckling.
"Is there something funny?" she asked.
"M-My apologies, Your Highness! Please punish me!" Cedrik immediately knelt down.
Ehh??
"Hey, don't kneel! I'm just asking; there's no need to tremble in fear," she said, helping him to his feet.
"B-But…"
While observing Cedrik, Aria realized something.
He was easily frightened and afraid of making mistakes because he knew that any misstep would lead to punishment. The bruises on his body were evidence of the princess's cruelty.
She can accept the fact that she's living inside this villainess' body but she can't afford to see these innocent people tremble in fear because of her.
"Cedrik, how long have you been serving me?" she asked.
Cedrik lowered his head. "T-Two years.."
She sighed, so he's been enduring all those pain for two years?
"Listen to me Cedrik, from now on you are no longer my slave," she declared.
The three were both surprised.
"Y-Your Highness, please forgive me! I didn't mean to laugh!" Cedrik pleaded.
"Your Highness, you don't have to do this!" Jenny also begged.
William wanted to say something but decided to remain silent.
"Eh? Please don't misunderstand. I don't want him to be my slave anymore because I want him to be my butler," she clarified.
Their eyes widened.
Was this real? Cedrik was no longer a slave?
"Ehem," she cleared her throat. "I know I've been a bad person in the past, but people can change, right? I'm now reflecting on all the wrongdoings from my past."
"I-Is that true?" Cedrik asked, while holding back his tears.
"Yup, I will never punish you again and I'll treat you better starting from now on. Just believe me"
"Waahhhh! Thank you, Your Highness!!!" Cedrik cried. It was the happiest moment of his life.
"Pfft... there, there, don't cry," Aria comforted him with a pat on the head.
.
.
....
Cedrik walked down the hallway with a smile on his face. He was no longer a slave.
He hoped that the princess would remain like this forever.
"Have you heard? That scum is no longer the princess' slave."
"Huh! I heard the princess lost her memories. Maybe he's taking advantage of it to gain her trust."
"So, he's resorting to dirty tricks now? How cunning. I'm sure when the princess regains her memories, he'll become her slave again."
Hearing their malicious gossip, Cedrik clenched his fists. The palace servants were always up to no good.
Two years ago in the capital, Cedrik was one of the slaves subjected to unpaid labor for aristocrats. They couldn't escape since the Chief was too powerful, and people in the empire dared not intervene. If they make mistakes, the Chief won't give them food and drinks. They also sleep in an old warehouse. When female children came of age, the Chief would sell them to brothels or illegal auctions. Despite being skinny, Cedrik is quite handsome, with his dark brown hair and hazelnut eyes, making him a prime target. On the day that Cedrik was set to participate in an illegal auction, the princess accidentally spotted him. When their eyes met, the Princess found him interesting, so she decided to buy him and take him to the palace. He thought he had escaped his wretched life, but he was wrong. He didn't expect that the Princess was an evil person. She inflicted physical harm on him even when he had committed no wrong. She bent all her anger on him.
But despite it all, he still cared for her. Every time the princess got drunk, he saw her crying on her bed. She was lonely, without anyone to share her problems. The princess had saved him, so in exchange for shelter in the palace, he stayed by her side.
Hearing those unfounded rumors, he ignored them and decided to let them slide. Those servants knew nothing.