Death doesn't pain me as much as I thought it would. The scene of the blood-filled road escapes my vision, and a black oasis replaces it. This moment of darkness lasts only a second until my mind begins to regain awareness.
. . .
My senses come back gradually; I first hear the peaceful sounds of nature, and then I feel the fluff of soft cushions and blankets. I instinctively sink back into unfamiliar bedding and peer through the window. The rising sun reminds me of the previous morning…
I pause to think for a moment, and reality sets in.
"Aren't I dead?" I think aloud.
My voice sounds like that of a stranger, unfamiliar to even myself. I rub my hands over my face; golden strands of hair entangle my arms as I do so. Being a brunette, this feature shocks me. Questions pour through my mind, though I doubt I'll find the answers to any of them.
Just as I'm lost in thought, a young woman in a classical maid's outfit appears through the entrance. I meet her gaze and she immediately bows.
"Good day, my lady. I apologize for my tardiness, your morning tea will be prepared shortly." She speaks, a slight wariness to her tone.
"Thank you…?" I respond, relaying my confusion in my reply.
Nevertheless, the maid seems surprised by my simple response; she even appears thankful.
The maid then leaves the room swiftly and I'm left to my thoughts once again. I fiddle with an unknown ring on my finger and stare out the window as I attempt to gather my thoughts.
There is one thing I am certain of: I'm no longer me.
I died. Whoever I am, clearly it is someone else. I rise, walking around in search of something to verify this claim. It doesn't take long for me to find a mirror along with my new reflection. I watch as the woman in the mirror gasps.
Her appearance has a fairytale essence; long curls drape down her sides, and emerald eyes highlight her face. Her skin has a bisque color, and it glows vibrantly like the sun.
For a moment, I frown. No matter the beauty of this person, she is not me. It feels wrong. I set my thoughts aside and further inspect what seems to be my room.
The luxurious quality of it stands out immediately. Every corner seems intricately crafted; small gems and jewelry glimmer around the room. Though I've always loved fairytales, I never imagined stepping into one myself. Whoever I am, she must be lucky.
As I finish my inspection, a different maid from beforehand enters with my "morning tea." She places it down on my bedside table.
"I hope you enjoy Lady Marianna. I will be back shortly to prepare you for your tea party hosted by the Ambrose family." She exits quickly before I have the chance to reply.
"Marianna…" I murmur the name to myself as if trying to dig up a forgotten memory.
Suddenly, it hits me.
Golden hair, emerald eyes… That was the exact description of Marianna Cecil, a well-off noble from one of my most favorite novels. She didn't appear much in the actual novel, however. In the beginning, she is killed discretely by the main villainess who poisons her drink during a ball. The female lead then solves the murder by the end of the novel with the help of the male lead, and she reveals the villainess's schemes in a grand finale. The crime, however, acts more as a side story than anything. It's simply a plot device so that the villainess can receive the punishment she deserves by the end.
I recall what the maid said once more: "The Ambrose family." The main lead, her name was Lilac Ambrose. The truth of everything slowly sinks in. I haven't reincarnated into just any world, but a novel.
A novel where I...
"So that's it," I say aloud, exasperated. "I'm destined to die yet again."
~End of Chapter 2~