Luella, in frustration, threw the pen as if the pen was at fault. She was lost, completely lost. "What am I doing? What's happening? Why am I here- Do I deserve to live?" Luella mumbled dejectedly as if someone might give her answers to her predicament.
If not, she's just a lady, a crazy one at that.
"Oh, mother and father, if you only allowed me to ride a merry-go-round, my situation would be much better."
Words were stuck in her throat. Tears started to swell in her eyes, threatening to fall on her plumpy cheeks.
In another universe, she might've decided not to open the book. In another universe, she might've not pursued riding the merry-go-round.
Upfront, she's calm and reserved, but inside, the turmoil, confusion, and loneliness she felt for the past three days were ravaging her mental health. Everything was foreign and new to her. Fast and sudden. Like a newborn baby dear thrown in a forest of lions.
Luella crumpled the paper and threw it next to the trash bin as it stacked upon papers of papers she had written earlier. She grabbed a nearby satin handkerchief and wiped away the tears threatening to trickle down.
Then, she noticed initials sewn on the handkerchief.
A.B. was written on the corner of the handkerchief.
A.B. is not her initial name nor her maids. She's curious but brushed it aside for the time being. It's not her concern anymore, nor the maids. It was Luella, the sole owner of her body.
Pondering for what seemed like an eternity, she finally mustered her courage to try again after sulking for a few minutes. She jots down her situation in a diagram about what Luella knew based on her maids' testimonies.
According to her maids, Luella accompanies Euphemia Clementine. She was regarded as the villainess of the kingdom. Physique-wise, she is beautiful with her prominent white hair and dead red eyes.
One can say she's a wilted rose, deadly but beautiful — one reckless behavior to another. She was oddly fond of buying enslaved people, illegal gambling and, unfortunately, being deeply involved with drugs.
And Luella acts as her companion to her evil deeds. She was the assistant, the personal maid, a scapegoat. She tried escaping one time, and the punishment was severe. Her hair was cut short, almost unrecognizable, and her maids used numerous methods to restore it. So far as to hire a mage to grow her hair back.
Euphemia is what they call the 'A Deadly White Rose'. That thought ran shivers down her spine.
Luella's life was cruel and unfair. Her father died when Luella was young hence, leaving all the duties to them. Her mother took over the entire household temporarily because according to the law, upon a husband's death, whether intentional or naturally caused- the wife shall carry on the duties of the head until an heir is of legal age to resume the responsibilities of the late Count.
Hence, Luella's supposed-to-be father left her once sweet mother with enormous paperwork. Other than that, she heard that the Count's death was shrouded in questions and unsolved mysteries, such as the cause of death, and the reasons.
She duly made a mental note to find papers or documents about his death and other investigations regarding Luella's father. This might help her shake her brain and finally remember what novel she is in.
Her brother, Caleb was a sweet brother too. However, his behavior drastically changed at the drop of a pin upon their father's death. Nobles, commoners, journalists, and royals were suspicious of Caleb as if he was deeply involved with their father's case.
However, not one nor an ounce of evidence was collected; thus Caleb was deemed not guilty. The case was labeled as highly confidential, and only the Duke and the Royal Family held the information. And of course, the bereaved family, the Eleanor.
Luella pities Caleb. He was 8 years old, naive, and innocent. It's blasphemous to think that these stupid people full of idiocy accuse a child who had not mastered the sword.
The trauma Caleb felt during that time, she can never fathom, let alone experience his sadness.
"Rest assured little brother, this older sister will take revenge." Luella declared confidently in a hushed manner. In Luella's eyes, Caleb was young. In her previous life, she was a 25-year-old grown woman inside a 14-year-old body.
Therefore, due to their situation, Luella and her older brother were neglected—void of affection and love. Apparently, the Count died when Luella was still six and her brother Caleb was eight. Luella, cut off from love yearns for it. She takes sides with the villainess and does evil deeds for fun.
Now, her situation backfired. She wants a peaceful life. She's willing to guide the villainess on a path favorable to her and Euphemia, the villainess in question. She hasn't met the villainess yet, but in the next few days, she might do so.
She's not going to let her fall into an inescapable disaster.
Now that sums everything up.
Luella stood up and stretched her body. She was exhausted, her back aching and longing for the soft covers, the warm mattress, and the breezy night that calms even the rowdiest babies to sleep.
"I should probably continue tomorrow." Luella yawned and laid on her bed.
"Well, you should. I still need to explain in full detail concerning your circumstances. But you should not dwell on that subject and focus on your sleep. Rest well, my child." A heavenly voice chimed in.
"Yes su- I'm sorry!?" Luella instantly jumped out of her bed and looked around, senses elevated. Her tiredness was shifted to defense. In a fight and flight response, she grabbed a pen.
"I'm sooo stabbing you with this pen. I swear on Luella's name! Reveal yourself!" Luella doesn't care what will happen to her. Maybe it's because she is indeed tired and cannot comprehend what course of action she should take.
The heavenly voice laughed meekly. "I did say rest and not to dwell on things I will explain tomorrow. Now child, be a dear. I will not hurt you."
"Pinky swear with a cherry on top?"
"Yes. Pinky swear..." The heavenly voice said, almost hesitating at the absurdity of her ways to gain trust and find a middle ground. Or maybe Luella's just tired.
"Okay, I'm trusting you now.." Luella placed her pen on the side table. "Oh no, I'm not using this pen to hurt you or in any way. Please don't mind me."
"Very well.. don't worry Luella." The heavenly voice tried to be calm and understanding towards Luella's sorry state.
But Luella refused to calm down and be a nice kid.
"Seriously tho, who are you? In this case, I am more open-minded about the eventualities of it all. I am after all in a world that common people," Luella shook her head.
"no scratch that, that AVERAGE-" She said, emphasizing the word. "-person like me cannot comprehend because this is a fantasy story right?"
"Okay child, you're taking things too far." With a click in the background, Luella suddenly sees herself in bed, in her soft, warm bed. "No, I'm not sleeping!" She said, fuming like a child.
"I wanna know what's happening with me. That matter is so important to me right now that no sleeping pills can calm and make me sleep in the middle of this stupid set-" Luella saw a flash of white and fell asleep instantly. The heavenly voice let out a long sigh.
"I pity you my child but tomorrow, we have all the time we need to discuss. Lershia you can come out now."
"Yes, master."
"Master?" The heavenly voice questioned as Lershia finally appeared while holding what seemed to be a hammer in his hand. He coated himself with invisibility magic hence Luella couldn't see him.
"Yes, master. New nickname Sire." One can say that the heavenly voice just nodded in response, no one can see but we do know that we can feel his anguish over the disrespect Lershia is giving them.
"Okay, child. Put that hammer down. I told you to use anything other than that hammer. That child over there will have to suffer tomorrow, you know the consequences, yes?" The heavenly said, dismissing the disrespect he had received earlier.
"Yes, I know. However, the hammer is more of a suitable option to finish the task at hand promptly." Lershia's eyes sparkled neutrally and calmly as if not to ruin his cool demeanor, task at hand is said to be Luella falling asleep. He just wanted to boast.
"You're really bad at expressing yourself Lershia." Lershia shrugged his shoulders. He walked over to the table where most of Luella's brainstorming papers were. "Pity Luella, this is all your fault, my Lord."
Taken aback, the heavenly voice tried to defend themselves. "Mhm, hence I tried making myself known as swiftly as possible. But, my circumstances didn't let me arrive as expected." Lershia nodded, and strands of his side-parted hair went to his face.
He has luscious dark, ebony hair, prominent jaws, and his eyes; color of yellow tint with gold like a sunset.
He was an extremely beautiful man.
"Lershia, stop eating her cookies."
"Okay, my lordship." He said, wiping his fingers with the use of his handkerchief. "It was a delicious treat."
"I know, now run along or you may rest here for now." The heavenly voice said.
"Well, the girl needs someone to watch over her. I'll stay here." He immediately went to invisibility at the flick of his finger. The heavenly voice hummed in approval.
"Yes, we should probably stop talking now and rest." And then, the heavenly voice finally faded away from who knows where. Lershia just yawned. He went to the couch and laid down, then went into a deep slumber.