Where should I start?
…..
The moment I awoke in this unfamiliar world, it felt as though I had left my old life behind for good.
However, that transition wasn't a smooth one; it felt more like a plunge into darkness.
I found myself submerged beneath the murky waters of a deep, black lake near our mansion.
As I struggled to resurface, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks—I was drowning, in every sense of the word.
My attempts to swim to the surface were futile.
My body felt weak and clumsy, my arms and muscles lacking the strength to propel me upward.
It was as though I was trapped in a nightmare, unable to break free from the suffocating embrace of the water.
The following day brought with it a stark understanding of my new reality. Voices clamored around me, urgent and alarmed.
"Oh my god, he's awake!" someone exclaimed, their words mingling with calls for medical assistance.
The chaos around me served as a jarring reminder of just how far I had strayed from the familiar comforts of my old life.
Amidst the confusion, an elderly man stood by my bedside, speaking in a language I didn't recognize. Despite my lack of comprehension, I could sense the excitement in the air.
"Ohh that's my grandson ya HAHAHA!"
The man's gestures were animated, his expressions filled with joy.
Even though his words were foreign to me, I found myself understanding them on a deeper level—a small blessing in the midst of my disorientation.
I was six at that time.
And it took me a good four years, give or take, to truly come to terms with my new reality—a fresh start, a clean slate.
Over those past four years, I made a conscious effort to embrace the people around me, from my newfound parents to the cozy walls of our new home.
And then there was the new me: Riley Hell. It was a name I both despised and accepted, a moniker that seemed to define this strange existence I found myself in.
But really, what choice did I have? I woke up one day as Riley, without rhyme or reason.
Might as well roll with it, right?
Armed with the knowledge of the future that awaited this young child, a future fraught with misery and pain, I resolved to steer clear of it as best I could.
'Blend into the background, live a quiet life—wasn't that the safest bet?'
Nestled in the outskirts of the empire lay a quaint county, humble in its origins despite its noble lineage.
Unlike the aristocrats near the capital, draped in opulence and riches, our little corner of the world found contentment in simplicity, relying on our modest farms and fertile lands.
Though our population was sparse, the warmth and endless smiles of the people here filled the air with a sense of belonging.
It was a place scarcely mentioned in the annals of the original game, a hidden gem tucked away from the spotlight.
In this secluded haven, monsters and dungeons were mere tales of legend, absent from our tranquil existence.
It was all thanks to the unwavering protection of the grand duke, Luther Heavens—a name that commanded both reverence and fear.
But it wasn't his authority alone that gave me pause; rather, it was the surname he bore that sent shivers down my spine.
"Heavens"… a name I couldn't help but dread, for I knew all too well the significance it held.
In the depths of my memory, it carried the weight of a sinister counterpart as I knew the only other person who bears that name in this world Liyana Heavens the duke's one and only daughter, the villainess and final boss of this very world.
She was destined to bring about the end of the world, and tragically, she was also fated to be my future lover—a lover who would, without hesitation, snuff out my life the moment she fell for the main protagonist of this world.
The mere thought of our intertwined destinies filled me with unease, yet I chose to bury those concerns beneath a facade of indifference. Perhaps there was some rational explanation for our engagement, some hidden purpose that eluded my understanding.
The game itself offered little insight into the complexities of Riley's and Liyana's relationship.
To the very few players who played this game, we practically have no background information the reasonings behind their engagement.
Riley was little more than a disposable character—an inconsequential figure thrown into the narrative to highlight Liyana's formidable nature and yandere tendencies.
I can still remember all the CG's my current self-went through because of that deranged woman.
And now, here I stood, thrust into the role of that disposable character, grappling with the harsh reality of my existence in this new world.
That was why I spared no effort in ensuring that I never crossed paths with that accursed woman.
Given our family's modest background, the likelihood of any interaction with a ducal family seemed as slim as a hair's breadth, didn't it?
For the past four years, right up until I reached the tender age of ten, I diligently toiled to maintain the status quo in our county.
Our humble family found contentment in our modest wealth and the simplicity of our dairy farming.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan—I had resolved to stay within the confines of our county, shielded from the tumultuous currents of the outside world.
But now, looking back, I realize just how foolish that plan was. The future was a fickle mistress, weaving its tapestry of fate with threads beyond my control.
Events that unfolded beyond the borders of our county remained elusive, whispers carried on the wind, beyond my reach and comprehension.
There were certain forces at play that I could never hope to influence, try as I might.
And then came the day of reckoning, my tenth birthday—a day that would shatter my carefully constructed illusions.
On that fateful day, a radiant child, so ethereally beautiful that one could almost believe she was born of divine lineage, graced my celebration with her presence.
"Riley, this is Liyana," the words fell upon my ears like a death knell.
That was the first time I met her…. And the one thing I regret till to this day.
Haha... I still couldn't believe it.
I was so preoccupied with preparing for the future that I didn't even bother to stay grounded in the present or learn from the past.
Who would have thought that the duke and my own father were once military comrades all this time?
"Nice to meet you, Riley,"
"Y-yeah…"
"Hohoho, you two look good together. What about it, Riley? Care to give this young lady some love?" My grandfather's teasing tone grated on my nerves, his words twisting the already tense atmosphere.
The idea of being teased alongside this woman was bad enough, but the way he spoke made my skin crawl.
"Shut up old man!!!"
"HAHAHA!"
"I'm sorry about that, young lady. My grandfather just likes to tease me," I apologized, offering a polite bow.
Despite my fear and apprehension towards this woman, I couldn't help but maintain a facade of civility.
After all, the woman standing before me now was entirely innocent, right?
She simply nodded in response; her gaze unwavering as she continued to study me intently.
"You're not afraid of me?" she questioned, her voice laced with curiosity as she tilted her head.
"Why should I be?" I replied, attempting to mask my unease with casual indifference.
In truth, I was terrified of her, for reasons too numerous to count.
She chuckled, a melodic sound that sent shivers down my spine.
Looking back, that day was likely the catalyst for both mine and Liyana's paths to intersect and become intertwined.
I can't quite recall what transpired after our initial meeting, but from that day forward and in the days to come, Liyana made frequent visits to our county—specifically, to spend time with me.
At first, her visits seemed innocent enough—just two children playing together.
But as time passed, I began to realize the gravity of the situation. Liyana's continued presence in my life was like a dark cloud looming over me, a constant reminder of the inevitable fate that awaited us both.
With each passing day, I felt the weight of my circumstances pressing down on me, suffocating me with the knowledge of what was to come.
It was then that I fully understood the depth of my predicament, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks—I was utterly fucked.
Before I knew it, three years had slipped by, and Liyana and I had become the closest of friends.
In her presence, I discovered nuances and complexities that differed from the version of Liyana I knew only through the confines of a video game—a truth that transcended the boundaries of pixels on a screen.
Spending more time with her, I found my heart softening, if only momentarily. The idea of changing her began to flicker in my mind.
After all, the Liyana I knew in reality seemed vastly different from the character depicted in the game. There had to be a reason for such a drastic shift in personality, didn't there?
Despite my age—thirteen years old, with the accumulated knowledge of nineteen years from my previous life—I couldn't shake off the foolish notion that I could somehow alter the course of her destiny.
It was a folly born from hope, a hope that perhaps I could save her from the darkness that loomed over her.
But then, on a dreary day shrouded in dark clouds and rain, reality struck me like a lightning bolt.
In the midst of the downpour, I witnessed a scene that shattered my illusions—a scene that revealed the true nature of the girl I had come to care for.
I saw her eat one of my friends…. She was but another innocent young girl the same age as us.
Hearing the rustled noises of the leaves I stepped on, Liyana turned her attention behind her.
"Oh, Riley, you're here… did you see anything?"
Liyana's voice broke through the silence, pulling me back to the present.
"No....."
My voice was barely above a whisper.
"Is that so? Let's go shall we"
"…Yeah"
The way she acted so nonchalantly made my stomach churn in disgust… and I knew from the way she looked at me that she was aware that I saw her.