Eleanor opened her eyes, but there was nothing to see. A vast emptiness stretched around her, as though the world had been erased. She blinked, trying to adjust to the dark, endless void. The silence was overwhelming like the world itself had ceased to exist.
She tried to remember what had happened, but her thoughts were blurry. There had been a man—a beggar, someone in need. She had seen the assassin's dagger aimed at him and acted on instinct, pushing him out of the way. But it was she who had taken the blow. The pain had been sharp, but now, nothing. No pain. No life.
"Eleanor," a voice spoke, breaking the silence. It was calm, distant, but undeniable.
She looked around, but there was no one. "Who... Who are you?" she asked.
"I am the System," the voice replied, as though that explanation should be enough. "I have been assigned to guide you."
Eleanor frowned, the confusion thick in her chest. "The System?" she repeated, her voice faint. "Where am I? What's happening?"
"You are in the void between lives," the voice answered. "You died in your previous life. But you are being given a second chance. You will be reincarnated with a mission to complete."
Her mind was racing. Died? Reincarnated? Eleanor didn't understand. "A mission?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What kind of mission?"
"You will be reborn as the daughter of a powerful duke," the System said. "You will have wealth, power, status, and knowledge beyond what you had before. But you must make the prince fall in love with you within a year. Fail, and you will lose your life."
Eleanor's heart sank. A mission to make a prince fall in love with her? She was no one—just a maidservant. Born to nothing, living in the shadows of noble households. The idea was absurd. "But why me?" she asked, struggling to wrap her mind around the words.
The voice was steady, almost reassuring. "Because you saved him. The prince you must make fall in love with you is the beggar you saved from the assassin. Your heroism has led you to this path. It is your fate to guide him as he strives to become king."
Eleanor was silent, trying to process the information. The beggar... the prince? The very thought was overwhelming. She had been nothing but a servant in her past life, never having even dreamed of interacting with royalty. And now she was supposed to make the prince fall in love with her? How? She could hardly imagine it.
"Can I refuse?" she asked, her voice small.
"You have no choice," the System replied. "Your life depends on your success. The mission is set. You must accept."
Eleanor took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her decision. She didn't want to die, not again. With a quiet nod, she spoke, "I accept."
The void seemed to shift, and a strange sensation washed over her. It was as though she were being pulled in every direction at once. The sensation was dizzying, but before she could make sense of it, the darkness faded.
Eleanor awoke again, but this time, she wasn't in a void. The surroundings were different—luxurious, even. She was lying on a soft bed, the silk sheets cool against her skin. She blinked, disoriented, and slowly sat up. The room was grand, far beyond anything she had ever seen. Rich tapestries adorned the walls, golden accents gleamed in the dim light, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the air. The room was peaceful, elegant, but it felt foreign. This was not the life she had known.
As she steadied herself, Eleanor caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror by the wall. She froze.
The woman staring back at her was a stranger. Her skin was soft, glowing, the pale hue a stark contrast to the rougher complexion she had in her previous life. Her hair—golden, curly, and long—cascaded over her shoulders like a river of sunlight. Her eyes were emerald, deep and striking, the color of a summer forest after a rainstorm. She looked regal, graceful, a far cry from the ragged maid she had once been.
It took her a moment to remember her name. Eleanor Hawthorne. The name felt strange, distant, but as she stared at her reflection, something clicked. This was her now, the new her, the one born into wealth and status. But it didn't feel like it belonged to her. Not yet.
As she sat there, taking in her new appearance, the familiar voice of the System echoed in her mind.
"Ding! Welcome to your new life, Eleanor Hawthorne!" it said cheerfully, as if announcing a great achievement.
Eleanor shook her head, trying to make sense of the situation. She had been thrust into this new reality, given a body and a life she didn't recognize, with a task she wasn't sure she could complete. A year to make a prince fall in love with her. The thought of it made her stomach twist. What did she know about love? About princes? About anything royal?
Her mind raced back to the conversation she had with the System in the void. She had accepted the mission, but it felt like too much, too fast. A year. One year to accomplish what? She had no idea where to begin.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and before she could say anything, it opened. A woman, dressed in elegant attire, stepped inside. She was older, with sharp features and a no-nonsense air about her. She looked Eleanor over with a critical eye, then nodded.
"Lady Eleanor," the woman said, her voice firm. "Your father awaits you in the study. There are matters to discuss."
"Father?" Eleanor repeated, feeling a twinge of unease.
The woman didn't answer, only motioned for her to follow. Eleanor stood and hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. She was still adjusting to this new life, to the new her. But she had no choice now. This was her reality.