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All I can think about as darkness shrouded my vision were regrets, I should’ve listened to him. I should’ve put aside my animosity towards him brewing as a result of my inability to move on from the past.
But, in the face of this adversity, I will not succumb to this torture by drowning in my regrets, I have faith in myself that I will be able to overcome this...
…
After the council meeting was adjourned, Father had to do some paperwork at the palace so I strolled around the Royal Garden. Though I didn’t expect this to happen, this had never happened before!
The person who bestowed upon me the end in every other life. The person who left me with unrequited love. The future heir to the kingdom, the First Prince, Kinfael Demian Merillis, is standing right in front of me.
“Apologies for my delayed greeting, I hope you will overlook this mere subject’s disloyalty this once. It is my pleasure to encounter Your Highness on this fine day,” I greeted the Prince, he is supposed to be able to read minds but I have realised that over my lifetimes, his mind-reading has gotten more inaccurate.
“There is no need for such formalities, you can be more casual,” he replied with a smile, yet that smile brought back unpleasant memories, or rather, nightmares.
I can feel my hands were shaking, yet I can’t stop them. It’s as if my will is being chained and locked up, leaving me to be a marionette. All I can do is hide my hands behind my back as a crude means of maintaining a front of elegance.
“That is not possible, Your Highness. Allow me to introduce myself, I am the daughter of Duke Veronique, Corlissa Veronique.”
“Aww, that’s a disappointment, I’m bored. I want to play, since there is no one fun here, play with me!”
“Very well, Your Highness.”
He then began walking to somewhere else so all I can do is follow him, though all the thoughts that are plaguing my mind right now are not such trivial matters of the destination but rather the icy chill of death that greets me each time I look into his eyes. Judging by his lack of reaction and comments, he is unable to read minds, otherwise, I would’ve been arrested and interrogated by now.
We soon reached a simple white gazebo situated near a large wisteria tree on a lone plain of luscious emerald grass.
“Take a seat, I would like to have a simple chat.”
“As you wish, Your Highness,” he appears to have another motive, it seems that his mild investigation is commencing.
“So, what were you doing at the palace? If I recall correctly, today was the day of the council meeting.”
“I attended the council meeting.”
“You are merely a child, are you not?”
“You are correct, Your Highness, I am simply a child, I was only able to attend the meeting due to the status I was blessed with at birth and the intelligence I have cultivated over the years.”
“I see, I commend you on your accomplishments at such a young age, may I ask of your age?”
“I’m grateful that Your Highness holds me in such regards, I am 6 years old and will be taking the magic affinity test in 2 years time.”
“I just thought of this, why did you decide to pursue education at such a young age? Most children, noble or not, desire to have fun, play games and spend their time pursuing joy or entertainment.”
“Please do not take this as an insult to the throne, when I was younger my eyes were opened to the difference in lifestyles that commoners faced, they were always the ones suffering most from the actions of nobles. I realised that my mere life could be used for the better, if I worked hard enough to strive for a brighter future, change would inevitably occur. I prepared my resolve, I am willing to lose my life in order to fulfil this cause, no matter what, I will ensure that the weaker voices of this kingdom are heard loud and clear.”
“You’re quite interesting compared to everyone else.”
Our conversation continued into late at night until my father came back to retrieve me after he had completed his paperwork, although I had never guessed that this would happen. Before I left, an emotion of panic swept over the First Prince’s face, he took hold of my wrist and told me to stay the night at the palace, he said that it would be dangerous to go back to the estate.
Yet I disregarded his sincere warning simply because of my petty grudge against him and the prejudice I had fostered that accumulated after each of my deaths in my previous lives.
Thus, leading me into the situation I’m in now.
A dark shadowy figure entered my bedroom in the dead of night, waking me up due to the disturbance from the open window, only the figure’s crimson red eyes that shone vividly amongst the shadows could be seen.
“Who are you?” I questioned warily, my heart rate quickening.
“You do not need to know. You’ll forget anyways,” from their voice I could deduct that it was a male and they did not have good intentions.
The figure then stepped into the light to reveal a deathly pale-skinned man clad in a formal black tuxedo. He had black hair and glowing red eyes, in his hand held a golden pocket watch with a matching chain attached to the hinge of the pocket watch.
“AV794D, you have deviated and rebelled from your purpose, therefore you will be fixed, I will ensure that you will be rid of unnecessary thoughts that will hinder your willingness to follow the path that has been paved for you.”
As he stated such ominous words, he suddenly tensed.
A pair of raven feathered, large wings emerged from his back, scattering black feathers into the air.
“What are you?!” I could hear the deafening sound of my heart pounding against my chest that grew erratic as soon as the wings appeared. He then flapped his wings slightly, sending a wave of feathers towards me.
“You do not need to know, or rather, you can’t know, you swine…”
His voice trailed off as my consciousness began fading, yet the flame of determination still burned on without failure within me. My objective had changed yet again.
I will unravel the truth of my existence, so I cannot falter in this adversity, I must overcome this. I refuse to be the villainess!