Chapter 2

"Follow them. The soldiers will lead you to a safer place."

My benefactor instructed me.

I nodded curtly. "Thank you for your help."

There is no time to dilly-dally.

Wait, they are climbing the dangerous path of this stony mountain?

They were moving in an S-pattern.

There were a total of forty slaves that were released. We have ten soldiers to guide us and judging by the direction, it seems it would take us three days to be on the border of the Dan Empire. The Author mentioned three days in the book. I just forgot what three days, but it was near the denouncement when the ML came back from Dan, or ugh... I do not know. Let us just leave it like that. I am sure I was gingerly skipping and skimming those parts.

"Let's stay here for the night. You will stay in a nearby village tomorrow."

"Don't worry, you are under the Emperor of Dan's protection."

The soldier reassured.

The freed slaves all praised the Emperor for his benevolence, but I just stayed silent. Maybe I am a bit cynical about this but whatever.

"The Commander will also arrive a little late."

He must be dealing with those marauders that were left alive. As a modern college student, all I could do is to adopt my way of thinking in this kind of place. Nevertheless, we used to go on hiking and trekking trips before, so I am not bothered by this.

Let us just sleep on the ground.

I yawned. I have many thoughts running through my mind and plans that I'll try when I'll soon part with them. There must be some clues to go back to my original world. Whatever happens, it should be my second priority. The first is to stay alive.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep.

Rustles.

Quiet and careful footsteps.

I frowned and slowly opened my eyes. What is that smell?

I saw one sneaky person throwing a familiar... Gas?

Wait, is this a prototype of tear gas in ancient times? The scent is familiar.

This is not good.

I hastily woke up and ran as fast as I could.

What in the world was that?!

This place is so scary for a defenseless modern per— eh?

Was I just whacked behind my neck?

My reality whirled, glimpsing a faint face and austere eyes without mercy.

"Don't kill—"

Me.

Thud.

At times I would wake up groggily but once the shadowy figure detects I am about to fully wake up he would press on my vital point, making me faint again. This continued for more than I can count. Again, I tried to open my eyes. This time I succeeded; however, I did not see those figures ready to press my vital point again. Instead, I was in a wide and spacious room.

Three times bigger than a condo. It literary looks like an empty room except for some old dusted types of furniture.

Why am I in this kind of place?

It looks a bit old, and unused, and the room is not properly taken care of. Worse than a cold palace in an H Drama set. When I gaze at myself, I look like an albino with red spots.

"Just..."

Who are those people that touched my body without my consent?! I was scrubbed thoroughly that my body aches and stings whenever I move. This night dress is also not helpful! Not smooth at all. It's like I am clothed with a sack!

"No, my necklace!"

Where is my necklace? I looked around, on the bed, under the blanket. None!

Perhaps those shadowy figures have some doings with it? Or it was dropped somewhere. Maybe, the people who change my clothes took it.

"No..."

That was my only momento, the recuerdo I only have! Geez. I bit my inner cheek, trying not to sob and act like a banshee.

No. It is gone now. It's gone...

Aish, why am I being emotional again? I have never been a crybaby.

"Calm your horses, Jun Xue."

What matters now is I need to be brave for myself. I should not panic like this.

Hooooo.

I struggled to stand up slowly trying to reach the direction where I saw a light.

Oh yes, it is beckoning me. I'm being enlightened.

As I opened another door that seems to be where the light is, I gasped, quickly backing away a bit with the moon as my only guiding light.

Turns out, it was a dead end. I'll fall seven meters if I step any further. What is this? I'm in a dilapidated house?

This is not the right path at all.

Still, I opened it wide to look at what is in front of me.

Just a wide plain grass. Dried leaves were scattered on the ground.

"Wow. I just got dumped in here."

No wonder I felt cold, this place has an open space for the breeze to pass through. Sitting on a bed that feels like stone, I rearrange my thoughts.

It looks like I'm an abandoned noble. Am I the unfavored pure-blooded noble or the bullied illegitimate one?

"Oh look, the stupid princess is awake."

Ha? Stupid? Princess?

The maid that just entered my room looked at me with contempt. She neared me as the leftover food was unceremoniously pushed in my arms, making the corn soup spill on my clothes. Now, I'm sure it was these maids or a part of their group were the ones who scrub me so much and just lazily dressed me like a ragged doll.

"That's what you deserve you fool. Who knows how many men have sullied you for the past three days? If not for the Overlord, you wouldn't be in this place."

I carefully asked, "Fool? Overlord?"

"Why of course! Aren't you the foolish princess of this Empire? The bane existence of the Emperor? Who would want a dumb-headed girl like you?"

She leaned closer, her hands on her hips, wanting to act domineering with me.

"If not for His Majesty giving a face to the Overlord, do you think he would want you to come back to this palace?"

Ew, your breath darling. It stinks.

The servant straightened her composure.

Thank you so much. Ah.

"That'll be your meal for this day."

Just like that, the maid turned and left me. The soup was very cold and what is this thing sticking out? Goodness mamma mia, asdfghjkl a little cockroach! Seven little cockroaches! Disgusting! Disgusting! Putting it to the farthest side of the room—no, I threw it out.

What a heart attack.

I lay in my bed in contemplation as my stomach still churned from hunger.

"I get it."

Judging by the knitted uniform that holds the symbol of a lion, I'm in the Fu Empire. When the servant mentioned my title in a discourteous manner and said I'm a princess, then called me foolish and the bane existence—basically, for everyone, I'm the thorn in their eyes.

Connecting the dots...

It only means—

"Bruh."

I'm the Villainess of this novel. Li Jia Ying, the dim-witted princess of the Fu Empire. A princess born without love, care, and support. Used and dealt with in the most horrific scene. Dead without a proper body. All of her body was minced into pieces and left to be fed by the stray dogs outside along with the carnivorous birds. It was one of the most considered brutal deaths by online readers.

"Ha, what a bloody conundrum I've been placed in."