Glimpse of Past

Yes, I am not Princess Aralia.' 

I am Julie. I was doing my graduation in history at Ford University of Zahava. My research topic was 'the beginning of the Nemesis Era' in history in which the Zahava Kingdom along with almost all its neighboring kingdom burnt down due to war and destruction. They said that the Demon arrived himself to destroy the 'Loset Bloodline' and the whole Zahava kingdom was also caught in the middle of a turbulent bloody war.

The soil of Zahava turned red as half of the population was brutally killed in that dark era. And, the majority of historians of the 21st century have agreed that Princess Aralia's disappearance had a connection with it. 

So,

I began to collect all the remaining information about Princess Aralia Loset.

****** 

In 400 BCE, Zahava, the Golden Kingdom, was blessed with three great treasures—its abundant gold mines, the unmatched beauty of its women, which made its brothel the most sought-after place on the continent, and its esteemed royal heirs, Prince Dior and Princess Aralia. Both were equally gifted, their wisdom and strength making them worthy heirs for the throne of their prosperous homeland.

King Orville of Zahava was a just and open-minded ruler. He raised his children with equal care, providing them with the same education and rigorous training. After years of dedication, they finally reached the age of coronation. However, choosing a successor was no easy task, for both were brave, wise, and capable of leading Zahava to greatness.

As autumn arrived, so did the season of terror. It was the breeding time for monsters, and every year, Zahava's borders were plagued by frequent attacks of the invaders. The kingdom needed a crown prince immediately. To determine the rightful heir, King Orville set forth a challenge:

"Destroy the monsters' dens and protect your motherland. Prove your worth, and the throne shall be yours."

Both heirs took on the challenge with unwavering determination. Prince Dior, with his unmatched strength, vanquished the most monsters. However, in his fierce pursuit of victory, he burned an entire village. His ruthlessness, though effective, struck fear into the hearts of the people and the noble council.

On the other hand, Princess Aralia not only destroyed the monsters' dens but also saved the villagers from the raging fire. The choice became clear to the King and his council—Aralia was the true heir to the throne. With great joy, the people of Zahava began preparing for her coronation, and every corner of the kingdom was adorned with magnificent decorations.

However—

Just two days before the grand ceremony, Princess Aralia vanished without a trace. She had been strolling through the royal garden, surrounded by vigilant guards and the tightest security of the palace, yet she disappeared as if she had melted into thin air.

The King immediately ordered his knights to search every inch of the kingdom. A great reward was announced for anyone who could find her. But despite their desperate efforts, no trace of the princess was ever found.

From that day on, Princess Aralia's name faded from the pages of history. Only her sword was discovered much later in the depths of a dense forest, lying in silence, waiting to be found.

---

In the 21st century,

I visited the Zahava National Museum to study the ancient artifacts of that era. Among the relics, my eyes fell upon Princess Aralia's sword. The silver hilt was adorned with a deep blue sapphire, and a name was engraved in an unfamiliar language.

"Renata!"

It was so mesmerizing that I couldn't look away. As I gazed at the shining blade, I tried to imagine the fearless princess who once wielded this deadly weapon with her delicate hands.

"This sword must have tasted the blood of countless evildoers. Perhaps that's why its blade still gleamed with such brilliance..."

Lost in thought, I placed my hand on the glass case, wondering—How could she have disappeared just like that?

Before I could think further—BANG!

An ear-bleeding sound rang through the air, and an unbearable pain pierced my chest, as if a burning iron rod had been driven straight into my heart. My body collapsed onto the glass case, shattering it into pieces. Blood poured from my wound, and my vision darkened.

I had been shot.

And I knew—I wasn't going to survive.

I wasn't sad, nor was I longing for anyone—I had no family or friends. But I wanted to live. I wanted to explore the world, to stay alive for myself. I longed to love and be loved, to have a place to call home—a family of my own. I wanted to know what true happiness felt like.

As my eyes grew heavy, I caught a glimpse of the sword's silver hilt, still clutched tightly in my trembling hand. My blood had stained the sapphire gem, turning it a deep shade of red. For a moment, it almost seemed to glow, radiating a strange, comforting warmth.

Tears blurred my vision as darkness consumed me. My heart ached—not just from pain, but from regret and an unfulfilled longing.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in this unfamiliar and magnificent bedroom of Princess Aralia. The pain didn't disappear from my chest and I was still holding the sword in my hand as I fell unconscious on the ground.

'Princess! Princess Aralia?'

The formal and deep voice of the royal physician woke me up. I was extremely surprised at the beginning when I noticed that everyone was calling me 'Princess Aralia.' It took me almost two days to understand my situation.

'Neither did I die nor was I dreaming…'

Somehow, I transmigrated(that's what I thought) inside the body of Princess Aralia when she was poisoned by someone. Maybe, her soul left the body.

I realized two things- If I needed to stay alive, I must pretend to be Princess Aralia and Princess Aralia had numerous enemies. 'If I can't find her murderer as soon as possible, obvious death is waiting for me in the near future.'

So, I grabbed that second chance, provided by fate and decided to stay alive at any cost. It took me only three months to revise Princess Aralia's all skills and to become a duplicate version of her.

Though her muscle memories and brain cells remembered most of her training, I didn't have 70 percent of her past memories. Without her memories of the past, I didn't even know who her friends and foes were. I had not a single person to rely on except for Viola who seemed really concerned for me from the very beginning. 

'So, I have no other choice but to stay hidden for now until I learn more about my new family and my new life.'

'But, this time I was determined to find my happiness at any cost…'