Prologue

Prologue.

"Lady Marina?" a soft voice echoed from a distant room.

Hmmm...

A soft feminine voice echoed in my ears, it was truly lovely and soft like clouds. The voice was like a lullaby because instead of waking me up, it makes my eyelids heavier than ever.

What is it? The sun hasn't risen yet, right? And besides, it's the weekend, isn't it? I don't have classes today! for Pete's sake! So please, let me sleep a little longer. I didn't realize that it was already dawn when I finished the novel I read last night. All I need is one thing; it is called peace.

Instead of opening my heavy eyelids, I just ignore the voice and buried my face into the soft pillows as it was because it was too early.

"Lady Marina!?" someone from the other side of the room called out again.

What the heck!? It's too early and someone is bothering me again. Don't they know the saying, "Wake up the drunk, but not the one who's sleeping, or else you would taste eternal rest?"

Cringed.

I know that, but hey! Who cares?

Instead of standing up, I took the soft pillow that was on my side and covered my ear, while my other hand grabbed the soft blanket and pulled it until it wrapped my whole body like a burrito.

Leave me alone whoever you are.

"Lady Marina!? Please open this door!" Shouted someone, and there was another loud knock on the door as if she wanted to destroy it.

My gosh! It's Saturday and we don't have school! For Pete's sake oh! People just want to sleep! I just want to sleep! And don't break the door, I don't have the money to fix that thing, and it's not the end of the world yet so stop shouting!

"Lady Marina, please open this door!" The woman shouted outside the door.

I groaned, hearing the girl outside shouting for the nth time. I almost throw the pillow because she keeps repeating the same words, like a broken plaque. Leaving me with no choice, even though I didn't want to, I was forced to sit on the soft bed. I calmed myself down and ease my irritation.

My eyes are still sleepy and half-closed. I tried opening my eyes, but I couldn't see anything. All I could see is blurry pictures. I can't even identify what's in front of me. Whenever I open my eyes, it hurts. So, when I forcefully open it, they can't help but shed small tears.

I yawned, stretching my arms and limbs. Grabe! What a euphoric feeling. I did have a good night's sleep, all thanks to these soft pillows, blankets, and bed.

"Lady Marina!? Please answer me!"

I sighed, thinking who the hell is it? I got up from sitting and slowly walked towards the door. I walked like a drunkard, swaying left and right. I can't even see the room clearly because my eyes are swelling up.

Did I sleep so long that my eyes hurt like this?

Ugh.

I just asked myself a stupid question. The proper question should be, "When did I ever go to bed early? Did I even get a night of proper sleep?"

What a shame.

I silently laughed at myself. Maybe for the first time in forever, this is probably the best and longest sleep I ever had.

'When did I have good sleep?'

I shrugged at that thought.

When I reached the door, I immediately pressed my hands on the surface, trying to find the doorknob. When my fingers touch the door, I felt the cold smooth wooden surface. I frowned when I felt it. I was confused because the door of my room is not this smooth. It was rough as hell as I remember.

I buried my confusion and slid down my hands to locate the doorknob. Then, suddenly! My hands touch an odd metal shape line!

It's the doorknob!

I immediately wrap my fingers around it and push it downward. A soft click echoed in the whole room, and I tried my best to open my eyes. When I open it, the first thing to greet me was the blinding sunlight.

Sunlight?

I squinted my eyes to protect them from the blinding sunrise, and blink a few times. When my vision was cleared, I saw a woman, probably around her mid-twenties wearing a classic black and white Victorian maid dress.

My forehead creased.

A maid? When did we have a maid? Why didn't I got informed about a new maid?

Instead of staring at her rudely, I gave her a polite smile and greeted her, "Hello, good morning. What could I do for you?"

When she heard me, her pupils started shaking, her lips trembled, and her face suddenly went pale. The woman in front of me looked shocked, scared, and terrified. I almost forgot to control my face from giving a confused look. I don't know if it's because of what I said or because of how I look?

Maybe both. I sounded like a dead person because of my voice, and look like a witch because of my hair.

"L-Lady Marina, b-breakfast is r-ready," she stammered.

I frowned when I heard how she addressed me.

Who's Lady Marina?

"Excuse me, you might have mistaken me for someone else," I politely replied while smiling.

And there was the shock on her face again. Her delicate eyes widen when she heard me.

Her shaking hands stopped as if she remembered something.

"L-Lady Marina? Are you sick?" from being shocked, concern was immediately plastered on her face.

The crease around my forehead deepened.

Is she addressing me as Lady Marina!?

Because of what she said. My brain, which is half awake, is now fully functioning.

"I'm Lady Marina !?" I subconsciously asked in confusion, then pointed to myself.

She looked at me like, I just asked the most ridiculous question in the world.

I blinked at her, feeling surreal and confused.

She stared at my face for a few seconds before aborting her gaze away, as if she did a terrible mistake. She then slowly nodded her head.

Huh? Something's wrong. Why does the name sound so familiar? I've heard it before, not just once but over and over.

My two eyebrows almost kissed each other because I can't seem to remember where I heard that name, I'm uncertain. The name sounded so familiar, but I can't put a word to it. The word is on the tip of my tongue already!

Then suddenly a familiar scene and voices echoed inside my head.

"Putcha! Why doesn't the author just kill Lady Marina? So that Gina and Lord Ethan can be together! There won't be any obstacles in their love story!"

Wait!

Lady Marina!? What the heck!?

You got to be kidding me.

My heartbeat raced as if seven demons were chasing me. Sweats started forming on my forehead, my hands turned cold, and a silent chill invade my body.

I quickly turned around and looked for a mirror. I immediately went to the sophisticated vanity table and immediately opened its first drawer.

It can't be, right? This must be a dream.

Take a deep breath, Nina.

"Milady?" she gently called me out. "What are you looking for?" she asked me while there was a streak of concern on her face.

The woman– whose name I don't know. Didn't enter the spacious luxury room. Now, I just finally noticed the whole room was painted gray and mixed with gold. From the looks of it, you can feel how much of a slap soil you are. Every time you look at a corner, everything goes bling-bling.

"Milady..." her voice trailed with an extreme case of concern.

I didn't bother to answer her and kept looking for a mirror.

My hand went busy clutching and pulling every drawer that my eyes laid on, trying to find a single piece of mirror. When I opened the very end of it, I already found what I was looking for.

'Found it!' I exclaimed silently.

I quickly picked up the customized face mirror. The handle was made out of gold, and the oval-shaped mirror itself was showered with glittering gems! I almost fainted because it almost fell in the carpet. If it was broken, I don't know if I can pay for it even if I sell myself to a devil.

This mirror is such bling-bling. So sparkly and expensively looking!

I immediately put the mirror on my face to look at it. My eyes widen when I finally saw the girl in the mirror. I was shocked to say something when a pair of red-violet orbs stared right through me!

My pupils started shaking, my hands trembled, and my body went cold. This is truly impossible, this is impossible! This isn't my face! This is not my face! I'm a short brown hair gal with black eyes, a pale complexion, and a pair of pale lips!

And, in front of me, is someone I can consider a goddess!

Long milky blonde hair with a pair of red-violet eyes that can drown you into a bottomless pit, reddish lips, and a milky white complexion.

This is not me! Clearly not Nina Facelo!

And like a flashback. My whole life before I came here, started flowing.

From school, going to a nearby bookstore to buy the most awaited book that my friends recommended to me. And I, trying to be a hero and ended up dying in a dark alley on the second street.

Illuminating Darkness!

That's the title! That's the book that I want to read! I didn't sleep peacefully instead I died young! And to add salt to the wounds. I am now in the body of the most wicked Dame in the Kingdom! The suspected villainess of the famous fantasy novel!

I unconsciously placed my shaking hands in my tummy, the part where I was stabbed. My body trembled, and sweats started forming on my forehead as if I was experiencing the same amount of pain, I felt that day.

My breathing started getting heavy as if the amount of oxygen I'm breathing is insufficient. A chill brushed through my skin and I felt a pair of cold hands touching my neck and started choking me.

Pain, fear, and confusion.

That's the emotion filling me up, my mind went hazy, as if I'm surrounded by a thick layer of fog. Not knowing where I am, and where should I go.

"Lady Marina?" the woman gently asked in worry, it was evident in her voice.

My mind cleared up after I heard her voice. I took a deep breath and started to calm down. Panicking won't get me anywhere, it's not all confirmed yet. I can't randomly jump to such absorb conclusion, if I jumped randomly, I might never get out.

I turned my attention to the woman outside the room, she didn't dare take a step inside. Worry was plastered on her beautiful face.

I smiled at her.

"Can you please leave?" I asked gently, so as not to offend her. I felt my head spinning, and it felt that my energy is draining in such a speed. Even though I didn't do anything vigorous, I just encountered death itself, I just died! What a VIP experience! Meet and greet with death.

How nice is that?

Suddenly my head hurt. Half of me can't believe I just died, and half of me can't believe I'm still alive!

What a great experience!

I saw the doubt on her face, she hesitated and tried to open her mouth. Trying to tell me something. But in the end, she nodded her head. Even though skeptical, she slowly stepped away. She placed both of her hands on her abdomen and slightly bowed.

"Yes, Milady."

When she started walking away, I felt relief. But she was still giving me worried a glance. When she was completely out of my sight I just calmed down.

I slowly closed the door and took a deep breath. Trying to calm my tense nerve, to think deeply about my situation.

Of all the fantasy-romance books I've read, they might be all different, but there's one thing that sets them the same. That is, villains always perish, and will always die at the end of the story.

The death of a villain means world peace and death of a hero means war.

I breathe a heavy sigh.

Okay, Nina Facelo. We need to plan; we have to survive.

We need to survive!

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