After learning the hard truth of how her twin sister Dalilah brainwashed and manipulated her mind for thirteen years, turning her into a ruthless assassin who killed hundreds of innocents including her youngest brother and best friend Valerian, twenty-seven-year-old Princess Natasha Nicholai, is executed in front of the Imperial Palace. Somehow, she gets sent back to the past right before Dalilah started putting her evil string on her mind, to when she was about to turn fourteen, and uses that as an opportunity to not let the past repeat itself, by getting her revenge on her sister and all the people who backed her and saving her younger brother as well as protecting the innocents she knows will be Dalilah's targets. But while also going after the truth about who stole her magic when she was 4yo, who sent her back and why did they do that, she will cross paths with Ethan Theodore, a dangerous and full of secrets guy, with ruby red eyes and whose destiny is directly linked to Natasha's.
View MoreKota Bukit, Juni 2023.
"Dari mana aja kamu?!" bentak seorang wanita paruh baya pada seorang gadis berkerudung yang baru saja memasuki sebuah toko buku dengan tergesa. "Gara-gara kamu, aku jadi telat arisan!" gerutunya."Dari kampus, Bi," Gadis itu membuka tasnya dengan napas terengah-engah."Ingat Dinda, dua hari lagi kamu akan bertunangan. Acaranya juga butuh duit. Jadi kamu harus kerja lebih keras, ngerti?"Gadis bernama Dinda itu meremas kuat tas kanvas yang baru saja ia letakkan di atas meja. Menahan napas yang seharusnya masih memburu.Bertunangan? Siapa juga yang ingin bertunangan dengan seorang laki-laki tua yang sudah memiliki istri dan anak? Kenapa pula setelah dipaksa menikah malah ia yang menanggung biayanya?Namun gadis itu hanya diam. Menjawab artinya menambah ocehan lain dari sang bibi.Dengan cekatan, ia membereskan buku-buku baru yang masih bertumpuk dalam kardus dan memindahkannya ke salah satu rak panjang. Mengabaikan sang bibi yang masih memelototinya."Baru pulang, ya, si sok pintar itu?" Suara seorang perempuan terdengar dari arah tangga penghubung ke lantai atas toko.Lola, adik sepupu Dinda yang duduk di kelas 3 SMA. Gadis manja yang selalu menjadi anak emas. Dengan langkah anggun, menuruni anak tangga. Kemudian menatap Dinda dengan tatapan malas. "Lo bisa nggak, sih, jadi babu yang nurut dikit?" protesnya dengan nada yang dibuat seanggun mungkin.Dinda menghela napas, 'si ratu drama' pasti akan semakin memojokkannya. Bibirnya yang berbentuk menarik itu tersungging sinis pada Lola. "Lo sendiri bisa nggak, sih, jadi anak yang berguna dikit?" balasnya."Berguna?" Lola menaikkan sebelah alisnya. "Maksud Lo gue juga harus nikah sama laki-laki bangkotan yang kaya raya, gitu? Sorry ya, buat apa juga kami melihara Lo kalo nggak ada manfaatnya?" senyumnya licik.Dinda merapatkan giginya. Emosinya mulai terpancing. Lelah karena tugas di kampus ditambah pulang terburu-buru membuat amarah gadis itu mudah sekali terusik."Nggak usah pasang muka cemberut. Harusnya kamu senang dikawinin sama orang kaya!" cebik Yani. Matanya yang besar kemudian beralih meneliti gelang emas di lengannya sendiri dengan kilatan obsesi. Mengatur letaknya sejenak, lalu mematut diri di hadapan cermin."Ah, jadi nggak sabar liat si kucel berdampingan sama si keriput, hahaha," Lola tertawa mengejek.Cukup sudah!Dinda sudah tak tahan.Dengan bibir terkatup rapat, gadis berpakaian sederhana yang nyaris tampak lusuh itu mengangkat wajahnya. Mata cemerlangnya menatap nyalang pada Yani yang sedang bersiap-siap pergi ke arisan."Dinda nggak mau dijodohin!" tegasnya dengan nada tinggi. "Dinda punya hak untuk menentukan masa depan sendiri!"Gerakan Yani yang sedang merapikan penampilannya di depan cermin seketika terhenti. Kemudian berbalik dengan mata yang memicing. "Maksudmu?""Dinda nggak mau nikah dulu.""Ngelunjak bener kamu sekarang, ya? Kau mau kami yang menanggung hidupmu sampai tua?""Tapi kan ... ruko ini miliknya ibu sama bapak," bantah Dinda ragu. Selama ini belum pernah sekalipun ia mengungkit harta peninggalan orang tuanya, tapi kali ini berbeda. Masa depannya sedang dipertaruhkan."Wah! Tak tau diri kau rupanya. Kamu pikir bisa hidup tanpa campur tangan kami?"Dinda menelan salivanya. Haruskah ia mengalah lagi? Melakukan semua perintah sang bibi yang jelas-jelas menerima kehadirannya dalam keluarga kecil itu hanya karena toko buku peninggalan orangtuanya? Atau diam lagi demi rasa terimakasih pada pamannya yang telah mengangkatnya sebagai anak, namun tak pernah peduli dan membiarkan istri serta anaknya bertindak semena-mena?"Ya!" jawab gadis itu akhirnya. "Dinda bisa. Karena toko buku ini ditinggalkan ibu sama bapak buat bekal Dinda melanjutkan hidup," tegasnya tanpa ragu lagi.Mendengar jawaban Dinda yang begitu menantang, Yani meradang. Matanya melotot, rahangnya mengeras. Ia menatap Dinda penuh kebencian. Anak yang seharusnya berhutang budi dan berterimakasih padanya kini berani menentang?Dengan gerakan kasar ia menarik kerudung Dinda dan menyeretnya keluar."Aw! Lepasin Bi!" teriak gadis itu kesakitan.Lola yang melihat itu langsung tersenyum senang dan buru-buru mengikuti ibunya yang menyeret Dinda keluar. Tampangnya begitu girang, seolah mendapatkan tontonan yang sangat menarik.Dalam satu hentakan keras, wanita bertubuh besar itu mendorong Dinda ke emperan toko.Duk. Gadis itu terhempas kuat."Aw!" Ia terpekik saat tubuhnya jatuh dengan kedua lutut menghantam lantai. "Astaghfirullah," erangnya kemudian sambil meringis merasakan sakit.Yani tampak belum puas. "Siapa yang mau nikahin kamu kalo bukan karena aku yang jodohin, hah?!" teriaknya.Orang-orang di sekitar toko mereka langsung memperhatikan. Menatap kaget sekaligus bingung.Namun Yani tak peduli. Dengan tangan yang berkacak pinggang, dia menunjuk Dinda. "Kalo kamu nggak mau dijodohin, mati aja sekalian daripada terus jadi beban!"Dinda membalas tajam tatapan Yani dengan mata yang berkaca-kaca. Menahan sakit di lutut dan hatinya. "Hidup Dinda adalah milik Allah. Dinda akan terus berjuang untuk hidup dan menemukan cinta sejati!" tegasnya."Hahaha," Yani tertawa dengan nada mengejek. Begitu juga dengan Lola yang berdiri di belakangnya. "Lihatlah anak nggak tau diri ini! Cinta sejati katanya," tunjuk Yani remeh.Orang-orang masih hanya menatap. Tak ada yang berkomentar ataupun berusaha menghentikan wanita itu."Coba buktikan sekarang! Siapa yang mau menjadikanmu istri?!" ejek wanita itu semakin tak berperasaan."Mana ada yang mau sama cewek kucel dan berantakan kayak dia, Mami," sinis Lola.Yani mengiyakan jawaban putrinya dengan senyuman."Hei, Herman!" panggilnya pada seorang pemuda tukang ojek yang ikut berhenti melihat kejadian itu. "Kau mau nggak kalo dinikahkan sama ini anak?"Dinda tak sanggup lagi untuk mengangkat wajahnya. Begitu memalukan. Harga dirinya diinjak-injak di hadapan orang banyak. Kalau saja tempurung lututnya tidak terlalu sakit, ia pasti akan berlari meninggalkan tempat itu."Nggak gue Bu Yani," Herman menggelengkan kepalanya. "Neng Susan yang cantik udah siap gue ajak ke KUA," sahutnya cengengesan.Lola langsung cekikikan mendengar jawaban Herman.Orang-orang mulai membicarakan.Yang laki-laki kebanyakan ikut meremehkan dengan dibawa bercanda. Sedangkan yang ibu-ibu tampak tak setuju dan menghujat perbuatan Yani."Kamu sadar sekarang?!" Yani menunjuk Dinda dengan raut puas. "Mana laki-laki yang mau sama kamu?!" bentaknya dengan suara keras."Saya! Saya yang akan menikahinya," Sebuah suara bariton tiba-tiba menyahut dengan nada tenang.Dinda terhenyak. Yani dan Lola pun tersentak. Begitu juga dengan orang-orang yang masih menonton.Seorang pria muda kemudian mengulurkan tangannya ke hadapan Dinda.Tangan dengan lengan yang kokoh dan bertatto daun Semanggi."Bangunlah," ajak pria itu lembut. "Aku sudah tiba seperti janjiku padamu."IT WAS EXACTLY WHERE I REMEMBERED, only the design of the boutique was different and simpler than it will be. There weren't any customers inside when we got in, Gwen was alone there, eating a lemon cupcake with milk jam. And when her eyes landed on us, she got up awkwardly and finished the cupcake in one go.We weren't using any disguise anymore.The moment my eyes met her dark-pink eyes that looked like a pair of gems, I felt sick. Guilty. Dirty. The last time I interacted with her, was the day I took her life away. I can't let that happen again.She was, obviously, younger than I remembered. Being the same age as Ash, she's eighteen now. But she's still as beautiful now as she is in my memories of my past life, the only difference is that back there her hair was the length of her hips, while now, her curly forest-green hair is on her shoulders. She has tan skin and her eyes are big, but she's very slim and tall.Well, at least she's half a head taller than me. Though she's still
MY PLAN WAS MADE AND I HAD TO TAKE ACTION, so I sent a letter to her and asked her to drink some tea with me to reminisce about our time together when Asher was still alive. As I predicted, she agreed to it and we decided to meet in the inner garden of the Nicholai Manor in Theolia, once it was my and Dalilah's new main house. Now that our older brother took over the Nicholai Palace in the north, for himself, as the new Grand Duke and patriarch of House Nicholai. Taking Angel Dawson, the 3rd daughter of Baroness Noelle Dawson, with him as his soon-to-be wife and as the next Grand Duchess. Not to say that she's a year younger than both me and my twin.Furthermore, I always hated that spoiled girl, who was the total opposite of the beautiful meaning of her name. Although I tolerated her because she was, Goddess-knows-how, friends with my sister, I couldn't bear to live in the same place as that bitch. Moreover, Dalilah requested me to be on her side and I was happy to be of help to my
"GODDESS ABOVE, PRINCESS, I CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS, it's way too much money. More than my store is worth it!" Mr. George exclaimed, shocked. "Half of this would be more than necessary to buy everything, invest in the store, and repair this place," damn, he's denying the money? That's a first.I push the bag back at him when he tried to give it back to me. "Take the money, Mr. George! It will be necessary, believe me. Plus, I have a suggestion as to what you can do with all this," he was open to hearing me but didn't seem that willing to accept the money."What do you have in mind, Your Highness?" I don't quite like to be called that way, but I'll bear with it."Repair this place and turn the whole building into your house. Build a basement to work on. Then buy the two neighboring houses on the right and left, so you can rent them and win more money. About your store, with this," I pointed to the bag. "You have enough money to buy a new place to work downtown, where you will have more
"DO YOU HAVE ANY BAD INTENTIONS towards my dad or me, Princess?" Her voice was a little shaky to ask that."Not at all. I just want the best for you and myself. And I need this to be extremely confidential, otherwise, if my family were to know, they would try to take this business from me. Moreover, no one can know that I'm your investor, or you guys would also become targets for my enemies, and I can't afford anything like that happening." Suddenly, I felt as if someone had taken an invisible weight off my back. And I could breathe again.Hands held me by the shoulders and made me get up and sit on the couch. "I'm sorry for all of this, Your Highness. I just needed to be sure, after Theo told me to be careful around you," ugh, of course."Please, don't even speak of that annoying brat in front of me!"And that, to my dismay, got the kid curious. "Why? Do you hate uncle Theo?"I tried to close my mouth with my hands, but it was useless. "I don't hate him. I hate the fact that I'm
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEO SAID TO YOU, BUT don't get so mad at him, Lady Hana, he probably didn't mean any harm." My ass he didn't, that's literally what he meant. And he's name is Theo, hm.Breathing heavily, I let my golden eyes meet his dark green eyes that reminded me of the leaves of the trees in the tropical forest located in the Mage's Tower, I once went back in my past life. It was calming. "So that brat's name is Theo, hm." He smiled at me when he saw how angry I still was."Do you perhaps, fancy him, ma'am?" That made me gasp hard."Pardon me?""I just asked that because of the effect he seems to have caused in you, ma'am. Your face, for example, is red like a strawberry, and-""No! Don't say anything!" After three whole minutes in pure silence, I closed my eyes and finally succeed in steading my heartbeat and breath. "Listen, Mr. George, with all due respect, but not even if there was only the two of us in the world, I wouldn't fancy an ignorant and dangerous brute like
"I ASKED FOR AN INFORMANT OF MINE, TO look after the best jewelry store, hidden from the people's eyes. And then I learned about you!" Again, he blushed and I sensed the aura finally coming closer to us. My heartbeat got faster and I put my hands on Kallisto, my thin sword. Clenching my jaw.Mr. Kevin George seemed surprised by my reaction. "So you are a sharp one, hm, kid. If you can sense my friend from where he is standing." I stared at him."Who is he?" I more demanded than asked, and he again was a little startled by my voice."Why don't you ask that to me?" I heard his voice before I saw his face, and it was deeper than the ocean, making goosebumps spread down my spine again. And when I turned to see him, my heart skipped a bit.Not because of his unworldly beauty, beautiful physique, or because he was also taller than me. But because of his eyes.Ruby-red eyes.And he seemed just as startled to see me. Does he know me? No… that can't be if I'm using a disguise. It can't b
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