I DON'T HAVE MORE TIME, so, please, I know I shouldn't ask this after every life my hands ended... but I can't help it. So, I'm asking for a second chance. One more chance and I'll do it differently. I swear I will.
Let me do it right, just give me another chance. I'm begging you, Mikla! Or whoever has the power to grant me this last wish-I'm so scared of death... And I know I shouldn't be when I became so familiar with her, but I fucking am. I don't find my death attractive at all. It scares me more than anything.As I saw Dalilah going back to Christopher's side, I finally let the tears fall, falling them and getting mixed with the blood on my face.When I turned to meet the cold and shining ruby-red eyes of the executioner under his pitch-black helmet, I saw the ax dangerously close to my precious neck. He held it higher. And when he was about to behead me, I swear that I sensed him smiling at me.Not only that, but by the look in his eyes, he seemed amused by what he was going to do next. And the strangest thing was that even tho he was overflowing with bloodlust, I felt as if none of that was directed to me.But if... it wasn't, why did he seem so delighted? It gave me goosebumps. My body trembled in fear with his creepy and unexpected reaction.I swear that I felt as if his eyes could see through my soul. As if... he could see me in a way no one else ever could... if he could see everything that happened, the truth.Shit.What the heck is happening to me? What kind of feeling is this? Why am I so conscious about these men? And who the fuck is he? Why does this guy feel so strangely familiar when I have no memories of him?I closed my eyes waiting for my death. Cursing Dalilah and the perverse 3rd Imperial Prince Christopher, my damn brother-in-law, who was a stone in my way and who organized my execution together with my nefarious twin. Cursing each person present who's happy with my death.Preparing myself for the upcoming feeling of, literally, losing my once beautiful head. And at that moment, a freezing wind surrounded my body and entered me through my mouth. I gasped blood once again.I felt the inside of my body freezing little by little, as a familiar feeling filled me at once as well as the pain, and when the pain became unbearable, it got worse.And then, it finally happened. I felt my flesh and my neck being torn apart and my head getting slowly separated from my body when the executioner's ax hit me. His moves were fast, I knew it was but the sharp sound his blade made before touching me, but it felt like it took him hours to cut through it.Unexpectedly, after a second that felt like a billion torturous years, my eyes opened out coldly and the executioner with his stunning bright ruby-red eyes was nowhere to be seen. As well as I wasn't in front of the crowd, being executed in front of the Imperial Palace anymore.I was somewhere else.※※※※※Second and Current Timeline※I felt my tongue intact and moist in my mouth and when I found myself, I was already screaming in pain. My neck and arms are intact. There's no blood on my face, neck, or body whatsoever.Is this for real or am I dreaming?I stopped screaming the moment I realized that I was no longer in the center of the square in front of the royal palace but in my childish light pink room from our manor at the Imperial Capital. Where we only came when the spring began and we, as members of the Royalty and Nobility, had to spend the season in the capital."This can't be a dream! Is this for real? Was my wish granted?" I shouted, already crying with happiness. "I'm still alive..."I let out a deep breath."Or should I say that I'm back to life? Because I came back... I am back..." I whispered to myself, trying to make myself believe in what had happened.I touched my neck, my thin arms, short legs, not-so-flat but not-so-big-yet chest, long and messy hair, and my soft face trying to have the confirmation I needed. "Thank you, Goddess! ...Or whoever saved me! I owe you my life. When I discover who saved me, I'll make the possible and impossible to thank the person or deity... or whatever creature did this! But right now, I need to know how old am I."I got up and ran to the mirror, and what I saw shocked the shit out of me. No scars or broken bones and purple eyes on my face, neither on any part of my body and all my body members were indeed intact. This is my thirteen-year-old self!How can I tell? Simple, a month before my fourteenth birthday I got in a fight with an apprentice of the Knights back in the Nicholai Grand Duchy in Leopenia, in the northern region of the Empire, and that left a scar on my left forearm.And when I looked at my reflection again, there was still some light in my eyes. After staring at my reflection with my jaw on the ground for what seemed to be an eternity, I ran back to my bed before anyone could come here.I'm back and with thirteen years again according to my body. And I'm not fucking letting the story repeat itself. Things are going to be different this time, or my name isn't Natasha Mary-Anne Ludwick Nicholai!You made me a villainess by controlling my mind, Dalilah. Now I'll be the villainess of your story! I'll destroy you and that Goddess-damn 3rd Imperial Prince. I'll use my second chance the best I can. You said that we would see each other again in hell, so don't worry, sis, I'll make your wish come true, making your life a living hell.You will pay for what you did, dear sister. This time, things are going to change. I'm going to live for myself and Valerian, and I'll make people see your true colors.The Goddess may forgive you, but I never will!Let's see who will end up beheaded this time.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