The sound of heavy footsteps followed by some anxious voices echoed in my head. It slowly woke me up. It made me rethink how long I have been sleeping. It must have been at least three or four days.
This damned head feels like it's splitting in half. I opened one eye to adjust myself from the bright surroundings. Damn it. The lighting around here, I hated it somehow. It made my head throb more than I felt earlier.
I scanned the room I'm in. Apart from being sparkly and a deep blue color—a theme. It's striking me as the ocean. I grimaced, since when does a hospital room look like this?
"Right. I'm here now," I thought to myself while rubbing the back of my head when I heard loud thud and a splash of water inside the room. There's a woman in black and white uniform as she ran outside with wide eyes.
"S... she's finally awake! The Young Miss is finally awake!!!" with that kind of voice, she can be heard from here to the outside.
'She could have picked the basin first.'
I'm more bothered to see it on the floor than see her run outside with tears in her eyes.
"W—" A hoarse voice came out from me when I tried to call for her and there's no water by the sidetable.
"H-here Young Miss, drink this first." another maid sobbed uncontrollably in front of me. Her hands are shaking as she gives me a glass of water. When she cries like that, it seems like I came back to life.
"Wren? Wreeenn dear! Do you recognize me?"
That voice belongs to my mother. Some say her voice is gentle and calm—soothing even. But that is not what I'm hearing right now. It sounded like a broken chord.
The figure of elegance, the angel-like were no more as I saw her at the door sweating. She must have run all the way here. My mother, who they respected a lot, is in this state and frantically checking every part of me.
'did she think that I lost my memories?'
but then again that kind of fall is worrying and I can't blame her if that's the conclusion she ends up with.
"Doctor! Call the doctor at once!" She said to the one maid.
"Y-Yes, Your Grace!" the maid immediately ran towards the door, and just like the others she's on the verge of crying.
I hope she doesn't slip on her way out. There's no helping it that I'm really in this kind of situation. I could only sigh in defeat.
Why? Because I fainted just when I was still not half way down the stairs! I can still feel the perfectly polished tiles of the stairs on my backside as I reminisce about my falling!
It's cold and solid. Thankfully I only suffered with light bruises on my thighs and arms besides having a high fever for two days.
And a minimal humiliation in front of all those nobles who attented my party!
Besides, just what the hell is this? I cannot accept this! Why am I transmigrated in this body?
As frustration kicks inside of me; I jumped from my bed, and stared in front of the mirror in a seemingly unfashioned manner.
You can really see the beauty, even if half of my head has a bandage. That's not the issue here, self. God, this feels so unfair.
"Wren! You shouldn't get up like that!" my mother shouted while fussing over my bandage. Good grief, I can still remember that day so vividly.
---------------------------------------------------
(4 days ago)
Today is my 4th birthday! the banquet Hall is filled with lots of floral decorations and many people attended. Most of them are acquaintances and friends of my Mother and Father. None of them I know, but it's fine. I don't have any close friends either to play with.
I'm sure Prince Zairon will attend. I want to play with him for the whole day. But I'm worried that Zairon won't come because he says that he hates me. I don't know the reason why he hated me though.
I told our maid about it but she says that he will come because my mother, Duchess Vacarella, is also a prominent noble lady from the East. She also says that since this is the first time that my family will show me, no one turned down the invitation.
I'm still waiting for Mother here in my room since she promised that we will enter the hall together. My father will be running late because he still has a meeting in the Imperial Palace.
"We sincerely wish you a Happy Birthday, Young Miss."
My maid smiled at me then she turned her gaze behind. It was our Butler with her. I noticed his hands behind his back which piqued my interest as I peek behind him. Seems like he intends to hide it from me. He noticed that I'm stealing glances at it and he had no choice but to show it to me.
"..." I stared at it and looked up at him. "This gift is from all of us. Each maid and servants contributed to wish you a happy birthday, Young Miss," The butler said in a soft tone.
"We even picked the best for our Young Miss! Happy birthday, Young Miss." My maid added excitedly while a small, green box in her hands wrapped in a ribbon.
I picked up the box and slowly opened it, revealing an emerald ribbon hairpin with a small gem embedded at the center.
"Thank you!" they both smiled again, I looked once again at the hairpin. It's sparkly when I raise it to the light.
"What do you have there, Wren?" My mother whispered in my ears, smiling while watching me.
"Look, Mommy it's their gift to me," I showed her the hairpin to her. She suddenly went quiet and grabbed the pin from my hand.
"Hmm..." I tilt my head while waiting for her to say something. But then, our butler came forward and he smiled at my mother.
"It is nothing, Your Grace. The Stone didn't cost us much,"
"But—"
"Besides that, your grace, this must be Young Miss Wren's first time seeing a Mana Stone!"
they said in unison as if they're trying to reassure mother. I couldn't understand it, but I guess the gift must have cost them a lot.
"You're right, but—" A faint song being played from the hall interrupted my mother's words.
"Your Grace, the Banquet is starting," He informed my mother with a smile. She looked at me and said, "let's go, Wren. Everybody must be waiting for you."
I could feel my heartbeat getting louder as we slowly reach the banquet room. The voices behind the door are getting louder. I couldn't hear it properly, but I can hear someone talking nearby.
"I saw Duke Aurea earlier with Lady Evelyn,"
"I don't see the other Vacarella around..."
"And here I thought I could get to see Lady Patrice's twins. They say they were demon-like..."
"...her red hair is auspicious enough I hope we don't get to see that child here..."
"Hays, It seems that brother and sister had already arrived..." She looked at me and flashed me with a small smile.
"Let's put on the hairpin. Thankfully, it compliments your dress today."
Mother placed it in my hair while smiling. Then the doors opened and the music slowly faded down. The air around me seems thicker with everyone looking at us.
my hands instinctively clutched at the hem of her sleeves. I really don't know anyone in this room. They were all unfamiliar.
"Thank you for coming all the way here for my eldest daughter's 4th birthday. I hope you will enjoy today's banquet..."
I don't understand most of mommy's speech, but I do know that it is about me then my eyes landed on Prince Zairon's face with my cousins.
Mother smiled then walked down the stairs while holding my hand. While we descend down the stairs—my feet feels heavy and being dragged down deeper to the ground. Something clammy in my throat and it is undeniably getting hotter.
"ahm..."
Why is it hot? Apart from being clammy, something is gripping my throat not letting any sounds come out of it.
"Mom... I'm feeling funny..." my voice hoarse as I glanced up to my mother.
"Wren? Are you alright?" My mother stopped as she caught my mumbling. She looks funny to me right now and why is she at the ceiling?
Even my cousin and Prince Zairon are standing on the opposite side of the wall. They were multiplying. Then my head... It feels like it's being pounded. First pound, then another pound.
"Mother... why does everything look upside down?" My vision gradually became black and I could feel that my mom was trying to get a hold of me.
"... WREN!"
*****
"Aish! Another stupid heroine!"
"Seriously why is she stuck with that guy huh?!"the woman covered in black clothing sounds frustrated as she closes the book before slumping down the couch.
the room is dimly-lit, the small lightlamp beside her isn't enough for me to see her face. But I still could tell that she was extremely annoyed. I took my time to look around my surroundings.
The room is small and dark compared to my room; this is smaller. Our maids room is even bigger than this. It is undeniably messy too. A sudden bright light emitted from the small device she's holding—then a choked sobbed escaped from her mouth. Her back hunched.
"If I'm her, I will freaking twist the neck of that third Prince," Her voice was cold and sharp. I stepped back till I felt the wall behind me as I watched her curse whatever she's looking at the device.
Why do I understand her foreign language all of the sudden? Just where I am?
"The night of the rebellion..."
I crouched down as I heard a rasp-like voice in my head. Like the pouring rain—words keep raining inside my head, the voices jumbled altogether like I'm solving a mystery problem. It's painful. My head throbbing more and more.
"The Palace painted in bright red and scorching orange as its light grew large in the middle of the cold night. Fire spreading fast—engulfing every structure. The smell of burning meat, the metallic smell of blood and burning wood wafts in the air—the smell mixes altogether followed by the sound of metal clashings—wailings, and the pleas of civilians and nobles below."
"Zairon stood in front of the palace, his hands gripping his sword soaked in red liquid— a streak of blood in his cheeks and that very blood of whom he killed had etched into his memory."
the voice starts getting clearer in every word. There's also another sound from somewhere besides the voice.
"he stares at the scene more—remembering how the fire engulf everything. Crumbling the said foundation of the Empire— the blazing palace with no emotion in his eyes. All he could think was that his plans worked perfectly..."
Images soon flowed inside my mind. There is a man with dark blue hair standing in front of the palace while it burns. Suddenly, he looked back and his bloody red eyes stared right at me.
We stared at each other then he stepped towards me. I could feel my legs wobbling from fear— clothes bathed in blood and from the hues of the fire.
the voice in my head then starts to speak again in a solemn voice.
"Morning came and the rebellion was finally over with the Palace burned to the ground. No other Imperial bloodline has survived the night, as the third Prince ruthlessly killed his family. The remaining heir to the throne, Zairon Sav de Beauvior became the Emperor, after the tragic day and known as a Tyrant emperor for years."
Zairon? That small looking boy during my banquet?
"His Fiancé, Wren Vacarella, died in the hands of the tyrant the very same day he killed his family. He soon annihilated all of the remaining Vacarella bloodline after setting the Palace ablaze, none spared..."
With a trembling body I recited every word like it was at the back of my mind. Coincidentally there is a mirror at the corner. My reflection in the mirror... it is the same—!
I was interrupted by a loud shout and banging on the table.
Her fingertips were fast as she continues tapping something on the device when the scene change. I'm in the middle of somewhere, my eyes squinting at the blinding lights everywhere, gradually adjusting with the brightness and noises around. Everything moves fast—crowded and walking past right me.
I look around everything looks foreign and different from the Empire. But even more so, the feeling inside me that I know this land intensified.
"Hey miss! Look Out!"
I spun around and saw a young woman stuck in her place, there was a moving vehicle coming right at her. It's the very same woman in the dark room. She was holding paper bags in her chest while reading on her device.
Before I knew it— I was at her place. The lights in front of me are blinding, but I didn't close my eyes nor tore my gaze at it, and then everything hurts and blurry. I can't hear the voices of other people near me. Their movements seems slower while I looked at the device once more.
a whole page of written words about their feelings of the book they're reading. Alongside her written letter that has yet to be sent.
Painful.
I couldn't even move my body and it was cold.
---------------------------------------------------
I've been transmigrated here... as Wren Vacarella. The Eldest daughter of Duke Vacarella. Now that I think of it. It must be around the time when Wren had an accident during her first two years.
Ha... why am I transmigrated as Dead Heroine? I can accept it if I was a Villainess though since I can still live well.
But this is the first time I read a novel that has a heroine who died at the hands of her beloved. What kind of nonsense is that?
"Does anywhere hurt, Young Miss?" I shook my head and answered, "I'm fine."
"Just let her rest for a few days, Your Grace."
My mother in this world... Carina Vacarella. The Saintess of Beauvior Empire and the wife of the strongest knight and one of the four Dukes in the Empire.
Carina is described as a loving mother, kind hearted and a beauty. Which is true, and that kindness is what will kill her in the future.
A young boy spoke when he entered my room, "Mother, I heard Wren wake up."
Caesar Vacarella, Wren's older brother. In the future he will be the aide of the third Prince just because he was close with him and mainly because of me.
Ha... my older brother will become single until he dies. That third Prince how could he do this to my family? My family has too many potential to be stars in my world if they were born in my past life.
"Wren are you okay?"
"I'm alright, brother." I smiled at him when I saw Astreia behind his back,"Astreia was worried."
Seriously, I didn't appreciate their appearance when I didn't have my memories back. But, damn. Even the young ones took the genes as well. I should also save these genes from being erased in history.
"Oh, By the way the third Prince will come later and..."
At the mention of the third Prince, I could feel my heart thump loudly.
"W-Why is his Highness coming?..."
I couldn't see him now like he was a harmless kid when in fact he was the reason I'm going to die in the future!
Caesar looks at me in confusion. Like I asked something unnatural.
"Since when did you refer to him as 'his highness' ? Besides that Wren you proposed to him and the Emperor is already considering it."
...
'I must hit my past self for putting us in death's door'
I'm breaking in cold sweat as I realized what he just said. Oh god, I'm in deep trouble.