Past-
"Wake up! Kate! Wake up! You're going to be late!"
Someone kept pulling the blanket, I was covering myself with while trying to sleep. Gosh, just why won't dad let me sleep some more? He is always waking me up two hours before the actual time saying I'm late.
"ugh....let me sleep....."
I pull my blanket tightly to cover my face as if this would block his booming voice from reaching me.
"Katherine! I am serious! Get up! Don't you want to go to school?"
"No."
I bluntly replied making him flustered a bit before he once more starts bellowing,
"Katherine! Get up! I don't want you to be late."
"It's fine. I'll just.....not go."
I mumbled in a sleepy tone before yawning. I had still not opened my eyes but the sudden silence from the other side made me feel scared. Why isn't dad trying to wake me up anymore? He isn't the type to let things go. Did he just give up and left? I was still wondering when I felt someone pick up the desk chair next to my bed and heard the footsteps approaching me. Oh shit! Looks like I am late.
Before dad could say anything, I sprang out of bed and stood straight in front of the man who was holding a chair over his head. I knew he wasn't going to hit me. But when dad threatens like this, it means it's serious. He glared at me like I did the right thing for getting up or else I was going to be in deep trouble. He was in his lecture mood and I knew he was about to start scolding me. But I am also his daughter. I know exactly what to do to get out of this situation. It is to call the only person in the world whom dad listens to.
"Mom!"
I immediately yelled, making dad flinch and instantly put down the chair.
"Dad is trying to hurt your daughter!"
My mother is a peaceful person which is in contrast to my father who is a hot-tempered man. It's nevertheless a miracle to me how these two got married considering their opposite personalities. She was on the dining table chair, sipping her daily dose of coffee outside my room and since my room's door was open thanks to dad, I could see her which is why I looked at her when I complained.
She didn't even bother to look at me and politely replied,
"But Alex is right in front of me."
She was referring to my elder sister known as Alexandra who was sitting in front of her, eating breakfast. I'm pretty sure mom is being nonserious about this since all of this has become part of our daily routine. It's always this rowdy here so she has become used to it by now.
"I meant me! Katherine! Your other daughter!"
"Stop asking your mother for help and go get changed! I'll reheat your breakfast for you."
Hearing my dad say that, I reflexively glanced at the hanging clock and noticed that I was getting late. This made me rush to the bathroom to get ready.
When I finished changing and entered the dining where everyone else was already sitting, I again confirmed the time and noticed I was getting even delayed than before.
"Oh shit. I'm late."
I muttered after which my mother calmly added,
"Don't curse."
"This wouldn't have happened if you wouldn't have played games till late at night."
Dad remarked while handing me my breakfast, which contained crispy fried bacon strips and a sunny side egg.
"But Alex was playing as well."
I told on my sister who shrugged in response.
"No, she was studying. She told me."
Dad's statement made me narrow my eyes and glare at my liar sister.
"Dad's right. I was studying."
"How? You were playing while your book was open."
I continue to gaze at her with distrust.
"Well, the opened book counts as studying."
She shrugged.
Dad sighed,
"Why are our daughters like this?"
Seeing dad disheartened, I decided to cheer him up,
"Don't worry, Dad! In the last exams, I came in top thirty you know!"
"In your school or your class?"
He looked at me as if he didn't believe me.
"Well.....in my class...."
I replied with my voice gradually becoming low at the end.
"And how many students are in your class?"
"That.....well....thirty....."
"And your position was?"
"...30th....."
I gazed down, knowing that what I bragged about a few moments ago wasn't worth being so happy about. And encountering their gazes, I felt even more embarrassed.
"But you know, this guy in my class is going to be transferring schools soon so my rank will be up now!"
"Yeah Dad, she will be at the 29th position."
Alexandra remarked making everyone laugh.
Seeing them laugh, made me giggle as well until my eyes opened.
Present-
I sat up in the same bed that I went to sleep in last night. Different from the one I was in, in my dream. Or should I say that in my memories of my past life? Alex, Mom, and Dad.....I miss you guys so much. I start hugging my knees as I bury my head in my arms, in a body that I don't know whether to call mine or not.
However, if I have to be optimistic then staying here is better than before. Even if I go back now, there's no one there. After my family died in that car crash a few years ago, I've been alone since then. Although I still need to find the reason why I came here and there must be some way to go back since this is not right.
Suddenly the door opens without being knocked and in comes a petite girl in pigtails running and jumping on to me.
"Thalia? What's wrong?"
"You didn't wake up for breakfast so I was worried."
"I'm fine. I was just a little sleepy than usual. Have you had your breakfast yet?"
She nods her head and adds,
"Rhea, I am not sure if you have noticed but it's almost lunchtime now."
"Oh god! How long did I sleep?"
I suddenly got out of bed and went to get ready.
"I don't know. A few hours?"
Thalia replied to a question that I had originally asked myself.
After I changed, Thalia was still in my room, waiting for me. For some reason, out of all the people I have encountered so far, Thalia is the one that seems the most familiar to me. It's like I know her from somewhere. There's this strong sense of deja vu coming whenever I'm near here. But I am also sure that I have never seen her before in my life. And I couldn't have since she is a character from a book.
At that moment, someone knocks on the door, and in comes mama.
"Rhea, dear. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"Do you want to eat something? You didn't have breakfast as well."
"Oh thank you, but I am not feeling so hungry."
"Are you sure? Is there something wrong?"
"No, no. Everything's alright. I just don't feel like eating."
I can't tell her that I am feeling down because I miss my family which is why I hope she would let this go.
"Okay. I see. But do eat something later on when you feel like it since it's not good to starve."
"I will."
Seeing her open her mouth again only to close it again, made me knew that she has something to talk about.
"Is there something you want to say?"
"Oh yes..well....Thalia dear, why don't you go see your brothers? They were looking for you."
Thalia understood that her mother wants her to leave to talk about something private to Rhea and she guessed it must be related to the house and their shifting so she nodded and quickly took her leave after which the countess added,
"A letter came from the Royal Palace Administration."
"A letter? What kind of letter?"
This made me raise my brow in curiosity since this had never happened in the book.
"Those families that do not own the required amount of wealth set by the royal court are to be stripped of their title of nobility and live as an average family."
"Does this mean.....?"
"Yes, your father is no longer a count. We are no longer a noble family."
This is odd. Regardless, what kind of things happened in the book, Rhea and her family never once lost the title of the Count's family since it was the King's favor and this is why in the future they'll face criticism about being a fallen noble that didn't fit into the noble class and they also didn't fit into the normal working class because of their count status that still existed. This developed a lot of problems for them. But why is this happening now?
"Did the King order it directly?"
"No. This is a recent operation started under the commandment of the Crown Prince who wants to reduce the status differences among the mass."
Overhearing the word Crown Prince made me flinch since he is the original male lead of the book. He never did this before but maybe it's because I have changed the plot a bit that this is happening.
"Also...I got a letter from the bank as well. Today 600 billion mels were transferred in the account."
"So soon? I thought it would take at least a week."
"Same here. I guess the person who bought it is in a hurry to have it."
"I guess so. This only means we should move out of here as soon as possible. Even if they say it doesn't matter to them how long it takes, but it would be common courtesy to leave within a week."
"You're right. Today I am going to finalize the cottage we will be shifting to."
"I see. I'll go and transfer the money to Ryker."
That afternoon after transferring the money, I decided to go meet Ryker at his office and tell him that his money is paid. I hate that guy so much that I originally wanted to throw the money at his face but that would be difficult with 600 billion mels.
On my way, I saw a sweats shop and recalled how Thalia wanted to eat those special strawberry jelly candies but we didn't buy them before. Now that there's a bit of money saved up, I can buy those for her and everyone else.
After buying, I look at the shopping bag thinking about how this world's currency is strange. I still can't get used to it. If I were to convert the original world's currency to this book, then 1$ would be equal to 500, 000 mels. Normally, this wouldn't be a good sign for a country's economy that is, if they were in the real world, but over here, there is no 1 mel. An average medium-class person's income is about 1 million mels. God knows why the writer made the currency like this, but then again, I still don't know why the writer even wrote a story like this and in the first place, I don't even know who the author is.
While pondering, I reached Ryker's building and was lead straight to his office where he sat in his massive chair in the center of the room with his enormous desk in front. Everything was golden. I was inwardly cringing at this guy's fashion sense. Golden chair with sharp red colored cushions. Golden table with even golden stationary. The white walls were covered with golden intricate designs. The only thing that wasn't golden was either the floor or me since Ryker was also wearing a golden jacket. Gosh, how much does he love the color gold? Is this gold even real or artificial?
"Are you here to talk about our wedding?"
His words make me come back from cringing his golden choices while I glare at him with disgust at the words he just uttered.
"The money has been transferred to your account and you should have received your money by now. If you don't believe it, then I have proof."
I threw the certificate of transaction proof that I got from the bank earlier to throw it on his face. He seems flustered but barely manages to catch that piece of paper. He reads it with surprise and after throwing it behind him adds,
"How did you manage to gather such a huge sum? Did you sell yourself?
This makes me roll my eyes, scoff, and hiss,
"Oh please, I am not like you and it's none of your business how I collected the money. Now that you have gotten your money, don't bother us again."
In response to my remark, he gets up in fury and angrily inquires,
"Who do you think you are talking to right now? Don't be so cocky just because you managed to pay this off. There is still the interest left."
"....the what?"
I blink in surprise. I didn't think of the interest. Everyone only ever kept talking about 600 billion mels. Was there even interest in it?
"Interest, my darling. 600 billion mels was the amount a few days ago. Every day there is an increase in interest. And the amount of interest doubled each time you asked for an extension to pay back, therefore there is still 12 billion mels left."
"....what proof do you have? Is it in the contract?"
"Of course."
Smirking, he takes out a piece of paper from one of the drawers and throws it at me. I instantly grab it and start reading it. In one of the clauses, it was stated that the investor and the person giving the loan has the authority to ask for his money back whenever, wherever, however, and he can also decide the amount of interest depending upon the need of the hour. I curse at the old man that was at the hospital for signing this contract without thinking about it. Papa should have been careful. Damn it.
"So, what do you think now?"
I glare at the jerk who proudly stood in front of me. Oh, how I would love to wipe that stupid smirk from this face.
"There is still more than a month left."
I said as a form of assurance.
"But every day, the interest will increase."
"I paid that much already and I'll pay this as well."
"How? I am curious."
"None of your damn business."
"It would be much easier if you would just agree to marry me. I'll even buy your house from the guy who bought it and let you live there with your family."
Hearing his words make me realize that he knows about how I sold the house to pay him back. Then why did he even bother asking me about it?
"No, thanks."
I answered bluntly without even hesitating for a second.
"Well, how about this.....you can become a maid at my mansion and the interest money will be cut off from your salary every month?"
"Do you think I am stupid? That way I will have to keep working for you forever since the interest will increase each day and it would be impossible to pay it back."
Aside from the reason I just gave him, the other reason I refused is because of his wife that would also be at the mansion. She also bullied Rhea a lot in the book because she thought Rhe was the one making the move on her husband. His wife loves him a lot but he never pays attention to her. Or at least this is what was written in the book. I am not sure about now seeing how many of the things are changing.
"So?"
He shrugs, barely paying attention to my reasons. This adds to my anger and irritation that I was already keeping in check however I couldn't do it anymore and I blurted out,
"So....what's your deal? You have got an amazing wife at home who adores you unconditionally and here you are, pressuring me to become yours, one way or another. Are you crazy? Why are you so obsessed with me? And don't give me that pathetic excuse that you love me because you and I know both know you don't."
"Because you said no to me."
"That's it?"
I recognized what he was referring to from the previous memories of Rhea. Once Rhea and Lydia attended a festival where she sang and danced in public with everyone else. During that time, Ryker tried to make a move on her and she got surprised and angry and slapped him in front of everyone. That was the first interaction they both ever had. Is he still hung up on that? This dude needs to learn how to let things go.
"It's not merely that's it. You rejected me. How dare you reject me in front of hundreds of people? You should know your place better. Look what happened. You are not even a noble anymore and even lost your house."
I frown, noticing that what he just let it slipped is his confession of how he is some way or another connected to the bankruptcy and all that happened. I will get to the bottom of this. Just you wait.
"Because you deserved it and if I have to do it again, I'll gladly do it since your words just now seem to imply that you're the reason my father went bankrupt."
"...think what you want....but....you should know that...."
He suddenly leaves his chair and stands in front of me. More like he steps on both of my feet and this makes me grunt in pain. Before I could push him away using my arms, he grabs both of my wrists tightly and moves his face closer to mine.
"....I am using the easy way right now....otherwise I could have used force to have you but since I am nice and I want you to willingly come to me, I am generous enough to give you as many chances as you want....but don't take this for granted since I am quite impatient these days which is why you should quickly pick the right option."
My blood boiled at his words. I wanted to hit him but no matter how much I tried, it was difficult to move. This is why I spit on his face which makes him lose his grip on my wrists for a few seconds and in that time, I take the chance to push him away. He hadn't stopped stepping on my feet so I had to drag my feet from under his shoes. And that ached a lot considering I was wearing open sandals which is why scratches appeared on my feet.
"Psycho.....delusional....keep on dreaming. You'll get your money and that's the only thing you should focus on."
I muttered in anger and then I quickly left.
I walked as fast as I could to the near bus station but in between, I had to stop since my feet were killing me. That scum...he was even wearing those heavy boots which made it hurt even more. I feel as if my bones are broken but I also have a feeling it wasn't that bad. Still, the red skin with scratches ached. Damn it. I kept touching my feet as I sat at the side of the sidewalk to see if my feet were fractured or not when a familiar deep voice makes me stop doing all of this and stand up immediately.
"Rhea?"
Turning around I see Argus standing there along with his butler and four other guards whom I could not recognize. He was surprised to see me and so was I.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was here for some business but what are you doing here?"
Before I could reply, his expression immediately becomes grim as he narrows his eyes and looks at my reddened feet.
"What happened?"
"Oh, this...well it's nothing...I mean that bastard stepped on me when I went to pay the money back and so....."
He recognizes what I meant by bastard but he still looked angry. He softly takes my hand and says,
"Come with me"