'Wait a minute, if I remember this is the part where Gaia will ask for a servant to get some refreshment and an accident will happen that will trigger a cringe moment,' Aria realizes as she watches the scene unfold.
'But not on my watch,' she thought with a wicked smile. She decides to intervene before the plotline goes into full effect.
"Anyways, I'm parched. Could we switch to something a bit more... refreshing?" Aria said, her voice dropping to a purr as she looked at the prince that makes the atmosphere shifted. The room held its breath as the prince nodded curtly to a servant, who scurried away to fetch something. Aria's eyes gleamed with victory as she watched the scene she had so often read in the book change before her very eyes.
The servant returned with a tray of fruits and a pitcher of cool, sparkling liquid. "Here is your refreshment, your high-", "just give it to her," the prince interrupted, gesturing to Aria with a wave of his hand. the server went to Aria, however, the server tripped, sending the tray flying. The fruit scattered across the floor, and the pitcher shattered, drenching Aria in the drink and a glass shard left a cut on her feet. 'Wow! What a nice way to get drenched, lol!'
"Oh no Lady Aria!" Gaia exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. Aria felt a flash of confusion.
'This isn't how it was supposed to happen,' she thought. the server immediately went to his knees. "I'm so sorry! Please forgive me my lady!"
Aria wasn't wrong though, in the original novel, Gaia will initiate to serve the three some refreshments, then an accident happens. Gaia will trip towards the crown prince, and a cringe moment will appear. Aria on the other hand will become the suspect of tripping Gaia even though she didn't do anything.
Murmurs of concern rippled through the room. "How clumsy of him to trip," "what do you expect from a lowly birth," the whispers grew louder, but Aria barely heard them over the ringing in her ears. She stared at the shard of glass embedded in her foot, the cold liquid mixing with the warm trickle of blood.
'This isn't in the book, I only initiated the idea for refreshment and it affects the scenario!' she thought, her heart racing. She had to keep her cool, she couldn't let this setback ruin her plan.
'It seems that a little change may lead to a change of narrative.'
"Aww what shall she do then?", "look, she will probably throw a fit!" Aria heard the snickers and whispers around the room, expecting the villainess in her to react with rage and dramatics. But she remained calm, her eyes never leaving the crown prince.
She giggled, "stand, you are forgiven, and would you hand me a handkerchief?" she asked calmly to a servant. The room went quiet. Aria's giggle was so unlike her villainous nature that even the crown prince was caught off guard.
He watched her as she took the offered cloth and dabbed at her forehead, which was dotted with beads of sweat from the sudden cold. The fabric came away stained with the sweet scent of berries.
"Now, can you bring some bandages for my foot?" Aria said sweetly to the servant, her voice still holding a hint of the villainess' charm yet laced with something else. The room remained silent, the only sound was the shuffling of the servant as he rushed off to get the first aid.
The crown prince watched her with a flicker of something in his eyes that Aria couldn't quite read. Was it disdain or he is carefully observing her? 'Maybe I've gone too soft,' Aria thought, her heart racing.
The room was as quiet as a tomb; the only sound was the dripping of the juice from the fruit and the distant echoes of the servant's footsteps.
'Well, I don't care! Unlike the real Aria, I have a soft spot with those people who is in the sector of blue-collar jobs.'
The servant returned with a box of bandages and a concerned expression. He carefully knelt before Aria and began to clean the small wound. The touch was surprisingly gentle, and Aria felt a moment of humanity in this twisted world she was trapped in. As he worked, she couldn't help but wonder if the servants in this world had free will or if they too were bound by the whims of the story's author. She wants to act like what the real Aria will likely do, but she can't bring herself to be angry at a person who endured being lowly, that is why she composed herself.
"Thank you," Aria said softly as the servant finished wrapping her foot. She took a deep breath, the pain a reminder that she was still trapped in this world.
"I apologize for causing a commotion. Although it is against etiquette, I fear I'll have excuse myself first," Aria said, standing up carefully despite the pain.
"Please don't mind me, and enjoy the tea party," Aria said with a forced smile, her voice a blend of sugary sweetness and hidden malice. She limped slightly as she made her way out of the room, the pain in her foot a stark reminder of the reality she was now a part of.
'In all fairness, it's painf-',"OW!" she said as she felt that she was being carried by someone. She looked up and saw it was the crown prince. His face was stern, his arms tight around her.
"What are you d-doing?" Aria stuttered, her heart racing as the crown prince's arms cradled her against his firm chest. His eyes were like ice, but there was something else there, something she hadn't seen before.
"I dislike you, but still I can't let my fiancée leave the room like this," he said, his voice low and gruff.
'Ehhhhhhhh?!' Aria's thoughts screamed as she heard the word fiancée. She was supposed to be the villainess, the one everyone hates, not the one being cared for by the crown prince! But she didn't miss a beat, playing along with the unexpected turn of events. She allowed him to carry her, her eyes taking in the room in a daze. 'Why is this happening!?' she thought frantically.
"Put me dow-" Aria began to protest, but her words were cut off by the prince's firm grip tightening around her. She felt his warm breath against her ear as he whispered, "Save the drama for later, Aria. I don't have the energy to keep up with your games today." His voice was a mix of irritation and something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
'Well, there is no harm to shut my mouth for a while,' Aria thought, deciding to play along. She leaned into the prince's embrace, feigning weakness. Her mind was racing, trying to piece together the puzzle of why she was being treated differently than in the novel.
---------The Goal is to Die-------------
"What the hell is happening?" Aria mumbled internally as she lay in her bedroom, the soft silk sheets feeling like a prison of their own. The crown prince had carried her to her carriage, and he also joined her in her carriage then carry her to her chamber, his arms surprisingly gentle despite the firmness of his grip earlier. She had expected to be scolded, or perhaps even punished for her behavior, but instead, he had simply laid her on the bed and left without a word. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving her with nothing but her racing thoughts.
'So, there is a high chance that I can affect some scenarios through my actions,' Aria thought as she lay on the bed, her heart still racing from the unexpected turn of events.
But how much can I change?' Her mind was racing with possibilities.
'If that is the case, I can die EASILY!' Aria thought with excitement. She immediately walks toward the veranda, her thoughts racing. The palace garden was a sea of colors, but all Aria could see was the perfect place to end her life. She took a deep breath, the scent of roses filling her nose as she contemplated her next move.
"Adios, cruel world," Aria whispered to herself, a smirk playing on her lips as she approached the edge of the veranda. She could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins as she took a step closer to the railing. There, she jumped, her heart pounding in anticipation of the sweet release that awaited her.
"NOOOOOOO! My lady!" Lila screamed. Her shrill voice pierced through the serene afternoon, shattering the quietude of the garden. Aria close her eyes, the wind rushing past her, and for a brief moment, she felt free. But reality had different plans. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back. Aria's eyes snapped open to see the crown prince, his expression a mix of anger and relief.
"What were you thinking?!" he roared, his grip on her tight.
"I know you're crazy in the head, but not to the point of suicide!" the crown prince bellowed, his face contorted in a mix of rage and concern. Aria's heart sank. 'Damn it, I thought I can die!' she thought with a silent scream.
"My lady! What were you thinking?!" Lila's panicked voice echoed in the chamber as she rushed over to Aria, her eyes wide with fear. Aria gasped for air, the prince's grip still firm around her waist as she was pulled back from the brink of the railing. She felt a strange mix of frustration and relief; she had come so close to her goal only to be thwarted again.
"Well it's a beautiful day for me to uh- fly?" Aria jokingly said trying to ease the tension, her voice quivering slightly from the adrenaline rush. The crown prince's expression didn't change, his eyes still burning with a mix of anger and concern.
"Stupid child, I for real thought I'm going to lose you," Lila said, her voice shaking as she wrapped a blanket around Aria.
"Thank you, your highness, I'll take it from here," Lila said, her voice trembling as she took over from the crown prince, who reluctantly released Aria. His eyes searched hers for a brief moment before he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Aria couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment, her plan to escape this world had been thwarted.
Aria lost in disappointment find herself in the embrace of her nanny. She felt the warmth of Lila's body as she was being held tight, the smell of lavender from her dress was comforting. "You scared me, Lady Aria. What was that about?" Lila whispered, her eyes filled with tears. There, Aria felt guilty for her actions. She had put her only friend in this world through fear and anxiety.
"It's good that the crown prince went back to get his handkerchief-, oh that's his handkerchief," Lila said, her eyes spotting the berry-stained fabric on the floor.
"Anyway, my lady, if your cut in your foot, just call me," Lila said, her eyes filled with genuine concern. Aria nodded, still in shock from her failed suicide attempt. The handkerchief remained on the floor, a silent witness to her desperation.
"I'm really sorry Lila and thank you, I just needed some fresh air," Aria lied, her voice shaky. Lila nodded, patting her back gently.
"You should rest now, Lady. your father will be returning the day after tomorrow, and you don't want to look ill in front of him," Lila said with a small smile, trying to change the subject. Aria nodded, her thoughts still racing. She had to find a way out of this world without causing more harm to those around her, maybe a natural cause of death?
The next day, Aria woke up early, her mind made up. She decided to try a different approach, one that would be less dramatic and more natural. She knew that in the story, her death was supposed to be grand and tragic, but she didn't care anymore. All she wanted was to return home, and she would do anything to achieve that, even if it meant dying in a way that didn't align with the novel's plot.
'Think about it, what if I will hire a witch or a wizard to kill me?' Aria thought as she stared out the window, her mind racing. 'Well, my family are mages, but I doubt that they can kill me, because they should have done that in the novel if they truly can...'
'But, why not?' Aria thought, her mind racing. 'Wizards or mages are very common here, isn't it? Well, I'll look into it later,' she decided, pushing the thought to the back of her mind for the moment.
still looking outside the window, Aria watched the sun rise over the capital, painting the cityscape with warm hues. 'Oh my, what a great day to bury myself,' she thought, her tone eerily light.
She stretches her body, feeling the stiffness from the previous day's events. Aria knew that for once, she will try to live for the time being while trying to find a good timing for her death.
"For once, let's be positive and enjoy this world," Aria said to herself as she stepped out of the room, her mind racing with thoughts of escape. She descended the grand staircase, the marble cool against her bare feet. The palace was bustling with activity as servants scurried about, preparing for Duke Wellington's return. Aria felt a pang of regret as she can recall from the memory of the original Aria that she did not act as a proper lady of the house.
"Lila! Can I help with anything?" Aria called out, trying to inject a note of enthusiasm into her voice. She had decided to take a more active role in the house of Wellington's affairs, hoping that by doing so, she might make herself productive other than being a villainess. Lila looked up from what she was doing, her expression a mix of surprise and relief.
"Oh, Lady Aria, you're feeling better? Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes searching Aria's face for any sign of distress. Aria nodded with a forced smile.
"Much better, I assure you. I thought I might help with the preparations for Father's return," she said, walking towards Lila.
"I never thought this day will come, where you want to act as a proper lady of the house," Lila said with a mix of shock and amusement, her eyes never leaving Aria's.
"Well, let's start with the simplest task, shall we?" Lila handed Aria a bouquet of freshly picked roses.
"Could you arrange these in the dining hall?"
Aria took the roses with a nod, the thorns prickling her skin.
'Perhaps I can use these later,' she thought with a morbid sense of humor.
As she walked through the grand halls of the palace, she couldn't help but feel like an imposter in her own body. Everyone greeted her with a fear.
'I know I love you Aria but how can you make yourself so horrible?' she could almost hear their thoughts. She forced a smile and continued to the dining hall, her mind racing with ideas.
As Aria arranged the roses in a vase, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction at the simple task. It was something she never had the opportunity to do in her real life, where she was always buried in paperwork and responsibilities. But here, in this world of opulence and drama, she found a strange comfort in the mundane. As she worked, she noticed the subtle glances from the servants, their whispers following her like a shadow.
"What's gotten into her?" Aria heard the whispers of the servants as she moved around the palace, trying to be helpful. Her newfound enthusiasm for the trivial tasks was indeed suspicious, but she couldn't help the thrill of doing something that felt almost...normal. It was a stark contrast to the villainous role she was expected to play.
On the other hand, at the palace, the prince was being furious. He couldn't believe that Sir Kieran was with Gaia in the palace garden. The crown prince felt a surge of jealousy and anger as he watched them from a distance, their laughter echoing through the corridors like a taunt. 'How could she? With him?' he thought, his grip on the railing tightening.
'Why is he smiling with her?' Nathan's thought as he gazes at the distant figure of Gaia and Sir Kieran. The sight of them together was like a knife twisting in his gut. He knew he was supposed to marry Aria, but he knows what he really wants is to marry Gaia. however, he also wonders why that lady Aria jumps from the balcony.
'It's not like her to do something so... desperate.... errr, why I'm bothered about it?' he asked himself.
'Anyways, I'm just thankful that girl doesn't do anything stupid again,' the crown prince thought, turning away from the sight. He had to admit, Aria's behavior was becoming more and more unpredictable, and it was starting to unnerve him. He had to figure out what was going on with her before she did something else that could ruin everything.
"Your highness!!!!!" A scream pierced the air, jolting the crown prince out of his thoughts.
"Your highness! The lady of the House Wellington is said to have some kind of... plotting something!" one of his intel's voices was shaking.
The prince's heart skipped a beat. 'Plotting? What is Aria up to now?' he thought, his mind racing as he rushed towards the source of the commotion. "According to my friend who is working there, she's been asking about... poisons!" the servant gasped out, his eyes wide with fear.
Panic surged through the prince's veins. He couldn't let Aria go through with this. He had to go to the house Wellington immediately to stop whatever she had planned. He sprinted through the palace halls, his footsteps echoing off the marble floors. His mind raced with scenarios, each more alarming than the last. 'What if she finds a way to poison herself? What if she tries to harm someone else? What if this is all a ploy to get back at me?'
'Wait, why I am thinking of that girl?' the crown prince thought to himself as he rushed out of the palace, his horse waiting for him. Before he could even climb onto the horse, he was greeted with the sight of Kieran and Gaia.
"Nathan! What's wrong?" Gaia's voice was filled with concern as she rushed over to the crown prince, her eyes wide with worry.
"It's A-", "Yow your highness!" Kieran inserting himself between Gaia and the prince, making the prince feel furiosity rising in him.
'Why is he always around her?' the crown prince thought as he reined in his horse.
"Gaia I'm just going to take a stroll," the crown prince lied, his eyes never leaving the concerned gaze of Sir Kieran. "I need some fresh air."
"But your highness, you should not be alone," Kieran insisted, his hand reaching for the reins of the horse.
"I'll be fine, Sir Kieran. Besides, the palace feels stuffy today," the crown prince said, his voice tight with unspoken tension. He didn't wait for a response before spurring his horse into a gallop, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. Gaia watched him go with confusion while Sir Kieran is smirking.
As the prince approached the House Wellington, his heart raced with every beat of his horse's hooves. He just wants to stay away from the palace for the time being, and he may not admit it, but the Lady of house Wellington has given him reason to go out.
Eventually, thanks to the horse being a hybrid horse, the crown prince Nathan whom a very uninvited has arrived at the house of Wellington, the one she least expected out of all the people she knew. It was the crown prince himself, standing at the doorway of the house of Wellington. He came here to see what the lady of the house was up to, not knowing the chaos he was about to step into.
"Oh your Highness, what brought you here?" Lila asked, curtsying deeply.
"Where's Lady Aria?" The crown prince's voice cut through the air like a knife, his eyes scanning the room with a pang of curiosity. Lila smile, "My lady is currently in the dining hall, arranging the flowers for her father's return," she replied with a hint of pride.
Nathan laughed at his disbelief, "Lady Aria, arranging flower? That's a first." He said as he proceeded to the dining hall, leaving Lila behind. There, he was greeted with a sight of the lady smiling while arranging the flowers.
"What's with the sudden change of heart?" he asked, his arms crossed over his chest. Aria looked up, her eyes meeting his.
"Oh what brought you here, your Highness?" she replied, her voice a blend of surprise and sweetness.
"I heard you were... up to something," he said, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. "And I wanted to see for myself."
Aria felt a flash of irritation, but she kept her smile in place. "Oh please give me a break," she said lightly, turning back to the roses. "I'm just trying to be a good hostess. Is that so strange?"
"Well, you can't blame me since everything is strange when it comes to you," the crown prince said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
'I'm going to punish that intel for exaggerating.' The prince said in his thought.
Aria felt her cheeks warm with annoyance, but she kept her smile intact. 'Strange my ass. You're the one looking very strange, messy hair, messy cape, yet still looking so fresh- what the hell are you thinking about Aria! Erase, erase, erase!'
"Ahem... okay, now that you saw what I'm up to, can you leave?" Aria replied, her voice still sugared but the underlying annoyance was clear. She didn't expect him to just barge in like that, especially when she was trying to keep her head low and not draw any more attention to herself.
'Be annoyed and sentence me to death!'
The crown prince took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I don't want to, because if I go back all I can see will be that Kieran being always with Gaia," he said, his tone betraying a hint of jealousy. Aria's heart skipped a beat. This was unexpected, but she knew she couldn't let her guard down.
"And you came here to cool off?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. 'Seriously?'
"I suppose so," he murmured, his gaze lingering on her. Aria felt a strange feeling stirring inside her. 'You know what, I want to say assoenwadnsdlcfsfsdkmcfvk u!' Aria said to her mind while gathering her peace of mind.
"Wait a minute! Why it feels like you aren't using formality to me anymore?" Nathan said, his eyebrow raising. Aria shrugs her shoulders.
"I don't know, your Highness," Aria said with a shrug, trying to keep her tone light. "Maybe I've just had enough of the formalities. Besides, we're going to be family soon, aren't we?" She turned back to the roses, plucking the thorns with surprising skill. The crown prince watched her for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"In your dreams-," he murmured, his gaze lingering on her slender fingers as they deftly handled the thorny stems. The silence between them grew heavy, filled with the scent of roses and the weight of their unspoken thoughts. Aria felt his eyes on her, but she continued her task, her mind racing. 'What is he thinking?' she wondered.
"I'll take my leave now," the prince finally said after a long silence, his voice a little softer than before.
"But expect me to have someone check on you more often. I don't trust you not to cause trouble." Aria couldn't help but smirk at his words. 'blah blah!' she thought, "like I care about your trust. All I want was just to die." She murmurs, but enough to be heard by the prince which causes him to stop in his tracks.
He is about to speak when Lila interrupted with an urgent message.
"My lady, Madame Bootleg is here with her design catalog," Lila said, stepping into the dining hall, her eyes wide with excitement.
"The prince's visit must have brought good fortune! She's eager to show you her latest creations for the upcomingball!"
The prince observes the lady hurriedly went towards her maid so eagerly before continuing to leave the house.
'Well, that was something, it was the first time I had to get to talk with her properly.'