"When can we have our wedding?"
If one saw, they'd call it wierd to discuss our wedding in a prison cell, with Nathan kneeling before me, next to a corpse. But the quicker I became Empress, sealing my fate with Nathan's, the more relaxed I'd be.
"I'll begin making arrangements. I'll hurry up the process, if you wish" Nathan said.
I smiled with content. These people from the magic guild, whoever they were, father, Paisley's mother, they were all extras. Non befitting to make the villainess rattled.
Feeling confident we went back upstairs, Nathan ordered a servant to bring 'the stone' before we left. I sat facing him, waiting for him to say more. Beyond the corpse he showed me, there had to be more.
After some time Nathan slowly opened his mouth. "So....." The one word was all that came out. He heaved a sigh.
"I'll be away for a short while. I'm heading to the North. The curse, it's... it's worst these days"
"Ah"
Only the little exclamation escaped my lips. I had noticed his condition getting worst these days, but waved it off.
"So that's actually why you haven't visited me for over a week? You were recuperating?"
A low laugh left Nathan's lips. It was a rather melodious and dark sound.
"You really never miss anything"
Then, he was silent. And what followed next was a smile that bloomed on his face, cheeks stretching and the tips of his eyes bent like crescents. It looked so bright. But I knew. Knew Nathan all so well, that beneath the curve of his lips, was an unending bitterness.
Nathaniel, Crown Prince of the Empire, and male lead of the novel [I Shall Save My Knight], needed saving just like the title suggested.
But who would save him? Paisley? I had prevented him from embracing his heroine. Now he only had me, the antagonist who stopped the main characters from getting together. He could only hold my hand. The hand of the ruthless villainess who was successful in tying down the male lead, for her own selfish interests.
"Of course I don't" I replied. I relaxed into the chair I sat on. "The North, you must have discovered something"
"Yes. It's-
Just then, a servant came in with a tray, making Nathan pause his words. The servant stood in front of me and knelt down, offering the content of the tray to me.
I reached out my hand to the jeweled stone, the same blue one that had been on the corpse's chest. The jeweled stone, lay in the tray, glimmering and calling my name.
Gently, I picked up the stone and a rush of coolness braced my fingertips. I didn't know if it was from the excitement or from the traces of magic, that sent electrifying bolts down my hand.
One thing was for sure, this stone contained magic. Even if only a sliver.
Nathan dismissed the servant, and they bowed and left with the tray.
Nathan was obviously observing my reaction. I didn't bother with schooling my features so I continued marveling at the sight of the blue jewel.
It felt so nice being handed something you wanted, on a literal platter of gold. I imagined myself as the heroine, having everything conveniently being handed to me. That sounded nice. But unlike the heroine's in novels, I had worked blood, sweat and tears, to have Nathan hand this to me in such a manner.
Here I am, extorting the male lead and making him suffer my own reasons. I pity Nathan. Maybe if he was born as a side character, then things would have been different....
Suddenly, my eyes followed the workers who moved outside. As I watched the servants move about, I couldn't help but compare their existence to other main characters. The main characters, although, seeming perfect on the surface, all had their own issues. Problems that I understood weighed heavily on them. Problems that I could relate to, because this was the world I lived in.
I wonder why my interest towards the servants had been piqued. They seemed like those grey side characters in books, who remain nameless. Who just pass by in a fleeting moment. Who no one ever remembers. But I had learnt better, than to think of them as mere characters. Each and everyone one of them had a life story.
Probably a tragic one, seeing as they had come to work at this slaughter house of a mansion. Just like Paisley the heroine, Nathan the male lead, and I, the villainess, they all had their own stories. The only difference is that, after this moment, you and I will most likely forget about them.
That's just how it is. Even back in my first world.
Maybe that's why I strive hard to get to the top. I didn't want to be forgotten. I wanted my name to be uttered in reverence even after I was gone. Wanted to have a sense of fulfilment knowing that I, Adrianna Deor, mattered and impacted the world, even if it was only for a period of time.
I gripped the blue jeweler stone harder. I thought of ways I'd test it's magic content.
I know, I shouldn't compare myself to these workers who most likely came from poor families. Who didn't have loyal people by their side. Who didn't have some magical power. Unlike them, I was at an advantage with my background.
"I did a good job right?" Nathan asked, eager to be praised.
"Yes you did. But if you can do more, that'd be even better" A greedy smile appeared on my face.
Still, what I had, wasn't enough. The more I acquired, the more I desired. I had already gone this far on this dark path. There was no way I could turn back and decide to be good or anything of the nature.
All my steps had been properly calculated and there was no way I could fail. Am I delusional? No. Arrogant? Yes. Very much, in fact.
As they say, pride goes before a fall. You're waiting to see my downfall? I'm sorry, but, I don't think that's happening anytime soon.
'Monochrome extras or main characters, nothing is stopping me'
This is what I had told myself on my carriage ride alone, back to the Deor mansion. As I descended the carriage, headed for my room, a servant came to escort me, at father's call.
Curious, I followed and was taken to father's office. Father, holding some documents, sat behind his desk and looked up upon my entrance.
"What a lovely day, father" I said, smiling sweetly. From the way how he tightly gripped the documents, I could tell he wasn't in a good mood. The veins that bulged on his forehead made his annoyance even more evident.
"Indeed...." He replied, stretching the last syllable on his lips. The agreement he gave was alarming. On a normal day, father would argue with every statement I made.
A small smile appeared on father's lips as he organized the documents and moved them aside.
He looked angry, yet their was a trace of smugness on his features. It was obvious something had worked out according to his plans. Oh how much I wished to wipe that smirk off his face.
Tipping his chair backward, he tapped his fingers in a drum-like rhythm on his desk.
"I made some arrangements and the Belv household agreed to look past your disrespect and repair your relationship with Ronald"
Father's word caught me off guard. I narrowed by eyes at him, as I scoffed.
"You do jest, father"
Repair what relationship? With who? What a joke! All his arrangements were for naught. No longer did I have any benefits from the Belv Duchy.
"Regardless of your opinion, everything is all prepared. You'll be wedding Ronald tomorrow."