《Wallflower Villainess》


 Prologue

    There was a woman kneeling in a garden, tending to it with weary hands that spoke of labor. It was early morning, and the air slid past her with a lonely chill. Her hair was not visible, tied behind her head and covered by a veil. She wore a long black tunic that covered her entire self, dull gray eyes watching listlessly as her hands dug weeds from the soil. Her voice was unmistakably that if a young woman, but was aged by stress.


    She seemed to be half-conscious, unaware of her surroundings. She didn''t hear anything. Not even the sound of footsteps approaching her from behind. Or perhaps she did, and simply made no move to turn her head.


    When an arm reached in front of her from behind, driving a shining dagger into her chest, the woman only gurgled. Her voice cracked, as if her vocal cords had deteriorated from years of unuse, rendering her unable to scream.


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    She fell forward.


    Then, she turned her head, as if to meet the gaze of the one who''d stabbed her. But a boot forced her head back into the dirt.


    She lay in a pool of her own blood, in the gardens of the monastery she was exiled in. She didn''t do so much as flinch in pain. As her consciousness sluggishly seeped out of the wound on her chest, her senses faded. Even the strong scent of iron in the air slipped from her mental grasp. But she could still hear quiet muttering from her assailant who stood over her bloody body.


    "Such a waste, Celine. You could have had it all.¡±


    Celine, distantly, could hear the smile behind the soft voice, jeering.


    ¡°If only you weren''t so naive.¡±


    As she bled out, Celine did not cry. Her tears had long dried.


    The day Celine Aquitania died was not the day she lost everything¡ªit was merely the final, inevitable stroke in a tragedy that hadb egun long before.

 Chapter 1

    ¡°...¡±


    A girl woke up with a yell that caught in her throat before it could truly escape her. She shot up in her luxurious bed, dusty brown hair tossing alongside her stricken movements. Her now bright gray eyes were wide with panic as her chest heaved, breaths shallow and frantic. The familiar surroundings of her bedroom¡ªthe translucent golden curtains, the ornate furniture, the soft sunlight streaming through the windows¡ªdid little to calm her.


    She clutched at her chest, finding only the silly material of a nightgown rather than sticky blood from a gushing wound. She glanced down, hands trembling. There was nothing there.


    ¡®I¡¯m¡­ alive??¡¯


    Celine stared at her unstained palms for a long moment before she seemed to calm. Once the trembling abated, she looked around properly. This room, this bedroom, was familiar. And yet, different.


    Celine recalled a time in which this was once her home. Celine had replaced the curtains ages ago. She had replaced the chairs with better models the day she turned 18, and the mirror she saw had been replaced with a bigger one when she was 22. Celine processed this information very carefully.


    A mirror¡­


    Celine hastily scrambled out of bed to check her reflection. Her suspicions were confirmed. It was not the 24-year-old Celine who stared back at her, with lackluster eyes, filled with sleep deprivation and stress. It was a younger, teenage Celine, with hair that stopped midway through her upper arm rather than falling all the way down her back. She stared deeply into her reflection, trying to come to terms with the surreal sight before her.


    Suddenly, a knock resounded from the door to her bedroom.


    ¡°Lady Celine, it''s time to wake up!¡±


    The door opened before she collected herself, and a maid hurried into the room, pausing as she saw Celine at the mirror. Not just any maid. Miriam, who had raised her and tended to her until the day Celine was thrown into a convent.


    ¡°You''re already awake, my lady? What''s wrong? Why are you so pale?¡± Miriam said, concerned. It had only taken one look from Miriam for her to realize Celine¡¯s state of mind.


    Celine froze, gazing at her former maid with the eyes of an animal frozen in fear. She cleared her throat oddly, as if she hadn''t spoken in quite some time.


    ¡°Miriam¡­ what''s today''s date??¡± The sentence came out akin to a groan. It felt odd to speak so casually to someone she hadn''t seen in two years.


    ¡°Why, miss, it''s the twenty-second day of the third month, year 672 on the Coprian calendar! Have you forgotten?¡± Miriam stepped closer, putting a palm on Celine¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Your temperature seems to be fine¡­ are you alright? It''s not like you to wake up before I come. Did something happen?¡±


    Celine shook her head, mentally reeling. Her appearance and surroundings made sense now. She was sixteen! The age she was before everything had gone downhill, and the age she had begun making a name for herself in society. She focused. She had to reply to Miriam.


    ¡°It''s alright, Miriam. I just had a nightmare, that is all. Don''t worry.¡± Celine placed a hand on her forehead as if to steady herself.


    A nightmare¡­ she almost wondered whether the future she¡¯d been present in just a few moments ago was merely a long, drawn-out nightmare. A detailed, horrifyingly realistic dream that her brain had come up with to scare her. Celine almost laughed hollowly at the thought. Who was she fooling?


    Miriam, not privy to Celine¡¯s internal turmoil, sighed in relief.


    ¡°Then, shall you come down for breakfast, Miss? I let you sleep in today because you worked hard yesterday, but it''s time for brunch.¡± Miriam had always been strict about her meals. The familiarity was comforting, though this Miriam was eight years younger.


    ¡°Can you bring it up here? I wish to eat in my room, Miriam.¡± Celine¡¯s voice was now calm, betraying nothing.


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    ¡°If that is what you wish, my Lady. Make sure to take a walk afterward, as it''s not healthy to stay cooped up all the time.¡± Miriam instructed her firmly before leaving the room to fetch her meal.


    Celine sat at her table with a sigh. Now that she was alone again, her confusion and fear resumed its course.


    ¡°How¡­¡± she whispered, as if uttering the question aloud would give her the answer.


    It wasn''t a dream¡ªeverything felt too vivid, too real. The scents, the sounds, the weight of her body. She was really back in her 16-year-old self.


    Her mind reeled as she tried to make sense of her memories. The garden, the blood. She could still hear the final words of her killer echoing in her head.


    "You could have had it all¡­¡±


    But it was as if that had never happened. Was this¡­ some sort of a second chance? To make things right?


    What a foolish thought.


    She had proven her family right already. She wasn''t suited to be any sort of political figure. She had failed to become the queen due to her shortcomings. It wasn''t as if any of her achievements had rewarded her with her father''s gaze.


    But then, why was she alive again? And more importantly¡ªwho had orchestrated her downfall?


    Celine bit her lip in frustration, anxiously fidgeting with the quill in her hands. Even if she wanted to make things right once more, it''s not as if she had even the name and appearance of the one who killed her.


    Despite her doubts, she took a deep breath and withdrew a sheet of paper from her desk¡¯s drawer. If she truly was in the past now¡­ which time would come to prove true or false, it was best to write down the facts.


    Celine, though she''d given up on following her ambitions, still wanted to save her own life. It was time to write down some notes.


    Firstly, she knew that whoever was her assailant, or who was behind her assailant, had snuck into a monastery to kill her. The chances of it being a nun were slim, and the boots on her face were not the shoes nuns were able to wear. This wasn''t too big of a task, but they must have known her schedule fairly well. After all, the nuns, including her, tended to the garden at a regular schedule of swapping tasks cyclically.


    Not only that, but she was killed exactly two years after she was exiled to the monastery. That reeked of some sort of personal grudge. As if they wanted her to suffer at the convent before they got around to ending her.


    In her past life, the culmination of Celine¡¯s misfortune, besides her death of course, was when she had been framed for treason. Indeed, the Lewis family, probably backed by more noble families, had accused her when she was twenty-two years old. Celine¡¯s life had already gone downhill, and she had given up, quite honestly. She withdrew from high society, barely leaving her manor other than to meet up with the few friends she still had.


    It had caught her off guard. Because there was obviously no sense to it. Yet somehow, the court had ruled her guilty. Some papers from here and there, not even bearing her handwriting, had been enough to get her exiled. What''s more, her family was spared. Typically, treason involved the whole family getting beheaded. Her being exiled was odd enough, though having her life spared was a relief¡­ initially.


    Someone was pulling the strings. Someone with royal influence. Perhaps¡­ everything that had gone wrong was due to this as well.


    She scribbled down a few notes.


    But¡­ a grudge? Celine hadn''t wronged anyone, quite honestly. If not for her family and academic prestige, she might as well have been a wallflower. She was good at studying, and politics to a degree, but she wasn''t very good at making enemies, and she didn''t spark much jealousy at first glance.


    She rested her head on her hand, gazing out the window, watching the soft light cast patterns on the floor as it passed through her embroidered curtains.


    Even the voice of her assailant had been quiet and unrecognizable. Yet, it was likely that whoever hated her had personally come to kill her. Otherwise, why had they uttered what they did?


    "You could have had it all. If only you weren''t so naive.¡±


    Again and again, it played in her head like a broken record. It didn''t seem likely that any sort of hired killer would speak that way to her, or speak during the task at all. Who hated her that much? Enough to do it themselves?


    Of course, it had to be someone close to her. No one who hadn''t met her could hate her that much, enough to kill her far after she left high society.


    ¡­


    And that was it. The extent of Celine¡¯s knowledge of her previous life''s events¡­ was this. How pathetic. Even in her last life, she could do nothing but grasp pathetically at straws as she lost everything she had, one by one. She died without even seeing the face of her masked killer¡ª listening, powerless, to their jeers.


    A familiar knock rang at the door, bringing Celine¡¯s attention back to the present. Miriam brought brunch.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Miriam opened the door without hesitation, walking briskly over and setting a food tray in front of Celine. Miriam didn''t bother glancing at the paper Celine was writing on. Celine wasn''t worried about her seeing either. She wasn''t keen on telling anyone of the future she experienced¡ªfor various reasons¡ªbut even if Miriam began holding suspicions, Celine didn''t think her maid wouldn''t believe her.


    Maybe that was the cause of her downfall, trusting one too many people.


    Setting her thoughts aside for the moment, Celine picked up her spoon and ate. The whole moment felt so nostalgic that she forgot it had been two years since she tasted good food. The first bite took her by surprise. It had been years since she had tasted something so indulgent.


    Maybe it was fine for her to take her time and get used to enjoying life again. She was sixteen now. Nothing had started yet. She had time to prepare, time to think about how to make things better.

 Chapter 2

    Celine quickly got dressed in something other than her nightgown with the help of Miriam. Stepping down the stairs of the Aquitaine Manor''s great hall. Celine felt dread and guilt crawling up her chest, threatening to overtake her.


    How could she not? The last time she''d seen him was when she watched his head get chopped off in the middle of the town square. But she was about to see him again. Alive, and unaware of the fate that had awaited him.


    Sirin Hildebrand was not just a knight who had died in her stead, he was her childhood friend. Eleven years ago, there was an outbreak of monsters on the eastern front. The entire Hildebrand family, the most well-known noble knights, were sent to the front lines. All, save for their youngest child, Sirin, who was only six years old at the time.


    Noble children were often sent to higher-ranking homes to act as playmates for other noble children, and Celine''s father had agreed to let Sirin stay at the Aquitaine estate. But Celine''s brother, Albert, was not keen on playing with someone three years younger than him. But as Sirin couldn''t stay in the Hildebrand Manor all on his own, he ended up becoming Celine''s playmate instead. It wasn''t intentional, or socially acceptable typically, but they got on surprisingly well, as Sirin had an energetic countenance that was the stark opposite of Celine''s.


    That''s why Celine had nearly fallen apart at the seams when he took the blame for her without even a word of warning.


    Celine took a deep breath, and as if tamed, the wild emotions rattling around her ribcage immediately stilled at her command. Now was still not the time to be shaken.


    When she entered the receiving room, Sirin was already sitting at one of the plush sofas, resting a leg on the table. The room cast his tanned skin in a golden glow, and his familiar posture almost made her smile and cry at the same time. He was gazing out the window, and his androgynous features were set into a slightly forlorn expression.


    When Sirin saw her enter the room, he immediately stood up, beginning to look annoyed.


    "Celine! You sure took your time today!!" He said, in his typically loud voice. What could be the cause of his displeasure? Celine didn''t remember this conversation.


    "Good Afternoon, Sirin. What brings you here?" Celine said, rather politely. She sat across from him on the other sofa, hands folded on her lap. It was best to stay vague with the conversation until she knew what he was talking about.


    Sirin seemed put off by this. He waved his arms around like he couldn''t believe what she was saying.


    "What brings me here? Are you serious!? You just got engaged!"


    Celine went quiet.


    Oh.


    Oh! That was now! This day... today... of course! No wonder Sirin looked so disappointed, considering his feelings. Anyways, today marked five days after her engagement with the crown prince had been announced, even before Celine had her debutante ball. After all, this engagement was predetermined.


    At Celine''s stunned silence, Sirin stood up and crossed his arms. But just as he was getting more annoyed, his brows softened.


    "... Are you upset at me for not congratulating you sooner? I''m sorry I came a few days late. I know how important it is to you, considering you want to become empress..." He apologized, making sure to keep his voice quiet at that last part. After all, vying for the queen''s position wasn''t something to flaunt... Sirin ran a hand through his black hair that had grown past his neck.


    "But you know, I was really busy too! It''s spring and all the other knights are slacking off during training! You know what happens when Felix gets irritated at the knights!"


    Celine almost scoffed. She summoned her voice.


    "God knows you were slacking off with them. Never mind that, Sirin." Celine said, her voice calm but carrying a hint of teasing familiarity. It felt strange¡ªthis banter that had once been so natural was now weighed down by the ghost of memories she couldn''t erase. But she had to act like everything was normal.


    Sirin grinned, annoyance all gone. Instead, it faded into an expression of overconfidence.


    "Hey, it''s not slacking if you''re already the best," he retorted, grinning with teeth. "You know they need me to whip them into shape."


    What a lie. In truth, they both knew Sirin wasn''t a very talented knight. But Celine only smiled.


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    "In all honesty, I didn''t have a say in my engagement with Prince Midas, so even if it is beneficial... There''s nothing to be too jovial about." Celine said calmly.


    "...Whaaaat?" Sirin asked, akin to a whine.


    "Weren''t you excited about it a few weeks ago? It''s not as if you''re getting a one-way ticket to the throne.... I''ve seen the work you''ve put in. I know you''re not a coward, Celine." Sirin seemed to be looking straight through her, no longer looking very amused. He was sharp. But Celine didn''t want to become queen anymore. She had already tried it once before, and look where she''d ended up.


    "Well... I was just thinking about it a little harder. Now that I''m engaged to him, the spotlight will be on me. We''ll have to be careful from now on... especially once we enter the Royal Academy." Celine explained, a mild expression on her face. This was a good starting point for any future inhibitions that would explain her withdrawal. But Sirin still didn''t seem convinced.


    "No need for reservations now, Celine," he said resolutely.


    Of course, thus far, the Celine he knew worked hard daily to become adept in all political and economic fields, even when the Duke of Aquitaine hadn''t spared her a glance. He''d idly chatter as she read in the library, and Celine often asked him for help studying in the past. He didn''t know he was talking to someone different than before.


    "Of course. I''m not going to give up so easily, so dont worry. I just feel..." She trailed off.


    "I just am rethinking a lot of things, that''s all," Celine said, smiling at him. If she did a switch in opinion too quickly, It would be less effective than if she made it convincing. Her engagement with Prince Midas was already set in stone. She could find a good reason to annul it later.


    "Don''t stress yourself out. You''re the smartest person I know... Besides myself." Sirin said, smugly.


    "I won''t, thank you. And... don''t hold yourself in too high of a regard, hmm?" Celine rested her chin on her hand. "You come from a family line of renowned meatheads, after all..." She teased, smiling slightly.


    Sirin smiled as well, dark red eyes glinting in the light. His cheeks were warm. A lance of guilt stabbed through Celine''s chest. Oh, she knew how he felt.


    "I wouldn''t hold yourself in too high of a regard either, Lady Dull. Aren''t you the least influential Ducal family member in the country? There are 5 in this country... and yet.."


    That nickname. She hadn''t heard it in so long, it was almost refreshing to hear it again! Almost.


    "At least I''m from a Dukedom. Aren''t you forgetting your place?"


    "Wow! I''m hurt. And here I thought we were well beyond that." Sirin complained lightly, relieved she was behaving like usual. He stood up, brushing invisible dust off his lap. Since Celinedidn''t seem very shaken up by the engagement or anything, his visit was now over.


    "Then, I''ll head back now. I have more training to do, you see." Sirin sighed, resigned, looking at Celine for a long moment. He shuffled his feet as if he wanted to delay leaving.


    "Let me know if Prince Midas is bothersome... or stupid. There''s probably some way to make you queen without him becoming king," he said, as if he was talking about the weather. He wasn''t smiling. He was serious.


    Celine remembered at once that Sirin often very casually said dangerous statements. His faith in Celine and dedication to her goals was still incredible to see. Celine''s heart squeezed painfully.


    "Shh... don''t say that!" She snapped. "Prince Midas is fine, I''ve spoken with him. Don''t get ahead of yourself, okay? This is way beyond our control right now."


    "You''ve spoken to him, what, twice? Look, all I''m saying is that even if I''m not the best knight there''s still-"


    "I said to shut up," Celine said coldly. "If someone heard you say that, you could get your head cut off."


    Again.


    Sirin quieted instantly, staring at Celine, unreadable.


    "Alright then. Don''t mind me... I''ll be going now." He strolled away casually, but as he turned away, Celine noticed he was looking at the floor. Regardless, Celine let out a sigh, a mixture of relief and all sorts of emotions.


    "I''ll see you later, Sirin. Good luck with training. Stop by sometime again." Celine said, waving at his turned-back.


    Sirin hummed in response, already on his way out. But just as he was about to leave the room, Celine called out again.


    "Wait!" Celine caught herself by surprise.


    "I have a... question," she clarified.


    Sirin turned around again, curiously looking at the Lady.


    "Shoot."


    Celine sorted her thoughts for a moment.


    "If I failed to become the empress... what do you think the reason would be...?" Celine said, looking at Sirin expectantly.


    The young knight''s eyes widened before he laughed with a warm smile.


    "Seriously? You''re even more worried than I expected."


    Celine waited for him to respond properly.


    "Well, I mean, you have everything you need. You''re smart, you''re a good planner, and you''re intuitive with most tasks. You''re self-motivated. Plus, you''re cautious. You know your limits, y''know?" Sirin said. He looked at her with genuine admiration and respect.


    "That''s not what I asked-"


    "I''m not done yet." He said, a serious expression on his face


    "What you don''t have is support, Lady Celine. Most rising political figures from a young age have familial support, including your brother, Albert. Your father is the reason he''s Prince Midas'' advisor. Also, a formal education and gaining experience overseeing a region is also something a child would typically get from their father." Sirin said seriously.


    "But as we both know, you aren''t getting anything from Duke Aquitaine." Sirin knew that Celine''s vision of becoming empress didn''t involve just marrying the king, but ruling the country in her own right, as atypical as it was.


    "So technically, you''re behind, because the only real opportunity you''ll have to connect with nobles is when we enter the royal academy in a few months. Otherwise, you should have already formed some connections or dabbled in business, even.".


    Celine''s eyes widened. It wasn''t as if she hadn''t tried to make connections in her past life, that was her main goal in the academy. But maybe her determination to display her independence to her father had hindered her...


    "Celine, I wouldn''t be worried," Sirin continued. "In terms of education, you''re well ahead. You''ll have spare time to focus on your lack of connections in the academy. That''s what it''s for, so don''t get hung up. There is still time before your first year starts in the Autumn." he said.


    When Celine didn''t respond, deep in thought, he merely waved and left.

 Chapter 3

    Celine burst into the room. It was dimly lit, and the night sky was visible outside the palace''s windows.


    "You''re here, Lady Dull?"


    A prince stretched languidly on the sofa of his study. His golden hair was darkened by the nighttime ambience, but it still managed to sparkle.


    "Prince Midas." She croaked.


    Midas Wilhelm Copral, the first prince of the Copria Kingdom. Indeed, the name suited his hair.


    Celine clutched her dress tightly until her nails threatened to ruin the fabric. It wasn''t a very opulent dress. It was fully black, collared, and with the barest hints of detail.


    It suited a courtroom more than a ball.


    "You know why I''m here, right?" she said.


    Prince Midas didn''t respond. He sat up properly, taking a look at his former engagement partner who had burst in.


    "I see your lap dog isn''t with you today? Makes sense, yeah." He said, casually. He didn''t answer her question at all.


    "... Don''t call him that. He has a life of his own." Celine said. She hadn''t seen Sirin often since her treason trial began. Perhaps he was disappointed with her. For failing everything.


    "Is that what you think..? I pity him, that foolish knight." Prince Midas shrugged at her.


    "I know why you''re here. I''m your last resort, hmm?" He spoke apathetically.


    "..." Celine was silent for a moment.


    "Even if I die, I want my family to be spared." She said, looking down at the floor. Her eyes were dark and clear. Midas studied her. It seems he pitied her too.


    "You''re no longer my fiance. Honestly, did you really think I could save you? I''m not one of the royals pulling the strings here. You know that." His tone jabbed into Celine''s chest. It was so casual even though he knew what was on the line.


    "You know I''m innoce-"


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    "But don''t worry. I have a feeling you won''t need my help." Prince Midas smirked, interrupting her. Celine looked up from the floor, her frustration finally evident on her face.


    "What are you talking about? You won''t even try to save Albert? You''ve worked alongside him for years! Even if you don''t care for me, you know that if I''m convicted, my entire family will die." Her voice finally cracked. But even as his former fiance crumbled before him, the prince didn''t even blink.


    "I told you, you won''t need my help. Just do your best to live, and don''t say anything stupid."


    Celine''s knees threatened to give out beneath her.


    There was nothing to be done anymore. She had tried and tried. There was never a time she didn''t give her best. She had gained friends, and then lost them. She had built a reputation for herself, and then it had been ruined. She had tried her hand at business, and it was crushed. And now she was supposed to save her family''s lives when she couldn''t save her own?


    Celine unsteadily exited the room, listless and unseeing.


    <hr>


    By the time light began to filter into her room, Celine had already been awake. Dreams of the past had plagued her sleep, so she decided to just wake up and do some more planning. Dark circles had appeared under her eyes but Celine didn''t act tired one bit.


    It had been a week since Sirin''s


    visit. He typically visited more often, but as it was spring, this wasn''t unexpected. Therefore, Celine had started getting to the heart of her goals for the future.


    The task at hand was making a list of suspects. It was a pathetic list, as it just contained the only three friends she had. Celine pushed down her shame at having to suspect them like this.


    The first was Vivian Obelia, daughter of a Count. Vivian had always worn a quiet and mild demeanor, and had low self confidence. It was hard to imagine her even bearing hateful thoughts towards anyone, but it was best to stay vigilant.


    The second name followed without hesitation.


    Laura Aventiu, the daughter of Marquis Aventiu. She was occasionally overbearing, but she was kind and well meaning. She''d often tease Celine about being too serious, but it was Laura who had fretted about her every decision, as if taking on the weight of her friends'' futures. Celine remembered how she''d lather her with gifts and trinkets. That was before the academy forced them apart. It was hard to think about such a warm figure in her memory with wariness.


    The third was Marie Verlayne, daughter of Marquis Verlayne. If Laura had been the practical, nurturing one, Marie had been her contrast. She was sharp, and a bit of a cynic. Marie was less concerned with ambition, at least outwardly. This too, was hard to envision as a facade.


    They had all been close¡ª closer than Celine had been with any other women in her life. Back when she was little, her father had been willing to host little tea parties, arranging for her to meet girls her age. That was when they''d started regular meetups that involved chatting and pastries. They had continued for years, until present.


    In hindsight, it was hard for Celine to believe she was once so jovial with people. When exactly did she change, again?


    Well, the chances of any of them being against her were low, but it was best to get it out of the way. Once the academy started, it would be harder to get a feel for her friends. Especially if all her academy fiascos were repeated and her friendships were forced apart once more.


    Her gaze shifted to a letter that sat unsealed on her desk. It was an invitation to their monthly meetup, and she''d received it the night prior.


    It had been years since she''d seen them all together, and the nostalgia of those days washed over her before she forcefully put a stop to it.


    This time, the meetup would not be for fun. It would be to scope her friends out. Now that Celine had gone back in time, perhaps she would see something different than before.

 Chapter 4

    When the awaited day arrived Celine finally took a proper look at her closet.


    Celine lived in the western wing of the Aquitaine manor, habituated only by a small portion of the maids and Celine herself. Her father and brother lived in the rest of the mansion. She had her own garden to roam, food cooked to her tastes only, and more than that, she could roam wherever she wanted in her nightgown without consequence.


    It was a bad habit, honestly. She had only started doing so after regressing in time.


    Regardless, now was the second time she was properly picking out a dress to wear. The first time was Sirin''s visit, but now, she was going on an outing.


    The closet was filled with well-kept dresses of many styles and colors, but all of them suited her well enough. Celine picked out a white dress with blue rose patterns and ruffles that, though too childish for her tastes, suited her mild-colored hair quite well. Miriam tied her hair into a braided bun, secured her sunhat quite snugly, and then it was time to leave.


    The two walked down the halls of the manor, the large windows casting diagonal shadows on the corridor. Celine had to pass through the other wing of the manor to leave through the main entrance, where her carriage awaited.


    Celine honestly didn''t want to see any family members even now, after years of not seeing their faces. But as her life typically went, she wasn''t so fortunate.


    Just as she entered the main hall of the Aquitaine manor, Albert bumped right into her. Celine was the one who stumbled back a few steps. She steadied herself before looking up at her brother, whose expression had gone from startled to slightly irritated.


    Albert Aquitaine, the star child of the family, bearing the silver hair and eyes that spoke of the Aquitaine Duchy''s bloodline. He was acquaintances with Prince Midas, and studied at the magic tower.


    "Celine," he said, his tone clipped, "is it already time for your sole monthly excursion?"


    Celine brushed herself off momentarily before looking up at him with apathy equivalent to her brother''s. All these years without seeing each other and Celine hadn''t missed Albert or their father and ounce. Sadly, she did feel a pang of guilt, which she promptly squashed.


    There was no reason to feel apologetic towards any of them. Their honor had remained quite unscathed throughout her entire past life, Celene was the only one to die early.


    She was the outlier, in every way. Hah, had she hoped they''d die along with her? Celine stashed the thought away before she had any ill-timed realizations.


    "I''m just on my way out, brother," she said simply.


    Albert gave her a once over then, eyeing her sunhat and dress.


    "You''ve been quiet lately. I thought you''d mope after the engagement some more."


    Celine nearly scoffed. Mope? Celine hadn''t moped even in her past life. It has been a convenience! These fools didn''t know a thing, seriously. But now, standing before him as a younger version of herself, she swallowed the bitter retort she wanted to give.


    "Mope? I''m not moping, brother. I''m merely... adjusting. It''s a lot to take in, you see." she said, placidly.


    Albert raised an eyebrow. "If you say so. Well, do be careful. The capital is full with rumors about your engagement already. People will be watching you closely now."


    Celine nodded at Captain Obvious, who strode past her without a second glance. How typical of the guy¡ª distant, cool, and indifferent to her presence unless it concerned the family''s reputation. Well, at least she hadn''t been sad about his treatment of her in a long time.


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    Miriam, standing quietly behind her, stepped forward. "Shall we go, my lady?"


    Celine nodded, feeling slightly bitter. Regardless, she moved on, stepping outside the Manor''s opulent front doors into the sunlight.


    The carriage ride was uneventful, and the rattling of the carriage wheels on cobblestone cleared Celine''s head. She stared out the carriage window, subconsciously digging her nails into the fabric of her dress.


    She missed Laura, Vivian, and Marie dearly, and yet she felt trepidation at the idea of seeing them again. Knowing that, perhaps, one of them had plotted against her. It could be one, two, or perhaps all three of them wished for her demise.


    The guilt and shame of suspecting innocent people would feel far better than the feeling of betrayal if one of them had tried to kill her. Whatever. She needed to know.


    When Celine arrived at the tea shop, she gracefully stepped out of her carriage. Along with Miriam, she took a knight along as was typical of when noble ladies on outings. looking The familiar building loomed ahead, the walls painted cream and brown. The balconies were lined with fresh flowers, and a maid greeted Miriam when she stepped in.


    There, at the usual table, were her three friends, already chatting away happily.


    Vivian turned her head when the bell of the front door rang, her soft expression turning into one of joy at the sight of Celine.


    "Lady Celine, you''ve arrived," she called out, pleased to see her. Even though they were friends, Vivian always used polite speech.


    "Wow! Right on time! I just got here too!" said Laura, who scooted a chair backward for Celine to sit on.


    "We''ve missed you, Celine. You''ve had quite a busy few weeks, right?" Marie asked.


    "Of course, I''m adjusting. But it''s all over now. The excitement will settle down soon." Celine said, a gloved finger on her chin. She wondered how she was going to figure out if any of them had bad intentions.


    "It definitely will, don''t worry." Said Vivian, who tucked her hair behind her ear. "I still can''t wrap my head around you being the future empress... The rest of us aren''t even close to an engagement yet," she murmured.


    "Yeah, do you think she''ll mandate study sessions as queen?" Laura teased, smiling. "Ah! I completely forgot that I need to get you an engagement gift!"


    "There''s no need for that, Laura." Celine cleared her throat. "I have enough little trinkets from you by now." Indeed, after she regressed, her desk had been filled with pens, paperweights, perfumes, and other knickknacks with far less practical use.


    "Yeah Laura, if you keep spending money on people so frequently, you''ll drive the Aventiu Marquesate to ruin," Marie said. She always jumped at opportunities to tease Laura.


    "Besides, that, I always knew you were destined for greatness," said Vivian, who looked at Celine with a clear expression. "This engagement isn''t unexpected at all, despite what others might say."


    Yes, Celine was the least popular ducal child. Celine also hadn''t been very social either, which meant that out of all the noble girls, it was unexpected for her of all people to become engaged with him. The fact that her hair, ashy brown, ill-fitting to her family''s symbolic silver hair, only worsened this reputation. Oftentimes Celine didn''t feel like a member of the Duchy at all. It was due to a past event that caused the engagement, and it was only just now released to the public.


    But just as Vivian said, the gossip and outrage would be momentary. However, it would come up once she entered the Royal Academy.


    "Greatness is quite exhausting," Celine replied, trying to keep the mood playful. "I might just prefer a quiet life in the country." She sipped the tea they''d ordered somewhere down the line.


    Laura gasped dramatically. "What? You, in the countryside? Impossible! Where did our ambitious Celine go? You must be tired... Oh dear." She dabbed at Celine''s forehead with a napkin as if she was sick. Celine batted her hand away lightly, smiling.


    "Well, if you do end up as empress," Marie said with a grin, "remember that fancy invitations to the palace are expected of you. Don''t let your dear friends miss out on the luxury." Vivian smiled politely at Marie''s joke, fiddling with her bracelet.


    "I will. The palace is quite beautiful, after all. I wouldn''t abandon you guys," Celine said. She didn''t know if her own words were true.  She felt disgusting, saying sweet words while watching so carefully for their reactions.


    The meetup ended without consequence. Celine hadn''t found any reason to be worried, but she also didn''t absolve any of them of wariness. She wasn''t any closer to finding anything out, but what she did know was that she wasn''t crazy in her past life.


    They looked and spoke to her with affection and love. If one of them was playing her, it wasn''t entirely because Celine was foolish. That was a relief. And yet, the feeling of not trusting her friends was unpleasant. Celine wondered if she was growing or just blindly stumbling through the dark once more.


    Celine left last, seeing her friends off as their carriages were retrieved. It was early evening when she left the parlor, climbing into her carriage. Yet again, the carriage''s rumble quieted her thoughts until she reached the Aquitaine Manor.


    Upon returning to her wing, Sedgwick bowed to her and handed her another letter, one that was golden with patterns embossed on it.


    "Lady Celine, you have a letter from the royal palace."

 Chapter 5

    Celine and Vivian stood alone in a small courtyard nestled somewhere in the Royal Academy. It was scattered with the communal gardens that the Gardening club raised, and colonnades decorated the cloisters that enclosed the open area. The stone bricks underneath their feet were starting to show hints of moss in their divots.


    They were the only ones there. Vivian was weeping, and Celine stood numbly.


    "I''m sorry, Celine. You shouldn''t be here." Her eyes were filled with pain, and her hand reached out as if she wished to hold Celine''s.


    "..." Celine said nothing.


    "You know what''ll happen if anyone sees you with me. It doesn''t matter what I say. They''ll say you''re doing cruel things to me regardless." Said Vivian, looking down until her caramel bangs covered her eyes.


    "I wanted to see you, Vivian. I missed you." Celine''s voice was flat and forlorn.


    She worried that Vivian wouldn''t be able to cope with the falsehoods that had become the school''s truth. The poor girl had been bullied enough as a child for her familial background, and no one had stayed by her side at that time. And yet, now, when Vivian had found good friends for herself, rumors were tearing them apart. Celine''s brow furrowed minutely.


    "I know... I know... But you must be patient. I cannot withstand their slander of you any longer," Vivian said solemnly. "At least... I should not contribute to it." She said, clutching the hem of her dress at her wrist.


    "Just wait, Celine. Once all this ends, we can be together again." Vivian''s voice came out hopeful and pained, barely a whisper.


    Celine said nothing once again. She had hoped that if her friends stayed, that if they proved their friendship, the rumors would disappear. But Laura and Marie had already left. Their reputations were their entire future, after all. Marie''s future marriage prospects, and Laura''s entire family business, everything could be influenced by petty rumors spread by noble children during their teenage years. Vivian was the last one to leave.


    Celine''s future was also defined by her reputation. No noblewoman could escape from it. A noble''s honor was their pride, and no noble would do dealings with a bully.


    That''s why she wasn''t surprised when the letter of annulment arrived on her desk, golden paper that glimmered like the dreams of a girl who wanted the world.


    <hr>


    The invitation wasn''t unexpected at all, though it slipped her mind. It was customary to visit ones engagement partner after the initial announcement, regardless of how close you were with the person.


    Of course, the two were almost strangers. For the entirety of her past life, Prince Midas had internally viewed the engagement like some inevitable thing that he didn''t give a damn about. Meanwhile, Celine had made sure to display her lack of romantic interest and desire for a purely business relationship. She thought he might appreciate it. She didn''t expect any romantic escapades or whatever. The one thing she had hoped for was that he''d give her some general interest, more so than her family members had for her, at least.


    He did not. Though he approached her with a smile and with all the niceties one may offer, he was disinterested in her. He even refrained from going with her to social events, citing business. This prevented Celine from attending any important events due to the fact it would ruin her image if she went alone.


    Well, it''s not like him attending parties with her would have changed anything. Her reputation crumbled regardless.


    Celine gave the invitation a quick once over before tossing it back to Sedgewick carelessly. The invitation was in a few days, so she had time to think about how to go about it. This was just for formalities, but obviously, Celine wasn''t going to approach him with the intention to become queen this time.


    Celine spent the next few days snacking and reading novels in her nightgown, ensuring that if Midas'' presence bothered her immensely, she''d be comforted by the fact she lazed around beforehand.


    She wore a light green, long-sleeved dress with pale yellow lace decorating it. She asked Miriam to keep her makeup and hairstyle as generic as she could.


    The carriage ride was long, as the Aquitaine manor was a way out from the capital''s center, but it didn''t feel lengthy to Celine. She moved with purpose, and before long, she''d stepped into the palace with a knight in tow.


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    The halls of the royal palace were large, but Celine had already traversed them a few times. She walked ahead of the servant leading her to the meeting room.


    Upon entry, Prince Midas was nowhere to be found.


    No matter. Celine sat on a plush chair and folded her hands on her lap, eyes closed. The furniture was a warm brown, and the large window had been opened partially to let in some fresh air. The room was pristine, but upon closer look, was coated in a thin layer of dust as if the prince wasn''t fond of receiving guests.


    Just like before, it would be half an hour until he arrived. Time ticked by steadily.


    Finally, the door creaked open. Celine opened her eyes. Prince Midas strode in. His pale blonde hair caught the light flawlessly. A faint smile played on his lips as he approached.


    "Lady Celine," he said, his gaze casually sweeping over her.


    Celine rose from her seat with grace, curtsying politely, but not too reverently.


    "Your Highness," she greeted.


    "I trust the journey here wasn''t too tiring?" He sat across from her.


    "It was not, your highness." She said blandly. She would bore him with little effort, and she was sure the engagement would dissolve quickly once more.


    "Good, good. It''s been quite some time since we last greeted each other. Four years, perhaps?" He mused, languid.


    "Indeed, Your Highness. It is a pleasure to greet the star of the empire once more."


    Prince Midas looked at her strangely.


    "I had heard you were more... eager for this engagement, Lady Celine. But it doesn''t seem like you care much for it at all."


    Prince Midas continued studying her, no doubt recalling the rumors he''d likely heard¡ªthat Celine was a dutiful daughter, always dedicated to her studies and her future. But this was their first face-to-face meeting, and Celine had the power to change her image as easily as she wished.


    "Forgive me if I seem indifferent, Your Highness," she said, her voice steady. "I have resolved to fulfill my duty as your partner and nothing more."


    "I see."


    "..."


    A long pause ensued. A draft from the window gently ruffled Celine''s hair.


    "I agree, let us fulfill our duties." Prince Midas said, content. The conversation fell flat, and Celine stared at him blankly. The Prince''s eyes wandered out the window, his gloved hand resting on his cheek.


    Celine smirked imperceptibly. This was the moment his patience would end.


    "Mildred." He called out the name of his servant. "Bring her some tea." A woman emerged from the doorway and immediately started her task. Prince Midas stood up, adjusting his collar.


    "Apologies, I have some work to do. Please enjoy the palace to your fullest. Thank you for your time." Without hesitation, he strode out the door purposefully. No doubt he had better things to do than play nice with the equivalent of a blank white wall. Celine smirked.


    She watched the door click shut behind him, and her smirk faded into a neutral expression. So easy to do nothing, to go unnoticed.


    "That was quick," she said under her breath. She leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs.


    Celine would be in a bad position as long as the engagement existed. This was only the beginning. Later on, she would end it for good.


    "There''s no need for tea," Celine said as the maid started to prepare it, delicately waving a hand. "I''d like to take a stroll through the imperial gardens."


    <hr>


    The imperial gardens were solitary and dense, unlike the expansive gardens with wide paths that surrounded the Aquitaine manor. Instead, imperial gardens were known for their unusually dense greenery after being renovated by the previous empress who supposedly wanted to feel as if she was in a real forest.


    The garden walkway was thin, with loose dirt crunching beneath Celine''s heels. She was a ways in and the garden only seemed to get thicker the farther she went. Stone benches appeared occasionally on her sides, but were covered in vines. The plants were tall, oppressive yet comfortable. Tendrils of flowering bushels impeded her view. The smell of soil was thick, and for a moment, it brought back memories that made Celine feel unbearably nauseous. The feeling of dirt under her nails ghosted the tips of her fingers.


    She considered turning back, but honestly, she didn''t care to. She tried to immerse herself in the sights and smells as if the garden''s compact ambiance would drown out her thoughts.


    Celine was feeling very bitter. She''d anticipated this. She''d anticipated how the meeting would go, and even attained her desired outcome. Yet, just like in her past life, the feeling of being dismissed ground against a place deep within her despite her rationalities.


    The forest''s isolation was doing more harm than good to Celine''s mental state. The quiet seemed to mock her. It was familiar, parallel to the silence and isolation she had been exiled in before her death. The path grew more overgrown, and Celine began to sweat.


    Suddenly, her foot caught on something solid. She stumbled forward, arms flailing to catch her balance, but her heel sank into the dirt and she fell, crashing into the ground. Her knees hit the ground, and she yelped, looking behind her to see what she''d tripped on.


    A foot.


    Her gaze traveled upward, following the outstretched leg to the figure lounging against a tree, half-hidden by the dense foliage. A man seemed to have woken up suddenly, rubbing his eyes and looking at Celine blearily. Yet, even partially hidden by leaves, the guy''s light blonde hair was unmistakable.


    "Ouch... watch where you''re going..."


    An elegant but boyish voice spoke. His eyes opened, revealing green irises. He had delicate eyelashes that cast shadows under his eyes, and fair skin that glowed. His jawline was strong, but not overpowering. One hand ran through tousled hair, with long fingers and only the faintest scars from swordsmanship practice.


    Celine had seen this person before. Of course she had. This man was Isolde Algeo Copral, the second prince of the Copria kingdom.