Chương 1: Act I.
"My lady, we are done."
The daylight breaking through the crystal-clear windows fell from the garden into my shut eyes in its full brightness as I was opening them, causing me to blink rapidly to adjust to the bothering level of brightness. The flowing hem of my dress rustles as I turned, stepping in front of the standing mirror in the right corner of my gold-shimmering bedroom.
The purple-striped gown and the intriguing flower decorations around the neck alongside the magenta bow around my slim waist was a sight for sore eyes. The shiny white silk gloves went just over my elbow and were only a tint lighter than my porcelain skin. The perfect finish for the ensemble was the silver jewellery with sapphire gems and the little sapphire roses braided into my purple hair.
"Thank you. You may leave now."
The maids hurried to leave with their black shoes clacking one after another through the front door. After their quick exit my body slumped down on the white sofa, pressing its soft cushions into my back. While feeling like lying on warming clouds I slowly raised my hand just over my head and flicked it to the left.
The teapot on the small table and the matching rose-shaped cup moved. With my hand I flicked one, two more times. Now a fragrant tea – smelling like fresh lime and mint filled the room. As I watched the green liquid fill up the cup I moved my hand again causing the blue flowers on my bracelet jinglingly colliding in a rhythm with the flicking of my hand and with this a feather and a book floated in mid-air before me.
As I swiftly lowered my hand taking the rose cup, the silver pages of the book opened. My eyes rested on the elegant handwritten first page of my transmigration-diary.
It happened again. I am back. As far as I can see not a day has passed here. Just when I had just settled in - well half-way.
Still there are no words describing the bitter-sweet feeling resting like a child in my heart. I know the pain will grow, settle in and remain forever engrained in my heart. It will be part of myself.
I can't deny it any longer, I am back. I am once again in the world I was born in. In my twelve-year-old body. I saw my brave brother, my doting father and my mother's black gravestone. I felt relived, loved and heartbroken. A real roller-coaster of emotions. Still at last I am here. I am back home. Oh, how I missed my home sweet home.
Just hours ago I was sitting in a bank with my body pressed to the floor and five masked man with guns threatening us. As a pregnant woman refused to lie down one of the robbers raised his gun, to save the woman I jumped at him and he shot me. I must have died on the spot as I can't remember any pain.
I really thought it was my end. I guess it wasn't after all. When I woke up, I was flashed. This room has more gold in it than all the money I had ever worked for in my life.
There is a mirror in the corner of the room, in it I saw myself for the first time in a long time. This beautiful purple hair is awesome, and these eyes- perfection.
I shouldn't say anything but I really am a beauty. A great beauty.
And now, even with this, I am worried. It is crystal-clear that this is the world of "Lilly the white rose of the castle" – it is the name of the romance novel I had read just before I died; the one that seemed like a tale of my previous life.
And of course as I am reincarnated, I know how the story ended. Its just - there is one teeny tiny problem – That I was the villainess in the book?
As if! That's the best part, I have a powerful family who adores me and am a real beauty. There is more money than I could ever spent. That is at least for some time, because over the course of the book we lose it all. Be it money of power.
My cousin – the female protagonist – manages to win over all the powerful high ranking nobles of this empire and becomes head of the house then empress. She even creates her own harem, which made good material for the later chapter of the r-18 epilogue.
The problem I now have is not my end – getting banned from the capital and shunned by aristocracy – as I would be able to live pretty well off. It's that this story already has a happy end that I do not want to ruin.
But for that happy end to happen I, the villainess, have to torment my poor cousin. Of whom I grow jealous after my fiancé falls for her instead of me. Ack, their sneaky romance just gave me the chills!
Just the scene where he and her hide in the garden and then – well let's leave it at that.
So I can't just play and change the plot openly. This is why I decided to do noting and quietly grow my power, as to avoid my bothersome end. This time I will not drag on the trial until we have no penny left. Instead I'll accumulate such wealth and power that nobody can reckon with me! After all sweet money is sweeter power~
Yes – I'll do just that. Don't you worry dear heroine – I won't steal your happily ever after!
I still remember how shocked I was on that day. Reminiscing after flipping over the pages filled with diary entries.
"Oh, right! There was that."
I stared at another page with an interesting entry.
Today I launched my first business and as expected it seems to be received quite well. Tea cups were the way to go.
And combined with modern marketing and knowledge, I'll be the top of the top. Second to none in terms of money.
Some pages further in the book I stopped and read again.
After living here for so many years, my old world feels more like a distant dream. All the feelings of then seem to have vanished. I now love my big brother, my mother and my doting father.
As things stand now I'll prevent our ruin. Secretly with many businesses I have amassed wealth greater that that of any other.
The business of the cups, the dress and coffee shops are doing just fine.
And who doesn't know; money is power!
My master of Business administration really pays off now! Not to forget the knowledge of the book. I basically know with what I'll struck gold and with what not.
There is this mine- I'll have to buy it today. Rose mine, let's call it that.
That was just after I had started on my successful journey. Under the alias Betty Grey, I own all my businesses. Only some close associates know of my real identity.
While reading I came across an entry that had wine stains on the page. I remember now.
The plot still can't be changed, who knows what might happen then. So I took extra care to act in a way the villainess would – still keeping my composure and never stepping out of line.
Today was Countess Cleaves tea party. I went there with my cousin, as expected.
It was the scene where she would meet one of the male leads, Tray Cleaves the heir to the County and son of the Countess.
The pure lady stopped. She bumped into him. His gaze rested on her and then they just stared into each other's eyes. After a few seconds they began to talk – bla. bla- bla.
It all happened according to the book. I even poured the tea over her dress, but instead of pouring it hot – I poured it cold. Only sad for the beautiful blue dress.
The pages turn and sometime later I stop. Some faint smile formes on my lips.
I am now the cruel, snobbish villain. Known for tormenting innocent ladies because of simple jealousy – maybe I should have become an actress instead of the richest woman alive?
As I sipped my tea flipping through the pages a faint knock was heard on the door. It must not be a servant, maybe my father?
"Who is it?"
I rose from my not lady-like posture sitting properly. Even the many etiquette lessons hadn't managed to drill manners into my modern body. Too bad – I just don't care, at least not at home. Everywhere else I am the most elegant lady alive!
"It is me."
I laughed, just too typical of a reply. In my most joyful voice I asked of him to enter and lessened my posture a bit.
After the beautiful brown haired man had settled down I leaned forward resting my chin on my hand. Mischievously I had raised my mouth's corners. As expected he sighed, in disbelieve how his all-too-perfect sister could display such behaviour.
"Why do you still do this? Wouldn't you count it improper?"
I laughed softly and tilted my hand, asking as if I didn't know what he was getting at. "What do you mean? Is there a problem?" I smirked, my lips parted lowly. "Now is there, dearest brother~"
As if he had just seen the most terrifying ghost he leaned back. Shaking his head, I had to laugh and finally sat down properly.
"Now, then bro. What brings you here?"
He was quiet for just a second to much, so I instantly figured it would be nothing pleasant.
"Sister, you know your cousin and you-" He stopped but I know what he would say next.
"She and you-" he swallowed. "You'll both be going to the capital to the royal ball."
Inwardly smiling, because I was all too aware I had trouble controlling my expression. Without my harsh villainess training I might have failed and laughed.
"And you both will stay in our capital mansion."
Contemplating between the reactions I could almost see a game window appear.
<How would you like to respond>
<A> Grasp in surprise. "How could this be! Such audacity!"
<B> Look at the floor. "You mean together? Me and her?"
<C> thrown the cup. "You mean, I, a duke's daughter, will be put on the same level as the mere daughter of a count?"
<D> Be quiet but stone cold. "What do you mean?"
I decided to just go with <D>. "What do you mean?"
My brother folded his hands and began to explain, all the stuff I already knew. How she was personally summoned by my fiancé and how he thought it to be strange but wasn't able to do anything.
"I see. Well it can't be helped. When will we be departing?"
This one was a genuine question, as I couldn't remember if there was a date named for the departure. According to the novel, that was almost mid first volume, for this trip would hire assassins to kidnap my cousin at an inn. The plan would fail because the northern ducal household just so happened to be there at that time.
"In three days."
"I see. Send in the butler after you leave. A trip requires a lot of planning."
My brother rose from his seat, and with a faint nodding he strode towards the door. Suddenly he paused his step, turned and out of the blue he threw one last thing at me. "You look stunning. Purple is really your colour."
If my heart was mad out of chocolate, it would have melted after this handsome man complemented me.
"Thank you" I replied in a cheerful voice, earning my brothers smile before he left.
I leaned back and smiled before shifting to the reality. I need to hire assassins and arrange for that stupid trip.
As I was thinking all the information of the plots passage through, I noticed something. Or let's say I noticed someone who was not there.
"The second son of the duke. Nathaniel Everglade. Known for his exceptional swords skills. The boy who was used to always make his brother shine in comparison. Still, by this worlds standards he should be considered a great beauty."
I smiled and looked into the lush scenery. Red rose petals were flowing in the cool wind and the sin was as golden as honey.
"I guess; I'll be finding myself some entertainment for the trip~" she laughed and giggled with a smile resembling the shape of a green peperoni.
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