BELLE’s P.O.V

“My lady!”

Someone’s calling me, I tried to move my body but my back hurt instead.

This seems familiar. I tried to open my eyes and saw Jessa’s worried face. Oh, this definitely happened before.

“My lady, you’re awake!” She looks relieved to see me open my eyes, I’m relieved too Jessa. These days I always feel relieved when I open my eyes, maybe because I’m afraid that I’ll never open it again. Okay enough with the drama! But why am I lying like the first time I came here? I feel weak.

I tried to sit but May stopped me.

“You should rest my lady.” She said as she guided me to lie comfortably on the bed.

I look around, last time I remember we’re harvesting crops and… oh my gosh!

“Jessa, someone tries to kill me!” I shouted.

“I know my lady, thankfully Mr. Hendrick’s doing his patrol that he managed to save you.”

I look at her confused, “who is Mr. Hendrick?”

She looks confused- now we’re both confused.

“He’s the one who saved you, my lady.”

I can’t recall meeting another person except the one who has a sword and aims it at me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked her.

She sat beside me and said, “Mr. Hendrick is a mercenary that lives outside your land, he comes here once every week to exchange herbs for meat.”

“Oh, that’s why we have meat.” I’m always curious about where she's getting those meat. So that’s why.

“Don’t tell me you don't remember him?”

I tried to look into this body’s memory but I can’t remember this Mr.Hendrick. Who is that? Is he someone who’s important to me?

“I can’t remember him…”

She gasps.

“No way!” Wait, what’s with her reaction?

“-but maybe, I’ll remember if you tell me?”

I ask her to help me sit, my body’s still hurting but I can now manage to sit. Of Course with her help. She got me a glass of water and made me drink the medicine she made.

After a while she looked at me and said, “I’ll tell you my lady, we first met him when I planted the herbs for the first time… “

LATER that day, Jessa asks for a day off. She told me she needs to go to town to get us what we need for the upcoming winter.

I stay in bed the whole time because I feel like my body’s still in shock. That was the first time that someone pointed a sword or whatever to me, in short, that is the first time someone tried to kill me. Like what did I do wrong?

Come to think of it, the owner of this body seems to be poisoned that causes her to die. Why does someone want to kill me? Goodness!

As far as I know, I’ve been living here all the time and I haven’t even met my family. I don’t even have any friends nor enemies. It’s driving me crazy!

I spent a couple of hours thinking about that but nothing comes to my mind.

MONTH has passed and everything seems fine. The incident never happens again and the preparation for winter went well. Since it’s hard to go out when snow starts to pour, we took a lot of food and preserved them to last longer.

I helped her but since this body is weak, I need to rest like three times a day.

I also helped her by replacing the curtains with the one that’s much thicker.

“This is fluffy!” I told her as I hugged the curtain.

“Mr.Hendrick gave that to us last year.” She said without looking at me.

She’s now folding the dirty curtains as well as the dirty pillow cases.

“It seems like Mr.Hendrick is a good person.”

“Well, he really is a good person.”

“Do you like him?” I tease her.

She shrugged.

“What does that mean?”

“He’s not my type.” She said casually.

I laughed hard but she just shrugged again.

“Seems like you have your own standard!” I tease her again.

She looked at me and smiled.

“Of course my lady, you too, shouldn’t lower your standards.”

“Yes mother.” These days I’m calling her mother.

This started when one night I had a nightmare, when I woke up she’s the first one I saw then I called her mother.

She teased me at first but I called her that since then, she used to look disgusted every time I called her that before though.

It’s funny how I adjusted well in this world. Imagine waking up without going to school? It’s making me excited to wake up!

They don’t have electricity here but it’s called so you really didn’t need to use an electric fan or what. The scenery is also top notch so that you can stare at it all day without getting bored.

There are a lot of things you can do here, especially relaxing. I didn’t get the chance to relax before because of the pressure I had on my shoulders but now I can feel my soul being relaxed.

After we finished replacing the curtains, I helped her prepare our dinner. She cooks so well that you will forget who you are when you taste it.

I’m preparing the table when I heard something drop.

“What’s that?”

Don’t tell me it’s another murderer!

“That’s Mr.Hendrick.” May said casually.

What?

“He can come in anytime he wants?”

She looked at me with one eyebrow raised.

“I mean, yes?” She said in a sarcastic way.

“Why?” I don’t get it. Isn’t he a mercenary?

Instead of answering my question, she pointed at the door and went out the kitchen.

I followed her and we went straight to the main door.

“Is this really okay?” I asked her again.

“Yes my lady.”

I sigh. For someone like May to trust him, I hope he’s really a good person.

We reached the main door and May opened it widely.

A man with a huge figure welcomes my eyes. I can’t see him Clearly because of the darkness.

We’re standing a few inches apart but I can feel that he is dangerous but hot!

Gosh! What am I thinking even though I can’t clearly see his face!

“Welcome, how can we help you?” May’s the first one to talk.

The man didn’t answer, instead a few people started appearing from his back.

He’s with someone! Who are they?

The man seems to see my reaction.

“Good evening my lady, good evening May.” A baritone voice echoed the whole hallway.

Goosebumps started to fill my body. What’s with that voice, does he come from the underworld or something? It feels like he can even summon a monster that has been asleep for billions of years.

“May I ask you a favor, my lady?” He asks.

MAY let the man called Mr.Hendrick in, she didn’t even get my permission! Who’s the boss here really?

Mr.Hendrick has three accompaniments, they were introduced one by one a while ago at the front gate.

Now we’re heading to the kitchen, May invited them to eat before we talk about the favor he needs. Maybe I’m mistaken, maybe May is the real owner of this house, she just decides alone!

We reached the kitchen and May let the guest sit. The bag they’re carrying looks heavy and old. They also have a lot of pockets, I bet it’s full of sharp objects.

One of them who introduced himself as Josh seems playful.

“We’re really thankful that you let us eat with you my lady.” He said.

“It’s nothing, please feel at home in this humble home.” I replied smiling.

He looks kind.

“Please bear with the food.” I added.

“No, this is more than enough my lady!” He said happily as he started eating the curry stew May made. Of course I tell her how it should be made.

Josh seems to like the food. He keeps on talking about how he’s able to eat such delicious food he’s never eaten for almost a year. Well…

While Josh seems kind, the other two seem intimidating. The other guy named Bora never talked to us other than the man named Hendrick.

When you look at them, they’re all handsome. It’s just that they look dirty but if you clean them they’ll pass as the king's guard. Especially Mr.Hendrick, he looks like one of those idol rookies!

I was admiring his beauty when suddenly he raised his gaze and our eyes met. I automatically look in another direction. Gosh, it’s embarrassing!

DINNER went well, Josh and Bora helped clean the dishes while we went to the meeting room to talk about Mr.Hendrick’s request.

“What would you ask for a favor Mr.Hendrick?” May asks as soon as we sit down.

Mr.Hendrick looked at her.

“Our party is on their way to the capital but bandits appear near this village so we had to take care of them first.” He then looked straight into my eyes. Oh man… look at those beautiful eyes.

“I wonder if you’ll let us stay here-“

“Of course.” May said she didn’t even let Mr.Hendrick finish.

She decides herself again! Seriously? It makes me smile though. She’s really different, but why do I feel relieved that she agreed?

“Thank you lady May, but may I know my lady’s say about this?” He said, still looking intently at me.

How will I reject this beauty?

“S-Sure, why not.” I said then looked away.

Mr.Hendrick said thanks and gave us some meat they hunt in return.

Now that it’s settled that they’ll stay here, May gave them the guest room. It’s a little small and old but they’ll fit in it right? We don’t have another room to offer though, so they don;t have a choice if they don’t want to sleep on the sofa or outside.

The guest room is on the first floor while our room is on the second floor.

While on our way to our room, I ask May.

“Why did you accept them so easily? What if they do bad things to us when we’re sleeping?”

“My lady, I have known Mr.Hendrick ever since I took care of you.” That’s all that she said.

Is that enough to let a man stay here? It’s just the two of us here and we don’t really know them. Well, I hope Mr.Hendrick is really a good person.

I’VE BEEN awake ever since I entered my room.

I don’t know why but I can’t sleep tonight. There’s nothing to do so I decided to open the veranda and sightsee for a couple of minutes.

May advises that I should never open any doors or windows during night time because it’s really cold these nights and I might catch a cold, but I’ll just open it for a short time, it should be okay.

I wore my nightgown before coming to the veranda.

I look at the sky, this scene never disappoints me. It is calming, I remember that even before I was transmigrated here the night sky always makes me at ease, together with the stars.

My family from Earth suddenly enters my mind. How are they? Do they miss me? No, the question should be, do they still remember me?

After a few minutes, I decided to close the veranda door because it’s getting colder. I was about to close the door when I saw a figure of a man in the garden.

“Who’s that?”

I closed the door and grabbed my personal knife. Who is it this time?

I walked fast to catch that person. When I got to the garden, I saw the figure walking in a certain direction.

I followed him, and he went straight to the fountain. I knew a shortcut so I went there to catch that person in the easiest way.

I tried my best to make my movements silent, the figure I was following turned right, I had to walk faster to catch him so I did. I ready my knife but when I get to where he turns, he’s no longer there. I can’t see him anymore.

“Where did he go?!”

D*mnit. I’ve got a bad feeling about this, my instincts are telling me to turn around right now. I turned around to go back to my room but suddenly a hand covered my mouth. A second before, I was unable to move.

BELLE’s P.O.V

“What are you doing here?” I was panicking until I heard his voice.

“Are you calmed down now?” He asks again.

I nodded.

He slowly loosen his grip around me as well as his hand covering my mouth.

“Why are you out here at this hour?” He asks again.

Woah, he’s talking a lot huh? What happens to the man with a few words?

When I didn’t answer, he looked at me with his intense eyes.

I looked away. “I-I thought you’re a bad guy…” I said, embarrassed by my actions.

I didn’t know it was him! If I knew from the start I wouldn’t come this far…

He’s wearing a different clothes he used when they first got here. He’s also holding a glass with a red liquor inside. Is that a wine? Where did he get that?

“You can’t drink this.” He said.

What?

“Oh…” Hit by embarrassment, he saw me looking at his wine. I’m tempted though, I didn’t reach adulthood in my past life so I didn’t get the chance to drink alcohol.

“Why are you here?” I ask him.

He just shrugged and looked at the fountain. What’s with his attitude?

He reminded me of May! They’ll pass as sister and brother!

He doesn’t talk to me, he just stares at the fountain the whole time.

It’s a little awkward for me because we’re not really close.

I don’t know what to say or what to do. Should I go now?

“I’ll go now…” I didn’t look at him. I just walked without looking back at him.

While walking through the hallway, I can still feel his gaze. This hallway kind of looks like something you see in horror movies, it’s giving me an eerie feeling. I started to walk faster.

When I got to my room, I let out a heavy sigh.

“Goodness…” I’m not sure as to why my heart is pounding so fast.

Is it because I thought he’s a bad guy or because we had an encounter and converse?

I don’t know if I am just hallucinating but I think I saw Mr. Hendrick somewhere.

Well, whatever the reason is, I should just move on. I should sleep!

I end my day by sleeping with a fast pounding heartbeat.

“WHAT happened to your face my lady?”

I wasn’t able to sleep last night . I keep thinking about Mr.Hendrick, even though I didn’t want to admit it, I sure thought of him last night.

“Argh!” I shouted.

May look at me with disbelief.

“Are you in love my lady?”

I gasped.

I look at her with wide eyes, how does she…!

“I think I know who-“ I didn’t let her finish. I cover her mouth with my two hands. Her eyes remain the same.

“Shut up May!”

“mmhp.”

“You’re not going to tell anyone right!?” I need to make sure that she won’t open her mouth.

We had an eye to eye battle before I slowly uncovered her mouth.

“Don’t tell anyone…!”

She just stayed silently while waiting for my hands.

I hope she doesn’t open her mouth! When I removed my hands from her mouth, I stared at her. This girl stared back!

We stayed like that until she said something.

“Oh, it’s Mr.Hendrick!”

Oh Gosh!

MAY prepare our lunch, we’ll eat it here at the garden. It’s just the both of us because the tree man already departed, telling us that they have to arrive at the capital before night.

We are thankful to them because they helped us hunt cockroaches and rats before they go. They also help us to move the other furniture.

I am still embarrassed because of what May did a while ago, Mr Hendrick looked at us. Every time me and Mr Hendrick pass by each other I always see me looking at us with a straight face, I know she’s just showing a straight face but I can see in her eyes that she is teasing me and she wants to say something.

Should I just punch her one time? Or let her sleep outside since I am the lady of this house. I’m thinking of punishing her but I can’t do that, she’s the only one I have and she helps me every time I need her. She’s also like my sister and my mother sometimes. She doesn’t nag at me but I can see it in her eyes! She can’t fool me!

This is my first time eating outside after I came here and even before I came here. I never experienced eating outside because I didn't have any friends back then.

I also tried to avoid anything that will anger my parents because they don’t want to see me with someone else even though they are just my friends, they want me to just focus on my studies and to be on top of my class.

I don’t even experience going on a vacation with my classmates or going on a field trip with them, how ironic that I do my best for my parents to be proud of me but they still didn't see me as a person, they just see me as someone who will give them accomplishments and medals. Someone who will make their family name well known for having achievements.

Right now that I am experiencing this kind of thing, I’m really happy.

I just hope that these feelings will last forever but I know that it’s impossible. First of all, this is not my body and I am just someone who trespassed into this world. I Still don’t know where this body’s owner is.

Looking back I was just someone who would just sit at the corner of the room, scribble on my notes and read the comics that I bought. Back then I could spend my weekends just by reading a comic in my room because my adopted family we’ll go outside and eat outside but they'd never let me join them. I also have a sibling but we didn’t get along well.

I remembered that the day before I died on the earth I was reading a comic that has a tragic ending for the antagonist and a happy ending for the protagonist.

Suddenly, I had this feeling that I should remember something.

What is it?

I tilt my head to remember clearly what my mind wants me to remember, the first who comes to my mind is Mr Hendrick. What’s with him? How is he related to that memory of mine?

I definitely saw him somewhere, I have a good memory but because of this world it always makes me confused. I also forgot some things that I do or know before on Earth.

I looked at the flowers that May planted, they look beautiful and the sun helps them to shine more.

I tap my fingers through the table because I no that I am getting near to that memory, somehow I remember something…

I remembered the last comic that I have read that was entitled the villain should rest forever, I was shocked by the fact that there was Mr.Hendrick in that comic.

As if I was struck by lightning, my body wasn’t able to move.

I now remember where I saw Mr.Hendrick! He is in that comic!

“Oh my gosh…”

He is that male lead! The one that I love the most! Oh my gosh!

I gasped at the thought.

May appear holding the tray that contains our lunch.

“My lady?”

I shake my head. She prepared our table and sat down on the chair across from mine.

What should I do? I didn’t expect to be transmigrated to a world inside a comic!

I’m the antagonist! My gosh! Does this mean I’m Going to die in this world as well?

I can't accept that! Why would I be transmigrated to another world just to die? Where’s the justice in that?

My mind is somewhere else while we're having lunch, I feel like may want to ask me something but kept her mouth shut. That’s the one thing I like about her, everywhere she can clearly read the mood all the time.

After we had our lunch I went straight to my room and found a pen and paper that listed the things that I still remembered in that comic.

“Alright let’s get started.”

I first listed the names of the protagonist and antagonist. Fortunately I am one of the antagonists and Mr Hendrick is the male lead. Her female lead will be Jamaica flowers.

Jamaica is someone who sells flowers, her mother was a slave but thankfully someone helped her that's why she didn't meet the end like her mother.

She wasn’t orphaned at the age of six, then she was kept by her uncle but her uncle treated her badly and wanted to sell her off so she decided to run away from home, where she met a lady who sells flowers.

Thankfully that Lady it's so kind that she took care of Jamaica, she taught Jamaica how to read and how to write as well as how to count. She treated Jamaica as her own child but she fell ill and died due to a serious illness.

She sold flowers for almost two years until she met Mr.Hendrick. They fall in love with each other at first sight but then this antagonist can't accept that fact because she is deeply in love with Mr Hendrick.

She did all to make the two separate and hate each other. She even poisoned Jamaica and did violent things to her, everything and every one that Jamaica has suffered because of the antagonist. She tried everything but she didn't succeed, Mr. Hendrick found out her plans in the past, and the things that she did to Jamaica, he punished the antagonist until she couldn't bear it anymore. He made her live in the prison, no one wants to talk to her. They didn’t even feed her. Her family didn’t even visit her or help her during that time. She was always alone, that's why she didn’t last long. She took her own life.

That is how the antagonist meets her end. I don’t want that! I will do everything just to stay alive! Even living as invisible!

I spent the night listing everything from the time where they will meet and the time that things will start to happen. Right now I don’t have anyone in my BACK except maybe, I haven’t even met my family so for sure they will never help me with anything. I am not also close with the male lead so I’m not sure if he will not punish me in the future.

I have to plan wisely. Maybe I wouldn’t meet my end if I didn’t meet the female lead or the male lead, right? Maybe I would not be killed if I didn’t get in their way. Of course I wouldn’t try everything to make the male lead suffer because I don’t care about her!

I have to list all the places that I can build a house. I have to find a place that is quiet to make sure that I will never meet the female lead. I don’t care about them though! They can live happily ever after or whatever. I just want to live a happy life and a quiet one to relax and have a piece of mind. I can just sell my assets and find a place to live.

Oh my gosh!

What am I saying? I feel like I’ve been saying the same thing all this time! Okay I need to calm down but this is making me nervous! I can’t even remember the whole story so I’m not sure if I can avoid all the things that’ll make me meet the female lead!

I want to shout, why should I experience this kind of thing and why am I destined to die?! I just want to live!

BELLE’s P.O.V

AGAIN. I didn’t get any sleep.

“My lady…” May approached me while holding a vase in her hand.

I look at her with my tired eyes. “What?”

She sat across my chair and looked at me intently.

“Don’t tell me, you’re doing drugs?”

What!

“What are you talking about?”

She sighed.

“I just noticed this past few days that you’re always out of yourself, so I thought you’re actually doing-”

I cut her. “Of course not May!”

“Are you sure?” She asks again.

“Yes! I promise!” I even raised my left hand to strengthen my promise to her.

“Okay…” She agreed but her eyes’ telling me otherwise.

She got back to what she’s doing a while ago. She gets the flowers that she picked from her garden and puts them in the vase before going out of my room.

“Sigh…”

I spent the whole night thinking about what I should do but in the end, I couldn’t even think of any possible way to avoid my death.

First, the male lead and I are now acquaintances and it’s hard for me to avoid him because he’s not a stranger in this house anymore. It’ll be weird if I suddenly acted like that after I accepted them, especially him last night.

“Oh…”

I have another reason to stop thinking of avoiding him–May. If I avoid him, May will surely think about something and I’m sure I wouldn’t like it.

“Oh gosh… What should I do?”

Oh wait.

Come to think of it. Is it possible to just root for them?

“That’s right!” I’m so stupid!

Why did I think of this just now?

“I can just root for them and voila! I’m safe!”

All I have to do is not to meddle with them and let them have their happily ever after love story, right?

As if all of my problems were gone, I let out a contented sigh.

“That’s right. I will just do that since those two are not my business.”

I sit on the corner of my bed and open a book that May brought for me.

It’s title is My Unbending Deal With The Alpha by xxJabami. It’s really interesting since the story is quite similar to what happened to me, the protagonist was accidentally transported to a different world, what’s shocking is that she is actually a werewolf! A Royal werewolf to be exact!

I spent my afternoon leisurely, now all I have to do is to strengthen this body and of course think of a way to stop my parents’ assassination of me.

I’m sure right now they’re thinking of a way to kill me, especially my step mother. That evil step mother of mine!

Come to think of it. There is something called mana here where it is some kind of magic that can either grow and help your body or bring damage to your body when you do it incorrectly.

I searched for that book and read it again for the second time. The book looks old but its contents are actually good. You can see how detailed the information is here and there’s actually pictures attached.

“Okay, it says here that I need to gather this mana building stone…”

The page where I can improve my mana says that there’s a stone called mana building stone that was needed when I did my mana test.

It says that you can find it somewhere in the North. Wait…

“If I’m not wrong, I’m in the South right?”

What a lucky place…

I calculated my expenses in case I go to the North.

“I can’t afford it…” Ugh…

I lay down on my bed.

“How can I get those mana building stones if they’re too far and I’m broke?”

Is this a sign to stop looking for it?

Someone knocked on my door. Who’s that? May wouldn’t even bother knocking. I alert myself, I stand beside the door while holding the book.

“Who is it?”

A couple of seconds had passed but no one’s answering. My heart’s starting to beat fast.

“Who is it?” I repeat.

After a while, someone answered.

“My lady, this is May.”

What the…

I walked towards the door and opened it slowly, peeking if it’s really her. When I saw her unfazed face, I opened the door widely.

“What’s happening to you My Lady?” She asked.

“No, what’s happening to you? Why are you suddenly knocking?” I walked back to my bed and sat on it.

“Who knows…” She has a tray of food on her hand and is now arranging it on the table.

What does she mean by that?

“What do you mean?” I can’t quite understand what she’s talking about.

“Who knows… If you’re doing something while thinking of Mr.Henrick…”

“...” What? I looked at her with a questioning eye. I've been staring at her for a while before I realized what she meant.

“Oh my gosh May!” I was embarrassed by what she said.

“How dare you say that to me! I will never do that!” I exclaimed.

She just shrugged.

“Who knows, you’re in love with him anyways.”

“Oh please! That’s disgusting!”

Where did she know that kind of joke?! Isn’t she embarrassed by what she said?!

For God’s sake, May!

"You didn't deny that you're in love with him."

"..."

We looked at each other for a second then she smiled maliciously.

I just shrugged. I can't deny it though.

I, who can’t forget her disgusting thoughts, picked up the small pillow and threw it to her while laughing.

May just casually catch it in the air, like someone who's a master of martial arts.

Then, she invited me to dinner, so the food she brought is for our dinner.

Today's dinner is beef stew and bread.

"Where did you get the beef?"

"Mr.Hendrick gave it to us."

oh…

She smirks at me again.

Oh please!

I just rolled my eyes.

While eating, I remembered something.

“May, do you have some extra cash there?”

She was chewing her meat when she answered.

“None My Lady.”

“Oh…” I’m doomed. Is this the second sign?

“Why?” she asks.

“Uhm, well. You know that I’m physically weak right?”

She nodded.

“I read in a book that by improving my mana, it can help me strengthen my body.”

“So you want to…?”

“According to the book, I need a mana stone and I can find it in the North only.”

She arched her eyebrows and acted like she’s thinking of something.

“I think I know someone who can help you with that.”

My face was lightened by what she said.

“Really?”

She nodded again.

“Who is it? Tell me!”

She looked at me, slowly, a smile was showing on her lips.

“What?”

What is she thinking that made her smile?

“It is…” She said, incidentally stopping midway.

I waited patiently.

“It is… Mr.Hendrick.”

Wait.

“Tell me you’re joking.”

She shook her head. “I’m not.”

I was dumbfounded.

“Don’t you have-”

“I don’t.” She said, cutting me off.

I slap myself, can someone remind me to change her?

I was thinking hard while we’re eating. I hate this situation I’m in right now, it’s making me use my head a lot.

Why do I feel like one problem comes after another, like can’t I just rest even just for a day?

Really, what is my purpose for coming here in this world? To gather the problems and solve them till I die?

I was thinking the whole night. Should I consider Mr.Henrick or not? I was thinking of avoiding things that are related to him but I don’t know anyone here that can help me except him!

Another decision that puts me awake all night!

“ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?”

May asks me while tying my hair up.

“I need to do this.”

She sighs.

“You can just tell me what to do and I’ll gladly accept it.”

I looked at her.

“Really?”

“Of course not.” I knew it.

I rolled my eyes.

“Whatever.”

She helped me wear my coat and get my pouch.

“Take care my lady.”

May cannot accompany me because she needs to go to her grandmother’s house to give her the herbs that she produced.

That grandma isn’t May’s relative, but according to her, that grandma helped May when her mother died.

I think May mentioned that she’s out of herself that time and that grandma helped her to move forward. That’s so kind of that grandma.

That’s why even though I need May right now, I cannot risk that grandma’s life, she needs to get her medicine and that is why I decided to go alone.

I walked towards the old gate of the mansion. Thankfully, my father didn’t want to save much money on me, that's why he only bought a small mansion.

Yup, this is considered a small mansion because I saw a bigger mansion that other nobles have. Even my parents’ mansion is way bigger than what they bought me.

When I finally got out of the mansion, I thought to myself.

“This is it… There’s no turning back.”

I exhale twice. The only thing that I bought with me is a couple of extra change that May gave me and a few gold from the house that I can use in case of emergency.

“Okay, let’s go!”

I walked for about thirty minutes before I finally got to the nearest small village. According to May, people that live in this village are all good so I don’t have to worry if I don’t know anyone here.

I was catching my breath so I stopped for a while. This is what I hate, I barely walk and here I am, catching my breath.

When I finally calmed myself, I entered the village. There’s no guard on the outside, it looks like this isn’t a village where nobles will reside.

I looked around and saw people wearing almost the same clothes. Is it some kind of fashion trend here? But their clothes don't look that great though.

While looking around the place, I noticed that each of the houses almost looks the same also, that’s weird. Is it some kind of tradition?

Since I plan to stay here for a couple of days, I looked for an inn that’ll be my shelter for a while. Luckily, May knows about this village and she gave me some tips and direction that will help me while I’m staying here.

“Hello lady, how can we help you?” A young man at the reception area said.

“I need a room for three days.”

He looked at his ledger and gave me a room.

“The only available room is room 65 on the third floor, is it okay to you?”

I nodded. It’s better to stay under a roof than on the outside.

While he’s guiding me to the room, I saw someone at the end of the room on the third floor.

There are two people there, they look like they are arguing.

“I told you to give me the information beforehand!” The guy on the right side shouted.

“I know! I’m sorry!” The other guy said. They’re wearing a black coat that’s why I can’t see them properly.

They’re really arguing.

I was about to ignore them when I heard something

“Then, does Hendrick know about what you did?” the guy on the right side asks.

I automatically turn my head to them. Did I hear it right?

Is that the Hendrick I know?

My thoughts were cut off when the receptionist guy talked to me.

“Here’s your room lady Belle.”

I thanked him and decided to ignore the guys before.

I went inside the room and locked the door.

“At last!” I can now rest!

I placed my belongings beside the single bed and laid my body into it. This is so nice!

I wanted to rest just for a little bit but because this body is weak, I can now feel the fatigue because of the walk that I did earlier.

I organized my plans.

"First, I need to see that man and ask for his help."

In the comic, there's a man who will learn about a herb's true purpose. That herb will help many people that could've died from a not that severe illness.

That man will become an official doctor of the palace and will eventually become an important person to the empire.

I, in order to gain everyone's approval, will help that man to discover it a little earlier. I need to do everything to gain support because there's nothing sure in this world.

I am destined to die here and even though I am not the original villain in the comic, I'm not sure if I wouldn't meet the same end as the original villain.

I am thinking of what approach I should take when I don't realize that I'm falling asleep.

“HELP!”

Cough!

I was woken up because I had a hard time breathing. I opened but I cannot see my surroundings clearly because of the smoke that's filling the room.

"Wha-" I couldn't open my mouth because of the smoke coming in.

What is happening!?

I immediately stood up and looked around.

There's smoke everywhere! It feels like something's burning somewhere!

I run towards the door, everything's in chaos.

Everyone's holding their luggage, running towards the stairs.

"There's fire!" Someone shouted.

People keep on running everywhere, everyone’s in panic. They keep on pointing into the corner of the hallway, I tried to look at what it is. There, a man is standing near this place and it’s body is full of fire.

What’s that?! Is he burning alive?!

I was busy thinking what it is when someone bumped into me that caused me to fall into the ground.

"Ouch!" I shouted but no one seemed to hear me.

People keep on running and shouting.

I tried to get up but someone kept on bumping into me. I tried to stand up again but I kept on falling, the smoke's filling my eyes and nose.

I was already catching my breath. I need to get out of here!