The ticking of the clock rang in Arabella's ear as she felt the time slipping from her pale fingers. The maids and the palace help were rushing with towels. Her head felt flush from fever as she glanced around the room.

"Where is the crown prince?" She weakly wailed out as she surprised the maids. Her trusted maid, Iliana, stepped up to tell her the news.

"Your highness, the crown prince have went to the ***** house in the slums."

"The slums?" Arabella reflected then broke out into laughter. The palace staff looked concerned at the princess who lost her head.

"Princess." Iliana said concerned as she kneeled next to her. Arabella slowly turned to Iliana. Arabella's face was covered by a viel but Iliana could tell that the princess was deeply upset.

"Of, course such a womanizer, he gave me this disease and left me to rot. Left me, scarred and ugly! I curse the prince!!"

The staff gasped in shock as Arabella turned insane as she ripped the viel off. The staff stayed quiet.

"Am I not beautiful?! Am I that ugly that everyone is silent?!"

Arabella slowly climbed out of bed and fell to the floor as Iliana rushed to her side.

"I hope the crown prince see my pitiful state, all I did for him to imprisoned the Duke, to kill the Emperor and to eliminate the other royals was for nothing. He dispose of his Empress before his coronation."

Arabella closed her eyes as blood pooled in her mouth as Arabella try to help her.

"Your highness?! Your highness!! Mistress Arabella!!"

Year 1786 the year of forever rain,

Crown Princess Arabella Violette Ruiz, has passed of illness. Crown princess Arabella was remembered as a cruel but strategic princess. She was remembered as the mastermind behind justice and crimes. Arabella was quickly replaced by the talented and beautiful Empress Eliza Selene Kilian who was the mistress of Crown Prince Leonard Enrique Ruiz but Eliza could  never hold a torch to Princess Arabella. Thus, Princess Arabella was always the sun and Eliza is the moon.

10 years ago.

...----------------...

A young girl awaken in her bed as she heard her name being called from a distance.

"Young Mistress Arabella!"

"Huh?" Arabella thought as she looked around. She scrambled out of bed as a loud thud could be heard.

"Young miss!" The door swung open a maid the same age as Arabella.

"Iliana?!" Arabella blinked as she looked up.

"Young miss we must get ready today is the day of engagement selection you are 16 years old today and this season is the selection for the Crown Princess!"

'WHAT?!' Arabella mouth was a gaped. As she stared at the invitation with shock.  "Iliana, what is today's date?"

"Today is the 30th of the month young miss."

'I remember now. Today is the day of selection and I was dressed so elaborate that I was chosen as the most beautiful girl in the empire. I am reborned! Thank god!'

Arabella smiled as she sighed in relief. She got up from the floor as she turned towards the mirror her smile grew. Her lustrous long brown hair was back instead of being patchy and her green eyes were full of life.

"Iliana! Get me the most simple and plain dress you can get me out of my closet. Dull my perfume, bring me my makeup so I can make it simple. I want to be plain."

"But Miss the Count is expecting you to wear the dress he tailored for you for this day."

"Make it dull. Bring a tailor in and remove the decorations make it mature and simple if you must!"

"Young miss..."

Iliana shook her head and ran over to the tailor shop with the dress. As Iliana left, Arabella got in the pre-made bath in the corner of the room.

"The water is perfect and the roses are gorgeous. Father made sure I was the best in the kingdom that day. Everytime I stepped around I smelt like roses but I'm not going to the ceremony. I will hide in the garden."

As Arabella bathe and got out she heard her door open to Iliana coming back with the dress.

"Miss, is this perfect?" The blue starry dress was dulled with golden trims that ran across the frills it was still elegant but wasn't flashy.

"Iliana, it is perfect."

As Arabella fit into her clothes, simple make up and put her hair up in ringlets she decided it was enough to look elegant enough but simple.

"Let us go. Hopefully father doesn't get offended."

As Arabella made her way downstairs the Count Pointe was in the entrance waiting on the young girl.

"Arabella...Sweetheart, what happened to your dress?" Count Pointe eyes were sharp as he eyed the girl.

Arabella answered cautiously as she stared her father in the eye with virtue.

"A Crown Princess can be the most beautiful but a Crown Princess who is simply elegant and well mattered can achieve grace and face."

The Count was silent as he watched for the next move but sighed. He quickly put his hands on Arabella's shoulders.

"Arabella, it was your mother's dream for you to become Empress. Please try to impress the crown prince."

"Yes, father."

As Arabella walked out the door to the carriage that awaits her she smiled as it rolls away towards the palace.

'Oh, I will impress someone else father.'

Arabella placed her hand on the glass as she caught a glimpse of her former self as Empress.

'This former shell, will have the respect she deserves!'

Arabella arrived to the palace grounds. She felt the familar scene of the selection run through her head. The scenes of her walking towards the crown prince.

'That was the old me. I do not have a care in the world for that ruthless man anymore.'

"Come now, Iliana. We are going to see the Emperor."

"What?! My lady we should stay in the courtyard with the other ladies."

"Don't worry, I want to see the Emperor to wish him longivity."

Iliana paused then thought of why her mistress would say that.

"Oh, to up your chances of being Crown Princess?!"

Iliana's eyes glistened as she was fond of her mistress way of thinking.

"S-Sure."

Arabella said with a fake smile as she walked over to the Emperor's personal office.

'If I'm mistaken, the Emperor should be in his office looking at the selection of names and at this time he should be making his way over to the courtyard at this time, if only I cross paths with him.'

Arabella made her way to the path of the office and walked around the corner to spot the Emperor but one wrinkle in her plan the Duke was at his side. She had to think fast but what she heard next made her plan come back into motion.

"The villages of the North are starving, cold and the Duke of the North failed to provide for his people. The Duke of the far East hasn't managed a way for the people to adapt to the mountains and the far east is always full of rainforest creatures...If only there is a way to avoid more of our people losing fate in the royal family..." The Emperor spoke as he confined in the Duke.

"Uncle, may the people of the North learn to hunt to make it necessary to learn to avoid growing crops for it's always cold but the land run free of meat. The issue with the far east is the weather conditions and the rain forest creatures..."

Arabella stepped forward catching the attention of the Duke and Emperor.

"May the people of the Far East build villages with walls and gates to block out the elements and creatures." Arabella stated as she walked forward and curtsy. "I'm sorry, your majesty I couldn't help evasdrop."

The Emperor scanned the young girl and instantly he smiled.

"Young lady, what is your name and family?"

"I am Arabella Violette De Pointe, of the Count De Pointe family."

"Such a lovely name and girl. You are clever for your age."

"I have read of people in ancient times having walls and gates in the early days of civilization from the elements. For creatures they built taller walls and have pushed the creatures back with nightly gaurds. Though our kingdom is open and have no threats. The people of the far east have creatures that are far too dangerous especially at night." Arabella eagerly talked a little about her reads.

"This girl is too eager about politics and problems, your majesty. It's abnormal for a girl besides the Empress and consorts to know of situations such as these." The Duke raised an eyebrow at Arabella.

Arabella smiled as she waited for a response. The emperor stayed silent and laughed.

"Haha! Finn this girl is wonderful. A young girl as clever as her is worthy of being Crown princess!"

Arabella's heart stopped as she heard those words. She can help from behind the scenes but she rather not be a Crown Princess. If she can trade places with Eliza for her to have her place and suffer. Eliza was a schemer and the person who made her fall from grace along with Leonard.

"Oh, no your majesty I can't take this position! I will rather stay humble!"

"Such a waste, the De Pointe household has a brilliant young woman."

The Duke sighed and realized the Arabella was instantly uncomfortable with this sudden decision.

"You know, your majesty you don't have any daughters yet. The De Pointe family is of distant royalty of lineage. Even if Arabella doesn't marry Leonard you can give her the title of Adopted Princess."

"You are right, Finn. Let's give her the title of Princess of Wisedom, Arabella De Pointe. I will not give you the Ruiz name but you will have the title of princess."

"Thank you, your majesty. I will not take the title for granted." Arabella curtseys and held her virtue as she was excited for her new title.

"Arabella grab my arm, I am your gaurdian in the palace and during events. I will talk to the count after the ceremony to ensure you are trained to be wiser. You are like your father in wisedom and your mother held true virtue." Arabella held on to the Emperor's arm as she walked with him to the courtyard as they chatted about solutions.

The courtyard was lively of young ladies as they chatted away the Crown Prince was bored but a young lady with light brown shoulder length hair and blue eyes have caught the Crown Prince attention. The Crown Prince sat up and turned to his personal assistant.

"Hey, who's that girl over there?"

"Lady Eliza, she hailed from the Kilian family."

"Kilian...the family that produce saintess." The crown prince thought about it and looked around. "I'll keep her as a second choice."

As the Crown Prince look bored again he waited for his father's arrival. The crown prince was impatient he have seen all the girls except for the family of birthing talented beautiful woman. The De Pointe family.

"Annoucing the entrance of his Majesty the Emperor! Duke Ruiz! And the newly appointed Princess Arabella!"

"What?!" Everyone was in disbelief. As they watched the beautiful young woman accompany the Emperor.

"Yes, this young lady will be my newly adopted daughter. The young lady will be apart of the sucession line. But don't worry, she will not partake in the Crown Princess competition."

The Emperor calmed the crowd down as he turned to his seat.

"Father! I was waiting for Arabella, she is the most beautiful girl in the kingdom! Are you sure I can't have her as the crown princess?!"

The crown prince plead as he basked in Arabella's beauty. Arabella stood gracefully next to the Emperor's throne as he signaled for her to sit.

"Unfortunately son, she refused and wanted to be a princess of wisedom. A young woman who values wisedom over beauty is much of use."

"But father-!"

"No buts!"

Arabella smiled as she is served a spot of tea as the ceremony commenced. The crown prince glared at her with hatred for her decision.

'This is only the begining.'

Iliana turned over to the crown prince as she noticed his eyes were burning with hatred.

'The crown prince must be displeased with how the young miss became a princess.'

Arabella watched as she saw Leonard struggled with his words to his speech. Leonard was flushed with anger,but his composure changed when his eyes landed on Eliza's smiling face.

"I, Leonard Enrique Ruiz, have already chosen a Crown Princess. It will be Eliza Selene Kilian. Eliza, come up here."

Eliza ran up eagerly as she reached a hand out to grab Leonard's hand. The scene in Arabella's mind replayed from her last life. The same movement and eagerness emitting from Eliza was the same as when she was selected.

Eliza and Arabella's eyes met for a second but they both found fault in each other like they were enemies for a long time. Arabella knew her hatred for Eliza was for a long time. Especially when Eliza claimed she could heal Arabella.

'In my last life you scared my face with the Werewolf Plant leaves! You said it will cure the sores on my face from the diseases that Leonard brought to our bed. But you permanently scarred me, it was revealed that you made me ugly and cured Leonard fully. Such a saintess my ***.'

Eliza quickly turned her head and cleared her throat.

"It is an honor to be your Crown Princess. I Eliza Selene Kilian will love to be the mother of the Empire in the future. For now, I'm just the humble Crown Princess."

Everyone clapped including Arabella, but she wasn't too impress by Eliza's speech. She wasn't focused on that but the scene up ahead in the future. She remembered Leonard had many lovers among noble girls and common whores. The ball will be the test if Eliza can escape the wrath of those lovers.

'Eliza, I'll make you pay for every single thing you did to me in the last life, dress cutting at the ball, employing men to come after my chastity, making me look evil in front of the church, Getting along with other nobles to throw me off the crown princess position. Payback ten folds!'

As the Emperor stood Arabella turned to the Emperor in confusion.

"Next Month, I will have Princess Arabella and Crown Princess Eliza learn the inner of the Palace. Arabella will receive the same training as Eliza. Arabella will be my advisor and book keep of the palace. She will have the same respect as Crown Princess Eliza. As I treat her as a biological daughter."

The Emperor pat Arabella's head and smile as he looked down at her like a doting father.

"All hail, Princess Eliza!! All hail Princess Arabella!!"

The cheers and cheerful laughs fill the air. Eliza was smiling, but she felt uncomfortable as to why the most beautiful young woman in the empire was in the palace with her as well.

As the ceremony ended and the Emperor was done talking to Arabella. Arabella walked towards her carriage but quickly stopped by Eliza.

"Arabella De Pointe! What do you think you are doing stealing my limelight today?"

"I simply heard the Emperor and Duke having some troubles and I helped him with it."

"You must have seduced the Emperor, huh?"

Eliza said haughty as she smirked but quickly someone appear behind her. The red-headed Duke from earlier was behind her.

"Crown Princess Eliza, you must not talk to Princess Arabella that way! You seem to not have the virtue of being a Crown Princess let me let Uncle know of this."

Eliza started shedding tears and she felt nervous. She quickly kneeled in front of Arabella as she begged for

"N-No I... I apologize! It was just a joke right, Arabella?!"

Arabella stood in thought, she could say 'No' or she could let Eliza stay as Crown Princess for her to be tormented.

"Princess Eliza, you should not joke of such a thing but yes I see it was jest of a joke. Duke Ruiz, I have nothing against Eliza's joke for her to lose her Crown Princess title."

Arabella stated as she let her virtue show more as she held Eliza's hands as a form of comfort, false comfort.

"Thank you, Princess Arabella." Eliza sniffles and her face is flushed as she realized anyone could be watching her kneel.

"Now, come on up from the floor." As Arabella pulled her up the skirt of Eliza's dress ripped.

Whispers talked as people saw the rip in her dress causing Eliza to run off into her carriage.

"Eliza! Eliza!" Arabella rushed up to Eliza's carriage in concern, but it drove off.

"The Crown Princess must be embarrassed."

"Well, she embarrassed the Princess of Wisdom first."

'Phase 1 of my plan complete.' Arabella smirked, and the Duke approached her causing her to jump.

"Well, Princess Arabella do you want me to guide you to your home?"

"Yes, your grace I would love that."

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

The Count waited nervously as he heard the news of Arabella being a princess but not if she was Crown Princess. He naturally assumed it had to be the Crown Princess.

"My daughter will guide our family to success! Your mother did not bare a girl for nothing!"

"Father, I just heard that Arabella is a Princess from the word spreading throughout the marketplace and the knights." A boy with Brown hair and green eyes like Arabella but taller, shaper eyes and much older was talking to the count.

"Vincent, your sister did not fail us! Look the royal succession is following her carriage."

As the Duke rode behind the carriage on a horse and Arabella could be seen humbling herself before she goes into the house. The Duke opened the door for Arabella and followed by Iliana. The Duke guided Arabella into the house as the Duke and Vincent bowed to Arabella. Vincent started talking as he glanced up.

"Crown Princess! We your humble serv-"

The Duke briefly cut him off. Arabella looked dignified in front of him to match his temperament.

"Arabella is indeed of princess status, but she is the Princess of Wisdom and the Emperor's personal advisor."

"Arabella is this true?" The Count stated in shock.

"Yes, father it is." Arabella said plainly as she changed her composure.

"The Emperor wanted to speak to you in three day time at the ball and have now had a tailor make Arabella's official dress. Arabella I'd the same status as the Crown Princess and will be offered many opportunities."

"What?! It is an honor!" The Count smiled as he got up and squeezed Arabella hands a little gentle than it got tighter.

'Huh, why is he squeezing my hands like this?!'

"Well Duke, I will love to throw a dinner for my little Princess here. We bid you good night."

"Goodnight, Duke Ruiz, I promise to show up in attendance to the palace library tomorrow morning." Arabella smiled gently towards the Duke who looked down at her face.

"Good night, I bid you farewell."

As soon as the door closed the Count was silent and walked away from Arabella. Vincent looked over to his sister frowned.

"Father, wanted you to be Crown princess, not a regular Princess. What Wisdom do you have to be Princess Wisdom? You are nothing but useless. What a useless title, don't say anything that will embarrass us!"

'What the hell? When I was Crown Princess you both were crawling at my feet but when I lost favor you both kicked me when I was down. I get a Princess status again, but it's not as "Useful" as the Crown princess position.'

As Arabella walked away to her room the whole servants of the mansion were at her beck and call. Despite the Count being unmoved about her new position.

'I will be useful to this household! Wait and see how my knowledge will lead to greater things!'

Arabella closed the door and turned in for the night. She had to sleep to study in the library tomorrow. She was expected to be in the throne room after her early morning studying. Her father will be present as an advisor she will show him what she got.