All I wanted to do was live a quiet life but look at me now, I was falsely accused of crimes I never did.

"The 1st princess, Amora Erwin of the Erwin Duchy, age 25, has committed big crimes deserving punishment by the imperial laws. She has harassed and attempted to assassinate Lady Lilian from the Baroness family out of pure jealousy, thus hereby annulling the engagement with the crown prince,"

I never wanted this, I didn't even like the crown prince to begin with, let alone get jealous and commit those horrendous crimes against Lady Lilian. I never even cared if that crown prince liked anyone, I just wanted to live my life and move on. Furthermore, I obeyed orders, no matter how bizarre they were, I did it with no sign of hesitation, my only goal was to keep living quietly.

"My lady! Please don't kill her, she hasn't done anything wrong!!!" screamed Nina at the top of her lungs.

"Take care of yourself, Nina. Don't worry and look after your child and live happily," I said with a low, gruff voice. I couldn't talk well since my voice had been broken after all that time in prison, with no water or food.

It was all Lilian's fault, she was the one who framed me. It was more the reverse, it was Lady Lilian who harassed me, she went to the extremes of throwing stones in my bedroom every night and sending tormenting notes addressing me, to back away from 'her crown prince'.

I took up my courage and shouted with my last bit of energy, "I have done nothing wrong, I was framed by Lady Lilian. Even if you don't believe me, sooner or later the truth will be revealed, and then you shall see the actual enemy, the wolf in sheep's clothes,"

Finally, I can rest now. Free from the tyranny of the crown prince and his half-witted rule. The idiotic crown price will surely put an end to this fine empire, and let it be a puppet to the other countries to rule. This place will be doomsday and all the people here will be objects, to use and throw. How naive and foolish can a person be, to the point I don't know if I should rejoice or cry for the people following him.

I looked at the crown prince and Lady Lilian, the face that showed victory. It wasn't even a war, to begin with, yet they acted as if they accomplished something great and ground-shaking.

"I am very scared, Paul! That dreadful being is looking at me, Paul! Please execute her fast," said Lilian as she hid behind the crown prince and slightly smirked at me.

"Don't worry Lili, I am there dear! Guards execute her now!"

Ugh! This is the sight I will be seeing before I die. How unlucky of me, it's pathetic and disgusting.

I looked around the heavy crowd. Ah! My father hasn't come, neither has my brother. As expected, they never really loved me, not even my brother, whom I thought was the only hope. Guess it was all an act because we had to keep our social status as siblings, right? But, I'm grateful for my family, at least they sheltered me even though I was unwanted, and for that, I will always be grateful.

If I ever had a second life, I'd make sure I would never live a life like this, I'll make sure to live a life for myself and not for others.

"Ahhhh! Who are you?" Screamed Lilian. "Stand behind me, Lili," said the crown prince, raising his sword.

"What a sight?! Won't this be fun, huh?"

"Who are you? I command you to bow down against me, for I am the crown prince of this country!"

"You? Crown prince? Don't make me laugh!"

"State who you are!" shouted the prince.

"I am here to take back what is rightfully mine. The place as the king!"

"What? But father isn't dead?"

"He sure is to me,"

Who is this strange man? He had very peculiar features that stood out like a sore thumb, white hair, and red eyes. No one other than the royal bloodline had it, and it was rare for even the royals to get it, that's why the idiotic prince had brown hair and reddish-brown eyes, I hated it very much, that mud color disgusted me very much. Anyone could know that, the stranger was the actual crown prince and has the higher blood than that idiot.

It was now my last breath, I felt suffocated, and I could feel I was loosing energy.  Just then with cross fire, the rope of the guillotine cut and with all the chaos, I died without anyone knowing, other than my trusty handmaid, Nina. Who cried for me in all my misery. If I had a next life, I would make Nina happy, for sure.

"Child, you don't need to regret anymore, for I will grant you, your wish. I shall give you a second life. So, go and live free, with the people you love,"

I opened my eyes to see myself in the room, it wasn't a big one, it was just a small room in the attic. Even though it was small, I loved it. It was quiet and peaceful, and the view from here was just splendid. I got up and walked up to the mirror.

“I have truly come back, that means the voice I heard was..... it was the great one above! I think the mighty one felt pity on me. But if they did, why did he bring me back here?”

*Knocking on the door*

“My Lady, your breakfast is here,”

“Yes, come in!”

The maid came in holding a plate of soup.

“May I ask, what is today's date?”

“It's June 24, 1337, my Lady,”

So, I have come 8 years back in time and my bruises are not there anymore. I look fit and healthy, though I am a little too skinny for my age.

“My Lady, here is your breakfast,”

The maid throws my food on the table and snickers to themselves. As expected, they expect me to eat rotting food.

“Take it away, I'm not hungry, instead dress me up,”

I got dressed and went to the garden, where I saw Nina. She was a new joiner, and she was in my end of the duchy.

I went to Nina and said, “How have you been doing?” she looked at me, shocked and confused because we never knew each other since she was new around here, but she kept her composure and gave out the friendly Nina smile and answered me.

This itself was enough for my day to be bright. I wanted to hug Nina so bad and tell her everything that happened to be, but most of all, I wanted to thank her for always being there for me. That's why, I want Nina to wait for me, and once I can stand on my own, I'll keep her under my wing so that nothing can remove that smile from her. I never want to see her cry again.

“Hello my Lady, I have been doing well thank you,” said Nina bowing down.

“You don't need to bow, Nina,”

She looked a little shocked, “Um, I never told you my name, my Lady, I hope I'm not rude but, how did you know it?”

“You might not know me, but I know you,” I said, smiling brightly.

Nina tilted her head in surprise and I just stood there giggling.

“Well, Nina, how about working under me and being my handmaid?” I said, extending my hand.

The maids behind me gasped when I said that because I already had a handmaid at that time.

“B-b-but my Lady, you already have a handmaid, I am your handmaid my Lady. How can you trust such an untrained and lowly creature like her?” said Jinni, my handmaid.

I glared at her to keep her mouth shut, but she kept blabbering her nonsense at Nina.

“Enough! If she is lowly, as you say, then you must be lower than she. If you can talk like this, why don't you serve me that same? But no, you keep barking and barking but when it comes to biting you got nothing, toothless! So before you go all out and start ordering me, and putting the Erwin Duchy down the ground and dragging it, why don't you shut that mouth of yours and stay silent,” I said and looked at Nina.

I could tell Nina was hurt by those words, but guess she was now frightened by me, did I mess up?

I looked at Nina and asked, “Are you okay? Furthermore, I'm sorry on their behalf,”

“My lady! Please don't, it's completely fine, thank you,” said Nina with her sweet, and pure voice.

I pulled Nina towards me and whispered, “Umm. Nina, I will recommend you as my handmaid to the Duke, I want you to become my handmaid, so cheer up!”

Nina looked at me and thanked me, and then we parted ways.

“Lead me to the duke's place” I ordered. The maid looked hesitant and tried to ask me questions about why I needed to go there.

“Enough! You don't need to escort me I have legs to walk, and I am fit to do any activity, so you don't have to come” I spoke. Anyway, they will get caught in a few days for theft and the great above gave me a second life to live freely, so I will do it the way I like.

“Good morning, Father and Brother”

“And what are you doing here early in the morning? Didn't you want to have your food in your room rather than coming here?” said Father, turning his newspaper.

I was shocked and looked at my handmaid, knowing what they did.

They knew me as a timid girl who used to listen carefully to them, and they would take control of my life and backstab me, but this time I decided to change everything and live my life protecting the ones I love.

“I never gave any command like that, father. I thought it was you who commanded I eat my meal alone?”

Father folded his newspaper, removed his glass, and folded his legs “But your maid told me that it was you who didn't want to come all the way here to eat,” he said, looking at me dead in the eye.

I turned to her and smirked, to see her face filled with fear.

Now is the time to attack through emotions.

“B-b-but Father, I was so lonely living in my place, that I always wanted to see you, but my maid told me that you were busy and that I should not get in the way!”

I hate to admit, but I learned a thing or two from that Lilian brat, how to act like the perfect innocent to capture people's hearts.

“Bring out the handmaid of the Lady,” said, brother.

My brother, Aster Erwin, was the firstborn and the hire to the Erwin duchy. He had jet-black hair and eyes which were like the night and besides his good looks he was called the young genius since he had the ability of a true leader at the age of 14, he stopped a disaster that could have led to war between our neighboring country. If he didn't stop it, it would have caused lots of damage to the country and mainly the people.

As for me, I too had inherited my father's genes but had my late mother's blue eyes. Since my mother died because she was weak after giving birth to me, my father was so sad and depressed that he only gave me a name, and he came to visit me just to see if I was alive.

I have been titled the 'trash princesses', for I was timid and never attended any social events. Many people mocked me, saying I was 'born in the wrong family' and 'she should have been born in the trash'. Since I never came out, many people made up false rumors about how I looked and why I didn't come out because I looked hideous.

“My lord, have you called me?” said the handmaid.

“What have you said to the princess?” my brother asked

“I haven't told the princess anything my lord,” she said hesitantly, she looked at me in disgust and ticked her tongue, and down came her crocodile tears.

“My lord, I have done nothing wrong, it was the princess who told me she didn't want to eat food with you all”

What a nuisance. She talks too much, and now she dug her own grave.

“Huh! When the hell did the princess tells you? Is it true what the maid said, Amora?” said brother.

I acted shocked and shook my head, “The maid told me it was you all who didn't want to eat with me.”

Father and Brother both looked annoyed, I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped my tears and I looked at her.

“She is lying to you, Your Majesty! I would never do it, I just want to protect the Duchy from a monster like her”.

“Looks like the actual monster over here is you and not my daughter, you made her live alone, and now you lie to your master, you have disgraced the Erwin Duchy and henceforth you shall be executed!”

The target was hit right on its head, and I pulled the chair to take a better look at the situation, I was tired of being mistreated and defenseless. So, in this life, the trash princess shall show her true colors and live a long, and full life.

“Guards take her away! She is untrustworthy to be in the palace.” Shouted my brother.

Now is my time to earn sympathy and gain a new pawn.

“F-father, please don't kill her! Though she might have given me rotten food or mistreated me, she still took care of me so don't do that, instead, why don't we make her work in that land we got that day!”

Father smirked in amusement, knowing well that no one could live on a barren land and if she did, she had to work miserably hard to even get a day's food.

Father and Brother both smirked and nodded to each other.

“Since my daughter has that much sympathy as to let you go even after all the crime you did, I won't kill you, instead I leave you to work as a laborer in the mine in Darwin. You will have to work your blood and bone out in that barren land,”

The maid did not have any idea of where she would be going and left thinking she survived death.

After she was taken out, the room was filled with silence and awkwardness.

“I am so sorry Amora! I didn't know something like this would have happened. If only I knew sooner that you were mistreated” said brother holding his chest.

I smiled and replied, “It's okay. And is it okay if I had my meals in the maid building with father and brother?”

Father smiled and said, “You are always welcome here!”

In the past, I never had a proper meal with my brother and my father and if I did the air would always be so cold.

“I finished my meal, so you both should finish yours,” said Father as he wiped his mouth and got up from his chair.

“It has been a longtime right sister, and my coming-of-age ceremony is coming after a few months, so I hope you attend it and do not get ill like the other times, dear sister,” said my brother as he held my hand with care and smiled warmly.

I never attended any social events because I was weak and fell ill very often. Even my swordsmen skills weren't that powerful, and if I ever used them, I would drop down unconscious and be sick for over a month or so. This is why my brother strongly opposed me from wielding a sword because I was too weak. Everyone in the Erwin Duchy is supposed to wield a sword despite their gender because we were always under threat by king's opposition.

Now that I think about it, it was around this time when I was attacked by an assassin but luckily Brother came right on time to save me. The killer was never to be found, so nobody knew who sent him. This remained a case because Aster didn't want to give up. There were a few clues but nothing seemed to match.

I went back to my mansion and thought about the events that would happen.

"My lady, may I come in." it was Nina. Once my previous handmaid Jenni was removed, I asked my father to keep Nina as my handmaid.

"My lady, we have to buy a dress for your brother's upcoming coming-of-age ball." She spoke.

"Do we need to buy a dress? Why can't we wear one of my previous dresses?" I said rolling myself in the banket.

Nina opened my closet to see the bare minimum dress or you could say no dress for a royal princess.

"My lady, this is a must. You must look the best for your brother's coming of age. I want to show you off to the whole world and crush that stupid rumor of yours saying that you look hideous!" said Nina with a spark in her eyes.

Nina would never change, that time and now, she never could lie nicely, though she did try when I wanted to sneak in the kitchen to get some snacks, and she always told me what was on her mind, without any filter, this is what made me love her a lot!

I gave in and got dressed to go to the dressing shop which was owned by Madam Ruth Rugger. She was a fashion sensation at this period, and everything the high nobles wore was made in her shop.

We started, and when we were near a village, at every corner there was a slum, the people begging for their daily grains, and the next year there would be a natural calamity, but fortunately for them Madam Ruth would help them. If I had been close to Madam Rugger at that time, I would also have been close to the people who have the voice to protest, so overall, I would have been able to escape my death and I would also have been able to show that Lilian was the actual villainess.

"My lady, we have arrived!" I got out of the carriage and entered the shop the place was decorated so aesthetically.

"Welcome. What can I do for you today?"

"I would like a ball gown for an upcoming ball and I need it as soon as possible"

"Yes, my lady but what is the occasion for?" she asked

"Ah! Well, it is for my brother's upcoming ball, the Young Duke Aster."

They all looked surprised because I never showed my face at any event. They tried to keep it professional and smiled at me.

"Yes Princess, we shall show you the new dresses"

In my last life, I wore a shabby old dress to my brother's debut and became a laughing stoke to everyone out there, telling me, I was truly the trash princess of the decade. I felt embarrassed, then right in time my brother jumped in and asked me for his first dance. I felt so bad about myself that I couldn't even make my older brother happy on his special day, from that day on I decided not to enter the social circle, that was before I got engaged with that crappy crown prince.

We went to the waiting room to check out the designs while she brought out the samples of her new dresses.

"How about this my lady, it is one of the top models," she said, but I didn't want to wear something that everyone would already be wearing to the ball.

"Bring me the first dress you ever made," I said.

She seemed a little confused, but I was willing to wear that to the ball. She brought out her first dress and showed me. It wasn't anything grand but it was something that caught my eye after I saw viscount Marsha Hunt wear it to her coming-of-age ball. It might be a stolen idea but it is not like I am going to harm anyone by it. This time I decided to live for myself and make myself more extravagant, I shall live up to the villainess Amora.

I agreed to buy the dress and they started to take my measurements, after taking the measurements, we paid for it, and went back into the carriage.

"But, why did you choose this miss, they wear prettier dresses but out of all that you chose the old one?" asked Nina.

"Well, that dress caught my attention," I replied.

After we finished checking the dress we went out and searched for accessories for the dress around the town and we stopped in a bakery for a cup of tea and some snacks. We came across a guy who looked so familiar yet I couldn't recognize him clearly and when I saw him. "Is he the crown prince?" I muttered, and suddenly our eyes met.

I was caught staring at him! He had messy blond hair and his eyes turned golden because of the sun's reflection, he looked like a theatrical actor with his chiseled face and his long fingers holding the teacup as he brought it up to his cherry lips.

"Do you know him, Lady Amora?" asked Nina. For some reason, I blushed and turned to my teacup.

"Ummm... No, I have no clue who he is, but...... Is he looking at me?" I spoke. Nina giggled at me, I slowly turned to him and saw him giggling at me too.

"Okay Nina, it is time to go!" I pulled Nina, paid, and headed out.

We went back to the carriage and acted as if nothing happened but Nina didn't seem to forget my flustered face.

"Oh! My lady is this some kind-"

"Oh, shut up Nina, stop teasing me! I don't even know him!" I said grumpily and looked out the window.