Hurriedly leaving Gerald's apartment, Diana was now on her way home. No need to take a vehicle, because her house was not too far from Gerald's rented flat. The pain in her chest felt increasingly stifling. Many times the 24-year-old girl hit her chest to reduce the pain but it didn't work.
"Why did it turn out like this?" Diana said while crying. The tears she had been holding back now fell again. Yes, she wasn't that strong. At least, her heart wasn't as strong as her physique. Diana was still a girl like most others. Still felt destroyed when love betrayed and ended up this pathetic.
Feeling unable to continue working in such a ruined situation, Diana took the initiative to ask the head chef for permission to not come to work again today. The head chef had asked the reason, and Diana was forced to lie by saying she was feeling unwell. Luckily, the head chef was a very understanding person. The man who would soon retire gave permission and asked Diana to return to work after her condition was truly fit.
After putting her cellphone back into her sling bag, Diana continued her steps towards her parents' legacy house. The girl really wanted to quickly lie down on her not-too-soft bed that could give peace. She just wanted to sleep all day. Until the pain in her heart gradually improved. Even if not completely healed, as long as it wasn't too destroyed, that was more than enough for her. Besides, no big wound leaves no trace, right?
On the way, Diana met an old grandmother selling old books who looked almost desperate because no one cared about her. Many times the grandmother approached people passing by, but none of them intended to buy or just look around. Besides, in this day and age, what young people are interested in old books like that anymore? Moreover, there are smart devices that can provide limitless information compared to old books that who knows what they contain. Including Diana.
However, Diana's sentimental side felt pinched. It was impossible for her to ignore an old grandmother who was so tired and struggling to make a living. After thinking for a moment, Diana took out a mineral water from her bag and approached the old grandmother.
"Do you want a drink?" Diana offered, handing the mineral water she had just opened to the grandmother.
The grandmother smiled. She ignored the drink offered by Diana. Instead, she took a green-covered book and handed it to Diana.
"W-what is this?" Diana asked awkwardly because she wasn't ready to be stuffed with the not-too-thick book.
"That book has finally found its owner. Buy it, child! You and that book are destined to meet."
"Sorry, Grandma! But I don't really like books," Diana refused gently. She wanted to return the book but the grandmother refused.
"The price is only one dollar, child! Grandma begs you, buy it! This book is very suitable for you. The character's name is the same as your name, Diana."
"You know my name?" Diana asked confused.
"Of course. It's on the keychain on your bag," the grandmother replied while laughing.
Diana scratched the back of her neck which wasn't itchy. It was true what the grandmother said. The name Diana Steel was clearly displayed on the rectangular keychain on her sling bag.
"But, Grandma..."
"Believe me! You and that book are soulmates. Read it to the end, and you will find something you've been looking for."
Diana seemed to be weighing things. One dollar wasn't too much money. Besides, wasn't her intention to help the grandmother? In the end, Diana bought the book.
"Remember, read it to the end so you know how to deal with your problems," the grandmother warned before she and Diana parted ways.
******
That night, Diana couldn't close her eyes. The time showed one o'clock in the morning and her tears still hadn't subsided. This afternoon, Vanya came to take her belongings. Of course, Diana didn't leave anything behind. All the traitor's belongings had been packed in a suitcase and thrown out as soon as the owner came to pick them up.
There was no significant resistance. Vanya just kept silent without intending to object to Diana's harsh attitude. However, what was surprising to Diana was that there wasn't a bit of remorse in Vanya's eyes even though she had destroyed her best friend's beautiful dreams very consciously. She strode away with steady steps. The corner of her lips even lifted cynically when Gerald came to pick her up in Diana's yard.
Constantly thinking about Gerald and Vanya's betrayal, Diana got up and took a glass of water on the bedside table. She finished the drink completely and then lay back down looking at the ceiling. Suddenly, the image of a novel book with a green cover flashed in Diana's mind. The girl got up again. Moved to take the book that was in her sling bag this afternoon and then sat leaning against the head of the bed while reading the contents of the novel.
In general, the novel tells the story of a princess who since birth has been ostracized by her father who is a powerful King. Not only because she was considered the cause of the Queen or her biological mother's death due to giving birth to her, but also because she did not have any magical powers like the King's lineage. The girl was continuously ostracized for 24 years until a King from another country came to invade and seize his kingdom. According to the agreement, the notoriously cruel King would still let the princess's father rule under his power's supervision. And, the ostracized princess was required to marry the invading King. The marriage only lasted one year. Their relationship had no development. In fact, a third person who was the princess's own cousin began to interfere and threaten her existence.
The peak, one night, the princess was slandered for sleeping with another man. The mastermind behind the slander was the princess's own aunt and cousin. The princess who had been afraid of her husband could not give any defense. She could only surrender even when she was beheaded by her own husband. Pain, stinging and destroyed. That emotion seemed to permeate Diana when reading the ending of the story. She felt unacceptable. Even if only limited to a story, Diana did not accept that the princess who had a similar name to her could only surrender all her life.
"You should have fought, Di! Not continuously surrendering like that," Diana murmured while closing the novel book. "If I were you, I wouldn't possibly be silent. I would teach those two snake women a lesson and also make the cruel Emperor kneel under my feet."
********
Feeling the sun's rays starting to disturb a pair of eyes that were still closed, Diana finally had to wake up immediately. She ignored the headache. She knew, all of that was the consequence of the effects of lack of sleep and crying all night. Diana even felt that her eyelids were like glued. It was difficult to just open them.
"What is this?" she muttered with her eyes blinking a few times. Maybe because of the effect of swollen eyes so everything in her room felt foreign. In fact, her room felt much wider. The more she looked with her puffy eyes, the more strange things she caught.
There were several people passing by wearing maid clothes shaped like dresses with white tops and knee-length black bottoms. There was also a black head covering on their hair. And strangely, when they saw Diana open her eyes, they bowed respectfully like in the kingdom movies that Diana often watched.
"It seems, breaking up makes me hallucinate," Diana said while chuckling.
"Has Her Royal Highness Princess Diana woken up?" greeted one of the women who approached her.
"Her Royal Highness Princess Di-ana?" Diana asked with an uncomprehending look. And....
"Where am I? Who are you?" Diana shrieked in fear when she realized that her surroundings had really changed. This wasn't her room. Not at all.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 101 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments