Chapter 1

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!'

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