#2

“Miss... miss... miss!!” A faint voice of a woman called her out, breaking through the silence.

Ugh… five more minutes... she groaned, curling deeper into her bed, unwilling to wake.

“Miss... You need to wake up, miss...” The woman’s voice was gentle as she softly patted her shoulder, urging her awake.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the door, jolting her from her drowsiness. "I'm awake! I'm awake..." she muttered, sitting up quickly, wide-eyed.

"Lady Arwenzylle, this is not the proper conduct for a lady," the woman said firmly, her tone unyielding.

"Huh? Wait... where am I?" Arwenzylle's eyes darted around the unfamiliar room in confusion. "Am I dreaming...?" Her gaze landed on the lavish furniture, the sparkling chandelier overhead, and the gold accents decorating the walls. "Wow, this dream feels so real..." She sighed in relief, her heart racing. "I wish I’d never wake up..."

"Lady Arwenzylle... Are you alright? Do you still have a fever?" The woman, now dressed in a maid's uniform, asked with concern, her voice softening.

"Wow... I even have a maid... Hehe, this is breathtaking," Arwenzylle smiled, enchanted by the luxury around her.

"Lady Arwenzylle Thalamus," The woman stood at attention, her posture perfect, eyes sharp with an air of authority. "Your etiquette class starts at 9 a.m. Don’t be late!" She glanced at Arwenzylle’s disheveled hair and the untidy bed, shaking her head slightly. "And please, sleep like a princess, not like a baby." With that, she turned and left, her footsteps fading away.

3 hours later

"Ugh... This is surely not a dream!" she muttered, sitting in her chair and slipping off her shoes.

Wanna know what really happened? To make it short I died. And what's even worse? I reincarnated. Well, I’ve mostly read reincarnation novels and always wished to experience it, but this... this is on another level! Why did I even reincarnate?! I don’t even know the novel! I only read the first part! So why?! Why?! Why did I reincarnate into this novel?! And what's even worse is the plot!

My friend recommended this novel, Wish for Your Death. It has such a captivating title... but with a horrible plot!! She said it’s a love story with a twisted plot, but all she told me was, "The protagonist you think isn’t the real one." Huh? Fudge! Why?! Why did I reincarnate into this?! I didn’t even finish reading the novel... or even start it properly!

I mean, seriously, how does this even happen? One moment I’m living my life, minding my own business, and the next thing I know, I’m stuck in a story I barely even know. What kind of reincarnation is this? Is this some kind of twisted joke from the universe?

I should’ve at least done some research or finished reading the novel my friend recommended! But nooo, I was too busy with other things, thinking "It’s fine, I’ll get to it eventually." And now I’m here, playing the role of someone in a story where I don’t even know the full plot.

All I know is the main character is supposed to venture on a journey to the three of life and some messed-up love story, and somehow, I'm... I might be involved in it. I have no clue what's going on. All I can say is, if this is what reincarnation is like, someone really needs to fix the system.

I mean, is there a way to get out of this? Maybe I can just find a way to avoid being part of this messed-up love story even the world is messed up! Who knows this well end today! Even tomorrow!. But wait... if I change anything, won't I ruin the whole plot? I can't even trust the characters in this story nor knowing them.

Ugh, I'm not ready for this kind of mess. "Well, here we go," I muttered, taking a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever insane turn my life is about to take next.

Just as she braced herself for whatever came next, the door swung open again, this time more gently.

"Lady Arwenzylle," a calm voice called from the doorway, "Your breakfast is ready."

Arwenzylle turned to face the maid, who entered with a small tray of delicate dishes. Her stomach growled in response, reminding her that while the world around her was falling apart, her physical needs were still very much intact.

"Thank you," she said, trying to mask the frustration in her voice. "But really, can you tell me more about this place? Why does everything feel so... surreal?"

The maid set the tray down on the table beside her. "This is Windhurge Empire, Lady Arwenzylle. And this is the mansion of the Thalamus family." She paused, watching the young lady with a concerned expression. "You’ve been unwell, but I believe you’ll be fine now. You are the daughter of the Duke Gilbert Alexander Whales . Your role in the empire is important, and I assure you that you have everything to live for here."

Arwenzylle’s mind raced. The last name Whales it had some ring to it. She couldn’t place it. But why did it sound so familiar? Was this part of the novel too?

The three of life, she remembered with a shudder. That was part of the plot of Wish for Your Death the mysterious, ancient tree that held the power to alter the fate of anyone who reached it. But what did this mean for her now? Was she supposed to go on a quest for it? Was that her purpose in this world?

"Ugh, this is so messed up," she muttered again under her breath, before taking a deep breath and picking up her fork. There was no use complaining. The reality of her situation was far stranger than anything she’d ever imagined. If she had any chance of figuring out what to do next, she would need to learn more about this world, its rules, and possibly its plot.

Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to look through this twisted love story and avoid her inevitable death or so, just like in the novel. But was it possible to change fate? She wasn’t sure, but she had no choice but to try.

"Lady Arwenzylle," the maid’s voice cut through her thoughts, "His Grace, the Duke, wants to see you in his office."

Her heart skipped a beat. The Duke? Was that... her father? And why was he calling her now? Was it time to face the consequences of her reincarnation? She could only hope it wouldn’t be as painful as the last time she faced someone she didn’t fully understand.

"Okay," she said, setting her utensils down and standing up. "Let's get this over with."

Taking one last glance at the luxurious room around her, she steeled herself for the next chapter in this chaotic, unpredictable life that was now her reality. Who knew how this day would end? Or the next?

With her heart pounding in her chest, she walked toward the drawing room, determined to make it through whatever plot twists came her way.

"What's this?" she thought, her body trembling, her heart beating so fast it made it hard to breathe. "This... This isn't my emotions..." Suddenly, the creak of the door opening echoed, and she saw a man sitting on a chair, facing her direction. His eyes pierced through her. As she walked into the office, each step made her knees tremble. "These emotions... they're from the original Arwenzylle. She trembled like a scared puppy abandoned by her mother," she thought.

"I heard you recovered," he said in a cold voice.

"Y-yes, father," she replied, her voice trembling. I can't breathe... Why is Arwenzylle so scared of this man?

"If so, why don't you tell me what happened in the royal palace, in the prince's garden?" he asked. "Your sister, Aelita, said you pushed her, but you drowned in insistence," he continued, his voice stern.

"I... I..." she stammered, struggling to find her words.

"And the prince helped you, instead of your sister, his fiancée. Now tell me, Arwen, did you and the prince... did he give you something?" he asked, his curiosity evident.

"N-no, father," she replied, her voice trembling. How would I know that the original Arwenzylle and the prince met... and even exchanged letters?

The duke showed her the letter. Arwenzylle's face turned pale. "How will you explain these letters?" he asked coldly.

Suddenly, Arwenzylle knelt, crying and begging. "Father, I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" she begged, her body shaking. Huh? What's this? I can't control my body... Is the original Arwenzylle still alive? Why is she begging as if her life depends on it? She trembles so much...

The duke stood up from his chair and walked past her. "Pit," he said, his gaze cold, and he left her kneeling on the floor. A knight dragged her away as she continued shouting until they reached the pit—an underground basement. The thick, dark walls and the smell of blood and chains filled the air. She was chained and placed in a chair, while a black magic circle surrounded her.

"Let's start reading while giving your punishment," the duke said with an eerie smile.

"F-father... I'm begging you..." she pleaded.

"Dear prince, I'll cut my greetings short with a small favor to ask, which I dare say your highness, a favor to help me escape the Whales mansion," the duke said. "This is quite a bold favor, Arwenzylle," he added.

Suddenly, the magic circle glowed, and Arwenzylle felt a strange numbness spread through her entire body, as if a knife were piercing her, cutting her in half and absorbing her light.

"It hurts... It hurts so much... Please... Please stop this... Please!" she begged until she lost consciousness.

The duke left his conscious daughter in the pit.

Meanwhile, Arwenzylle woke up in a strange, empty ocean. She was standing in the water, looking at her reflection. There, she met the original Arwenzylle, who was also gazing into the ocean. She approached her.

"You know," the original Arwenzylle said, "they say eyes are windows to your soul. And that soul determines whether you're good or bad... But how can you see that soul if you don't have one?" She turned to face Arwenzylle.

"Are you... the real...?" Arwenzylle began to ask, but the other Arwenzylle cut her off.

"Arwenzylle," she said, smiling at her. "Your soul is brighter than any other, and she chose the right person for it," she said with a smile.

"What? I don't understand..." Arwenzylle replied, noticing the scars and bruises on her body. "Why? Why didn't you fight back?" she asked.

The original Arwenzylle smiled and held her hands. "Nothing would have changed if I did. Besides, I waited long enough, and this 'enough' is enough for me to let go."

"What do you mean?" Arwenzylle asked.

"You'll know soon enough. Good things will come, so endure, have faith, trust, fight, and love, my dear Arwenzylle," she said. Suddenly, her body slowly started vanishing.

"Wait... you can't go yet! I have so much to ask!" Arwenzylle cried out.

"Try to remember, Arwenzylle nyur Whales," she said.

Arwenzylle gasped as she woke up in her bed and realized she was back in her room. "A dream?" she whispered. But as she attempted to stand, her body ached. "Ughh!" she groaned in pain. "Yeah. Definitely not a dream," she muttered.

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