Ch 2

This life was not any different from before, my parents in this life also had great hopes from me, craving for perfection in their one and only daughter, we were well off but still I wasn't given the luxury to have the things I really wanted, but all I had was what others thought I needed. My father, the Viscount wanted me to catch the emperor's attention, he wanted me to get into the imperial palace and make him secure and well known. But fate didn't give him a chance, he died before he could do anything like that.My mother afterwards made some connections in the Lancaster dukedom and got me a job as a maid there. All my income was going to her, the only things I was surviving on was the food I got here, the uniform of maids, and the old clothes I brought from home. My mother has never tried to meet me since I got here, she only sends letters, telling me to do the best job, not to make mistakes and try to get promoted. Nothing else.....

Now I remember that I'm in a novel I once read, named as Bittersweet lies, in that novel I was a mere side character with only one role, a maid who was killed by the emperor (the male lead) after she tried to poison the female lead (Baroness Lila), from the order of the Duchess (antagonist), because the Duke (second male lead) was giving way too much attention to the Baroness, which the Duchess despised.

A severe headache was felt when I opened my eyes, when I looked around me,, I saw a pitched dark room where only the moonlight was coming in through a hole, it was the only source of light, but it was enough to make me see my surroundings. The blood smell was reeking there, it was the smell of my blood, my body was numb, I was in pain in some parts of my body, and the ones which were severely injured were all numb. I was all alone in that room, I guess everyone left when I lost my consciousness.

I'm surprised that I'm still breathing even though I was brutally tortured. I guess because my part in the novel is not done, I'll be living till my role is completed. Furthermore, I'm not scared to die again. Not only that, but I don't even care about my life anymore. But what if this life is the only chance for me to achieve the dream I always desired to live ? A peaceful life ? *Sigh* I really want to feel what it feels like..

Imagining it all I just rested my head on the wall, and closed my eyes. There was no noise around me, it was all quiet and maybe a small presence of peace was there, a kind of peace someone can only get by being alone. And that's how the night was over, and the chaotic morning was awaiting its turn to destroy the silence and peace.

*In the morning*

A cold splash of water hit my face, my eyes opened in shock, it was the Duchess standing in front of me, her personal maid, was giving me a wicked smile as if she was laughing at my condition. If it was tomorrow, her smile would've affected me a lot, but not now, I feel nothing right now.

I bowed to the Duchess in courtesy because no matter what, right now I'm a maid in her mansion, and the maid should always be courteous. I know she must be here to give me the final task I have in this novel because she wants me to go through more of a hell. But I don't care because in this life I'll never have anyone control my life, in this life I'll achieve all the things I want, it doesn't matter if it's only a dream in a novel, I'll make sure this dream ends the way I want.

"Good morning, your grace." I said with my swollen cheeks, aching with each movement of my mouth. A smirk appeared on her mouth, as she posed with her folded fan rested on her cheek, a slightly tilted face, her hand holding her folded fan whose elbow was resting on the palm of her other hand. Her eyes which were blue iris and black pupils, were looking straight at me, observing me carefully. Her hair was brown, she was wearing a red gown, her fair beauty was looking more pretty because of that bright red color wonder why she's so insecure when she's a beauty herself.

" I guess you still remember the courtesy of maids even in this state of yours."She mocked me, but my eyes were still down in respect, and my mouth was no longer able to say a word. She bent her face and came closer to my face, she lifted my chin gently with the edge of her folded fan, our eyes were staring at each other's . I looked down in courtesy as she was observing my bruises. "It seems you're no longer the prettiest one as you were before." She backs away after removing her folded fan, then opens it to cover half of her face then says," Dying like this would be too boring for you, do you want to do a worthy deed before you die?" She asked me while raising her one eyebrow.

" If it's what grace wants, it'll be my honor" I said knowing what she's planning. "Good then, I'll give you one month or till the time you heal, then I'll tell you what you need to do. Till then, you'll just help the senior maids, not going to the kitchen. Also, make sure to never be around the Duke." She warned me with a stern tone.

" Thank you for your kindness your highness, I'll obey all the rules you stated." "Good, that's what you should do if you want a peaceful death." She said and folded her fan, turning back to go out of the secret room, her maid followed her .

I was relieved as she was finally gone, and sat in a comfortable way. I'm glad I at least have a month to plan and gather resources. Because after a month and before the time she wants me to poison the female lead, I'll make sure to run away from here and never ever return.But for that I'll have to be disciplined and careful to be alive for a month at least, only then could I safely get out of here.

Yeah! In this life I'll never surrender to fate, I'll fight for my way, even if the world declines....

To be continued ......

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