Just like every other story, this one's beginning was normal as well.
Of course, the standards of normalcy differ from every individual, but I was a pretty ordinary child. Yet, I couldn't deny the fact that compared to other children belonging to my status, I was unbelievably lucky. And it was thanks to my mother.
My mother gave birth to me and raised me all on her own. After I was born, she travelled all the way to the capital with only a letter of recommendation from a southern count, who she used to work for before, and settled there. Soon, she began to work for the Serpente, who'd just welcomed a baby daughter of their own.
The duke and the duchess were excellent people. I knew nothing about how the other nobles behaved, but the duke and his family were extremely kind to my mother and me. They treated us like family! It was only because of them that I, a mere servant's daughter, could play around with their children instead of working like I should have. In fact, the duke would even go as far as to admonish his second son for teasing me to the point of making me cry.
My childhood was full of happy memories, filling me with warmth whenever I thought about them. Back when my mother, the duke and the duchess were alive, every day we spent were jovial.
But everything fell apart the day my mother passed away. A plague rampaged through the empire, leaving behind seven thousand corpses in its wake, regardless of their status. And within a day of my mother's death, Empress Alicia died as well.
Because of the duke and duchess' kindness, my sick mother could rest in peace after getting a proper burial instead of being burnt to ashes. The next few days were absolute hell. I was only fourteen and was facing the crisis of my life. I was young and didn't have anywhere to go. Where would I go now? Fortunately, the Serpente allowed me to stay at their manor.
During that traumatic period, memories flooded my mind. It was almost like a film reel, every detail vivid in my mind. Suddenly, it was all clear to me—the truth about the life I was living right now. I…could recall the memories of my past life.
At first, I thought it to be a fantasy that my mind made up to ease me of my grief… But those memories told me I was living in a fictional world from a novel. And that I was an orphan in my previous life, who met her horrible end—dying alone in a broken elevator, freezing until her last breath.
Who would want to believe such a story?
Furthermore, to think that the people I'd been with since my birth would suffer from an awful tragedy… There was no way I would've believed in such a wild story.
But then, just like my memories had predicted, the duke and duchess passed a week later. As soon as I realized the terrible implications of this incident, anxiety began to gnaw at my soul.
If this world truly was the one that I'd read about in a novel in my past life, then that would mean our future was filled with tragedy. Letis, Benya, Estelle and I—all of us would meet an awful end.
According to the novel's plot, which was told from the protagonist's perspective, the Serpente siblings would spend the two years after their parents' funeral in another country. The decision was made by their relatives because they deemed Letis to be too young to inherit the dukedom at that time. Considering the empire's situation, they thought it best to take care of the Serpente household in Letis stead.
I had also followed them and faithfully took care of Estelle there, but I remember that nothing was written of how the siblings spent this period.
In the book, I'd followed them for Estelle, but I had no memories of reading about the time siblings spent there. All I knew was that due to her weak constitution and sensitivity, Estelle passed away there, after which the two brothers and I returned to the country and reduced the empire to ruins.
Yes, I was the final villain of the book—the Queen of Serpentes; the demoness in human flesh! The plot of the book ended with justice. I was fated to die an extremely painful death.
Ah, and here I thought my life was simple! How did I gain such an awful second life? Did I not do enough virtuous deeds in my past life? Maybe not… After all, I didn't even have time to be virtuous. To think that I was born again only to become a villainess…
Well, I guess it should be fine if I don't do anything villainous in the future. Then I won't have to worry about any consequences, right?
But, the problem was that my knowledge about the plot was incomplete. The story was told through the protagonist's perspective, so I wasn't aware of anything else other than what she knew.
Besides, whatever was told to the public might not be the truth either. After all, as far as I remembered, there were no descriptions about Letis, Benya, Estelle and I being locked up in some secret room in the manor. All the book said was that we went to another country.
No matter how old I'll grow, I'll never forget that night.
As soon as their parents' funeral ended, Estelle and I headed to the garden to watch the sky in silence as Letis and Benya dealt with their relatives. The two of us embraced each other tightly as choked up emotions welled inside us, but neither of us cried nor spoke. Tiny hearts beating madly against each other.
The countless stars scattered across the sky seemed like they were trying to talk to us. Somehow, the common sight of the stars twinkling felt like the heavens themselves were crying—desperately trying to warn us of our future.