Let me explain my current situation.
I, Alfred Clark, transmigrated to a novel that I used to read a lot when I was in junior high school, The Lonely Witch and Her Five Princes.
Not becoming the protagonist, as I always expected every time I read this story, but was born as Eden Thames, the villain character in this story. A tyrant and cruel king, who can kill anyone without thinking twice.
In this story, Eden will die at the hands of James Patrick and his younger sister.
Eden Thames will die at the age of twenty-three due to a coup launched by James Patrick, a king from the Eastern kingdom.
Eden's death in this story can be said to be a symbol of the freedom of James and the main character, who consider Eden's existence as their terror or nightmare.
Back when I read this story, I always sympathized with Eden's character. For him, everything Eden experienced was completely unfair, and I, until now, still can't accept Eden Thames' sad ending.
I do sympathize with Eden, yes that is an undeniable fact. But why did I reincarnate as the unluckiest person in this story?!
I don't even know if I really died in my previous life or not. Now, I have to fight to stay alive?
It's really hard for me to believe ...
Urgh ...
The Lonely Witch and Her Five Princes, a novel that I used to read a lot, can be said to be very popular. The majority of its readers are women.
The story is about an ordinary woman who one day gets the chance to attend a ball at the palace.
Most romance novels aimed at women take inspiration from the Cinderella story trope. Selling dreams and hopes. Just like this story.
Maybe what made it different is that the main character in this story attracted the attention of five princes from various kingdoms, instead of just a prince searching for the owner of the glass slipper that was left behind.
The main character in this story attracted the attention of the princes with her beauty, high social spirit and hard work.
Apart from that, the author of this story wrapped the story very nicely. I really enjoy reading it, because the storyline is interesting and sends hope to all its readers that anyone can achieve their dreams with just strong determination.
I always hoped, always believed, that one day, I could live the same life as the main character in this story.
But on the other hand, I also found myself hating this novel so much. Simply because this novel was the beginning of my bullying.
It was hard for a teenage boy like me to like a novel that was aimed at a majority of female readers.
Just imagine what would happen if a boy was caught reading a story of this genre.
For example, what happened to me.
My beautiful high school days ended quickly, turning into a nightmare that was hard for me to forget.
I even always wished that I didn't have to go to school. If it weren't for the fact that my high school was the only high school in town, I might have decided to transfer schools right then and there.
Well, I'd better forget those sad details. Now, I have to focus on my current fate.
If I still remember all these characters well, and I've been reincarnated as Eden Thames, James Patrick should be the one who killed Eden Thames.
It meant the man in front of me was the one who killed me...
My body immediately trembled violently before I even realized it. I moved away from the man and spilled all the food on the bed.
I knew that I shouldn't waste food like that, but the situation I was in was really scary.
I still don't even understand why I ended up in my favorite novel as Eden Thames. I still don't even know if I'm dead or alive in the real world.
"Eden? What's wrong?"
"Get away from me!" I shouted in panic, pulling the blanket and covering myself from the person who was sure to kill me. "Get out! Get out of here right now!"
"Eden, calm down..." James looked very shocked by my reaction. His expression looked pained. "Do you remember...?"
"Don't touch me! Just leave me alone!"
I don't know what you're talking about. But it's clear that my life is in danger. You are the one who killed Eden Thames!
My life was in danger if I'm near you! I did not want to die a second time!
I wish I could tell him that, but I found myself could not say it.
Not after I'm absolutely sure when I entered this story and how old Eden was.
So I can't let my guard down around James Patrick.
James finally got up from his bed, forcing himself to keep smiling. "I'll call the doctor to check on you. Can you wait a minute?"
I didn't care about James. My whole body was shaking violently, and I was so scared. Why did I end up here? Did that mean I was dead?
But that was impossible! If I was dead, I would definitely remember the reason behind my death.
Why was my memory so hazy?
Why couldn't I remember anything before I ended up here?
It was all so confusing...
"Your Highness Eden Thames. I am your royal physician, Richardson Sheffield."
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't notice James re-entering the room with the royal physician.
I didn't really remember Richardson Sheffield's character in this story, considering that the character of royal physician Thames rarely appeared in this story.
It was only natural. In this story, Eden had never been sick except for the time before his death.
"Let me check on you."
I nodded, but gave James a sharp glare.
The man understood my fear, choosing to stand a little away from me.
The look in his eyes seemed worried about me, but I didn't care.
I had to find a way to get away from James. It was the most important thing. I think this should be my main quest.
I would do anything as long as I could avoid James. Or meet a scary death like the ending of Eden Thames in this story.
"No problem," I threw a sharp glare at James, who was still in the room. "Only if he leaves here."
James bit his lower lip, trying to stay calm hearing my request. Without saying anything, James left the room.
I closed my eyes. Fatigue came back to me after I felt calm. I let Richardson Sheffield check my condition.
"You fell off a cliff when you were going to visit His Majesty James. Do you remember it?"
Fell off a cliff? Not killed during the coup?
James also said the same thing as Richard. What really happened?
I frowned in confusion hearing the question. I stared at the royal doctor closely, and I noticed their nervousness.
"I really can't remember what happened to me until I got here," I finally said as I understood Richardson's lie while still giving him a sharp look. "But I'm sure you're not telling me the truth."
Richardson panicked even more. Their faces paled and their lips trembled, telling me that my guess was hit the nail on the head.
What I didn't understand was why did Richardson lie to me?
"Forgive me, Your Majesty..."
I opened my eyes again to look at Richardson. That was when Richardson fell to his knees in front of me. Their panicked expressions turned into sadness, very real regret. Their eyes were glassy, not daring to look at me.
I took a deep breath. "Be honest. What happened?"
But Richardson didn't answer my question right away. Their eyes looked out of the room, and I immediately understood the meaning of their movements.
"Come closer," I lowered my voice, signaling Richardson to come closer to me. "He won't be able to hear you if we speak in whispers."
There was hesitation on Richardson's face, so I continued. "If he threatens your safety, I will take action."
Although I was not sure I could do it, though...
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Richardson seemed relieved to hear my answer.
And Richardson finally approached me and began telling me everything. The real one.
James Patrick suddenly brought his troops to attack the palace, thinking that his fiancée was being held captive and tortured by me.
Richardson did not know the exact details of the reason for the attack, because they heard the news from one of the royal informants on their way home from the neighboring city.
When they arrived, I was already dead at James' hands.
Then I remembered one terrible detail.
In this story as well, Eden Thames was unaware that his half-sister had secretly poisoned him as an attempt to rebel.
Until before the coup took place, Eden Thames was sick.
It is possible that Richardson went to the neighboring city to look for ingredients for an antidote to the poison.
The only thing that confused me was Richardson's dedication.
Since the beginning of reading this novel, I was always confused by Richardson's character, who always defended Eden, even when Eden did something bad.
What made them loyal to Eden I did not know yet. But I thought I can trust Richardson.
"I ..."
Nausea attacked me, making me wake up from my bed.
There was an urge from my stomach to vomit back the food that I ate earlier.
I closed my mouth, trying hard to prevent the delicious food from coming out of my mouth.
"Your Highness?"
I couldn't speak. The nausea was so strong. I covered my mouth, trying to block out the nausea.
Richardson quickly got up from his place, then returned to me with a gold-plated basin. I looked at Richardson in surprise.
"Don't hold it in. Throw it all up."
And in that instant, I immediately threw up everything I had just eaten. I didn't even have time to comment on the gold that coated the basin that now contained my vomit.
"Sorry..." I said softly, feeling guilty.
"No need to apologize." Richardson seemed relaxed, moving the basin away from me, then helping me to lie back down carefully. "Did you eat the food that His Highness James brought?"
I nodded slowly, while Richardson examined the food that James had brought. Their faces turned dark, filled with anger before turning back to me.
"I know that I've been relying on you too much, and you've guaranteed my safety, but I don't think you need to do that anymore. I'll take care of myself."
"Huh?"
"From now on, I'll be the one to take care of you. I'll make sure that this time, no one can hurt you."
Maybe it was because I was so exhausted after throwing up so much food and also just waking up in this body, that fatigue began to overwhelm me.
It seemed to me that Richardson understood, because they moved their hands away from me as they helped me put on the blanket.
"Please, Your Highness, get some rest."
Those words sounded like a mantra to me, because I fell into a deep sleep.
***