. "I'm so

n, transmigration, prophetic dreams, a very specific

performance, no sweetness, just bone-deep wea

ened my mouth. Clos

rn? You died and then-" I made a rewinding gestu

I woke up back on the day Father discovered me as h

h

n

very beginnin

much worse t

ed over me like a b

like me, reading along and trying to survive. She was the rea

that

nd words that wouldn't sound completely i

y, walking toward the do

with your interrogati

on the wooden floor. "Hold on. Shouldn't we team up? We both kn

ev

ame out li

nderstand. We're both in the

ething cold settle in my stomach. It was finality. "I don't care if you were reborn,

I'm

st because you have ano

her sides, even as h

original Beatrice. I'm from a completely d

stopped listening the moment s

y from Earth where you're all fictional

me. "But it doesn't change anything. You were born wicked,

hol

s spring gala?" Her voice cracked slightly.

dn't. That was the old B

up. That no matter how many jewels Father hung on m

l Beatrice was

t wa

ow. "You told everyone I was being dramatic. That I was m

ee the gold flecks in her eyes. The tiny scar on her chin. Th

s I've alway

it, think about the big picture! We could work toge

en for fi

rom you to last two

door. For someone who looked like she'd blow away in a stiff br

t stockings on polished wood gave me exactly zero traction. "I'm

nd. "I listened for months. Every cruel word. Every cutting remark. Ev

at wasn

ccidentally' knocked my books into the fountain. Every time you invited gu

s Ch

t looks b

y tim

nto the corridor wi

ac

e, the sound echoing through th

d there in my stockings,

rged up, hot

that's how we'r

f the entire household heard. "Have it your way

rom the o

because apparently I could

ce came muffled through the wood, but I could hea

yway? He's about as interes

in

r the finality in her voice. The door

moment, breathing hard, my

ent spectacu

one look at my face, and immediately flattened herself against the wall like I was about to br

y la

owledgment, because apparentl

ramatic is on-br

der my breath, then immediately regrette

elves into doorways, ducking into side rooms, one man actually diving behind

re regularly? Why is everyo

spread that I

ven get to take my

ancestor with disapproving eyes and an elaborate wig stared down at me, lo

how I fee

ack down the dim corridor

ai

quiet, talking to

sting dancing shadows on th

ai

picked

omething I should have caught immediately but was

sed to be a happ

novel. I'd read

e title, her father's affection, a beautiful estate. The book ended with her standing

e. Perfec

heir protagonists. That's n

w did Ma