I stood in front of the mansion, cracking all my guts to stay in pace. I am nervous to meet the real villain of the novel. I am even unsure of how he really looks because it was never described in the novel. Maybe the author also hated him, that is why he was seen as an immoral bastard. What if he really looks like a demon? Will I be okay with him?
I almost forgot that Princess Epiphany is only living as of now because he is manipulated by her brother. Come to think of it, he is supposed to come back later! But why is he coming now? Did he sense it? Does he have an idea that his sister has been freed from his fingers and that he couldn’t manipulate her anymore?
Damn it. How should I explain it to him—
My thoughts were completely raided when his golden carriage stopped a bit far from me. It was only one carriage but it already looks like a thing worthy to be stolen even just a peck of it.
The butler walks to the carriage as he opens its door and the first thing I see is his long red straight hair shining like gold and burning like fire. It looked so soft as it fell down to his shoulder when he stepped foot outside. So then, my eyes were wide when I caught his jewel eyes like a pigeon blood ruby. He had the same eyes as mine.
His jawline was prevailing in his face that you get easily attracted to it by just how manly it looks. If one could see his eyes shining like a red star in the middle of the night, you will definitely decide to die in peace for seeing such an angelic face.
All the slanders towards this man will never exist if the novel has described how beautiful he is. And it was a good thing I didn’t slander him when I was a reader.
“Amishtia!”
I was so enthralled by his face that I found his smile so adorable. I also felt a tingling tickle inside me that screams eagerness to see him.
But because I was astounded to death, I didn’t realize that he lifted me from the ground to embrace me. I tried feeling my feet to the ground but I couldn’t feel it. I looked down to the ground to see, only to realize that he was disgracefully tall.
This is crazy. Was he this close to Princess Epiphany in the novel?
Come to think of it. There is no actual moment of Princess Epiphany and Prince Eunuoa that the author accentuated.
“Did you miss me, Tia?”
I froze and I wasn’t able to react when it ricocheted in my ears.
‘Tia’, it was unusual that Princess Epiphany and I had the same name but I never expected for us to have the same nicknames too.
I never thought that I could be called by that name once again. Hearing it, all I could think of was my previous life…
“Tia?”
I quailed upon hearing my name again. I met his eyes that looked like he was about to burst out crying from worry. He gently put me down and it felt like a bunny is looking up to a helpless beast.
“Did I carry you so high? Is it unsatisfactory?”
That moment, all my thoughts about my previous life jumped out of my head and I felt the urge to touch his cheek. He touched my hand on his cheek and he kissed my palm while looking at me in such an adorable manner.
“It seems like you don’t need my Ahmose anymore, Tia. Are you feeling well?”
“Y-Yes. W-Welcome back, brother.”
I was so nervous there. I thought he was going to be suspicious of me because I am different from his sister but it seems like he is thinking that Princess Epiphany’s broken soul has finally been resurrected.
It was a relief that he was thinking like that but his eyes…
His eyes are studying me.
“Have you grown weary of your big dogs? I have brought you some.”
I gulped. He was smiling as if he had brought the right gift to sister that will really make her happy.
It’s alright. Let’s smile for now and let the normal here be normal.
“I am happy to have received more big dogs, brother!”
He laughed in victory. “That’s right, Tia. Next time, I will bring white crows.”
I smiled. I don’t know if it looked awkward.
Please don’t bring any more big dogs and white crows. I want to live a quiet life.
“It’s cold here. Let’s get inside.”
We walked together inside. Standing beside him, I felt so small.
I am deliberating why I am no longer nervous around him. Is it because I am inside Princess Epiphany’s body and it is responding to him?
“I perceived that you got fed up with your current big dog.”
“Yes.”
This time, my voice is not trembling anymore.
Haaa. Thanks to Princess Epiphany’s body.
“Don’t worry, Tia. I have more Morganite big dogs.”
My jaw dropped.
What?
Does he mean the paladins he brought were all 1st order paladins?!
AACKK! This man is insane!
“Next time, I’ll get you White of the white crows.”
My body couldn’t move after even a more wicked surprise. I couldn’t believe my ears. Prince Eunuoa sounded like he was going to hunt bears in the forest so easily. Don’t tell me he is going to really do that?
No wonder he is hated by anyone. It’s because he doesn’t treat outsiders as humans and he will do outrageous things just for his sister? Just what kind of brain does he have? Is it the fault of the author that he is like a hunting-maniac?
I watched my ‘brother’, beaming like everything was alright. He is also humming so happily that no one would dare ruin it because he is enjoying himself.
“We will meet at dinner, Tia.”
I was taken aback when he kissed my head. I was so flustered that I don’t know if I look like a tomato. He tapped my head before he went to another direction which I think is his way to his room.
I was still wondering if I could still move when Acacius poked my cheek lightly, making me flinch and look at him.
“It does seem like you have no need of Lord Eunuoa’s Ahmose, my lady.” He beamed as his fangs showed up from his mouth.
I thought that I would never be attracted to fangs but now, it seems like I am starting to like it because of the view I am seeing.
I didn’t realize I was staring at him until his eyes glittered and his cheerful gaze turned gentle.
“I’m glad you’re back, my lady.”
I flinched there. Is he also thinking that Princess Epiphany’s broken soul was healed?
I clenched my fist. Now, I feel bad for taking over her body.
Princess Epiphany was seen as an insoluble and despicable villainess but come to think of it, she is loved.
She is loved in the Dukedom. Ever since this morning I possessed her body, I was acting diverse with her original self but they didn’t bother me or find me weird, even Acacius, Princess Epiphany’s personal knight that has stayed by her side for a long time.
And Acacius...
I am very much aware that he will die protecting Princess Epiphany. He was ready to destroy the temple for abducting his master but he died in the hands of the male lead.
Now that I possess this body, would everything change since the original Princess Epiphany is not here anymore?
Sigh. This seems like a great responsibility.
“Are you well, my lady?”
“Tia.”
“Huh?”
I looked at his stunning tiger eyes.
“Call me Tia.”
I watched how his eyes circled and then he panicked. He shook his head as well as his hand. He looks so anxious that I feel like I bullied a small child.
“I am sorry, my lady but I don’t deserve to call you such a casual name. Please forgive me.”
Just a while ago he looked like an obedient puppy and now he’s like a bunny running away from his prey. And I couldn’t help but laugh from his adorable reaction.
“I won’t force you to call me ‘Tia’ but I hope there will be one time that you will start calling me by my request.”
I had a big smile on my lips as I started to walk towards my room. I felt him following me from the back but I didn’t look at him because he seemed flustered.
Ha! I’m tired.
Why is this palace so gigantic and spacious that I think I could reach my room after walking for an hour?!
“My lady?” I heard from Acacius. Maybe he is wondering why I suddenly stopped walking.
Damn these heels!
I took off my heels and immediately threw it anywhere and then I realized I was so furious for some reason.
“Please forgive us, my lady. We will get you a more comfortable shoe.” The maids panicked and they ran maybe to get shoes.
I was confused as to why I am so mad. What is this? Why am I mad just because I got tired of wearing heels?
“Are you well, my lady? Would you mind if I carry you to your room?”
Don’t tell me I have gotten Princess Epiphany’s anger issues?
I was lost in my deep thoughts that I didn’t know what I’m doing. I slapped Acacius' face, taking me aback when I was back to myself.
“I’m sorry!”
Oh my god. How did I hit that beautiful face?!
I immediately cupped his face and my guilt was so extreme that I don’t know how I look now.
“I am so sorry. I’m really sorry.”
Damn. I want to cry. Just how did I get to do it?
Acacius looked stunned and he was frozen but then as soon as his lips crept up and he looked at me like nothing at all, I suddenly felt goosebumps.
“It’s an honour to have been touched by your beautiful hand, my lady.” He looked down as if he was really grateful to have been slapped.
His cheeks are even flustered!
Is he a masochist?!
Was he like this in the novel? I could still remember that he is willing to risk his life for Princess Epiphany but I never thought he could be grateful for being slapped. Come to think of it, Princess Epiphany’s temper was so short that she would throw tantrums anywhere and she sometimes hit Acacius.
Ackkk I never thought that Acacius was a masochist! He was once my favourite character!
Haaaaa I dropped myself to the bed as I looked at my gold ceiling. Acacius’ face a while ago wouldn’t get out of my head. I ran to my room barefooted because I was flustered.
Ackkk. I rolled around my bed, regretting that I had witnessed that.
Why does he have to look so adorable being hit?!
Damn. Is Princess Epiphany a sadist?
I sank my face to the bed to scream but I couldn’t relieve myself so I gave up and just lied quietly.
After a minute of rethinking life, I inhaled and exhaled before I closed my eyes and started to sing. I don’t know what type of song they sing in this timeline but I could only think of songs in my previous life.
As I sang, I felt the ringing of my whole body like it was coming back to life. And again, I was shocked that my vocal chords feel better in this body than in my previous life. Princess Epiphany’s voice was calmer and way cleaner to hear.
I sang a song that I have always wanted to cover in my previous life. It was a light song, sung in a low tone.
I continued my song until I found myself yawning and I stopped.
***
Princess Epiphany’s voice echoed all over the palace, making all workers stop everything they are doing to listen to her voice. She doesn’t know that whenever she sings, it mixes with the wind, sending her voice to anyone nearby.
They were so focused on her voice that the chef who’s cooking burnt the steak and the maid whose cutting spices cut her finger.
Prince Eunuoa was looking outside the window jamb, listening attentively to his sister’s song. He was exhausted with the war in the border line but now that he is listening to his sister’s lovely voice, it felt like all the blood he spilled had finally dried down.
But something is different here. This is not the song his sister had always sung.
So then, upon realizing that, a small chuckle escaped his mouth. If ever someone sees him, he looks like a vicious man who’s planning to destroy an intended enemy.
“Looks like I have no need of hunting big dogs and white crows if you don’t want to, my sister.”
What he means is that he is sure now that his sister has recovered. And now that it happened, he had no need of destroying the temple anymore but, if they would lay a finger on his sister, he had the need to come back voluntarily.
***
I gulped down the steak I had just put in my mouth. I am so nervous that I don’t know if I can digest what I eat.
I just can’t.
Prince Eunuoa’s face is shining in front of me and I think I am going to go blind with that creepy smile he’s having.
“My lovely sister, please eat more. You have been skipping two meals every day in a year. I am worried that your poor health will make me hunt more dogs.”
I flinched with the term ‘dogs’ again. Now I find this word very creepy. Seems like I need to gain weight to satisfy my ‘brother’.
“Yes, big brother.”
Looking at him back, it feels like I am facing the sun right in front of my eyes. He emits a positive vibe that I don’t find harmful at all.
Ack. This is a problem. Because the author only emphasized Prince Eunuoa’s cruelty, I have no idea how to deal with him. I only know his ability to control and manipulate people. I need to dig for information about the royal family so I would know more about his ability.
In the novel, it was stated that my ‘father’, Duke Agmundr, is an older brother of the current Emperor. And the Royal Family of the Ahmose Empire has manipulative ability which is the reason why no one dares to challenge the Emperor. But since Duke Agmundr is a royal blood too, he couldn’t control the Dukedom.
Agmundr Estate had been independent since the current Emperor ascended to the throne. Duke Agmundr’s manor was supposed to be crushed by the current Emperor’s rebellion that time but since Duke Agmundr was never interested with the throne, he was spared and remained a Duke even after the previous Emperor.
Duke Agmundr then married a woman coming from a distant tribe. Many nobles were shocked by this, which is why the Duchess of Agmundr wasn’t really regarded as part of the Ahmose Empire. The Duchess has a poor image to the nobles but when Prince Eunuoa was born, the nobles’ attention panicked. It is because it was rumoured that the newborn had the royal family’s appearance. Prince Eunuoa may have the eyes of the Duchess but his hair that shines like a fire was a perfect copy of royal blood. What’s more that has shaken the royal family is Prince Eunuoa’s ability which is of royal blood again.
Haaaaa. I’m so confused now.
I know that Prince Eunuoa has the ability of the royal blood but what if he got some abilities from our ‘mother’, the Duchess.
“Is there something disturbing you, Tia?”
I immediately came back to senses when I heard his voice. And I blushed for some reason.
“I am well, big brother.”
I didn’t notice this before but his voice sounded so sweet. His face was radiating with positive energy but his voice is so calm that you won’t find him to be a villain.
He smiled. “I heard your song a while ago,”
I flinched.
What?
How did he hear it? I made sure that I sang in a low tone to avoid anyone hearing but…
My eyes went wide when I looked at the maids at Prince Eunuoa’s back. They were smiling at me as if they have also heard it—
WAIT.
Don’t tell me they heard it all?
My eyes went back to my ‘brother’.
“I hope I can hear your lovely voice again, Tia.”
My jaw dropped. This is crazy. I made sure that I am not emitting Princess Epiphany’s ahmose when I sang but have they actually heard it?
Let me think.
Think, Tia.
The author never mentioned in the novel that when Princess Epiphany sings, she uses some kind of magic tool to make her voice be heard in distance, like a microphone. And whenever she sings, the whole place could actually hear her voice so does this mean that… my voice can be heard even when I sing without Ahmose.