I, was reborn and by miracle strokes of luck, my memories of my past life were fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday. Its nothing to be delighted about, considering the not-so-great death I experienced.

The worse news was that I was reborn into the world as Lumi Eiralucia Mireille Sylvia la Lea Saintescea aka the graceful saintess, Saintess Lea Saintescea.

I knew that some might not even be able to memorize such a ridiculously long name I acquired but that's, not the actual terrible news.

I was destined to be invited by heaven in the hand of the male lead of the supposed world I was inhabiting. In another word, I will be stabbed to death by his sacred swords when the time arrived.

The beginning of this was part of the novel's fault for being a distraction to my concentration but none of that matters now that the past me was already dead for good.

The male lead, Yves Asher Aldrich la Saintescea who also was Lumi's treasured brother will deliver her to the cease of her existence.

In spite of learning all of this information, I... refused to change the plotlines... as there was no actual need for me to survive when my death was much more beneficial compared to me being alive.

Briefly said, Yves who was born as the prince of the fallen kingdom, Wealicia and by nature was ought to retrieve his revenge for the death of his biological parents and people.

The culprit was with no doubt, was the emperor of Grathelyra, Ezekiel Victorique de Noa Grathelyra, the vicious emperor known for his cruelness in his ruling. He's something you can illustrate as the evil man or protagonist in a story, part of the evil characters.

How did this pan out in killing his sister? I, Lumi, the saintess of Grathelyra was the key to the doom of the empire.

When a saintess was invited to heaven via death, the empire will suffer from many downfalls induced of the absent proxy of the lord.

Regardless, I as stated earlier, refused to change the plotline into something like, ‘ I'll evade my unfortunate death and live happily ever after without espousing the main lead or offending the female lead and etcetera.’

Actually, there's nothing to be rewritten here as the saintess herself was not treating the male lead or female lead poorly and instead was considerably warm and close to them.

See, the death was inevitable and nevertheless, people will expire to die similarly, either earlier or sooner.

Truthfully, the saintess dies an innocent death due to Yves wishes for revenge but it's not like she aka me, didn't acknowledge that from the moment he was adopted into the dukedom of Saintescea.

It's an impending fate destined for me who was the saintess. The world I was living in was named, ‘Eternal Diamond Heart’, a sadly clichéd novel that the past me took interest in, leading to my death.

***

“President, would you like to take a look at this?” I peeked to the front to the face of my overly-eager secretary, holding a thick book, shoving the novel to my face.

“Eternal Diamond...Heart...” I mumbled over the titles out loud, revising over the exquisite cover yet the novel title no matter how much is repeated, remained tacky in my ears.

It apparently appeared like one, considering the fantasy themes it supposedly commemorates despite being a superfluous flashy one.

“I heard it is good, and a must! What do you think, president?” There she goes again, recommending this sort of time-consuming stuff rather than putting more efforts into her lousy works.

“...Well, I'll give it a try.” I grabbed the novel, considering whether to actually read it or leave it as it was.

“Have a good time reading, president! Don't worry about others, as I, your most loyal secretary will handle everything for you!!!” She enthusiastically said, almost like an act if one to summarise it.

“You can leave now,” I commanded her and with jolly smiles hanging on her face, she left my office without a second thought.

Novels, huh? The abruptness does take me by surprise but since I'm left with nothing to do, this would sure fill up the remaining free time.

*a few moments later*

“Hmm...the male lead, Yves Asher Aldrich la Saintescea seemed heartless wanting to kill his sister for sake of revenge but the emperor's crude doing perhaps balanced it out, making some sense...”

*a very a few hours later*

“Hold on...wheres the rest of the volumes? What happened after the saintess was stabbed?”

With curiosity filling in the blank in my mind, I stood up and walked to the assistant table which was located not far apart from my secluded office.

*hit*

My vision blackout with the painful hit from a very thick wooden craft.

***

It's painfully throbbing around my head as if that my skull cracked apart from the intense volume of the hit. Ouch...

My eyes flutter slowly opening before groaning from the pain. Those people sure are mad bastards for even having such a silly crazy idea of kidnapping me.

Those tapes around my mouth suffocate me, the tapes on my hands and legs are easy to be torn apart but being stared at would decide otherwise.

“Hello, we meet again Lucy!” A bitchy face close in his disgusting familiar face, wafting those puke-inducing mist.

I would prefer it if that kidnapper is a stranger rather than someone familiar that show my lack of awareness of danger, constantly being backstabbed.

“Mmghhh!!!!” I screamed, but my taped mouth limited my voice into something inaudible.

“What? Ah, pardon I forgot to remove the tape!”

*strap*

“You damned snake! What the hell are you planning this time?”

“Hahaha, snake? Nice nickname. Oh well, nothing much... just going to kill you and then took over your company? Easy plan no?”

“You! I trust you a lot, but you betrayed me?”

“Excuse me but I'm never on your side alright. Now, have a peaceful eternal sleep president so that we all can be happy forever!!!”

*bang!*

“Goodnight, president~”

“Hahaha!!! We're rich, for heaven sake!!! Forever is rich!!!”

“Police!!!!! Put your hands up and drop your weapons!!!!”

“Rich? The moment you messed with me, you are jinxed to death, Dominic. Goodbye to you both, dear garbages.”

“Y---You fucking bitch!”

“Hah, my apologies for being that a bitch who founded a profitable company with my brains, snakes.”

“President! Are you alright?”

“Lucy!!!”

“I won't last long. My wills and letters... the fifth drawers on the right...read it, Vienna.”

“No!!! You're not dying yet!! You can't leave me alone, Lucy! Are you trying to leave your nicest friend behind?!”

“Death...is inevitable. So don't weep over my loss. Bid me goodbyes, Vienna... not with tears but smiles...”

“Lucy....why?! Why?!! Just why?!!!”

“I guess...both of our endings truly is unfortunate, right, Lumi...?”

“Farewell, Vienna. Thank you...for everything.”

“No! Lucy, no!!!!!!”

“Gasp!”

I awoke from the nightmarish snooze that brandished chills to my black bone.

It's been countless time, much enough that my fingers aren't enough to hold count of the incidence, occurring again and again. Flashback in my head like an old worn-out tape.

“Not again...” The words I muttered was chaperoned with a heavy weary sigh. Nights after nights, my slumbers was shortened from seven hours to a minimum of two hours. How bothersome...

*knock* *knock* *knock*

“Come in.” I leaned my back on the huge bed head, still feeling drowsy from the lack of sleep I'm feeling. This apprehensive feeling that I'm experiencing should be adapted to soon.

I reached for the golden woven bowl with water served by the maid and washed my face with the lukewarm water before wiping it with a small clean towel.

“Pardon my extrusion, Lady Lumi. I've prepared your dawn bath, would you like to take a soak now, my lady?” The maid questioned as she holds the used towel.

“Enn... later, have Valora called over, I'm seeing her after washing up.”

“Yes, milady.” The maid bowed before attending to her lady's day-to-day basis.

***

The board of the chess is that of the white and black checkerboard in real life is pretty much the same with an only obvious difference is that playing fairly far from existing.

Dirtying your hand is also an option of which lead most people to corruptions of inner compassion and outer tenderness.

“Valora the noble sword greets Lady Lumi. May the holy saintess and Saintescea Ducal be blessed by the heavens blessings strokes.” Valora greeted her lady who is fondling over the white queen piece of the chess.

“May you be blessed under the wings of the uppers. So... Val, do you have what I requested before?” My eyes then glued on to the white king piece that stood noble on the board.

Ah... the king sure is to stand out.

“Yes. The emperor's currently not making any moves at all, rather is suspicious of him, milady.” Valora went on with her weekly report regarding the great emperor's doings.

Tracking and tracing over the emperor's current track is a demand from the lady herself.

“Has he been contacting someone as of late?”

The emperor who was known for his bad habits and wicked actions towards his people... Emperor Ezekiel Victor de Ode Grathelyra. The so-called villain in this world, sure enough, acted like a proper one.

It is surprising not to have someone attempting to overthrow him with his unruly way of rulings which tainted with the bloodstains of innocents. His favourite type of shades.

“I'm afraid no but as a notable highlight, he is frequenting to the financial advisor regiment fearfully a lot.”

“Is there any odds in their consultation, any fetching piques?” If it is with financial regiments, wealth surely became the main topic.

He as the emperor with one empress, three queens and fifteen concubines is obvious, obvious, filthy rich.

This is however coming from the ridiculous amount of tax of the aristocrats and commoners that they barely are able to get something to eat themselves. Talk about the absolute power of the emperor who only had wars in mind.

“That is unsure for, milady as their conversation is mainly denoted on his dirty gambling habit.”

“Sigh...what a hassle of an emperor. I wonder when and where is it he moving his king next?” I knocked over the black knight pieces with the white queen piece of the chessboard.

It is getting boring waiting for him waging war over... Should he just be overthrown now instead of later?

*knock* *knock*

The door then is opened from the outside and entering, a guarding knight in his proper suit, ready to head out at the moment.

“The knight, Elias the divine spring greets Her Holiness, Lady Lumi. Milady, it's almost time for your monthly excursion.”

“Elias. What about your findings?”

“Regrettably said, milady but no. The Wealicia truly have a knack at keeping their secrets to themselves despite all of my efforts but of course, if you instruct me for tougher feats I'll get it done gratefully.”

“It happened countless of times, so no need to bother anymore with it because there's another crucial task for the two of you.”

“Hmm...? What would that be, Lady Lumi?”

“During the excursion of mine to the centre of the town square of Grathelyra, aid me in hunt of a popular craft maker, Suveille Orman.”

“Ah, I heard that he is gaining much instant popularity from his magnificent artworks that is said to be comparable to royals-worth works.

Aristocrats especially the noble ladies took a great interest in this anonymous gentleman.”

“Indeed but disappointingly, I don't recall the need of having ten years old titled as a gentleman or do you?”

“Eh??!....!!!!!?”

***

“Milady, did you see him anywhere by chances?”

“Amongst the square town inhabitants, casually crafting his material with magical powers, black manas.”

“Then, are you trying to apprehend him, Lady Lumi?”

“No, no... I'm simply curious about what would urge a youngster to perform heavy-duty labours.”

“Milady, we have arrived at the place where the nobles uncover the crafts.”

“Let's go in.”

“Watch your steps, milady.”

“Good evening, young lady. What would your business be here?”

“I'm Sinclaire Fiona Von Que, the one who evaluate crafts, especially anything forged out of precious gemstones and mana rocks. May I ask of you if I could perhaps assess the infamous crafts belong to the Suveille Orman?”

“Von Que as of the noble house of Que?”

“Indeed. As you know, the news of the great artworks captivates us, aristocrats, too and if it's fine with you, may I?”

“Well---sure. Here are some of the examples of the finished products made by him.”

“My, indeed as acclaimed, they all are praiseworthy... The details are plausible, the design is highly unlikely of being copied and above all, the pure gems definitely is something you won't found easily!”

“Hehe...if you say so...”

“Pardon my inelegance but seeing the works pique my interest, could I perhaps meet the craft artisan?”

“But I am Suveille Orman the crafter of the pieces, young lady.”

“I highly doubt so, sir. I'm being polite as to express my gratitude but deceiving me in return is a foolish move of you, no? Those clean unscraped hands don't belong to a crafter even if one is to use magic in the process.”

‘Milady...his hands are scraped not even smooth but well...’

“I'm so sorry, young lady... it's not my intention to tell you lies but our actual crafter refused to make himself known to the public.”

“I see... what a waste then. Only when I thought of buying the whole collection while endorsing them...

“Wh-What?! Purchasing all of them?!”

“Yes... You see, if I am to meet the crafter, I would strike a deal of endorsing the crafts to the nobles and royals, rapidly making the products a hit among aristocrats and commoners too.

Just imagine how much amount of fortunes we'll be able to attach together. Perhaps around 100 gold coins per piece?

Unfortunately, I'm afraid if it was sold here, none will be able to profit and might be disturbed by some bad rich guys. If only am I able to fulfil the contract, surely enough I am to strike the lottery, I guaranteed.”

“Really?! T-Then please hold on for some moments.”

“Very well, then.”

“Milady...that's kind of a blackmail, isn't it?”

“No, I'm just convincing him the tough way. It's easier to enlighten them with despicable truth than begging on my knees for hours pointlessly.”

“Milady, are you truly buying everything and forging a contract too?”

“Yes, of course. I'd never go back on my words.”

“It is true that the Suveille Orman's craft is subpar to others still, you can get a thousand times finer crafts from the imperial palace treasure uncharged.”

“I'm earning legal profits while getting to know an excellent artisan and magician, isn't that killing two birds with one stone?”

“My lady's way of thinking surely surpass my foresight.”

“Excuse me, Lady Que, this young lad is our profitable artisan, Yves. Yves, greets Lady Que.”

“I, Yves the humble artisan greets Lady Que. It's nice meeting you, my lady.”

“Likewise, Yves. I'm overjoyed to be meeting you today. Would you be free to discuss more about our deal over a cup of tea over there? It's my treat.”

“Umm...sure, milady.”

.

.

.

“So, Yves, brief me through your works, please. I'm eager to know the thorough process your craft underwent before it turns into such eyes appetisers.”

“Most of my crafts are of mana rocks I produce by myself, it's a self-made stone of my mana. I crystallised the rocks before crafting them to the pattern I've ready. It is polished to smooth out the rough edges and refined the dulled shines also purified it with pure mana after.”

“I see... Then, may I ask where did you practice this technique from, Yves?”

“Err... it's just a pastime recreation from contemplating the crafters' works. The crafts I sold was simply a hobby and I don't aspire to generate many profits out of it...”

“By that, do you wish to not made a deal with me?”

“Umm...umm, yes...”

“That's unfortunate then. What am I to do, I wonder?...”

“Is...Is something wrong, Lady Que?”

“You see, I've already been bragging to my father that I had snagged an exclusive deal with the well-sought crafter, Suveille Orman and coming back empty-handed would make me a laughingstock of the town...”

“That's tough...”

“Right? Tell me, Yves, what do you think I should do?”

“You can just convince him to agree with you, my lady.”

“Is that so~? Would you try and convince him for the poor me, Yves?

“Of course! I'll gladly help you.”

“Then, would you agree to sign a deal with me, dear Suveille Orman?”

“Ah... that's...But, I rarely practice the crafting, so I don't think that I am sufficient as your crafter, milady...can I be eligible to produce something good?”

“Certainly. Yves, you aren't trying to doubt my proficiency in assessing crafts, right?”

“N-No!!!...I mean, no. I'm sure you're really good.”

“Therefore, won't you trust my judgement? I have a good eye at seeking talents and I know you're a decent crafter.”

“Would you please do a contract with me for a month as my crafter?”

“...yes, I will if you say so.”

“Perfect! Shall we start reviewing over our contract?”

***

“Milady, you seem to be in a foul mood today. Did the convention with the Earl Yuviel went wrong?”

“The earl is being utterly ridiculous saying stuff like wanting to make his rural son as the ducal successor instead of me, asking me to just sit gorgeously at the temple.”

“He's a persistent greed-consumed man. You shouldn't let him get to your head, milady. It is a waste of your time to be spent on such a person.”

“Val, it is soon my debutanté, coming of age ceremony next year considering that I am fourteen by now. The holy ritual of the saintess succession ceremony is to be held when I am sixteen, correct?”

“Yes, milady. I reckoned that everyone will appropriately approve of you being our graceful saintess officially. By that time, every head shall bow of your presence if they wished for a truce and longevity in life.”

“I wonder how the emperor would utilize me by then... Would it be a pretty immobilised doll or a fatal combat apparatus?”

“Would he miss the chances to dig more treasure, milady? I believe otherwise.”

“Haha, whatever it is, I'm prepared for it. In order to capitalize on the empire, one should start with the head of the empire by unhurriedly sifting through his weakness and strength.”

“Still, milady. The disaster that you foresaw soon, is it truly the work of the unruly ruler?”

“Hmm, yes. Fortunately, the throne one day will be sought by someone of the royal blood yet utterly unrelated to the empire's bloodline. That day will be the day the emperor behold the sight of his works devouring him as a backlash.”

“Oh my, what a wonderful future to behold.”

“Hmm... Truly is wonderful.”

***