What is the point of this power, if I can't save the people I love? What is the purpose of letting me in, just to send me back again.

I whimpered as blood covered my hands, I embraced him in my arms for the last time as I kissed him tenderly like how I used to. When our lips brushed against each other, time was already setting for another. Those eyes that were once filled with warmth, now drowned in tears streaming down on my face.

"I- I love you, Luziana..." As he held my hand and inserted a ring he once swore. “P-please.. don't go…”

'As much as I don't want to, I need to.'

"**Luzy! ...did you know that there is this recent game circulating right now? It was all the buzz these past few days called 'The princess's diary**! " my friend babbled as we headed to our classroom. As a girl who studies a lot every night, now’s not a good time to be energetic like her. “**Oh, come on, it's the first day! I know you'd like it because you read a lot**.”

Yes, I do read a lot. I am Luziana Valentine, an ordinary girl. I mean I wouldn't say I'm ordinary, because I'm basically a living misfortune that has been stripped of her happiness and justice. A girl who lacks life's fortune. I was born fatherless and when I turned 14, my mother remarried and I lived under the same roof as them.

Life would be so much happier if that didn't happen back then.

\[**FLASHBACK**\]

“**You’re the reason why she's on the verge of dying! You are an insolent brat**!” As my face brushed against his hard slap, I fell to the ground and he wrecked havoc inside the hospital. “**You're the one to blame for everything! Now, you're gonna work so you can pay my debts! Got it**!” He aggressively pished me off to the wall as he walked off and it hit the back of my head.

I remembered my mother's words from before "**Your step- father is reliable, you know? he's the kindest man I've met**." reliable my foot.

A normal person would be in pain, but this pain cannot be compared to the pain of watching my mother unconscious in this hospital. When she fell into a coma, I wasn't just neglected and bullied, I was despised and blamed.

My stepfather tortured me to death by making me do illegal things just to gain money from it. 'From the father I never had, to a father I wish I never have.'

I'm not surprised, I just grew numb. My mouth was sealed and I was beaten day and night. I tried to run away from them, but I was caught instead. My mom's the only one I have, and now she's lying here miserable.

“**Hey! You rat! Come here for just a sec**.” My step-brother exclaimed. I abruptly went towards him to avoid commotion but-

\***PACK**!\*

“**Didn’t I tell you to wash my clothes**?!” He shouted as he aggressively rubbed his clothes to my face. “**B-but brother, y-you didn't tell me**…” He looked at me with terror on his face. “**Are you talking back? You want me to tell our father or should I just kill you here right now**?” He threatened as he gripped my jaw hard. My tears fell upon my face as I wept nonstop.

"**T-the brother who w-welcomed me with open arms, now t-treating me like an animal**." I forced a word out of my mouth, desperately grasping for air. Those were the last words, before he choked me nearly to death.

Ever since that day, I've lived hell for days and became a punching bag. I couldn't even attend school because of the bruises and pain. My life literally changed overnight and it turned upside down.

When I turned 16, my mother woke up from a coma, and she was never the same. One time, I caught her crying over a man I never met in my life. She even tried to kill herself, and she kept repeating the exact same word "**Let me go back**…”

" **M-mom! It's me, Luziana**..."

"**Luziana?...No, you don't belong here**!" My mom cried out and I was confused. "**Come with Mom, Luziana. Come here**." She was being scary back then and as a result, I ran away from her. From the person I felt the safest to, and now, I don't know anymore.

After that day, I found out that Mom had killed herself. My step-father and brother faked their cries at her funeral, and it's like watching a spectacular show. I didn't realize how lost I was, and I just knew from the blood in my hands... That I tried to kill myself to ran away from those demons.

\[**END OF FLASHBACK**\]

"**And the most interesting part is that the villainess has the same name as yours! Isn't it cool**?!" Micah excitedly giggled.

"**Hey, are you even listening? Luzy? Why the hell are you dozing off**?...” She curiously asked, waving her hands at my sight.

I looked at her and said “**How about you? have you played it**?” I asked. “**No, not yet hehe… but, I will**!”

This is my best friend Micah, she's the only girl who's important to me. Her mom and my mom were best friends and they were the ones who saved me that day, I'm basically living with them right now and I'm happily adopted-sister of her.

\***RING**\*

“**Well, the bell rang. We should go. We'll play it when we get home later, wait for me okay**!” She ran off happily and left me with a bright smile. "**See you later, Luzy! Micah loves you**!" She formed her arms in a heart shape and I scoffed at her waving goodbye.

'***Tsk. hmm***'

\[**After Class**\]

"**Luzy! I'm here**." Micah shouted as she ran towards me at the school gate like a little girl. "**Hey, you're not a child anymore**." She smiled at me with a teasing look "**Why? You missed me, don't you**?" I scoffed at her "**Why would I**.

We started on our way and we bid our farewell to the sunset. " **By the way, Mom texted me, she made beef stew**-"

"**What?! Our favorite**???" She dramatically exclaimed.

...

" **I feel like I'm having indigestion**." I looked at her disgusted.

"**That's because you immediately lied down after you ate**." I explained while downloading the game she insisted on playing. " **And your tummy's waving at me**." I teased her and giggled. "**Nooooo, I am on a diet and Mom suddenly made it, how could I refuse**?" She fake a cry while rubbing her belly. She then turned to me "**Luzy, you need to start playing the game**..." She suddenly look at me in the eyes, determined and serious. " **What are you doing**." I shrugged her off and looked at the game's screen display.

"**I just... Really ... Need to**.."

" **I need to take this dump and burn the whole world afterwards**." She hurriedly ran towards the bathroom and left a fart in the room. "**YUCK**!"

...

Time has flown by and it was just Micah and I, the only ones still awake tonight with our bright phone screens brushing our faces like spotlights.

" **Gahhh I died again**?!" She heavily whispered.

"**Hey, shut up or you'll wake them all up**." I answered with a calm airy voice. She kicked her feet with rage and I can tell why.

It's because of this little game that kept us killed over and over again. I mean, it's supposed to be a story to be played as a main character...

'Why are we the Villainesses?'

"**Is this why they said it's not the typical harem game we all know**?" She complained, hands over her head as her dark circles started showing off. With that, she dozed off, and she snored very quickly. "**Is this girl on drugs**?" I uttered.

She must've been so exhausted trying to find another response for the character not to get killed. She even cooked noodles to hype her energy up and switch the routes of her character, but in the end, she still ends up dead.

"**Well, the same goes for me**." I smiled at her and covered her with her comforter. I immediately turned off her phone and charged it to the circuit and I went back to my room and studied for the subjects tomorrow for a bit.

It's already 2 am, I finished all my study sessions for the day. But, somehow, I couldn't forget the villainess in the story. Her name, her struggles, personality, and mannerisms.

'*It's similar to me*.'

She was despised by her step-family and only her Mother cared for her, yet most of the time, she was alone.

Is that why she turned into a Villain, and still died at the end? The questions stopped when I turned on my phone to play that game.

"***Let's go for another round, Luzy***."

A new, but strange familiar surrounding came to sight. A huge wooden grandfather's clock placed across this ragged bed, a huge glass window covered with gray curtains resulting in a dark and dim place. A bed with no comforter, only in wearing a nightgown.

"N-nightgown?"

I can feel a  throbbing pain on my skin as the cold wind wraps around me. 

“Where am I?..” I whispered trying my best to utter a word “What's this place?... Is this a dream?” I added while trying to warm my trembling body from cold and pain. Judging from it, I doubt it's a dream.

I got up from the bed and I went towards the mirror beside me, strangely limping and hurting. 

When I saw the feature in the mirror; Teary blue eyes that resemble the warm sky, long curved lashes that feel like a cat's silky fur, and dainty exquisite lips that seemed unreal and showing a sophisticated pinkish color. Her black curly hair is adequately beautiful and refined as a black swan's feathers. Despite the beauty I see, her pale white skin is now throbbing in pain. 

"Luziana?" I walked around for a bit and tried to process every single thing. "Do I have powers?" I put my hand in the air trying to release some force, but nothing happened. "How did I enter the game? I remember I was playing it, but that's all there is to it." hopeless and in disbelief, I gently fell to the floor. "What about my body in my original world? Did I die?" I turned my attention towards the mirror.

"To look this beautiful, is maybe the price of her death.” I commented while caressing her hair, pinching my cheeks as I slapped my face hard. “Ouch... Wake up! This isn't you.”

I rub my cheeks to soothe the pain as I am suddenly drawn to a strange object placed in the vanity table. A lighted candle.

A flicker of light coming from the drawer caught my attention. I attentively went to open it, and I was shocked by what I saw; Luizana's diary.

I slowly, cautiously picked it up and gently placed it on the old wooden table.

The book suddenly rummages through every page by itself as memories came rushing into my mind. I saw how the maid bullied Luziana resulting in a throbbing pain on her skin, how she was despised by her Step-brother, ignored by her Father, as well as she knew how her own Mother fell ill, yet not everything.

The dates of every letter leads me to one conclusion, this is the month before it all began. Before Luziana's and Ivory's coming of age.

'I still have time'

Luziana's mother remarried to a successful Duke with two children. One that excels as the Prodigy of the Prominent Oldenburg Academy, and a Saint, the main butterfly in every social gathering. Last but not the least, the black swan of the Ambrose Family.

The ugly sister, the other sister, and the unlucky sister of the main characters as people say.

'Its really all similar to the game'

"I really...I am Luziana." Tears fell down on my cheeks and they burn as they trace the curves of my face. I quietly whimpered to the agony of a little girl who did nothing, but lowered her head to those predators. My vision slightly blurred from my sight as the journal turned its last page with a handwritten message.

"Please, save me."

'The date was yesterdays, did she ask for me, specifically? Is she the one who called me here?'

The journal suddenly, aggressively closed its own covers and revealed a magical yellow liquid in a small glass of bottle that looked like a medicine or a potion floating above it. It glows with dots of light surrounding the magical potion.

"I'll help you." I uttered while wiping the tears falling. I smiled to assure her that she'll never have to die again, and I'll make sure she gets her happy ending. In that way, I can go back to my world then.

...

I woke up to the sound of birds singing, the sunlight brushing my skin. I noticed that someone entered my room without even knocking, stomping their feet aggressively and I got up to see a girl in a maid’s clothing. 

“Who are you?” I ask yawning with the best sleep Luziana has ever had. I traveled my sight around me only to realize the scene from last night.

" I really did transmigrate..."

MAID'S POV

I entered the Manor's animal shelter as usual and caught her yawning like she had her best sleep for years. "Tch." 

 As I head towards her, her skin excludes a glowing healthy-

"H-huh? W-what happened!" I exclaimed and confused about what I see. I searched her skin, panicking to see nothing! And there I witness for the first time... Luziana's eyes.

They were looking straight at me. A different look that can see the lies within me.

She really is a beauty, far more beautiful than the girls I know in this empire. But I don't care about her, since it's not my job to take care of her.

"W-what are you glaring at?!” Her skin is flawless as I hide the fact that I want the opposite one.

'Does the water I gave her yesterday isn't the rotten one? but I made sure that it has a rat's urine in it.'

I watched her get up from her bed and her behavior seemed different.

'Nah she's just a weird girl'

The water may not be working, but the water I'll serve her later on... ‘I'll make sure she won't leave her room forever.

I chuckled at my own thoughts as I went to fetch the water from the trolley as I carefully, cautiously tried not to spill it on me. When I slowly turn towards her-

"Wash your face then I'll serve your breakf-"

*SPLASH*

I was too stunned to move, I can't think straight in my realization that a sudden splash of the water I deliberately was holding brushed my face, I saw how the mop water that I mixed with a rat's blood last night run down on my skin. As I turned angrily towards the lady, she suddenly slapped me.

"W-what's h-happening … " I uttered a simple word grasping the situation I'm suddenly in.

"What did you do! You peasant!" I throw myself at her aiming to pull her hair and to return the slap she gave me.

LUZIANA'S POV

"What did you do! You peasant!"

'Ugh with all of that scream, she can wake them up.'

She ran towards me like a mad woman, and I'm too entertained to stop her hostility. When she is finally an inch closer than me before even touching me, I grab her hair ruthlessly and violently push her to the floor. The floor thud loudly and I saw her face aching with disbelief.

"This is for all the mistreatment you did, and that ain't enough." A warning, rather a promise to torment her just like how she tortured Luziana. I glared at her while I calmly sat on the wooden chair beside my vanity table.

" Y-YOU! I-I'LL CALL AND TELL THIS TO THE DUKE AND HE WILL KICK YOU OUT!" She screamed and widened her eyes out of anger and then gritted her teeth.

"Tell what? That you planned on pouring that water on me and I accidentally spilled it on you?” I added, lowering my gaze upon her. I stood up and took to the rotten meal she served and I immediately rubbed it hard on her face. "And why would they care about you?" I faked a pity look on my face and smiled afterwards as she struggled to resist me.

*Cough* "Did you know that if I told the headmaid about this, she would make your life more miserable than it already is?!" She threatened me while wiping the crumbs on her shameless face.

"No remorse, I see. " I smirked and grabbed the small amount of water she gave while walking slowly towards her. "Have you not had enough? Should I tell my Father, the Duke about this?"

"I-I THERE'S NOTHING IN IT" she excused with a nervous smile, her hands fidgeting while kneeling and looking down.

"If you tell me who ordered you to do this, maybe I'll go easy on you." I smiled at her as she widened her eyes, her sight started to hesitate in looking directly at mine. She stayed silent, confirming my assumption.

"You're not speaking?" I glared at her like I'm trying to silence her arrogance. She began trembling in anger, but she can't even lift up her head. I can clearly see the panic in her eyes, the hesitation on her hands, and the resistance on her mouth.

"How about I tell my father about this right now and let us see whose head will come rolling down on the ground first?" I gently lift her face and witness how it changes.  Her complexion scared, her lips trembled, and her sight was looking far.  She began to wheeze like a child and cried like an animal.

" I-i ...f-forgive me my lady." she bowed and trembled. "I d-deserve to be punished please don't tell it to the duke!"  She begged, holding my dress to express her despair.

"What is this commotion?!?" A deep authoritative voice hollowed the room. I turned to him as He scanned the room and witnessed the dirty water on the floor, the scattered rotten food, the room in a messy condition, and a maid kneeling in front of a weak lady.

'Aldric Ambrose, the Kingdom's Genius Academian. Luziana's Step-brother'

"What are you doing Luziana?" He scoffed and brushed his hair. I stared at him for a while and the maid took the chance to get away.

"You know what Luzy? Why are you so childish? Just forgive that mere maid and let it go this once!" He rubbed his forehead before looking at me, I stood up levelling him. 

"Oh, the knight in shining armor. Why invite yourself in to a party you're not even wanted?” His eyes widened in shock, but he quickly replaced it with his glare.

"Are you telling me I look dumb entering here?"  He scoffed, but he suddenly changed and the smirk on his face faded.

"What's wrong with you, damsel?” He sarcastically said while I wiped my hand with a towel. He walked towards me and he patted me on my shoulder as he whispered some words.

"I don't care if you hit your head or something. But, let me remind you Luziana, just stay quiet like the rat you became."  He concluded but, behind that anger in his eyes, I can see the confusion and the change of his gaze upon me.

“Is this your new way of getting our attention?” he added as I shrugged his hands off me. I look directly into his eyes piercing through me.

The original Luziana would tremble at this sight, but I won't.

“You’re right, are you threatened?”  I smirked and I furrowed my eyebrows immediately at him. His eyes completely lose their sanity, his once piercing eyes now stunned with thrill. He laughed saying “Threatened?"

"Know your place, Luziana. Find out whose neck I'm holding.” I clenched my jaw, but I replaced it with a blatant smile.

“Oh my, what a Shakespearean remark.” I laughed as I mocked his statement. While I looked at him amused, his furrowed eyebrows displayed. 

“Don't tell me, you forgot all the things you did. Because, I'll never let you forget about it.” He provoked with a mock astonishment leaving me stunned.

“Did you forget when you broke Ivory's portrait? When you stole her dresses, when you faked your wounds and pain, and even caused a scene?” He said in a sarcastic tone as he looked at me with a serious look. “Grow up, Luziana. You're not a real princess here.” 

“Are you here to dictate my achievements or something?" I pleaded frankly, he was taken aback from what I said. 

“Now, you're not even hiding who you are. Is this the real you, Luziana? The witch who deceived us all along?”

I sarcastically smiled and laughed. “I'm not a deceiver; you're just fools. We're both wasting our time here, aren't we?" I smiled at him and he was too stunned to move. 

“I thought you hit your head, but now I think you've gone mad.” 

"Oh come on, Aldric. Don't pretend to be normal in front of me, is this why you came in my room for?"  His face looked like a cat getting bathed for the first time. I warned almost like a whisper. He frowned and immediately left my room.

...

LUZIANA'S POV

When Luziana died in the game, Ivory knew the truth. She revealed all the hardships Luziana experienced and she made a significant contribution to bringing Luziana's justice. People referred to her as  the Saint who helped her not blood- related sister meet the peace and freedom she longed for. 

If she didn't die, would Ivory still be considered as the Saint of this empire? But, who would want to die twice? 

'Can't the characters have their happy endings without me even dying?' 

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

A deep voice announced “Greetings, My Lady. The Duke requested an audience with you right now.” The butler stated, bowing his head to me. 

He was the only person who didn't mistreat Luziana. Luziana caught him defending her when several maids badmouthed her, he even tried to free her from the dungeon after being framed by her Step- siblings.

“I'll be there shortly.”

 I answered politely, my face remained neutral as we walked towards the Duke's office. The sound of the heels I'm wearing clacked every single step. The sound of my heartbeat echoed in this quiet hallway. 

'I expected that this would happen, so it will be okay'

"We're here, My Lady." The butler said. "I shall announce your arrival." He then opened the door for me. 

I went inside and saw the silhouette of a dominant man. The office  is dim but not that dark. He's sitting on his enormous work table with a look that can freeze you in your place. The place is spacious, full of books and papers scattered on his desk. 

"Greetings the Grand Duke of Ambrose." I greeted politely , showing a tone of respect. 

‘I've played this part before, after what happened with the maid. I'll never die, depending on the route I'll choose.’

"I heard what happened this morning." The Duke hollered and narrowed his eyes. "Now what did you do, Luziana?" He added, waiting for my perfect response. His hand was ticking on his table.

“I did nothing wrong. I was just disciplining my maid for her blunders.” he pressed his tongue to his teeth before answering, “Is that so?” his voice sounds like cutting, brittle. A hint to continue.

“Do you remember the maid you appointed for me? She tried to serve me water and food, but it was rather inedible.” I replied, matching the cold tone of his voice, but my voice sounds a little brittle since I cried earlier. 

His eyes widened, but he quickly narrowed it. "So, the maid continuously did this to you for several days, yet why are you telling me about this just now?" He seriously asked, waiting for the right answer that would come out of my mouth.

 'If you hadn't put me on probation, this wouldn't happen.'

"I was sure how you all would react, seeing me with hideous skin miserably asking for help…”  I rebuked “I would say, it's not my thing.” I  added.

"I might as well discipline her myself rather than wait for someone to do it for me." I  continued and his eyes widened as he squeezed his eyes shut.

" You're telling me, I'm incompetent to do such a thing?" 

“No, I just stopped expecting help and will be a burden to all of you." I calmly replied, “After all, I'm already a burden.” I slightly smiled, guilt-tripping. 

 That statement caused him to furrow his eyebrows and his anger seeped through his mouth “Luziana!” his loud scream echoed the room. " How could you say that?!” His eyes flickered with mundane sadness. 

“You're contradicting me, My Lord. You asked for my opinion and when I did, you invalidated how I felt.” I saw his eyes widened in shock, he was taken aback by my words. His eyes fixed on something far and he quickly massaged his forehead out of controlled anger.  

"Let’s say that the maid put the water on you last night, so how are you just fine right now...in one night by yourself?" He suspiciously asked, finding a gap in my answers, terror overtook his face. “Then are you expecting I'd get infected as you'd hope, My Lord?" I sarcastically asked. I smiled at him and I saw his rage bottled up on his face. 

“No, that's not what I meant. I'm just concerned if you're feeling fine now." He stated and calmness took over him.

 He suddenly changed the topic and cleared his throat. “I'll appoint a new maid for you. So don't worry about that maid, because I'll take care of her for you." 

“No, I'll take care of her. I want something else.” I calmly demanded, he froze and smiled afterwards.

" Name it.”

“I want to change my room for the second room in the west wing." 

“B-but…that's beside Ivory's room. I won't allow it!" 

" Then, you can disown me.” a single phrase that stroked silence in his office room. 

DUKE’S POV

The request struck me like a physical blow. Disowned? It was preposterous. She wasn't asking for freedom; she was publicly rejecting it. She was trying to become a martyr of my indifference. That I would not allow.

I stared at her. I took a slow breath. I had to be smart now, not just angry. She asked to be free. Fine. I will make her freedom my weapon.

"You think you can just leave the House of Ambrose?" I asked her. My voice was very low and dangerous. 

My eyes were hard and cold. "I will not grant your wish to be disowned." That is foolish. A Grand Duke does not throw away his own blood. It shows weakness. 

She is not the meek fool I punished. She is a chess piece that has suddenly learned to move on its own. She is no longer underestimating my abilities; she is showing me hers.

"Fine. I'll send maids to help you.” 

She smiled, but I couldn't see happiness in her eyes. She gently bowed like the lady we all want her to be. As she left the room, I was left with curiosity about her sudden braveness. 

‘She was no longer the weak Luziana I know and it was the first time she asked for something- and it's a difficult one.'

…