Arista : The Girl With Silver Hair

Chapter 3

"Rista.. wake up."

Mom? Hey.. wait. Where are we going?

Huh?

Why did you put me in a cabinet? Dad?

"Always remember that we love you very much, our precious Arista."

Wait! Where are you going?

No... Don't go! Mom! Dad! Don't go!

Please! Don't leave me!!!

Arista woke up with her hand streched out. When she realized it was all a dream, she wiped the small tears that formed her eyes. She inhaled then exhaled as if she wanted her emotions gone. For two year, she had the same miserable dream everytime she went to sleep. And every time, she would end up with the same feeling. Frustration and Anger.

She walked up the mirror and looked at herself. The once silver hair now dark and her bright red eyes have turned b****y as if preying on a meal that she has watched for a very long time.

Being reborn is one thing, but to actually possess the knowledge in my past life puts me at a very high advantage in this life. A cheat code? No.. more likely, a gift card for taking the lives of people who are important to me.

The days Arista spent at the duke's mansion, she filled it with joy for the old couple. Filling in their longing for their deceased daughter and showing them that she was a capable adopted daughter. Of course, this is all an entourage for the big show.

"Risa." The duchess called, peaking at Arista who was reading a book at the library.

"Yes, mama?" She smiled from ear to ear, making the duchess fall for her adorable gesture. Arista walked near her and gave her a hug. The duchess stroked Arista's hair and made her look up.

"Me and Papa are going to the capital tomorrow. He has some business there that require great attention."

"Hm. I see. When will you be back?" Arista tilted her head.

It must be the suggestion I made last time about managing garbage and seggrate them to biodegradable and nonbiodegradable for better decomposition of city waste. In my past life, it was a very efficient movement but I was a bit hesitant to suggest it because of the presence of magic in this world that may alter the outcome.

"In a year or two, dear. So, we were hoping.. would you like to come with us?" The duchess said, smiling as her wrinkles folded. Arista was shocked and immediately formed a smile.

"I'd love to, mama!" She said with her delighted face.

"Thank you, Risa." The duchess hugged Arista who hugged her back.

"I have to go tell your father about this. Will you be okay if you pack yourself?" The duchess said looking at Arista's bright red eyes.

"Ahuh! I have Rose to help me." She replied.

"Okay." The duchess kissed Arista's forehead.

"I'll meet you later at dinner." She said before going out of the library.

When everything seems quiet, Arista walked towards the table she sat on earlier and closed the book she read.

"Rose.."

"Yes, my lady." Rose responded.

"The plan has just moved faster than we thought." Arista's bright red eyes became one that is b****y as she looked at the book she read entitled 'The list of officials and nobles of the capital'.

--

After 3 weeks, the Hugh family has settled in their home of the capital. The old duke became very busy with the new project he proposed to the officials.

Arista roamed around the mansion library as if looking for something.

"My lady, it seems that the renovated the mansion a year ago and have disposed of the previous items in this room." Rose informed Arista.

Tsk. These old books are nothing but worthless to me. They are basically the same ones at Hendel. I need to know more information before starting the plan. There are endless possible holes to it that could lead to a disastrous outcome.

Think, Arista, Think.

How do you get valuable information without anyone suspecting?

...

!

Arista widen her eyes and formed smirk.

"Rose, are you close yet with the mansion maids?"

"Indeed, my lady. They have been very welcoming ever since I told them that I would handle all matters regarding my lady."

"How about outside folks?"

"Hm.. Well, I only know of one person. She handles a bakery and I've been buying treats from her ever since we settled here. She's a very kind woman, only problem is, she speaks way too much like no one would even trust her with their secrets. hehe"

"Just what we needed.."

Soon enough, news between nobles have reached their homes about the arrival of the Duke and Duchess Hugh but what caught their interest was the new adopted daughter they have never heard before. This peaked their interest and have decided to hold parties with the intent to make Arista appear before them.

"Lady Risa, these are the invitations that came today." Rose said as she placed the invitations infront of Arista before going to in line with the other maids.

"I see.. Thank you, Rose!" Arista said with a smile.

Because of the sudden uproar in the capital, the old couple has brought in more maid to show off that I am not merely their adopted daughter. These past few months were for naught.

Arista spread the invitations and flinched as her eyes fixed on one envelop with the seal of a serpent with two heads.

What a perfect looking envelop..

She said, flashing a small grin that nobody saw.

--

"Welcome, Duchess Annabelle. And this must be your lovely daughter, Risa! Oh, I've heard so much about you!" The Duchess of the Sinclair household greeted.

"Thank you so much!" Risa said as she politely bowed down.

"Oh, my. What a perfect greeting! So elegant and humble at the same time!" Duchess Sinclair praised.

"She is our pride and joy." Duchess Hugh responded as she pat Arista's head.

"Maids, please assist the duchess and lady to the garden."

"Yes, your highness." the maids responded as they lead duchess Hugh and Arista. Arista held the duchess' hand that made her look at Arista.

"Mom... thanks for coming." She said with a smile.

"If it's for our dear daughter, I would do anything." She responded.

At the garden, The duchess was to separate with Arista and converse with the adults while Arista go over to people her age.

"You must be Arista, the ADOPTED daughter of duke and duchess Hugh." A petite girl with blonde hair remarked as the girls behind her giggle.

Wait.. why is this girl familiar?

"I am, indeed. It's an honor to be noticed by such an esteemed young lady of high society." Arista bowed, flustering the girl in front of her.

"W-Well...it's nice that you know. i-if you need any help, you can come find me anytime!" She said with her head held high. The two girls behind her became confused at the change of character of the young girl.

Arista conversed with every young lady and lad at the tea party, pleasing and praising them for the smallest detail she could find.

"It's the crown prince!!! Kyaaaaaa" a young screamed as everyone's attention focused on the blonde haired handsome young man.

The crown prince.. because of the infertile emperor Ozan II, the crown prince had to be his younger brother who is also the son of the late emperor Ozan. Due to the large age gap, the crown prince was adopted by his older brother to succeed the throne and maintain the royal bloodline. What a disastrous family?

These squealing girls seemed to not attract any attention at all. I guess..

"The crown prince is indeed so handsome~" Arista remarked as the blonde haired girl from before faced her.

"Hey. Don't fall for him. He is mine, you know and only mine."

"Of course, Lady Silvia. You two would make such a great couple." Arista smiled, flustering Silvia.

"Tsk." the crown prince said, hearing the both of them.

Hm? Tsk? What a spoiled brat? Why would anyone even fall for that sour behavior? But somehow.. why do they all sound familiar..

After a while, Arista moved out of the crowd to relieve herself. Going around the tree parts of the property, she found a boy with gray hair pinning a girl to the tree.

H-How vulgar!!! At such a young age, they shouldn't be kissing in places like this!!

"Your grace, please not in a place like." the girl said blushing.

"Why not? Isn't it normal for couples to kiss and do things together? Are we.. not a couple?"

The girl attacked him with a kiss as they both intimately kissed each other.

What the actual fck!? These people aren't normal! I gotta find somewhere to release this stress..

Arista walked away further into the foresty property.

"Huh?" The gray haired boy walked up to where Arista was and found a strand of silver hair lying on the ground.

This is so wrong. How are children able to do such vulgar things and actually not feel guilty about it!?

After walking a while, Arista found herself almost hit by a dagger that came from the bushes.

W-What the hell!?

"Ugh. Now, I gotta collect them all again." A red haired boy said as he moved towards Arista who immediately ran away after the traumatic dagger almost ended her life.

"What's this?" The red haired boy found silver hair strands that were obviously cut by something sharp.

What the hell are up with these weird series of events!?

Arista stopped on her tracks as a familiar color caught her eyes. She looked towards where she saw it and found a girl with silver hair resting beneath a tree. A book lying down on her lap, while her silver hair waved by the wind. Entranced by this, she walked towards the girl but stopped when she felt someone coming near.

The crown prince?

The crown prince crouched down to the silver-haired girl as he caressed her hair.

Wait a fcking minute.

Arista looked around the area as she found the gray haired boy from earlier looking at the girl and the crown prince and on the other side, the red haired boy also looking at them. Arista fell on her knees and smirked.

The gods are definitely siding me on this. What a fcking miracle! This is much more than what I've expected! How can this be!? How can god intently give me a setting that should be played in the palm of my mothrfcking hands!?

Arista grinned so wide she couldn't hide it as she walk away from the scene.

--

The night came as Arista became much busier than before, writing something down.

If I recall correctly, this is a world in a novel called 'Poor Princess'. A girl who instantaneously made 3 important guys in the kingdom fall for her. The crown prince, a duke, and the captain of the dragon knights. They said she was unlike any other girl they have met and her name was, ELIZABETH.

I don't know why I didn't suspect this sooner while reading the titles of the barons and marquis of the capital. What a fcking godly gift this is?

But the problem is, it's a romance novel and there were so less events and stances that would benefit me in my plan. Nonetheless, no matter how small it is, I can confidently assume that they hold very important roles for this plan to actually work.

Hm..

So, if this is all according to the novel, my character should supposedly be dead. It was such a small detail in the novel that I didn't even notice the moment I was born. The tragic death of the duke and duchess of Hendel that will ultimately lead to the duke male lead to claim the city. But the tragedy didn't happen until later in the novel.. it could be that my existence has tampered the flow and that would mean that there will still be holes in my plans. Nevertheless, the goal now is to get the male leads to be on my side without tampering with the original plot. If I could just be friends with them without winning their favors then it would be very likely that I wouldn't tamper the plot much.

Arista leaned forward to her desk as her hair fell in front of her.

Huh?

She noticed that some of the strands on her hair were returning to its original color.

Luckily, no one noticed them. I'll dye them tomorrow and just think about how to do everything else by then.

Arista turned off her night lamp and fell to her bed.

Today, was a very fruitful day. The game is now at my advantage. What a wasteful life this is if I didn't make those scumbags beg for their lives?

To be continued..