DISLIKING THE MALE LEAD

CHAPTER 3

"What prophecy? Tell me, Your Majesty?" Ara Bella demanded, her voice laced with urgency. The King and Queen exchanged a tense glance, and the Queen subtly shook her head, as if warning the King to Keep the truth hidden for now. The King's expression turned calculating as he turned back to her.

"I'll reveal the prophecy's details.... if you agree to marry the Prince of Terra Kingdom." Ara Bella's eyes flashed with anger, and her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"I refuse to marry the prince," She declared, her voice firm and resolute. "No matter what you threaten or promise, my answer remains the same. If you won't tell me about the prophecy, then so be it. But don't expect me to surrender my freedom and happiness to a loveless marriage with someone I've never wanted." Her eyes blazed with determination, daring her parents to challenge her resolve.

The king's face turned purple with rage. "You're a disobedient, ungrateful child," he shouted. "You'll do as you're told, or you'll face the consequences."

Her eyes flashed with defiance. "I'll find another way," she said. "I'll find a way to save our kingdom without marrying that...that... prince."

Ara Bella stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was taking a risk, but she couldn't bring herself to marry Prince Calcion. She'd rather die than be trapped in a loveless marriage with that arrogant prince.

As the king's anger continued to simmer, her mind was racing. She needed a plan, and fast. She couldn't let them force her into this marriage. But what could she do?

"Why should I suffer for the sake of this kingdom?" Ara Bella thought, frustration simmering beneath her surface. "They abandoned me, left me to live a life without a title or expectations. And now, out of nowhere, they want to claim me as their royal princess and force me into a marriage with the Prince of Terra? It's absurd!" She scoffed at the absurdity of it all. "What kind of story is this? Why me? Why did I have to be the one to play the role of Eliana?" Her patience was wearing thin, and she longed for the simplicity of her life in the modern world, where she was just a carefree woman without the weight of royal responsibilities.

"Your Majesty, I believe Princess Eliana is still grappling with the sudden revelations. Perhaps it's wise to grant her a brief reprieve, allowing her to collect her thoughts and come to terms with her new circumstances," a deep, melodious voice interjected. Ara Bella turned to identify the speaker, her gaze meeting the piercing eyes of a tall, striking figure with ash silver hair that mirrored her own. The man's regal bearing and effortless elegance bespoke a noble lineage, and she sensed the unmistakable aura of a royalty surrounding him.

The king's sigh was audible, a low, measured breath that spoke of his concern. "You're right, Duke Henry," he said, his voice tinged with understanding. "Eliana is still grappling with the revelations." His eyes turned to her, filled with a gentle kindness. "Princess Eliana, take a moment to collect your thoughts. We'll speak again when you're feeling more composed."

With a final curtsy, she took her leave of the king and queen. As she turned to depart, her gaze drifted back to the man, and she caught him looking at her. A faint smile played on his lips, but his eyes remained guarded, their depths unreadable. Ara Bella's curiosity was piqued - who was Duke Henry, and what lay behind his enigmatic smile?

As they strolled back to her chambers, the maid's soft footsteps accompanied Ara Bella's own.

"Duke Henry? He's the king's younger brother, and Prince Ely's tutor," the maid explained, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes locked onto the maid's, her curiosity evident.

"Who is Prince Ely?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine interest. The maid's expression remained serene.

"Prince Ely is the Crown Prince of Eldrid Kingdom, Your Highness. He's your younger brother, Princess Eliana."

The more she thought about it, the more she realized how little she knew about the kingdom. But honestly, she didn't care. One thing was certain: she had no intention of staying. Her mind was made up - she would escape this place, no matter the cost, to avoid being forced into a marriage with that insufferable prince. The very thought of it made her skin crawl.

Ara Bella's gaze drifted out the window, her eyes clouded with a mix of melancholy and desperation. It had been a day since she'd woken up in this strange new world, and she couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped. She'd tried to sleep, hoping to wake up and find it was all just a dream, but reality remained stubbornly unchanged. Frustration welled up inside her as she raked her hands through her hair. Not only was she struggling to find a way back home, but she was also burdened with the mysterious prophecy and the worst part - being forced to marry her most hated character in the novel, Prince Calcion.

Ugh, if I ever meet him, I'll give him a piece of my mind, and maybe a punch or two, for all the misery he's caused Duke Rowan. Sarina's got it easy, being from the real world and all, and she's a huge fan of the second lead, so the goddess of this world chose her to rewrite Duke Rowan's fate. Talk about luck! Meanwhile, I'm stuck here, dealing with Eliana's problems. Can't I just go back home? Why did it have to be me? It would be okay if I had some connection to the real world, but I'm already missing milk tea!

Her jaw dropped in astonishment as a cold cup of milk tea materialized in her hand, as if magic brought it forth "W-wait, what's going on? How did this get here? Why do I suddenly have milk tea?"