Rebirth of The Villainess Princess

Chapter 4: Nightmare

‘’Your Highness, you called for me?’’

Duke Larenz was as dashing and good-looking as always. He carried himself with unmatched elegance that somehow made him more intimidating. One of his charms that many women can’t help being drawn to is the mysterious air around him, and his lavender almond eyes add to that mysterious charm.

‘’Your Excellency, I have something to say to you’’, she said, as her emerald eyes were gazing straight at his eyes. The beautiful lady in front of him looked so delicate and fragile. However, it seemed like the duke wasn’t moved by her weak yet captivating appearance.

‘’Please speak your mind, your highness.’’ He said coolly, but the urgency was evident in his voice. It was obvious that he was not quite pleased to leave his bride-to-be alone at the banquet.

Just after Duke Larenz spoke, Catherine got straight to the point ‘’Your excellency, I...I like you.’’

‘’What?’’

Ivanna, who was eavesdropping on their conversation, nearly knocked down the flower vase beside her. Fortunately, she caught it on time, or else the sound of its crashing would make her be discovered.

‘Geez, that was close. Phew’

The duke was stunned for a while but lightly chuckled as he recovered from the sudden confession he received from the princess.

‘’Your highness, I’m sorry if I have to leave you now. My beloved duchess is waiting for me.’’

The duke made his intention clear that he would not accept her feelings. He even emphasized the ‘beloved duchess’ even though the wedding ceremony had yet to be held, implying that Melody was the only love of his life.

Catherine was not even bothered by it, a blooming smile even appeared on her face. She boldly advanced closer to the duke ‘’Your Excellency, I am Princess Catherine. I know you knew that I could get anything I wanted.’’

She lifted her hands and attempted to touch his face but the duke stepped backward and looked away before she could even touch him.

His brows furrowed, showing his growing annoyance towards the princess. He knew that behind her innocent facade there was a demoness secretly hiding her fangs.

He felt more uncomfortable as time passed and spent time alone with Catherine.

‘’Your highness, I will only love one woman in this lifetime.’’ He stepped forward and lightly pushed Catherine so he could make a way for an escape from her.

‘’You said in this lifetime? Then...I still have a chance.’’ She tiptoed and gave the duke a peck on his cheeks. It was quick and the duke was frozen in surprise.

Ivanna gasped. She was stunned. Although she knew how Catherine could do any malicious things, she never imagined she could boldly make a move chasing a man who was about to get married to another woman.

It made her blood boil seeing her sister like this. ‘’How dare she do this and with the duke! How about Melody!?’’ she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

When the duke recovered from the shock, he quickly withdrew without any formalities, leaving the princess behind.

Ivanna used this moment to step in and confront her sister. She unpinned her hair and used the piece of her hair ornament as a dagger. The tip of the hairpiece was sharp and could easily cut through the flesh. She pulled it off and attacked Catherine, but instead of landing the attack directly on her sister, she purposely let it miss intentionally, hitting the wall behind Catherine instead.

Giving her a quick death wasn’t her plan, anyway.

Catherine turned around and saw the person who had just launched an attack on her. ‘’Elder sister?’’

Ivanna stepped out of the dark. She walked towards Catherine, arms across her chest, as she glared at her, perhaps sharper than a dagger in her direction.

Two eyes meet, one is emerald and one is obsidian, a depressing atmosphere eventually built between them. No one wanted to back down at their staring contest. The atmosphere between them intensified.

‘’Don’t you dare ruin Melody’s engagement. I will definitely tear you into pieces!’’ Ivanna’s heart was as heavy as the words she said.

Catherine laughed. Her voice may sound sweet and her laugh may sound angelic, but for Ivanna, it only made her skin crawl. Catherine didn’t bother anymore with hiding her true face in front of her sister.

‘’My dear elder sister, won’t you make your little sister happy by giving her what she wants?’’

‘’No! You can have any man you desire, but not Duke Larenz.’’ Step by step, she was moving closer to her until Catherine was cornered at the walls where the weapon-like hair ornament was buried.

She effortlessly pulled the dagger off the wall and pointed its tip at Catherine’s elegant, swan-like neck. Her movement was smooth and swift as she sent another sharp glare towards Catherine, exuding a thick killing intent.

‘’Don’t worry sister, I will not let you fall behind,’’ Catherine said not even flinching a bit under her murderous gaze.

‘’What do you mean?’’ Ivanna was suddenly confused and anxious as well. Why did Catherine say that?

The end of her lips slightly turned upwards. ‘’It’s a secret.’’ she chuckled as Ivanna’s face turned sour. ‘’Please, be patient, sister, something big will happen tonight and you…’’ her face weirdly softens. She lifted her hands and brushed her cheeks lightly as if she was full of love.

‘’...will be a great contributor. Doesn’t it sound great sister?.’’ Ivanna’s look became more serious. She brushed off her hands, completely suspicious of what Catherine was thinking.

‘’What are you scheming?’’

‘’You’ll find out. Just wait and see.’’ She flashed a radiant smile which made Ivanna more triggered.

‘’You-’’ She was about to launch an attack but she stopped midway.

‘’Why did you stop? Kill me, go on sister. Kill your little sister as well. You are sure not satisfied with Mikael’s death, don’t you?’’ Catherine knew Ivanna's weakness. She could be impulsive once she turned furious. Then, she will use it well to her advantage against her.

‘’You - ‘’ Her gritted teeth could bleed blood. She was on the verge of exploding at that moment. She truly wanted to kill her but stopped herself.

‘’Touch her and I will not hesitate to cut your throat.’’ She grabbed her from the wall and harshly shoved her aside. Catherine fell to the ground. She didn’t fight back and just let Ivanna hurt her, but a taunting laugh escaped from her lips.

‘’Hurt me more sister, so every favor will all be mine.’’

Ivanna’s eyes reddened in anger. She forcefully pulled up Catherine to stand clutching her slim arms harshly.

Resentment and disappointment filled her eyes.

‘’What did you do?’’ She said were cold and Catherine slightly shuddered but she managed to display her smug face.

‘’You are such a fool, Ivanna.’’

Ivanna quickly let her go and ran back inside the banquet. Anxiety clouded her mind.

‘Melody, where are you?’

Her eyes scanned the crowd to find Melody but she couldn’t see her. She spotted her personal maid standing at the corner of the hall, seeming like she was waiting for her lady.

‘’Rhea, where is your lady?’’ She walked towards her but she sensed something wrong to the maid. ‘’Are you okay?’’

She looked pale and was slightly shaking. Ivanna thought she might be feeling sick.

“You should take a rest if you are not feeling well.’’

‘’T-Thank you, your highness.’’ she curtsied and forced a smile.

‘’Do you know where your lady is now?’’ she asked her once again.

‘’Eh? Y-Your highness...didn’t you….didn’t you call for my lady?’’ she tilted her head in confusion.

‘’Me?’’

‘’Y-Yes, your highness. The maid you sent said it was urgent, so my lady quickly left to meet you.’’

Ivanna’s heart sank and started to beat faster.

‘What in the world is happening? What are you scheming, Catherine?’

‘’I never sent a maid or asked for your lady.’’

‘’What? Then...why did my lady…’’

‘’Listen!’’ She looked straight at the maid and put her hands on her shoulders. Her face was serious. Her breath was unsteady.

‘’Look for Lord Stefan and secretly tell him that Melody might be in danger.’’ The maid looked terrified when she heard there must be something bad happening to her lady. It took her a long moment before she could give a nod to the princess.

‘’Where did your lady go?’’

‘’Garden...It’s the Rose Garden…’’

Before the maid could finish what she was saying, Ivanna fled to the Rose Garden. Unfortunately, unlike the Sunflower Garden just right behind the banquet hall, where she confronted Catherine, this one was very far away. She cursed under her breath while running as if her life depended on it.

Her steps were large and quick. She was so desperate to get there and find her before something would happen.

‘Melody, wait for me.’

She quickened herself but it still took her a few minutes to arrive at the Rose Garden. As long as she got inside…

‘’Melody! Melody where are y-’’

‘’Aaaaaahh-’’

Splash!

She suddenly heard someone scream followed by a splashing sound nearby.

Her heart beat fast. Fear started to disrupt her whole being. She remembered there is a large man-made lake inside the garden. She quickly moved and rushed in that direction.

She arrived at the lake and saw someone drowning. She was horrified when she discovered who the person was. ‘’Melody!’’

She right away lifted her long skirt, intending to jump into the freezing lake and save Melody.

But when she was about to jump, someone harshly pulled her back. As quick as the lightning, a large hard object hit her head, not giving her a chance to react.

Instantly, Ivanna fell to the ground unconsciously.

Dizziness fell upon her as her eyelids uncontrollably dropped. She forced herself to stay awake but failed.

Slowly, her vision started to get blurry and her world submerged into darkness.

Her hands were desperately reaching for someone but something restricted her to do so. Her mind could only scream Melody’s name as her throat couldn't find its voice.

The last scene she saw before her eyes closed was her friend helplessly drowning in the lake.

No matter how much she fought her way and broke free from darkness, weakness still prevailed.

The next time she woke up, her head was aching and her eyes felt heavy. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying in her own bed.

She was in her room.

‘’What happened? I remember I was in the garden and I saw Melody - ‘’, she said as she held her head.

‘’Your Highness! Your Highness!’’ As soon as she sat on her bed with a throbbing head, she heard the voice of her maid, running to her room.

Her voice sounded like something urgent and serious came up.

‘’Your Highness, I’m sorry for troubling but...but you have to get up now.’’ The maid quickly helped the princess to get off her bed.

‘’What is happening?’’ Ivanna weakly asked her maid who was anxiously moving back and forth, helping her to dress up and packing up things she didn’t know she would need unless she was planning to go somewhere.

The maid searched through the deepest part of her closet to find an outdoor outfit she didn’t have a chance to wear even once.

Ivanna couldn’t help but raise her brows when her maid helped her wear the outfit.

‘’Hey, am I going somewhere? Why are you making me wear this?’’

The maid’s movement was unusually quick. Ivanna sensed something was not right about her.

‘’The older and the cheaper the clothes, the better.’’

‘’Wait. What?’’

‘’Your Highness, you...you have to leave the palace now.’’

‘’What happened? Why would I need to leave and do you have any news about Melody?’’

Her maid stopped and stare at the princess for a few seconds.’’A-About...Lady Melody?’’ Ivanna felt something was definitely wrong. There was fear and confusion in her eyes.

‘Isn’t it only a nightmare? What if what I saw on my dreams is not really a dream but real?’’

Ivanna shuddered. She can’t accept it if it turns out to be real.

‘’Your Highness, I know there’s no way you could’ve done that but you - ‘’

The maid hadn’t finished what she was about to say when uninvited guests entered the eldest princess’ palace.

‘’Your highness, Princess Ivanna.’’ A man dressed in an imperial palace guard uniform entered her room together with six more guards.

They paid respect to the princess as long as they saw her.

Ivanna straightened her posture and plastered a bright smile facing them.

‘’What took you here today to visit me in my place, officers?’’

They briefly looked at each other before they responded to her. The highest rank among them stepped forward.

Ahem. Their nervousness in front of her was obvious. Her notorious public image as a villainess didn’t miss their ears. She was unrighteously popular among them. So they have to be very careful.

‘’Your Highness, please come with us.’’

‘’And why would I come with you?’’ In the guards’ eyes, she look terrifying. Her gaze was cold and intimidating.

The guard gathered and conserved courage before he could speak in front of the princess.

‘’Your Highness, you are proven as the murderer of Lady Agnes.’’

‘’...’’ Her mind turned completely blank. ‘Why are they speaking such nonsense?’

A minute had already passed but Ivanna had no reaction and they remained standing like that.

“W-Who...who is the Lady Agnes you are referring to?’’

‘’Your highness, she is Duke Larenz’s fiance. The duke….’’

A laugh came out from Ivanna’s dried lips and it went on for a few minutes until she let herself fall down on the floor.

‘’Your highness!’’ The maid quickly went closer to her and tried to help her stand.

Ivanna, who can’t accept reality, silently shed tears. No sound. Don’t know how to describe her emotions at the moment, she could only have tears and a pair of soulless eyes.

‘’A murderer? It is impossible! Her Highness is Lady Agnes’ best friend! She will never do that.’’ The maid defended the princess. Ivanna stood on the floor, devastated. She didn’t care anymore whether she had to retain her princess image in front of the guards.

Her maid was crying as well, while the guards kept their place.

‘’Melody…’’ Ivanna would not believe them until she saw Melody. ‘’You are all lying. She was not -’’

‘’Please, your highness. You have to go with us. You can confirm if we are truly lying or not.’’ The guards plead. If the princess refused to go with them, they will have to use force, which is something they don’t want to do.

‘’No! The princess is not coming with anyone. It is not her fault!’’

‘’Enough!’’ Ivanna just wanted silence this time. She didn't believe what they told her about Melody.

She was also feeling dizzy. Flashes of images of what probably happened last night rushed and filled her head.

"A-Are you okay, your highness?" The maid asked, worried about the princess' condition.

"Yes." She looked at the guards as she stood up from the floor. "I'll go with you."