The Villainess Doesn't Want To Live

Untitled Episode

There was a popular story that circulated throughout the continent for years, and even now, talking about it would be consider as taboo. This is the dreadful story of the Astral Duchy.

Megaria's mother, Aria Elizabeth Guivanna, is the exiled Princess of the Eastern Empire, the country next to ours. She renounced her title because she refused to marry the current Western Empire King and instead, she chose this godforsaken douchebag, Azure Astral, Megaria's father. Eventually, the King exiled his only daughter.

Aria and Azure got married and became parents of two. They were happy and were living the best of their lives, not until Aria became pregnant with Megaria. She became ill and not too long after, she was given a choice: to save her life or the child. Aria chose the baby in her womb, which made Azure mad. The Duke sought the best doctors, healers and magicians throughout the continent, but no one could identify the cause of her sickness nor a way to save them both. Eventually, Aria died because she chose to give birth.

After the unexpected death of Princess Aria, the Eastern King vowed to wage war if something happens to Megaria, his one and only granddaughter. The King and the Duchy grieved for years for the death of Aria, the investigations were still ongoing but even after 16 years, there were still no clues of how the only Princess of the Eastern Empire and the Duchess of Astral became ill and died.

Megaria grew up seeking for love and affection from the people around her but all she received were cold shoulders and silent treatments. As time goes by, she grew up into a beautiful lady and a notorious Villainess. As she got older, she realized that she was alone and no matter how nasty and spoiled she could be, no one would reprimand her. She was the talk of the town as the infamous villainess of the Eastern Empire. She was mad but happy with her freedom and riches. But 16 years later, Megaria was branded as a criminal after the death of her stepmother and stepsister. This incident drove her mad and before the Imperial Knights could arrest her, she committed suicide.

And that was how the tragedy of the Astral Duchy ended. The novel started when she was 16 years old and before the story could progress any further, she died.

"Wait…"

The novel didn't even state who the main characters were. The story started with Megaria and ended with Megaria. No, wait, did it really end with her? Was the story finished at her death or not? Was she not the main character? Did the Eastern King waged war? What was the title of the novel again?

"Ugh."

I clutched my aching head. Oddly enough, my head starts to throb when I try to remember the novel. It feels like someone keeps on banging my head with a hammer. I steadied my breathing and tried to erase whatever thoughts I was having about the novel.

After a few minutes, my head finally calmed down.

Strange. The more I try to remember, the more my memory becomes hazy. It's like someone erased some parts of the novel from my memory and this was the only thing they left behind.

I leaned back on the chair and calmed my heart. Should I stay here and let the original novel unfold or change it? How can I even change it when I can't remember anything except for that useless information? I can't even leave this place.

Should I die again?

I glanced at the window; the weather was nice. I would love to take a walk in the sun right now.

It's been almost 2 weeks that I've been here, and I never got the chance to go sightsee. Also, it's been 4 days that I haven't consumed anything other than the glass of water that was on my side table on the day I was grounded.

I'm famished. Am I going to die starving?

I rubbed my forehead out of frustration; this won't do.

I rummaged through my closet and was greeted by my dresses that are so out of season. I couldn't help but snort.

The Duke really knows how to neglect his biological daughter. He could win the title, "The Bastard Father" if there is one.

After a few minutes of treasure hunting, I finally found the most casual dress that I'll need later. I picked up the black cloak that was in the innermost part of my closet and went to my dressing table and opened my jewelry box. If I want to eat, I need money.

It's 3 in the afternoon, I need to wait until its midnight to escape and find food.

I stared at the window again and tried to picture out the structure of this mansion. I'm on the second floor of the house, which is better than being on the third floor. I tied my sheets and hid them under one sheet. I carefully packed my things and put them under the bed.

After my preparations, I started calculating the time. Nine hours. I guess I can still survive that. I survived a month with nothing but water before, so how can I not survive this?

For now, I need rest if I want to eat later.

************

"What are you doing here? Why are you still alive?!"

I stared at the person in front of me. My mother is still pretty, even at the age of forty. I couldn't help but smile while admiring her face.

"Why are you smiling, you ugly b***h?!"

My brother punched my face and all I could do was laugh. Why? I didn't do anything wrong. I never asked to be born, so why are they doing this?

"You are useless."

The image blurred and now, all I can see is darkness. I shivered from the coldness of this nothingness. And just like the old days, there was no reason for me to find the way out because it didn't exist, so I just stood there with my head down.

As I was contemplating for how long I was going to be trapped here, I suddenly heard voices, multiple voices echoing in this emptiness.

"You should've died."

Amidst the multiple voices that echoed throughout this endless abyss, my head snapped at the voice that I always dreaded hearing.

The moment I hear its voice, the multiple voices all fade out until all I can hear is this one horrifying voice. Its voice is one of those modern demonic movies that you hear when they try to whisper to the protagonist. I can handle its voice but what I could never stand is what I see and experience afterwards.

As my eyes roam in the darkness, I found two pair of ruby eyes staring at me like it was about to devour me whole. It's red-bright flame, making a snake shaped body floated like a giant hot air balloon, it's long, forked, snake-like tongue slithers as it made its way towards me.

"You should have died."

As its voice grew closer, its body also started to get closer.

"You should have died!"

As it roared, its wide jaw opened and engulfed me again into the abyss.

Ah. Here we go again.

***********

I woke up sweating and shaking so badly. My white nightgown was covered in sweat, I touched my cheek and the pain from the punch still lingers. I couldn't help but grasp my hair out of frustration. How many times have this happened? I'm sick and tired of it, damn that creepy snake bastard.

"Ha, hahaha."

Unknowingly, my laugh echoed loudly in my room. No one's going to hear me anyway, and it's not like they'll care.

My thoughts were soon cut off as my chest started to tighten. I tried to calm this weak heart of hers or was it mine. Damn it, I don't even know anymore. When I started living in this body, I found out that Megaria has a frail heart, and I never expected that the aftereffects of my nightmares, in which I grew accustomed with my old body, would be this painful in this body of hers. Damn it.

There's no water here, so I had to make do with just breathing. Yes, I do want to die but not like this.

After a few minutes, I finally calmed down.

I stared at the window emotionless and noticed the darkness outside. Guess, it's time.

Trying to stand myself up from my bed was a bit hard; all the energy that I tried to save by sleeping was drained just because of that f*****g nightmare.

It's half past eleven already, I need to hurry.

After a few minutes of struggling to get dressed, I am finally done. My trembling didn't stop but I had to endure this. My nightmare and hunger probably started to hit me because my head started to ache and my vision is a bit hazy. Nevertheless, I shook off the feeling.

I really need food. It's true that I want to die, but not of hunger.

I gathered the sheets that were at the bottom of my bed and threw them outside the window after confirming that it was safe. I took a glance down and, alas, my trembling got worse. I guess my fear of heights is still here, huh?

Calming my heart is really a pain in the neck, my worst nemesis is height, but I really have to do this if I don't want to be rumored as the rich villainess who died of hunger. The thought made me snort.

I grasped the sheet and slowly climbed down and, for the love of god, can I be unluckier than this? As cliché as it is, the sheet was not enough. I quickly estimated how high it was if I jumped down.

If I was Nicole in my past life, this is only a piece of cake, but Megaria's body is weak so I have to consider that. Luckily, I think this body could withstand the impact if I jumped from this height.

I was about to let go of the sheet when a man was walking underneath me. I bit my lip in frustration and shut my eyes tightly. I want to scream so loud and curse the heaven and hell.

I mean, why don't you just kill me already and not make me suffer through all this s**t so you could save your time and collect more souls and guide them to the afterlife! You can also collect mine if you have the conscience, you freaking pricks!

I sighed silently, this is not going exactly as I planned. I just want to eat! Is that so hard to understand? Damn it.

I looked down and my jaw dropped upon seeing the person below me. Oh, screw this. Why, of all people, does it have to be Kayden?

I stared at the sky and down below.

I inwardly sighed.

Are you all bullshitting me?

I couldn't help but curse the heavens.

*****

My grasp is almost loosening, my dizziness got worse, I'm covered in cold sweat but he's still there. How many minutes has it been? 5? 10? I don't know, I lost track of time as I was busy trying to keep my sanity intact. I could already feel the tightening of my chest and that jerk was still down there!

Please, for the love of god, just go away. Please.

"My Lord, the Duke is looking for you."

I panicked when a man appeared out of nowhere and spoke to Kayden. The gods must have taken pity on me, but please, I beg both of you not to look up.

I didn't realize I was holding my breath when I watched them leave the place. It was then that I finally learned how to get oxygen in my lungs again. After confirming they were gone, I hurriedly braced myself for impact and jumped into the bushes. I felt a sharp pang in my right shoulder and left leg.

"Curse these twigs."

Really, Megaria, when I can finally leave the room, I'm going to train this godforsaken body of yours.

I looked around me and walked towards the hidden door that I found last week, before my so-called father grounded me, when I was roaming around the castle, fleeing from Lucy and Layla's gaze to be exact. It was hidden deep in the mini forest at the back of the mansion.

The Duchy was surrounded by massive walls. One of the places that was inside the wall was the mini forest. It's not that far from where I jumped, so it only took me a few minutes to arrive at the hidden door.

Suddenly, the small clock tower of the Duchy started ringing, signaling that it was already midnight. While looking for the door, I hid from bushes and trees that could help me from hiding my existence, just in case somebody was patrolling from afar and noticed me.

There was one thing I learned from the moment I came into this world: the Knights of House Astral are not something to be taken lightly.

I finally arrived and fortunately, I couldn't spot any knights guarding the door. Well, from what I heard, this door was most likely abandoned. Only a few knew its location and not many people would roam around the forest in the middle of the night, so they decided to guard the door on important occasions only.

I yanked the door open and a street where the Duchy resided greeted me. From what I can recall, this door is at the eastern part of the Duchy.

The Duchy resides in a remote place, but just enough to avoid hearing the busy night of the Empire's capital. If travelling by carriage at an average speed, it would take less than 15 minutes from the capital.

And since carriage is not an option, I have no other choice but to make use of my feet. I scanned the vicinity before tugging my cloak closer to me. The night is a bit cold and I need to avoid the main street. My gaze fell on the forest that surrounded the east side of the Duchy, if I go straight here it will directly lead me to the entrance of the capital.

"Hah."

I brushed the strands of my hair that were covering my face and started to walk towards the forest as stealthily as I could. I had no other choice but to walk on this dreadful path. My only hope is that I won't encounter a snake in this godforsaken mini forest.

"Ha…"

I was panting hard when the bright light of the capital greeted me. I have no idea how in the world I managed to come here. I don't even know how long I was walking. I looked down and found my leg, which had been scratched by the twigs earlier, bleeding.

My vision started to get blurry and I couldn't help but grasp the cloak of the man who was about to pass me. I couldn't see his face because I was a bit disoriented. If I fall right now, I'm sure that I'll pass out.

I tried to focus my eyes on him, I could feel him talking but I couldn't hear anything, my knees were about to fail me, my whole body was trembling, and my head was throbbing.

He was still talking but all I could hear was buzzing. I tried to open my mouth to speak and I could only manage to say,

"Food… I'll… Pay."

And then I blacked out… hopefully for good.