The Villainess's Law of Survival

CHAPTER 1: SUDDENLY BECOME A VILLAINESS

"Lady Lara!"

"Lady Lara."

"Milady, please wake up!"

I heard someone whispering above me. Or maybe yelling above me.

'So noisy.'

Even though I was fast asleep, I was able to wake up even by the smallest presence of someone.

"Lady."

The cautious loud voice was heard again. 

'Is she calling me?' 

I was drowsy when I was lost in my thoughts that I couldn't answer the call right away.

It was a moment later when suddenly I was struck by a sudden memory of me crashing into a rushing car. 

I blinked my eyes open and looked at the woman staring at me with a spirited expression. She had thick, golden-brown hair that tumbled to her chest, and she kept calling me "Lady Lara". My true name was " Hailey Gray", though I've never been called "Lady Lara" in my entire life.

Where am I?

I stared blankly at the golden-brown hair woman.

"I thought you were prepared to go, but here you are slacking again. Lady Lara." The woman said.

"Wait, to go where?"

"You're supposed to go with your brother and finish a mission. Did you forget my Lady?" The words dug into my ear like a pick. 

Wait. Wait a minute. When did the hell I have a brother?!  I am only my mom's child!

"Whose brother?" I asked nervously. Oh god, please don't tell me what I'm thinking. 

"Of course your brother, the young Master Steve.."

Steve?

Wait. . .

That name. . . Sounds familiar, where did I hear it?

Steve! Steve! Steve! Steve. Ah!

"S-Steve.." I pronounce his name with a trembling voice.  I laughed awkwardly and touched my long frosty hair that came to my waist.

 'How can this be?'

As I continued to lay in bed with a dumbfounded expression, the woman with golden-brown hair grew more frustrated.

"My Lady, you're going to be late!"

I snapped back into alertness. "Where am I supposed to go?" I asked slowly.

She impatiently forced me out of bed, then began to help me prepare with the other maids of the mansion. Wash, dress, make-up... I surrendered myself to the maids like a doll. Until now, I was still unable to fully comprehend what had happened to me. If I recalled correctly... 

Flashback...

"Hailey, wake up! Or else you'll be late for your school." I groaned when I heard my mom's loud voice downstairs.

"Yes. Yes. Coming! I'm already awake!" I shout back and lie down again.

There's no way I'm late, my alarm clock hasn't rung yet. Mom is exaggerating the time again.

'Five minutes more.' I thought to myself.  'Just five minutes. . . '

I was about to fall asleep again when someone loudly breaks into my room and yell in my ear.

"Hailey! Wake up right now!" I heard Lilly yell in my ear. 

I  groaned and covered my head with my fluffy pillow trying to block her loud voice out. 

"Go away, Lilly! I'm trying to sleep here!" I said at her through the pillow, though I'm sure it came out muffled.

"Don't you have any idea what time it is already?" She asks.

Instead of answering her, I ignore her and turned my head in the other direction.

"Alright. Hailey, you leave me with no choice then. . . Don't blame me." She said before everything become suspiciously silent. Just as I'm about to check what she's doing, a  long smoke-colored fur with a white patch, fur-like silk, and eyes that shine like peridots jump in front of me making me scream my lung out and roll over the floor.

'Ouch!' My butt hurts from the fall.

"Lilly! What is your furry cat doing in my room?" I yelled and frantically tried to crawl away as possible. 

"Duh. Obviously waking you up." She rolled her eyes.

"Didn't I tell you that this furry cat is not allowed in my room? Why did you bring her here, again?" 

"She has a name. Hailey, it's Veronica. Not 'Furry cat.'"

I sighed. 

"Okay. I get it, So both of you and your Veronica, out of my room!"

"Why are you being so hot-headed early in the morning? Do you have your period today?" She stupidly asks.

Silence.

"I said get out. Now."

"Okay. Okay. Chill." She steps forward to my bed, grabs Veronica, and sneakily runs out of my door.

Just on time when my alarm clock rings loudly, a sign that I should start moving.

I hurriedly turn it off and pick up the pillow I threw earlier and went to the bathroom to prepare myself up.  

After I finished the same routine I do every morning. I ready my things and pack up before I leave my room and go downstairs. I saw my mom preparing our breakfast as usual.

"Morning, Mom." I kissed her cheeks gently before sitting in front of the table.

"Good morning sweetheart, how's your sleep?" She asks while putting food on my plate. 

"Good, I'm just a little bit tired from studying late at night yesterday," I exclaimed.

"Really? Then, do you feel okay? I've already told you to not overdo yourself. Just stay here if you're unwell, I'll call your professor to tell them." She said to me looking really worried.

"No need mom, you know how I hate special attention right? Don't worry, I'm alright. A little medicine will do."

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah. I'm one hundred percent sure mom." I smile at her to ensure that I'm really okay.

"Don't worry Aunt, I'll take good care of Hailey." Lilly appeared through the table with a hot mug of coffee in her hand.

"Oh. Thank you, Lilly, I'll leave her in your care then." Mom smiled gently at her. 

"Rest assured mom. It's not like I'm gonna die today, just because I lack sleep." I joke.

I don't want her to worry anymore and to be a burden on her, as she is the only person left to me. Since my dad died.

After I finish eating breakfast, I bid goodbye to mom and leave our house with Lilly. At first, she didn't want me to go, but in the end, she let me.

***

'MOONLEAF INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOME FOR EXCELLENT STUDENTS!'

A big billboard sign was posted in front of the gate. 'Are they endorsing or something?'

Anyway, we should keep going or else I'll be late.

"Hey, Hailey! What are you daydreaming about?" Lilly grabs my hand to my surprise.

"Oh nothing, I was about to go to class.." I stop explaining when I notice that she's not listening and was looking through her phone.

"Who message you?" Eventually, she faced me, but with a smirk on her face

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're angry, how cute." She giggles. 

"I'm not in the mood to joke with you, Lilly," I warned her.

"Oh? But you're too cute. That even my heart can't take." Darn.

"Okay, fine say whatever you want. I'm going now." 

"Wait." She clutched my shirt. "I hope that you didn't forget that today is my birthday right? I want you to read one of my novels collection as a gift for me." She beamed cheerfully revealing how excited she was. 

Lilly is my best friend since childhood, unlike me who only appreciates how to study, she shows interest in reading novels. Sometimes she also wants me to read it too, however, I don't have the liberty to do that, I preferably study than read a novel full of romance and adventure of defeating an antagonist and full of drama of the protagonist along with their partner leads. It's not that I hate it, I just prioritize my studies before anything. I want to give my mom a bliss life, A bright future, I want her to breathe her life with me without worries, and in order to do that, I need to be a successful person. 

And. Remembering the date today hits me. Shoot! I neglected her birthday, I even don't prepare gifts for her. 

"R-reading novel? No, problem! I'll do that considering It's your birthday today." I smile concealing the fact that I forgot about her birthday, I'm sure if she grasped that I forgot it, she'll gonna bother me every day and make me guilty for what I've done, imagining about it make my head hurt It's going to be a non-stop torture.

"REALLY?! Oh my, Hailey, you don't know how delighted I am! This is the best present I've ever got, Thank you my lovely cute beautiful best friend." She asserted. "However, to make sure that you're really will read it, here!" She gave me 3 books of novels out of a sudden, wait where did this come from?!

"Lilly d-don't tell me--"

"Yes. You will read it now and before the class end, I'll ask you about the story, don't worry, just pick one of these three books."

"But I have an exam.." I reasoned out.

"No buts, maybe you didn't know, I saw you before in midterm exam reading 5 books in 1 hour, you finished your exam in less than a second. Remember? That's how smart you are." She said before looking at me. 

C'mon, she's exaggerating the story again. 

"Okay, I'll do it. I will read it in class. As you wish."

"Don't break your promise, Hailey! Or else you'll be one of my favorite novel characters." She jest.

Hah. How funny if that will really happen. 

"Alright, just go. I still need to attend my class." I drove her away.

"Fine. Don't forget to attend my party later! I ache to see you in the dress I bought especially for you, thank me later!" She squealed and  wave her hand into the air before shuffling away

After that, I went straight to my class. I noticed that the other professors keep glimpsing back at me, but I simply let it go. Perhaps they are wondering why I am still out when all students are busy answering the exams.

As soon as I entered the room, they averted their attention to me. My professor directly approached me and gave me a questionnaire paper so I could begin my exam. I thought he was going to scold me because I was late for class but he just disregarded it.

"Thanks," I quickly took the paper from his hand and sat down in my chair. 

   Hours passed. I was able to answer it quicker than I expected.

Since I had just finished, I thought about taking out the three books that Lilly gave me in my purse, after all, I still have time left before the end of class.

'Tale of Fortune lovers'

'Secrets lies Where it all begins,'

'Once upon a time'

'Once upon a time?" What a unique title, Interesting..'

I chose the last book and commence reading it.

It is a story about a princess of a neighboring kingdom named Dianna, She is the youngest daughter of the king and was abducted by the Crescent Empire as a hostage. She lived her life in the Crescent Empire for 3 years, during those times she met a noble girl named Liana Lara Scarlett. Soon after they become a good best friend and partner in crimes, Dianna meets Lara's brother Steve. Although Dianna was a hostage, she can still do whatever she wants as long as she won't escape the boundaries set for her. 

Dianna had a change of heart since she met Steve, She always wants to spend time on Scarlett Mansion things she hasn't done before. Since Lara's brother was a knight of the Empire, he almost spends his time training his fighting skills and swordsmanship. Dianna wants to also learn swordsmanship so she could spend time with Steve. Little did she know that Lara was watching her every move that she makes. 

She feels that her best friend Dianna was in love with his brother, So she decides to support both of them and become their matchmaker. One day while they are drinking tea, Dianna asks Steve if he had already someone he likes in front of Lara. To Steve's surprise, he accidentally spilled the tea he was drinking, but still, chose to confess his feelings for Dianna.  

'With such a short time together he immediately fell in love? This is totally a scam.'

Even I won't fall in love in that short time unless he is a handsome guy.

Later on, Steve had been announced to be a royal knight in exchange for the Emperor will grant any of his wishes. Steve was glad about that since Dianna lives in the palace and he can see his lover anytime he wants. It was also the day of the arrival of the 3 princes of the Crescent Empire from the battle they had won. So the Emperor decided to celebrate the return of his children. All the important people were invited to the celebration, even the Scarlett family.

On the day of the celebration, Lara and Dianna fell in love at first sight with the first prince. He was described as a god because of his manly looks and talent but, widely known as a ruthless cold person.

Since Lara knows about the agreement between the Emperor and her brother, she pleads with her brother to make the first prince and her engage. For his love for her sister, Steve granted Lara's wish to make her engage with the prince. Because it was a command from the Emperor the first prince did nothing and only agreed. On the other hand, Dianna, later on, received the news about the engagement of Lara. Like what Lara does to her before, Dianna supports her best friend even though she still has feelings for him. But fate seems to be playing with them. Dianna and the 3 princes always meet coincidentally and gradually become close and soon the 3 princes fall in love with Dianna.

The cold, ruthless 1st prince becomes a warm person when he was with Dianna.

The playful and womanizer 2nd prince becomes serious with Dianna.

The smart and righteous 3rd prince becomes stupid and Ignorant when she fell in love with Dianna.

Geez, I bet Dianna was a beautiful girl, or else how could she make the 3 princes fall for her?

The 3 princes soon compete to win the love of Dianna. The first prince decides to tell to the Emperor to cancel his Engagement with Lara because he had already someone he likes and that's Dianna. Lara heard everything the prince said to the king. When she felt her eyes heat up and her tears were dripping, she immediately ran away from that place with only pain and heartache and her mind was full of questions, why Dianna? There are many others out there, So why the person she considered as a friend is a person who will take away the person she loves?

Because of the questions that were forming in her mind, she decided to go to Dianna to ask how she felt for the 1st prince. She knows that it is impossible for Dianna to fall for the prince because she believes that the person Dianna wants is her brother Steve she just wants confirmation for her heart to be at peace. But that belief disappoints her when Dianna said that the first time she laid her eyes at the prince she fell in love with him. 

Lara was filled with anger, sadness, and resentment, she thinks that Dianna betrays her. Especially since the prince planned to cancel their engagement. Because darkness enveloped Lara's heart, she planned to torture Diana, just like the pain she felt, she also wanted Dianna to feel it. But because of what she did, she was even more abandoned and hated by the people she thought she loved, her brother chose to protect Dianna and listen to her side. Everyone is talking about her, hating and teasing her. Even her parents who she thought would understand her, kicked her out because she was blamed for ruining her family name. She also found out that she was not the real daughter of the Scarletts which only added to her heartache. 

Dianna felt sorry for Lara and insist that she wants to meet her, but the 3 princes won't allow her to do that, simply because they worried that Lara might harm Dianna again. So she asks Steve to help her sneak out to meet with Lara, Steve also did not allow her, because Lara no longer lives in their house. Steve told Dianna the whole story.

Dianna pitied Lara for what happened to her, she blamed herself and for not being a good friend to Lara. Time passed, they did not know what had happened and where Lara was. Even her shadow was nowhere to be found in Crescent Empire. Everyone thought she was dead because she was driven away with nothing but herself. 

While busy celebrating the birth of another prince in the palace, the 1st prince plans to ask for the Emperor's blessing to be engaged with Dianna. Previously, Dianna admitted how she felt for the prince. The prince was very happy that the person he loved also loved him. While the other princes accepted their defeat and let Dianna and the prince fall in love. But things are different from Steve preparing to announce her love for Dianna after coming back and defeating another battle. He was shocked and terrified to know that Dianna, the girl she loves will be engaged to the prince.  

Seriously? This story is too complicated for me to understand... 

On the other hand, while everyone is busy preparing the engagement party. Lara showed up in the room where Dianna resides. Dianna was surprised to see Lara again, So she tried to call her by her name. Lara smiled with a grin on her face and raised her hand with magic that shocked Dianna. She didn't expect Lara to have the power to use magic. Because the only people who have the power to use magic are the Emperor's son, the Mage, wizards, and the blessed child which is Dianna.

The Crescent Empire chooses to abduct Dianna solely, because of its unique power light which is only acquired by a blessed child. And Lara's using dark magic frightened Dianna. She knows that dark magic is a forbidden spell.

Lara intended to use dark magic to kill Dianna since this is the only chance she has. She finally knows who she really was, her true name, true Identity, the true reasons why she's alive till now. And that's the reason that makes her totally insane. In short,  she is the fruit of two different races. Lara is the opposite of Dianna. She is taboo, and Dianna is the most important in the race. To protect herself, no one should know her true Identity or else death is the only thing waiting for her.