The Villainess's Law of Survival

CHAPTER 2: THE BEGINNING

"Starting over is an acceptance of a past we can't change, an unrelenting conviction that the future can be different, and the stubborn wisdom to use the past to make the future what the past was not."-Craig D. Lounsbrough

Her heart and mind were full of revenge to even remember to protect herself. All she knew was the pain caused by the people she once thought would take care of her, but in the end, they all left her with emptiness.

She was about to attack Dianna when the three princes abruptly blocked her. The three princes capture her and she is captured before the Emperor.

The Emperor declares to punish Lara to the death penalty for attempting to assassinate Dianna and for using dark magic. Shortly after Lara died, Dianna was given a title of a crown princess and already wedded to the 1st prince and lived a happy life with her husband and blessed son. End.

So, until the end, no one knows who Lara really was? This is bullshit. What kind of ending is this?!

I wonder why Lilly is so obsessed with this?

I was reading without realizing that the bell had rung to indicate that the class was over. I promptly put away my belongings and left the room to go home.

After I left school and now I'm at the bus stop waiting for a ride, I feel the cold air touch my skin. At the same time, the leaves of the tree fall on my head. When the green light flashed, it was a sign that anyone could cross. I immediately removed the fallen leaves from my hair and crossed the road when my phone inside my bag abruptly rang. I had a hard time grasping it because my little bag was full of Lilly's book. I noticed it tucked inside the book I was just reading.

finally.

"Hello, mom?" I answered the phone.

"Sweetheart, where are you?" She asked.

"I'm on the way home now mom. Don't worry."

"Ahh is that so, be careful... Particularly on the road. I have a bad feeling," Mom replied, seeming anxious again about me.

"Yeah, nothing will happen to me, mom. A bad girl like me has a long life to live." I said.

I hear her chuckle on the phone. "Okay, I trust you.."

After that conversation, I turned off my phone and smiled when hearing her sweet voice. I placed it on my back and started walking hurriedly as the green light turned red.

I glanced to the left, but at that instance, a loud impact rang out. I can't utter a word.

I feel like time suddenly slows down, the opposite of my racing heartbeat... however, it was too late. Bone shattering pain permeated through my entire body. I was like a leaf drifting in the wind after being hit by a truck. My body fell gently to

the ground and completely bathed in my own blood as life flashed before my eyes. My vision became hazy as tears flowed nonstop.

I felt the heaviness of my breathing as well as the pain and soreness when I fell gradually faded unto my body was absolutely becomes numb and gave up swallowing me in the dark and out of breath ...

Blackness and numbness surround me. Is this what death feels like? It's quiet and peaceful. I don't know how long I've been dead, but still, I feel like I want to open my eyes. Ready to take on the afterlife. After that, it seems like forever.

***

What was going on here? I couldn't believe that what I was experiencing was real, even though I was seeing it with my own eyes. This all felt like a dream.

'Did I die?' Pondering about it makes my head throb. I can't believe that I'm now dead and, worse, I left my mother without achieving all those things I wanted for her. My future, my studies. My phone. My foods.

I snapped back in alertness when suddenly a maid spoke. "It's done, my lady. You look so beautiful."

"You are beautiful, especially in that dress, Lady Lara. Your beauty grows with each passing day!" The maids praised me like they were worshiping a god.

"I bet, our lady is the most beautiful in the entire empire! She's too perfect to be called perfect." Said the other maid with pigtails.

"How I wish I had a beauty like you, my lady. You're just way too gorgeous."

But the lavish praises of the maids did not impress me. Instead, the maid pulls me toward the full-length mirror beside the bed. And when I saw my face in that mirror, I let out a big laugh.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." 'I must be crazy.'

This is not a human body, this is a goddess!

"See, My Lady. You're really beautiful."

She's correct. This body was remarkably perfect! Just like how Lara was described as a villainess in the novel, long, silvery, frosty-haired fell to my waist, and my eyes glistened like a fierce, bloody shot red jewel with my small, egg-shaped face and pale snow skin it was reminiscent of a gloomy cold beauty.

This suddenly feels real now. I had possessed the body of Lara, a villainess who is doomed to die. I gently pinched my cheeks in disbelief.

"Miss, we should head-on. The young master is still waiting for us." A woman politely said.

If I remember correctly, the golden-brown-haired woman is Lilith, she is the personal maid of Lara and the maid beside her with pigtails was Marie.

I remember that they both died after Lara was chased out of the Scarlett Mansion because they found something that they shouldn't have. Considering that I'm not the same Lara now, I won't let it happen to them. I'll avoid the tragedy Lara experienced and live my life as I want.

"Okay. We should go." I pulled my eyes away from the mirror and walked out of the room with Lilith and Marie beside me.

Lara's bedroom was on the second floor, so I had to go downstairs to go outside. My high heels tapped against the stairs as I descended, and the dress flowed down behind me, then I went out the front door.

'It's a great thing that I can endure walking in those high heels. It would be very embarrassing if I tripped myself.'

I rode a well-designed wooden carriage to go to the place where my so-called older brother was waiting. It was unusual that, despite the sky being already dark, there was still a mission waiting to be finished. After a long trip, the carriage paused, indicating that we had arrived. I promptly went down to see the place, and I was terrified when I found out the place we were going to is an auction place.

"Lara!"

In the novel, Dianna's voice was said to be as lovely as a nightingale singing. Because of that, I knew that the red-haired beautiful woman smiling brightly and waving cheerfully at me was no other Dianna.

"Thank goodness, you're finally here! Do you know how long I waited?" She pouted in a sweet voice and smiled as soon I walk forward to her...

But I couldn't smile at her as she smiled at me.

The more I tried to, the more my mouth stiffened. I knew the reason. It was because she's Dianna, the main protagonist! I'm not insecure about her or anything. She is the only person who knows about Lara's real identity. She's the lover stealer of this damn novel! She acts innocent and pure, but, she's literally wicked to me. The author who created this novel is totally biased.

I squeezed my lips and tried to smile as if I was eating sour food. As I drew close, she abruptly hugged me without asking for my consent. I was taken aback by her unexpected touch.

I failed to manage my facial expression, still I didn't feel wholly awake. Against all common sense, I was suddenly dragged into this novel and was asked to hug this woman. No matter how well a person could adapt, no one could do it so quickly in my condition.

I released her arms around me. " Where's my brother?" I questioned.

"Oh, he's inside! Let me show you the directions." I watched her as she led the way inside, to the auction house.

"Do you know what the mission will be?" I asked while walking.

"Mm, didn't your brother say to you?" She replied.

"I don't know, maybe I forgot." I scratched the back of my head.

Hearing my response. Dianna stopped and gazed at me with astounding eyes. "Oh? That's unlike you." She blurted out.

"So, what's the mission this time?" I asked again, but this time more casual. " In this auction place?"

"You'll know once you enter. Lara." She stated, as she pulled the door in front of us and pushed me inside, and quickly closed it leaving me behind.

"Wait! Where are you going?" I shouted.

'Where the heck am I? And where's my brother?'

A man suddenly pulled me over. "Number 42123 prepare yourself, your next!"

'What's happening? And when did my name become No. 42123?'

"Can I ask what's going on?"

He seemed annoyed, and replied with his eyes showing hostility to me.

"What do you mean by what's going on? Your master sold you to us so, of course, someone will buy you at a good price if you do good things on the stage later." He stated, "So don't you dare try to escape from here or else you can't bear the consequences."

He warned me, and left me dumbfounded.

I looked at my surroundings, but all I saw was a crowd of people. I began recollecting if this scene happened in the book and I was right, it really did happen.

Lara's jerk brother and her best friend set her up as bait to catch the truant wizard. Some informant tips them that this wizard regularly consumes his time here, and leisurely purchases a bunch of beautiful women.

I stand struck in disbelief.

T-That bastard brother! How could he sell his sister like this?!'

"Hey! No. 42123 you're next!"

Oh god! What should I do?!

I marched back and forth while habitually biting my fingertip. I need to think of a plan. In the novel, Lara doesn't fulfill this mission and ends up being abused and beaten up by her so-called mother. And of course, I don't want it to happen to me.

Who would want to get their ass beaten to death by someone who didn't even really exist? All of this is not real but the pain is true!

Wait.

I'm a real person.

A modern girl at that.

'Haha.'

'I know how this ancient damn novel flows. I have great merit if I apply my knowledge here and survive! Why haven't I thought of this earlier?'

Without further outdo. I switched my clothes to scintillating golden attire and wore a veil to cover half of my face, I braid my hair sideways, took off my heels, and walked out of the room barefooted.

I kept my gaze toward the stage and from my position, from where I was standing, I could see Dianna in one of the audience upstairs, and maybe the person beside her was Lara's brother who was flirting openly with Dianna.

I rolled my eyes, 'What a sight to behold.'

I bet that they don't even care about me being sold to some crazy maniac nobles here, so why would I bother about them either? Fortuitously, I know how to sing, or else I'm doomed.

As soon the limelight turns to me. I closed my eyes, praying profusely for things to go well.

Breath in, breath out... I can do this! For the sake of survival!

When I was about to sing... I notice a piano and a bench beside the stage. 'Oh god is with me.'

I can't help but to smile and be nervous at the same time.

(Enchanted: Taylor Swift)

There I was again tonight, forcing laughter, faking smile~

A same old tired, lonely place

Walls of insincerity

Shifting eyes and vacancy vanished when I saw your face

All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you. Your eyes, whispered "have we met?"

Across the room, your silhouette starts to make its way to me~

The playful conversation starts

Counter all your quick remarks, like passing notes in secrecy

And it was enchanting to meet you~~

All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

I was enchanted to meet you. The lingering question kept me up

Two a.m., who do you love?

I wonder till I'm wide awake

Now I'm pacing back and forth, wishing you were at my door

I'd open up and you would say, hey

It was enchanting to meet you

All I know is I was, enchanted to meet you. This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

This night is flawless, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

I was enchanted to meet you. This is me praying that this was the very first page

Not where the storyline ends

My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again

These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon

I was enchanted to meet you

Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you

Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you. This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

This night is flawless, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

I was enchanted to meet you. Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you...~

When I slowly rose from my seat I fake a cough to reduce the tension around me, as they kept staring at me as if they could not believe what they saw so I decided to speak...

"Uhm.." I said with a dazed voice.

When suddenly. A man in black appeared out of nowhere and commenced the bidding.

"The start of bidding for this beautiful chanting maiden 500000 golds!"

"550000!" The bald old man voiced out.

"Give her to me! 650000!"

"700000!"

"No, 800000! " The other one argues.

"Is there higher than 800000?!"

"Anyone?!"

"950000!"

As the bidding starts to rise. My hands were turning cold, but my so-called older brother, who was sitting pretty as if it was fine, appeared to have no intention of selling me to them.

'Well, that's great. If he sells me off I'm going to kick his ass and he will never have a baby.'

I can not believe I'm still going through all of these crazy things. Has the Afterlife system malfunctioned? God. I did a lot of good deeds in my past life, so why does it feel like this is some kind of punishment?

"She's mine, 100000 Golds!" A mysterious man in the hood claimed that it made me look at who's punk would buy a woman for a big amount of gold.

He showed up in front of the stage with a sword in his hand and offered 100000 golds.

Damn, this is not part of the script. Where did this lunatic jerk come from?

"Hey, bastard. Who are you? Get down to the stage!" Another man yelled at him, yet he ignored it and was still walking toward me.

WAIT. What?

To me?!

Wha... Why is he walking toward me?

I tried to step back and give a glare 'Move your ass over here, can't you see I'm having a hard time?' to Steve upstairs.

I shifted back my gaze only to know that he was already standing in front of me so close!

"Heh." He mischievously grins as he unveils his hood and smiles at me.

.... Oh, heavenly father.

What I saw made my breath catch.

Is this real?

His silver hair resembles the full moon and his blue eyes resemble the deep sea.

He looks too handsome to be real.

I could let out a swear at how handsome this young man was. He was looking at me. Oh god!

"Your drooling now, lady."

I tried to relax my stiffened face and swallowed dryly. I've never seen a man like this in my life. Was that really a human face? He looked more like an ancient Greek sculpture come to life, as cliché as that sounded.

"What...what is it?" My voice trembled for the first time in front of a man. I thought I would never see a face like that. However, there were numerous assumptions today being destroyed.

" Looks like they don't even have plans to sell you off, no matter how high we bid you. I might kill all of these people here and abduct you, young lady. Isn't it a brilliant idea?" He said, grinning firmly and drawing his handsome face closer to me.

Thud!

The man crumpled on the floor as he was staggering and so anxious gawking at the man in front of me as if he had seen a ghost and was running for his life.

"He... He is the Archmage, run!"