-Eris-
She's dead. Eris Hale is finally dead.
Her eyes remained closed. She continued to feel her surroundings. She felt the softness and fluffiness of heaven. She sighed and moaned in delight while squeezing and rolling all over the soft and fluffy textures. But then she fell, as if reality wanted to give her a high five in the face with a brick.
She immediately opened her eyes. From moaning in bliss to groaning in pain, what a mess. Instead of the all-white and gold she expected to see, she saw pink. It was a room full of pink stuff. The thing she thought was the fluff of heaven was actually a pink bed with stuffed animals all over it. Even the lampshade was pink and had cute designs.
That was when she noticed the teenage girl in the mirror. This girl looked like she was fifteen or sixteen. She had deep set of big green eyes, long curled-up lashes, delicate eyebrows, a small pointy nose, pale lips, and hair as dark as the midnight sky. In short, she looked so pretty.
Eris smiled at the girl, and the girl smiled back. Eris blinked twice, and the girl did that too. Her heart started to ache, and a flash of memories that were not hers assaulted her mind. At that moment, she realized that the pretty girl in the mirror was the body her soul was currently possessing.
"What in the sorcery is this?" She came closer to the mirror to examine the body. Based on the memories she saw, this girl was suffering from depression, and she knew full well what it could do to a person.
The pills on the carpet makes so much sense now.
"You probably suffered a lot," she said while looking at the girl in the mirror. She patted her head as if calming a child. "There, there. Big sis will take care of this body while you're away. Come back when you finally want to live again." Her voice sounded quiet and gentle, just like when she was talking to the kids back at the orphanage.
She sat down on the bed and thought. Yes, thought. She needed to process everything. The memories she saw were foggy, but it was enough to know the original owner of this body. Eris Leonel Virelli, the villainess who was unloved by everyone, including her own family. Eris Hale empathized with the young Eris Virelli. However, she did become someone worthy of the title when she became an adult. She committed many unforgivable sins, ones that even a demon would lose their mind over.
She became ruthless, unforgiving, and most of all, unredeemable. Eris Hale understood why she became the way she was. However, she would not do the same if she were in Eris Virelli's shoes.
The novel was titled The Prince's Obsession, set in a world that blended medieval customs, like those Manhwa stories, with modern elements. At the beginning of the story, it was said that there were seven kingdoms in total: Nytherra, Zafaar, Vrafanra, Solanra, Aurel, Orren, and Serelune. However, only one Kingdom was mentioned all throughout the novel, the Kingdom of Aurel.
In the novel, Aurel has a strict hierarchy. At the very bottom are the outcasts, made up of slaves and criminals. These people are stripped of all rights. They don't have names and are treated like beasts. They live in the slums. Above them are the commoners, who live slightly better lives than the outcasts. Next are the nobles, who hold rights and privileges that commoners do not. At the very top of the hierarchy are the King and Queen of Aurel.
Eris Leonel Virelli is obviously one of those aristocratic nobles. She's the second daughter of a duke. That's how she was able to get away from all the crimes she committed.
The plot basically revolves around how protective and obsessive the male leads are, most especially the Crown Prince, to the female lead. In all actuality, it was a pretty generic plot, however, what makes it interesting to read is the overly dramatic villainess. She basically made the novel fun to read that even though she's the worst character, she's gotten more fans than the actual main characters.
However, no matter how much the readers loved her, a villainess is still a villainess.
Eris Leonel Virelli died alone on her bedroom at the age of twenty-three, because of a lethal poison made by her own fiancé, the one person she thought would never betray her. But he did, because he is Theodor Blackthorn, the second male lead who is deeply obsessed with the female lead, just like any other male characters in the novel.
He fooled her into thinking that he adored her but the truth is, he was just taking his time observing Eris Virelli, watching her every move and knowing her every plan so that he'd know when the female lead is in danger. One week before the wedding, Theodor asked Eris if he could stay the night. He cooked for her, held her, and whispers sweet words in her ear just like how he does every time they were together.
He was so sweet that even the readers thought he actually fell in love with the villainess. But then, after eating the food he made for her, Eris started coughing up blood. Her internal organs started to burn. At that moment, she knew she was betrayed. She may not be as smart as the female lead, but she knew.
The look she gave him was heartbreaking. She was crying and asking for his help while he stood there in front of her, wearing the coldest expression she had ever seen. The one she loved and trusted with all her heart betrayed her in the most painful way possible.
During her last moment, memories of them came flashing in her mind. He was sweet and kind. He wrote poems for her, he sang her favorite songs, he made her favorite food, he always said "I love you" with sparkles in his eyes and a smile that made her fall for him more, and she believed him.
All this time, she thought the man in front of her was in love with her. But she forgot that she is Eris Leonel Virelli, the unwanted daughter, the kingdom's pariah, the villainess that made everyone's skin shiver from disgust and anger. And most of all, she forgot that this man acts for a living. He was talented enough that even the King and Queen requested him to act in the Royal Theatre, where only the most capable actors perform.
And she could attest to that. He was indeed a good actor, so good that even her heart, which had been hardened by all the failures and rejections, warmed and yearned for him. Even when she was breathing her last breath, she reached her hand to touch him one last time. To feel him again. To make sure she was not alone.
But Theodor left, and she watched him walk out of that door. In the end, she died alone. It was a well-deserved death for the vicious villainess.
The thing is, that very same villainess is the original owner of the body that Eris Hale is currently in.
An imaginary light bulb dinged in her head. Since she's already possessing Eris Leonel Virelli's body, she should help her avoid the dark path. The big question is, how?
"We need a plan," she said while looking at the reflection as if she's talking to Eris Virelli. Although it's true that she is not the biggest fan of the vicious villainess in the novel, right now, she's just a depressed fifteen-year-old girl with no one to turn to. Good thing the story would start during the debutante ball, which is three years from now. This also means Eris Virelli is still an innocent girl. She only started going psycho when she meets the female lead.
The female lead, Athena Morgan Aurelle, is the golden girl. She has everything that Eris Virelli longed to have. She's talented, smart, beautiful, has many friends, and a loving family. Eris Hale suddenly felt a slight pang in her heart.
"A loving family, huh," she said with a sad smile.
Eris Hale looked at the beautiful girl in the mirror. "We can work on the others, but I'm not sure if we can make that cold-hearted family of yours accept you. After all, even I wasn't successful in making my family stay with me." Sorrow is evident in her voice.
"But this big sister will try. I promise," she said quietly. And she felt it. It's faint, but it's there, the original owner's soul. It's as if she's speaking to her. Eyes fluttering closed, she allowed herself to hear the silent lament... and then, in a voice quivering like candlelight in the wind, the young lady spoke.
"I know everything," Eris Hale, caught off guard by the unexpected confession, found herself unable to respond before the girl continued.
"I know how my life unfolded and how it came to its bitter end." At that point, Eris Hale doesn't even need to listen more. She pulled the young girl into her arms and gave her the hug that she needs at the moment. Right now, this girl is not the villainess, but just a girl who lived and died miserably. Her choked-up sobs pull the strings of the ever-soft-hearted Eris Hale.
After a while, when she finally calmed down, Eris asked her how. How did she know the future? Unless she-
"Time has turned back for me... and with it, all the memories remained. I remember everything. My life was full of misery. There's this young girl whose brilliance casts shadows at my heart, and to my own foolishness, I tried my hardest to eradicate her existence. It is difficult to fathom the depths to which I allowed myself to fall."
She inhaled, steadying her trembling breath before recalling a love that once gave her comfort.
"And then, there was him, my dearest Theodor," she paused, and for a moment, it was as if he stood before her. "His hair was a cascade of soft brown curls I loved to run my fingers through. His eyes were red as rubies and just as mesmerizing, and they held my gaze longer than I care to admit. I loved every part of him, and I thought he felt the same way toward me. But I was wrong. He did not love me, not even a little." "I regretted everything I had done. I wished I could erase all of it. When I came to understand my circumstances after returning to this younger body, I tried to live. I truly did. But each time I close my eyes, all I see are those cold ruby eyes, constantly reminding me of how alone I have been. Throughout my life, I have been despised. I've had enough."
"I no longer yearn for this life. I don't even wish to live for revenge. I simply want to be at peace. Take this body and use it however you wish. After all, I couldn't do anything right. Maybe you'll change that. I'm too broken, but your soul is pure and beautiful. It's glowing. Even in the darkness, I saw you. I called for you, and you came."
Maybe it was indeed fate. Maybe it was pain calling out to pain. But somehow, her soul reached mine, and I answered.
"End my misery and take this body. I cannot find peace while I remain bound to it," she said. The tremble in her voice was apparent.
Eris Hale, the always helpful Eris Hale, faced with a pleading young girl, could not say no. She promised that she would no longer be a pushover, but it seems she could not stop. She sighed, feeling burdened by the fact that this girl is asking her to live another lifetime again.
No, I don't want to.
No, I can't, sorry.
I want to rest in peace too.
Just no...
"Please." And that single word, said with so much helplessness, made Eris Hale swallow all the no's she was about to spit.
She does not want to, but the girl looks too pitiful, too broken, that it started overlapping the face of her mother. The face she loathed and loved at the same time.
"Fine." She felt like she was getting choked. The soul of Eris Leonel Virelli started fading, like dusts floating in the wind. She looks peaceful. And Eris Hale thought that maybe it was for the best. If she lived longer, she would only turn into a villainess. Her life would be miserable, just like how the author of the novel made her to be. She was made to make the female lead look good. Existing for the sole purpose of being hated is the worst.
But this time, Eris Leonel Virelli died with peace in her heart. She died with no blood on her hands. Maybe, maybe in her next life, she would be a better person who is surrounded by the people who love her. Eris Hale offered a prayer, not to the villainess that everyone hates, but to the innocent girl who was shunned and hurt.
Once she opened her eyes, she made up her mind, "I didn't choose this life. But now that I have it, I'll make it mine."
She will live as Eris Virelli, but this time, she will not die young and alone. She will make sure that Eris Leonel Virelli lives a long life, has real friends, and finds real love. And she should really stop being a doormat. It's not like she has anyone here that she'd want to please.
All she must do is to steer clear from the main characters of this damned novel. Especially the man who killed her.
But fate has a cruel sense of humor. And in this story, villains don't get to walk away.
-to be continued-