I woke up lying inside a moving wagon and I struggled to sat up. After I was finally able to get up, I was shocked to see that I am not the only person here. There were elderly, young women and children with me, all bound one by one just like me. So it was not just a simple bandits, I think this is a human trafficking.
'Oh god! Oh god! What did I ever do wrong to be punished like this?'
Along with all those women crying, I found myself starting to tear up as well. Fear crept in my heart. Why did my legs had to give up easily earlier? If only I had endured a little longer. Maybe... Just maybe, I will be able to escape. But it wasn't just that, they had a mage with them. I think it's possible that he cast a spell on me so I couldn't escape.
Just then, I suddenly remembered a certain novel I read 5 years ago.
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A silver haired noble lady with an alluring red eyes that glimmers under the moonlight. She was kidnapped 2 weeks before her engagement with an emperor, though it was slightly different from how I was kidnapped, but I was still kidnapped 2 weeks prior the banquet, where my engagement will be held.
She was also the daughter of a Marquess and I am too! Her name is Seraphina as well. So I guess I might be correct. The Marquess, afraid of losing the opportunity to gain political power, decided to find a replacement for his missing daughter. That's where the FL comes in the scene! Elara Wyntermere, a girl living in the slum who had the same silver hair and red eyes as her. She was adopted as the Marquess daughter, and pretends to be Seraphina.
She was taught how to be a noble and she was given lessons, being a bright kid (well, perks of being the FL) she was able to learn quite fast, and was to able to appear in the banquet as Seraphina flawlessly. Elara was able to capture the heart of the Emperor, and she had fallen in love with him too. They married for less than a year and that's where everything started.
After 2 years of being married, Elara can't stand the guilt in her heart for fooling the Emperor so she told him the truth. The Emperor being madly in love accepted her regardless of her background, but the Emperor decided to keep this as a secret to protect Elara from scrutiny of the other nobles and the other people.
As for the original Seraphina, she was not mentioned in the novel for almost 4 years. But one day, she returned in the Marquess' land and overthrew her father and she became the Marchioness. As for her mother, she locked her up in the basement, she specially made for her. And she also revealed Elara in the public, which threw the empire in chaos.
No one knew what happened to her during those 4 years of being missing. She never told anyone, and no one dared to ask her. But one thing they noticed, everything about her change. Her beautiful alluring red eyes become dull, it looked like all the energy left her body. It's like she's living without a soul. And she become the greatest villainess in the story.
She made the Emperor and Elara suffer, she gained massive political power within a short span of time and she was able to split the factions within the political party. She gained massive supporters and she was able to ascend as the Grand Duchess after killing the Grand Duke. Unbeknownst to them, she was able to achieve her goal within a short time because she was secretly being supported by the Dark Magicians Clan. She was involved in dark magic.
She was behind on every disaster that befalls the kingdom, the illness that caused many lives for 2 years, the drought that caused great famine, the civil war, and she was also involve in a lot of illegal activities going around. Above all, she harmed the Empress and killed the new born baby of Elara, this is the final straw that caused her life.
In the midst of all the chaos, Elara who lost her child and witnessed all the suffering of the citizen, prayed to the god earnestly and her prayers were granted. She awakened as the Saintess who will save the Empire to the Evil Seraphina and the Dark Magicians. Elara with her husband Emperor Aurelius saved the empire and defeated Seraphina along with her allies. And they live happily ever after.
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Oh my god! Now that I remember, why does it have to be that novel? I hated that novel so much. Aside from the plot hole, the author never bothered to explain what happened with the original Seraphina for her to be like that. I keep asking in the comment section but she didn't even gave us a background story for her. In the end I gave it 3 star because because I didn't like it.
Is that the reason why I was transmigrated here? Is this the way that God will show me what happened to her? But I don't want to know! With how the story goes, I think I never want to know.
I made up my mind, I will use this 4 years to find a way back home. I know there's a way for me to go back, this is a fantasy novel. There must be a spell, a ritual or anyway for me to go back. But first I need to escape from here, together with these other ladies. I can't afford to leave them behind.
I crawled my way to the nearest girl beside me. She was a young woman about the same age as me I guess. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying, she stopped when I approached her. She looked at me confused and I tried to smile to calm her.
"My name's Seraphina. We don't have much time for pleasantries, so let me get straight to the point. " I was whispering to her so as not to alert the coachmen and whoever is accompanying us outside. She gave me a nod and I continued.
"Help me untie my hand and I will help you untie yours. After we both untied ourselves, let's untie the others as well and let us all escape. Okay?"
"Okay." she gave me an answer her voice is still shaking but I can see her determination to escape. Good.
"Since both our hands are tied backwards, let's face each other's back and untie ourselves. " I instructed and she willingly agreed.
We faced back to back, and started untying each other. We've caught the attention of the other ladies, their eyes are evident of confusion but were watching our actions. Soon after they realized what we're trying to do, they started to untie each other as well. Good. We will not be taking too much time untying each other.
After we are all free, I explained to them in detail what's our plan to escape. They listened to me carefully and they all agreed with what I came up with. This will gonna be a bit difficult since I don't know what's going on outside, nor do I know where they're taking us. As I've said earlier, there was no information regarding the villainess as soon as she was kidnapped. So I don't know what will happen to me after this. But if I'll be able to escape from here, then I will be able to change my destiny.
"Be strong brave ladies, once our plan succeeds, we'll be able to escape and go back to our homes. Just stick to the plan and no one shall be left behind okay?" I gave them assurance even though I'm not so sure myself.
I'm not that good in boosting one's moral but at least I've tried. They all agreed anyway, and I can see their eyes full of hopes and determination as well. Maybe this plan will work out.
'I just hope this doesn't fail. I don't have any back up plan.'
We all assumed our previous positions earlier. We'll gonna wait for the perfect chance to go. Once I gave the signal, it will be the start of our escape plan.
'Oh, god. Guide us, please.'
We all silently prayed that this may be successful.
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