Someone threw a comically large shoe that flew at Aria's head, but she ducked just in time.
More chatter filled the hall–outrage, mockery and shock.
"How dare she attempt to humiliate the Prince??"
"This is the end of Ravensdale!"
Angry jeers filled the hall, and someone threw an apple at her head.
She looked back and saw Seraphina Voss struggling to repress her smile.
The boos grew even louder as she walked out. She simply curtsied deeply, her expression now one of serenity, head held high.
But as soon as she stepped out of sight, she hurried towards an empty carriage outside.
"Ravensdale house, please!" she waved to the driver dozing off on his horse.
"Now!"
Aria stepped into the carriage, slamming the door closed.
It lurched forward, drawn by weary horses.
Minutes later, the glare of the palace lights stretched endless rows of trees into the dark roads.
Only then did Aria collapse to the carpeted floor of the carriage in relief.
"Appalling."
Even with this body's memories of what treatment to expect, those people were worse than she thought!
Palming her face, she took deep breaths to steady her pounding heart.
"End things with Prince Dickhead? First step complete!" Aria whispered, her excitement building.
Her hands curled into a victorious fist. Happiness flooded her, then trepidation.
What next?
Aria regarded the passing scenery as the carriage rumbled over old cobblestone.
"Step one finished," she murmured, voice low. "Now we figure out step two."
She began to doze off.
Miles ahead lay Ravensdale house, crumbling, debt-ridden, and empty.
Her stepmother, Isolde, would be furious when she returned home with Father.
Isolde had spent years grooming Aria to be the perfect sacrificial lamb for the royal match; the news of the public dissolution would hit like a slap.
Let her be furious.
Let them all be furious.
Aria closed her eyes, the motion of the carriage rocking her gently. For the first time in two lifetimes, the darkness behind her lids didn't feel like drowning.
It felt like the beginning of something she could actually choose.
*************************************************
"We're here!"
Aria's eyes snapped open, to the driver staring at her through the window in disapproval.
Was she so tired she'd slept off?
She thanked the driver dryly. It was just about dawn, and the view was stunning.
Aria watched him huff away, mumbling to himself, but she was more concerned with the estate of Ravensdale before her.
Its huge gates were beautiful and imposing and rusting, and from here, you could see the overgrown gardens.
Aria shouldered the gates, forcing them open. The rusted metal groaned under her weight and gave way. The first smell that hit her was the scent of dying roses and mildew.
"Great, a duchess of a crumbling estate best left to nature…"
Ahead were three servants waiting on the steps, arms crossed, with faces mirroring disapproval
The head maid, whom she recognized as Mrs. Hale, Aria's foremost bully, took the lead. "The prodigal daughter returns. We heard about the uproar you caused, spitting at the prince."
Aria's first instinct was to shrink and apologize, but she rose with determination.1 Memories of how much disrespect she was treated flooded her head: them stealing her things, inflating the ledger, and spreading unsavory rumours about her.
"Spitting? And who are you to berate me? I am the duchess of Ravensdale; you are a sentient broom.
Go scrub the kitchen before I ask Father to deduct your salaries."
"What? How dare you??" Madam Hale seized her hand, but Aria glared with such ferocity that she released her.
Aria walked past them as they gaped.
She heard Jem, the footman, mutter, "It is as they say, Lady Aria has gone mad?"
Aria spun around coolly.
"If you call me mad again, I'll ensure you polish fifty pairs of discarded boots till they blind you. Now move!"
They scattered like headless chickens, grumbling and resentful.
Aria exhaled, an outward picture of calm, but inwardly, she screamed:
Did I just say that??
Pinching the bridge of her nose to steady herself. She riffled through Aria Noir's memories for the layout of this estate.
Her eyes snapped open.
Library! All the important documents were kept there!
Quickly, she ran down the south wing, three doors down and found it.
Feeling her excitement building, she pushed on the doors.
Rich people always had a stock of books, but as the doors opened with a loud creak, her excitement fizzled.
Save for a few books, the shelves were dusty.
"And empty…" she muttered, disappointed.
All of a sudden, a blue window exploded into her vision.
[Library System Activated]
Daily Absorption Limit: 1 volume
Input title to summon:]
"What the–?!" She shrieked, flailing backwards, knocking over a ladder.
[Come On Librarian,
Waiting For You To Figure Out How To Use Me Is Excruciating.
Aria glared at the window, embarrassed for overreacting.
[Come Onnnnnnnn]
Her memories flashed. The divine being who brought her into this world.
This must be the 'gift' the divine being mentioned.
"So I wasn't just imagining this pop-up system yesterday, huh?"
[Nope. Now Use Me!]
Aria sighed. This was perfect for what she wanted anyway.
She took a deep breath. "Fine. Give me The Art of War by Sun Tzu."
Silence.
Then a loud POP!
The book materialized from thin air, plopping to the floor.
"Oh, cool, I just have to read it–"
But Aria picked it up; she felt goosebumps flood her skin, and knowledge poured in immediately: the essence of deception, momentum, the empty fortress ploy.
[Book Absorption Completed]
[24 Hours Cool Down Till Next Book]
"Whoa… that felt incredible," her chuckle came in an exhale.
She watched the book disintegrate to ash in her hands, the system vanishing.
Her first thought after reincarnation was living a lavish life free of worries, but the house of Ravensdale was deep in debt and neglect.
She'd nearly lost hope.
Until Now.
She looked, flexed her hands, satisfied with her fresh intake of knowledge.
"What an unexpected plus…"
Her mind felt disordered but refreshed with knowledge, and she laughed, softly at first, which turned into a full cackle.
"I'll retire if it's the last thing I–"
A loud knock on the door stopped Aria in her tracks.
Her ears perked immediately.
" Stop it, I say!"
Behind the door was a heated conversation.
"I can fetch her for you, sir…"
"I will have your head if you speak to me again."
What the heck was going on?
"Move, I say!"
The doors were suddenly knocked down
and flew open.
"You!"
Her eyes narrowed in annoyed accusation.
Prince Caspian strode in like a storm, draped in a silver and black uniform, his guards at his heels.
He looked positively furious, which caused Aria to take an inadvertent step back.
"You! What was the intent behind your little tantrum last night? A pathetic scheme to make me come running?"
His jaw ticked as he spoke.
" Answer me!"
Aria gaped in disbelief at the sight before her.
A whole prince. Communicating with the intelligence of a toddler!
"Isn't this what you wanted?" she scoffed.
His eyes narrowed.
He had eyes for another woman, but wanted to act slighted? Who the hell did he think he was??
" And so?"
"And so???"
Aria strode directly to him, anger blazing.
His guards, hands on swords as she approached, were waiting for the Prince's signal to strike.
To the surprise of everyone present, he poked him hard in the chest.
"How dare you??! Even a blind man could see you didn't want me!"
"Do not talk to your future king–"
"Oh, excuse me, 'future king'. Considering how you have humiliated me at every step of this arrangement, I do the proper thing, and you dare storm into my home and kick down my door??!"
Guilt coloured His eyes for but a moment before transforming into irritation.
"Door? My feet kicking it down was an improvement," he snarled.
Even from this distance, he towered over her in size and his intimidating aura, but Aria refused to back down.
"Is that all you're here for? Closure?" She made her voice as condescending as possible.
He drew himself up.
"Your father owes the Royal Treasury twelve thousand crowns. If you fail to repay me in 30 days, this pile of sticks and stones you call a house is mine.
If you think I will forgive your debt out of sentiment, he stepped closer, voice twisted with spite.
"I will erase Ravensdale from existence."
Her stomach lurched, but she kept her chin up.
"Is that so? I imagine I could rouse the public's sympathy. A poor maiden thrown out of her home by a scorned betrothed."
"I will warn you to watch your tongue."
"And I'll send the bill for the door repair. Refuse to pay me, and I'll press charges in the Royal court. Everyone saw you do it," Aria snapped back.
His jaw ticked again, and his eyes darkened, regarding Lady Aria with new eyes.
Who was this fiery dragon that now stood before him?
"Fine. Send the bill."
Without another word, Caspian turned and left.
She waited till the carriage downstairs started before heaving a sigh of relief.
As the prince left, heads poked from the library's entrance. The servants had been eavesdropping, too afraid to stop the prince.
"She's ruining everything!" Mrs. Hale whispered loudly, eyeing Aria with renewed resentment.
"What?" Aria asked, arms akimbo.
Mrs. Hale's lips thinned in despair.
"You should have thrown yourself down and begged for his forgiveness! Your family's ruin is complete because of you!"
"Shh! We may be punished for being so open!"
A scullery maid shook Madam Hale by the shoulder, eyes still full of fear.
Aria felt a sudden surge of headache. Wordlessly, she sank into a velvet seat, feeling sudden weariness.
She needed to think. Hard and fast.
"Get out. All of you."
"Believe me, I will be informing Madam Isolde–"
Aria glared at Madame Hale, whose lips thinned into a disapproving line.
She sank back into the chair with a heavy sigh as they left.
Great. Now what?