It's been ten days since I woke up. The more I spend time being the Crown Princess, the more I learn things that were not shown in the novel. Does this mean worlds really exist inside books?

In the novel, the Crown Princess seemed indifferent to the evil ploys of her powerful family and all she ever cared about was the title of the Crown Princess. She was an important tool to her family's ambition of sitting a King on the throne and although she knew that, she pretended like she didn't. She acted as if all was well, living her beautiful life with the Crown Prince. Her role as the villainess centered on her desperate attempts to protect her title. She was heartless as long as she could get what she wanted. She was a spoiled brat and a selfish woman. But the thing is, everyone in the novel had dark sides of their own and it just happened that the writer wrote the Crown Princess to be the villain of the story. Even the protagonist was not innocent. Personally speaking, I always thought the Crown Princess's character was wasted by the writer. She had so much potential.

Anyway, that's how the Crown Princess was written. Indifferent. Heartless. Selfish. However, I found evidence that shows otherwise.

Nine days ago, as I was getting ready for bed, I found a key in the pocket of the dress I had been wearing since the day before. I had asked Krista what it was for and she said the Crown Princess treasured that key so much. She found it in the Crown Princess's clothes the day they fell in the lake so she took care of it and returned it to my pocket when I was unconscious. The novel did not mention any key, maybe because the majority of the story was from the point of view of the two main characters and the Crown Princess only had her own chapters towards the end of the novel.

There I was, with a key in my hands and a locked item to find. I had spent the entire afternoon in the room, looking for something that needed a key to open. I found one single box tucked away in the drawer of the dresser in the Crown Princess' walk-in closet and when the key fit the hole, excitement blossomed within me. I knew I shouldn't be going through her things but what can I do? I am here in her world, lost and scared. I have to do whatever I can to survive. Although touching her things makes me uncomfortable, clues and hints are always found in the character's belongings, may it be in crime novels or horror.

Inside the box, I found a thick maroon leather-bound notebook. I thought it looked important considering the hiding place and when I leafed through the pages, my guess was confirmed. It was a journal. The Crown Princess kept a journal, of course. I took the journal out and ever since then, I have been reading the thoughts of the Crown Princess.

The journal is half full, filled with beautiful cursive. In between some of the pages, dried flowers and leaves are tucked. Most of the entries are not important, they just detailed what the Crown Princess had been doing every day. The first entry was penned almost seven months ago and it is all about a tea party she hosted. The Crown Princess loved tea parties.

Even though I haven't come across something of notable importance, I appreciate the attention to detail the Crown Princess had put in her writing. Through her words, I get to know her better. One thing rings loud and clear in my head, the Crown Princess was far more complicated than the novel suggested.

The Crown Princess's family takes pride in her current position in the Royal Family and although she showed no sign of discomfort in the novel for the way her family treated her like their Queen, she told in her journal that in fact she also felt uncomfortable some days. Sometimes she wished to disappear but the throne always rooted her firmly on the ground. It made her feel like a hypocrite.

The Crown Princess was a horrible employer in the novel, having fired many of her servants for minuscule mistakes. She even went as far as torturing some of them before sending them away, earning her reprimands from the Crown Prince every time. But if I am to trust everything the Crown Princess said in her journal, I learn that those stories of torture are not true at all. She imprisoned some servants for days, giving them nothing but bread and water but she never ordered to hurt them. In fact, she sent them away with enough money to start a living far away. Is it because of kindness in her heart? No. The Crown Princess claimed that it's because she couldn't be bothered.

I realize the Crown Princess in the novel was nothing more like a facade the real one created to protect her title. What a sad way to live.

Anyway, now that I get to see her world with her eyes, my sympathy towards her grows tenfold. I knew it, she's definitely the most pitiful character in this story. And currently, I am in her body! So unfortunate! I would have thanked the heavens if I ended up in a supporting character's body but to wake up as the Crown Princess?! What kind of a sick joke is this?!

With renewed purpose, I scramble out of the bed. I had woken up quite early today but I was too depressed to move an inch and so I remained under the covers and wasted precious time. I shouldn't be doing this! I need to figure out a way to reach that lake.

Tiptoeing towards the closet, I barely have the concentration to notice there's something on the floor until it's too late. I trip and fall face-first, a loud thud echoed in the room. The door bursts open and a worried Krista enters, water sloshing around the small basin she's holding.

She gasps as soon as she sees what just happened, "Your Highness! Are you okay?"

Krista sets down the basin and helps me get up. I want to say I'm okay but I can feel pain when I try to place weight on my right foot. I think I just sprained this woman's ankle. What's wrong with this body?! Why is it so tender?! If I were in my body, this would have been nothing!

Although it's embarrassing to admit I just hurt my ankle, the pain is just too much that I can't ignore it. Sheepishly, I tell her, "I think I sprained my ankle."

"Your Highness did what?!" Krista's face is suddenly twisted with horror which I don't understand, more when she falls on her knees and her forehead hits the carpeted floor. She cries in despair, "I deserve to be punished!"

"Please punish me, Your Highness!" She grovels at my feet, her small shoulders shivering uncontrollably.

I reach out to pull her up but she doesn't budge. She just stubbornly stays on the ground, her hands clasped tightly. I hold her arms still, saying, "Why should I? Hey, get up. This is making me uncomfortable."

"I just tripped! Don't overreact! Why should you be punished for that? I was sleeping so comfortably that I kicked pillows off the bed! It's not your fault!" I tell her in frustration.

Finally, she looks up. Tears are falling down her flustered cheeks as she states in bewilderment, "You're not angry, Your Highness."

"Why are you not angry?" Crap. I remember too late that even though this woman never hurt any of her servants physically, she still used to throw tantrums and terrorize her handmaids whenever something inconvenienced her.

I realize that I don't only need to keep a good relationship with the nobles I might come across, I also have to pacify the servants unless I want one of them to poison me before I can even reach that lake.

Yes, I need to act like the Crown Princess is still here. But I can treat people a little nicer, right?

On the subject of pretending to be the Crown Princess, the servants might be able to assist me without their knowledge. This is why it's important that I get to their good side. Fortunately, I was able to fool the doctor yesterday. He said that the memory loss the Crown Princess is currently facing was because of the accident. Nobody will question a doctor's diagnosis in this era. The servants won't find it strange if their Crown Princess, who has temporary amnesia, will suddenly not terrorize them, right?

I clear my throat and try my best to sound stately. I say, "don't make me seem like a brat, Krista. It's just a sprain. Nothing rest and ice can't heal. Just help me get ready. And don't call anybody else."

Krista reluctantly stands up and answers, "Yes, Your Highness."

"Anyway, have you been standing outside all this time?" I ask as I let her assist me to the closet. She helps me change into a purple dress with intricate details and accessories. I then sit on a chair she pulls from a corner.

Krista starts brushing my hair. By now I've gotten used to this routine. At first, Lady Rowena insisted on assisting me along with her army of handmaids but I managed to ward them off by pretending a crowd made me dizzy. I learned this to be a valuable strategy, to use my well-being against people.

I watch Krista's reflection on the mirror right in front of me and I notice she looks upset again like she's about to cry. She says, "You should rest some more, Your Highness. I'm worried your ankle might worsen if you move around and do your usual tasks."

"I want to get some fresh air, Krista. I'm sure there's at least one undemanding task for today." I want to stay indoors as much as possible but if I do that, I won't be able to find a way to get to the lake!

"Yes. Your Highness might not remember but the Royal Secretary sends letters to you occasionally to review, especially when the Crown Prince is absent. They're mostly invitations addressed to the Crown Prince from nobles. I can bring them to you to the garden where you can have tea, Your Highness." Krista finishes braiding my hair and tying it up on top of my head. She adorns my hair with what seem like handcrafted pins.

I still have to get used to looking at my reflection and seeing the pristine Crown Princess looking back at me. I smile and the reflection copies me. I look at Krista's reflection and meet her eyes. From now on, let's just look at her.