❦☾𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗.1. 𝕷𝖚𝖈𝖎𝖉 𝕯𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖒☽❦

♕♔

The setting sun rays warmed Seoul's face, waking her up with a sunlight's kiss. ' How warm,' she thought as she opened her heavy eyes.

"Princess Ophelia, you have woken up?" Her maid inquired.

Seoul slowly raised her head, as she regained her consciousness 'Princess Ophelia? Isn't that a character from that novel'

" Princess, we have arrived, to the Equessiran Empire," The maid informed Seoul.

'No way! I'm lucid dreaming myself into the novel!' She celebrated to herself ' I...can meet Leon!' Her blue eyes lit up as she softly smiled to her maid who was called Jennie.

" Yes, Jennie you may request to exit the carriage," Ophelia told her with a soft smile.

Slightly stunned by Ophelia's sudden yet rare smile, she nodded and announced " The Princess is ready to exit the Carriage,"

'Her highness smiled for the first time in ages, even in this situation she puts on a front...she really is strong,' Jennie thought.

The carriage doors opened wide, and they were greeted with a display of uniformed men aligned opposite from one another and a glamorous golden gate wide open with multiple maids bowing behind it.

"Wow," Ophelia took in the scenery. But she was met with a loud groan from someone clearing their throat.

She quickly turned her head to the sound and realised it was the Emperor's butler Sebastian.

Placing her hand on his, he helped her off the vehicle " I hope this welcoming display, your highness, is of your liking," he beamed.

"And I hope you enjoy your welcoming banquet the royal family has prepared on behalf of your arrival,"

The crowd of men began blowing trumpets as Ophelia strolled down the red carpet followed by Jennie.

' I've dreamt myself at the right moment!' She thought to herself ' It would've been more convenient to be Rosetta. Ophelia is good enough, I just want to see Leon and warn him about prince Casper and I'll force myself to wake up!'

Upon entering the Palace ceremonial hall, Ophelia was encountered with all the Nobles in a halfway dance.

'If this so-called, gathering was to welcome me, why has it already begun without my presence...' She pondered as she proceeded to look around for the Duke.

>

Ophelia is a misfortune character who was of extreme beauty and sold by her own father to the Empire of Equessira.

Her father who was the king, disregarded her all her life, and only grew affectionate of her after her beauty increased with her puberty.

The King had already agreed to sell her off to be a concubine of the Emperor. As a declaration of peace and an indication of their kinship as the neighbouring Kingdom.

However, after a request from the King to change her status from a concubine, the Emperor agreed to make her the wife of his son.

Since she was the most gorgeous woman known in the small Kingdom of Alira. It was only fair to give Prince Casper this maiden as a prize of winning the war for him.

Though, Ophelia's life was peaceful amidst her palace walls, she was always lonely. And looked down upon by her siblings.

For she had come to realise her flawless beauty made her nothing but an object; a mere mindless trophy.

And with that mindset, her happiness in life faded. And the glimmer of prosperity she felt after receiving the attention of her father, was washed away the moment she found out he sold her to be a mere concubine. To keep the peace between a large Empire and a small Kingdom.

The only thing that helped her save a small portion of her dignity was her face.

'At least she'd get to be an Empress instead of a concubine.'

Is what her servants told her, as a comfort. Yet her only wish was to be known as Ophelia, the name her mother granted her and not the blessed blossom of Alira.

Ophelia's only downfall was falling in love with the Prince who didn't acknowledge her for only her beauty, after many attempts to escape him. She found herself pursuing his affection.

When in reality the very moment she entered the Empire's Castle. Her fiancé was falling in love with the female lead.

And her love for the prince was also her downfall and brought her to her death. Just like the Duke of Crawford.

But instead of the Prince she was murdered by the very same antagonist. Leon Crawford.

>

Ophelia gave up on her search for Leon, ' Is he even here?' She worried.

In the middle of the gigantic gala was the Prince, who couldn't ignore Ophelia's remarkable beauty, had noticed the Princess seemed distressed. It moved him to go find her. ' Is she not pleased with the welcoming,' he guessed.

Out of the blue, a young girl with dark pink hair collided with him in front of the guests that hovered around him. "Ow! I'm sorry Sir," she apologised whilst holding her head and stepping back.

Behind her was a middle-aged nobleman who pulled her toward him. " I'm sorry, your highness please excuse my fiancé's mistake," he tightened his grip around her shoulder.

And with that, the girls manner became increasingly uncomfortable.

They proceeded in walking away from the Crown Prince, but it was obvious that she was resisting.

Her eyes were a mesmorizing shade of purple, something so odd and unique. He was instantly attracted to her.

" Let go," Casper grasped his arm and pulled him back, "Pardon your Majesty," he replied in a cold sweat.

' Wow, this dream is awfully detailed. I even included the moment Casper and Rosetta met.' Ophelia thought as she watched.

Suddenly a large hand placed itself around Ophelia's waist.

In a heavy breath, the voice told her " Hmm, what is a beauty like you doing here. I've never heard of you before?" The man pulled her into a dark corner, whilst the whole hall was distracted by the Crown Prince's scene.

' What the!' She gasped, ' This seems too real to be a dream, I can feel his touch!' She tried to haul his arm off but his grip strengthened, and so he plucked her up off the ground.

" L..et me go!" She struggled.

"Ahh, are you trying to excite me, women?" He creepily muttered into her ear.

' I'll scream! Or I'll summon a saviour?!' She panicked ' am I seriously going to dream myself being sexually assaulted!?" Her tears commenced as she attempted to let out a scream "Help! Someone Help me! He-"

He immediately covered her mouth and warned her, " Shh! it'll be over the sooner you conform,"

Her tears stuck at her eyes, she began to pray to wake up from this nightmare. But still hoped to meet Leon.

SLASH!

The sound of a sword, ripping through materials suddenly broke the tension.

" Disgusting man," a deep yet relaxing voice affirmed.

Ophelia instantly recognised his voice even though she'd never heard it before. ' It has to be him, its the voice I imagined for him,"

The strange man quickly let go of her body tossing her harshly to the ground as he screeched.

Ophelia's pulsing heart began to rest, as she watched the stranger bleed out.

She then slowly lifted her head to see the man's figure walking away into the night garden, the moonlight shone on him as though it was a spotlight, "It's him..." she gently let out in awe as she stood up. 'Before I wake up, I must warn him about the future! Even if it's a dream... and thank him,'

"Leon!" Ophelia called out, he instantly turned in shock to see the one who dared to utter his name that he despised so much, yet to his surprise he was met with a stunning women with a teary expression that conveyed relief and content.

Her gown ruffled in the wind and her hair perfectly placed itself as she walked over to his spot. 'He looks more handsome than what I imagined, dark black hair and red eyes that resembled pools of fresh blood was the books choice of words,'

As she approached him closer, his curiosity grew further 'What does this woman want?! And who is she to know the name that I've hidden so well?' he pondered as he followed her with his eyes.

Ophelia brushed away her tears then jumped into an embrace with him "I've always wanted to give you a hug because you seemed so lonely,"

Leon's eyes widened as he was startled by her actions and words.

With a smile as warming as the sun's rays on a summers day, she took his hand and told him in a soft voice "Thank you for saving me," Leon then slightly nodded his head

Ophelia continued "There is something that I must tell you,"

However she had noticed a large splash of blood on his cheek and instantly tried to wipe it away with her hand "You're hurt!"

"I am fine," he replied in a slightly baffled state usually his initial reaction would be to push her off of him, or cut out her tongue but something about her made him not want to. "The blood, it's n-" he tried telling her.

"You're bleeding too much!" Ophelia began to fret as she pulled out a handkerchief "This is my fault! Now you're handsome face is ruined!" she complained slightly blushing as she rubbed it away,

"It isn't my blood," he sternly let out as he removed her hand, he then used his own sleeve to wipe the rest of it away in one go "Now tell me before I-"

But his words were cut short because as soon she saw that there was no wound she gasped in relief and felt his face to make sure there was no wound. "Then I'm at ease," she giggled at herself.

'Why would she feel relived? And why was she so worried about a small wound? It's almost amusing,' he smirked

"Oh yes! I will tell you now-"

" What are you doing with my fiancé!?" The Crown Prince shouted as he quickly grabbed hold of the Princess's hand that was on Leon's cheek pulling her behind him.