“Um. What exactly do you mean?”

“Your Highness' chambers have been moved to the South Palace. We will escort you there.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you.” I said flatly.

While I didn’t even fully expect to be moved to the South Palace, it happening a mere hour after I chatted with Olivia about it is odd. Thankfully, the walk to the Southern Palace wasn’t long.

‘I hear this palace was built recently within the last 20 years or so. Perhaps it was built to accommodate my mother's weak health.’

Entering the palace I could see Amelia hiding at the top of the stairs. Hunkered behind the banister, she ran down the hall as soon as we locked eyes.

‘She's so cute. It would be unbelievable that she's the emperor's daughter if she didn’t have his features.’

Following the steward we made our way through the halls. Gesturing to a large set of doors the servant bowed. 

“This will be Your Highness' new room.”

“Thank you.”

With the attendants having left I entered the room. It was decorated plainly, but the furniture was sized just right for me. Wardrobe, table set, vanity-I looked closer at the bed. A small note sat there.

‘I hope you like the room.-Olivia’

The room was cream-colored with gold trims. It felt far too precious for me but…I held the note close.

‘At least there's someone in the imperial palace that doesn’t hate me.’

I sat down on the bed.

‘I wonder if Warren hates me now…While I doubt his feelings would change that easily, there's no telling how much I hurt him by keeping the truth from him.’

I laid back on the bed, stewing in my thoughts now that the excitement of the day was over. 

‘Is Amelia going to be okay? Will they bring her out of the forest too? Could I ask father?’

I couldn’t stop the worry I felt and the nervous feeling that gripped my heart.

‘Am I destined to be a villain?’ I thought absentmindedly.

In stories like this people are usually put into larger roles. And if not main roles, ones that are support. So I can’t rule out the idea that I could become a villain with everyone's backs turned to me.

‘But…that would be just too much …’

 I felt the grief from my previous life pierce through me. In that world, although a blurry, near illegible mess of fog and darkness, I recall having bad luck in droves then. If something could go wrong it would. And if there was any misfortune that had yet to befall me, it would only be a matter of time before it struck.

“If I am to be a villain I’d rather just run back to the woods, or go live with Amelia in the country side.” I mumbled to myself.

But if that were to be my story I don't believe I’d have as many enemies as I do here. Just my very existence is deemed a threat by so many. If I were to be in that role I’d have assumed I would have returned to the capital and made a ruckus already.

‘A villainess wouldn’t be content suffering out in a monster infested forest, that’s for sure.’ 

A quiet chirping rang from the window nearby, adding to my spiral of thoughts as if providing a moment of fearfulness disguised as clarity.

‘Though, if I was reincarnated into the body of the story's villain at birth, and simply lived her whole life without knowing…’ I paled at the thought.

“Maybe I should run away with Amelia before things get too crazy…” I genuinely considered the idea for a moment while staring at the ceiling.

‘But…then I’d have to leave Warren behind. I may think of this as a story, but my feelings for him are real….’

I sat up and slowly walked over to the wardrobe. Opening it, I changed into one of the few nightgowns inside. The silk embraced my body and I tried my best to console myself by holding my own sides.

“I’m seriously getting a headache from all these depressing thoughts. I just need to head to bed before anything else happens.”

Laying back down on my bed and crawling inside the covers I did my best to fall asleep. Within a few minutes, I felt myself slipping away…

“Kali.”

The space around me was dark.

“Kali.”

That's Warren's voice!

“Warren? Where are you?” I felt uneasy as I spun about, searching for him in the darkness.

“Kali.”

Turning, I saw him standing a few feet away from me, looking at the ground solemnly.

I smiled in relief.

“Warren!”

He looked up at me and I flinched at his gaze. It was devoid of anything and everything. 

“W-Warren?”

“Kali. Why did you lie to me? Was I not worth telling the truth to?”

“No! Warren, it’s not like that at all!” My heart sank. I couldn't breathe.

“Then were you just having fun with me? Playing around with my feelings while keeping me in the dark?” He looked to the side with a wry smile.

I fell to my knees. I knew he would be hurt but facing that reality was different. I was scared.

“All the time we spent, the closeness we shared…Was it all just some sick joke for you to pass the time with until you regained your status as a royal?”

“Warren…No…” I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. This was too much to bear.

“What about the time we shared, did it mean nothing?”

“No!”

“Then what of our feelings? Were they a fluke, too?”

“No! Warren, please…”

“Then what of it all? What was the point of being friends if we truly knew nothing about each other?”

I gasped for air and couldn’t stop trembling. I covered my face.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry, Warren.”

The image of all the sweet moments we shared shattered in an instant.

Had we truly not known a thing about each other? I knew what color he liked, but not even his last name. Did he have any siblings? What did he hunt beasts day and night for? Why did he seek honor?

As these thoughts threw themselves at me in the darkness I realized the truth. We might have known each other's names, but we did not know each other.

“Warren…” I reached out to him in the dark. “When I see you again-can we start over?”

“Kali. That's not a question to ask me.”

“What?”

“But someone has to wake her up!”

“W-Warren?” Before me Warren started melting away.

“Warren!”

As he melted into light he combined with the darkness around me. It was like one final hug to comfort me at the end. Within moments the darkness ceded and I opened my eyes to the ceiling of my room. I sat up.

Pale and slick with sweat I brought my hands infront of me. I flexed my hands, but couldn’t stop shaking. Reaching up to my face I felt tear marks on my cheek.

Before I could even recover a knock came from my door.

“Your Highness, it is time to get up.”

I could hear the sound of a few maids outside speaking in hushed voices. I took a deep breath and willed myself to stop trembling. I wiped my face and eyes.

“Come in.”

With only a split second of hesitation, the maids entered the room and began getting me ready.

“What are you getting me ready for? It’s not yet time for me to meet the king.”

“Your Highness will be attending the morning meal with your family.”

Ugh, how cliche…But I think I understand what all those protagonists talked about with indigestion. I already didn’t feel good about this…