The night was dreadful until the end. The stares and gossip didn’t stop, and it took all of my willpower to stop Edmond, my brother, and my father from attacking them back. Even my mother was getting that evil look in her eyes. We left early at my insistence and rode back to the estate in our family carriage. At last, I could relax. I let my head rest against the vibrating window, like a massage. The cushioned seats helped lull me into a sense of safety amongst my family.

Over the years I had grown accustomed to my new family, grown to love them in my own unique way that didn’t let go of the love I had in my past either. They were loving in both lives and I would never give up one for the other. I understood how the Aurora of this book about love and romance grew so spoiled.

My father who sat across from me was tall, strong and firm, except when faced by the beloved daughter he always wanted. When with her, his sharp gray eyes grew soft and he acted like a little pink bear who wanted nothing but hugs and love. 

Edmond beside him also adored his sister and did anything to protect her from the cruelty of the world. As a knight, it was his duty to watch over her and care for her to shelter her.

And our mother who not only was a rivalless beauty in any room with her long golden locks, gorgeous sapphire eyes, and delicate face also had the deadliest tongue in any room, but she could say only praise to her precious daughter. 

Yes, Aurora was destined to be spoiled rotten by unconditional love, not knowing the word “no” nor pain nor suffering. Instead, I received the gift of their love instead of the Aurora of the story and accepted it with gratitude.

I leaned over to my mother and grabbed her arm. “What an exhausting night,” I whined. I knew they were being considerate by not questioning me about the kiss. Or maybe they expected it sooner or later since we were engaged. 

My mother wrapped her warm arms around me and patted my head. “We're almost home little darling,” she said.

I closed my eyes in her arms and was reminded of their continuous warmth throughout my second childhood. They let me do whatever I pleased regardless of how absurd. Wear my brother’s old shorts and play pants, why not? Start my own garden, sure. Climb trees, roll down hills, go to festivals, and dance the night away. When I was younger for a while I became reasonably obsessed with moving my new healthy body.

I had spent the entirety of my past life surrounded by my loved ones as they slowly watched me wither away. I wasn’t miserable but no child could be happy when they knew death awaited them before adulthood.

And just like that I seemed to be cursed in this life as well. Cursed to die before I could reach adulthood. Or so the story went.

Hmmm, I guess I owe you an explanation on the whole book thing huh. Well, it isn’t the newest concept. When I was sick in bed, like I spent most days in my first life, I read books, any book I could get my hands on. Horror, drama, sci-fi, fantasy, even other villainess reincarnation stories: all filled my boredom. One of the ones I stumbled across was this one. The one I now live my pitiful life in. I can’t for the life of me remember what it was called. I was never very good with the names. But the stories, I remembered them all: every character, every little plot line, including my own very short one. Or I guess I should say Aurora’s very short one.

She was born spoiled as the sister of the second male lead and engaged to the crown prince, the primary male lead. And blah, blah, blah, she went down the usual jealous route of bullying the female lead and had a very unfortunate end. Honestly, it’s not that original. It mostly just filled my time. The after story ended with the two main characters getting married and living happily ever after. Or at least that’s how it was supposed to go.

But not this time god. Or Author. Go screw yourself. I wasn’t going to die young a second time.

I fought hard to avoid every death flag, I befriended the prince, helped him resolve his misunderstanding with his parents. That way he could learn to love himself instead of seeking worth in the female lead's gaze. I befriended the prime minister's son and helped him chill out, and stop working so much. Being a work-a-holic would just lead him to being such a stickler for rules. He’d recommend the banishment. I saved the magician boy from his unfortunate upbringing and we ended up growing up together. He was almost like a second brother instead of the guy collecting evidence against me. I even forgave the hidden villain character for attempting to kill me and the female lead. He at least deserved a chance to redeem himself. 

I even stopped a plague. Yeah, an entire plague. It wasn’t easy either. I knew the antidote, sure, but I had to convince everyone to let me grow this one specific herb that, surprise, became very useful later. All so the female lead's family wouldn’t die, and she’d have the support she needed from her parents instead of finding it in any hopeless guy who came to her rescue. 

I did everything I could to avoid death a second time it became my entire life, just so I could live. Believe it or not, dying sucks. My last death was slow and painful and it seemed like the one in this life wouldn’t be much better unless I changed it. I remembered that passage with startling clarity:

The seamstress sewed in the final touches to Marie’s wedding dress when her handmaiden came in with the dark news. It seemed almost fitting that Aurora Valentine would try to ruin another special day for her with her death, like a final wish of ill will. According to the rumors she had passed pitifully in the streets; unable to adapt to her new life as a commoner she starved. Those threatening blue eyes closed for the last time. Her once porcelain skin and delicate face sunken in on itself from hunger, her once vibrant pink hair had been cut for money and the last strands withered away with malnutrition. She had become as ugly as her soul during her last days and she died without a person by her side to hear her last words. The guards found her corpse slumped in the streets, decaying in the hot sun.

Marie was determined to forget that unfortunate soul. There were too many good things to look forward to in the future. She wouldn’t let Aurora darken another day.

I shivered in my mother’s arms at the thought of the horrid end that I had managed to avoid. My family surely tried to stop it in the story. Behind the romance, they probably begged on their knees for the prince’s forgiveness. My mother caressed my arm as if to warm me.

“You look cold,” my father said. I felt him place a long piece of fabric on my body. It was likely his coat, still warm from his strong back. I knew they fought for me in that story and I was glad they would never have to see me end up in such a horrid state.

All I needed to remember was it could be worse. I got this far being happy and healthy and I guess a little oblivious. Looking back I hoped none of my other attempts to save my life were misunderstood for romantic affection. Oh, god. If this turned into a reverse harem situation I’d have to spend the next week brutally rejecting all of my friend’s advances. I mean I’d have to destroy them if they harbored feelings for me secretly for this long. Yeah, let’s just hope Leon was the only one with an unrequited love. Him I can deal with.