I'm Popular (or at least i used to be) [LN Version] - audrey_xo_

Genres: Yuri, Romance, Comedy, Drama

Chapter 1

“I must quell the demons of my past that keep me tethered in darkness another day as I am needed elsewhere. My princess needs me!” I boomed to my cave abode that was without a visitor.

I looked at the stone roof as if an angel had started descending and continued on. “Oh, my beautiful princess, how I long to see you and your hair green as the Freudan Forest, eyes as grey as the storm that is…comes by when the weather is chilly. And your short stature for your head can be a place where I rest my arm when it tires.”

The last sentence sounds odd coming from my lips.

I got on one knee and held my hand out. I then moved my hand to my breast and held it with my other hand. 

“How I long to hold you close and never let go.” I murmured.

Oh! How I wish I could’ve held her when we last talked. It was in the castle’s grand library and she seemed sad knowing she’d be going off to rule our neighboring nation the following day while I’d be staying here. I remember it as if our backstory was just speedily told to me by a smirking girl in an Adidas tracksuit!

Now it feels as though I am going back in time to relive that traumatic backstory rather than explaining it away as boring exposition! 

“Most people either revere me or despise me, so thank you for being my friend despite the difference in status.” My one and only murmured as she looked at the bookshelf across from us.

My princess was wearing a white dress that was befitting someone of royal blood with its gold laces and trims that matched her gold and white earrings. I was beside her wearing my Shadow Knight outfit that consisted of a black leather long sleeved top with a corset, skinny black leather pants, a red cape, black booties, a long black necklace with a skull as the pendant, and black and silver sword earrings. Since I was looking at my princess’s side profile she was framed by a window near the corner of the library where lilies grew up and down on the other side.

I should ask her if I can take a photo from this angle and post it through the mailing delivery service known as Instagram! I’m sure my lovely yet rabid devotees would not mind since my princess is beautiful in an endearing and graceful way that contrasts my enchanting type of beauty. She is a beauty indeed since when I see her eyes I am immediately enraptured and reminded of the gorgeous moon that illuminates the way for weary travelers at night…I could go on and on about my one and only but I must return to the present for my princess is awaiting the usual cool and aloof response from this cool and aloof character that you the reader, my dear devotee, are probably getting mildly annoyed at.

“No problem.” I said in a nonchalant tone.

After a moment of silence I reminisced, “Friends…We have grown rather fond of each other haven’t we.”

Ma-The princess looked down and said. “Yes, which is why it pains me to leave like this.”

Sensing that she was down I tried to talk in a delicate tone. “Duty comes first. Don’t worry, I will visit when I have some time off.”

My one and only turned towards me while I was talking. “...What if!” She suddenly cried out and looked up at me, her eyes gleaming.

“...What if you become my personal guard and come with me?” She proposed in a calmer voice.

Oh! How I hate to be the bearer of bad news when she so badly wants us to be together.

“That won’t work fore I am cursed!” I yelled while raising my arm to the sky. 

I continued on. “Cursed by a mysterious salami cheese merchant to stay in this desert to forever watch the dangerous witch that can potentially destroy the kingdom.”

The princess took my hand as a tear fell down her cheek. “We have to try. Maybe it wore off. Maybe on our way we can research ways to break this curse.”

I felt myself blush as I shared my doubts. “I-I don’t know if that would work…” 

“Please. I’ll try anything. Ask anybody. Because…because I love y-”

Suddenly, the wall and bookshelf to our left disintegrated with a loud hiss that caught both of our attention.

Behind the sizzle and steam of the disintgrated wall stood my worst enemy, the witch of Grestle Keep. The witch wore a long black dress that was ripped on the edges, an amethyst necklace, black heels, and an oversized black hat that came up in a point. She had chin length curly black hair and brown skin.

“A steel rose trapped in the cage of ice known as The Desert that had Forgotten to be Named. I am the Witch of Grestle Keep!” She yelled while she pointed her palm towards me.

This witch’s brain is either full of hog water or she’s referencing some Youtuber I don’t know.

…Wait, Youtuber?

With me lost in thought the witch ran up to my one and only, grabbed her arm and laughed. “Hehheh, I have captured the princess because…becauseeee…I am the villain! Now I will be at Grestle Keep to fight.”

With that the Witch of Grestle Keep dragged the princess towards the hole she had dissolved. Before my one and only was dragged out of sight she outstretched a hand towards me and muttered. “Hitomi…”

I slowly stumbled backwards until my back hit a bookshelf. I slid down until I was sitting down, let my head droop and shut my eyes.

I was supposed to say something here but I was a bit preoccupied.

Hitomi…Who is Hitomi? Though it’s a pretty name that definitely befits the epitome of beauty and coolness that is me, I don’t quite know why I was just called that. 

“Hitomi…” I heard a voice whisper.

I looked up to see who was speaking and saw an odd sight. I was just in the castle’s library but now I had seemed to be in an all black room with nothing but an occupied desk in it. The woman sitting in this desk had mid length curly brown hair, tan skin, and a permanent scowl etched into her face. She was wearing a black Dior blazer, a grey dress shirt, grey slacks, and black dress shoes. She seemed to be fascinated with a small figurine-like object that she was examining with her hands.

What is that in her hands? It looks familiar.

I got up quietly and had intended to slowly creep forward but as soon as I took a step forward I was right in front of the desk as if I had been teleported.

The woman didn’t seem to notice or care to notice as she was still entranced by the figurine-like object that I could now clearly see.

What…What is this witchcraft?!?

It was a mini version of me that seemed to be sculpted out of clay. Mini me wore a black suit, was taller than I should be, and had a few wrinkles around her eyes that I for sure knew weren’t currently around my eyes.

This is how you know the sculptor created this out of spite! They want to sully the image I have carefully crafted with the mailing service commonly known as Instagram and my iron will. This iron will combined with my ever enchanting beauty and the hilarious quips I write under every photograph must’ve made this sculptor jealous since they are probably just some dungeon dweller who has never felt the touch of a fair maiden!

…Anyways, back to me being creeped out.

I suddenly could hear an old clock ticking from nowhere in particular and I felt my body break into a cold sweat.

What if…this woman was the sculptor…

The woman lightly squished mini me’s head and spoke in a cold, orotund voice. “You shall be me…The me I wanted to be. I will continue to isolate you and control your every move. Your every wish. Your every desire, until you eventually break and are reborn into…me!”

She looked right at me as she yelled the last word with a face that looked only a little like mine.

My mother…

“No!” I screamed as I fell to my knees. I shut my eyes and covered my ears with my hands.

This isn’t supposed to happen. I did all of this to forget! Why…why am I back here!

I continued screaming in the same position until a familiar honeyed voice echoed in my head. “Lost one’s always find ways to heal.”

I opened my eyes to see a girl about my height distorted by blur and static standing in front of me. I now seemed to be in a huge kaleidoscope that was being twisted by a bored child (whose probably at their sibling’s sports game) as the blue and silver flakes that surrounded us continuously spun around the space we were standing in. I stood up and the blurry girl nodded to herself gingerly.

She then held her arms out and a glowing mushroom appeared in between her hands. “Here. This will tide you over until I can heal you.” She murmured.

I took the mushroom and put it in the pouch on my belt. The blurry girl then bridged the small gap in between us and made it even smaller. We were so close I could smell the lavender perfume she always wore and could feel her fast heartbeat…or maybe that was mine. Her sparkling eyes gave me a curious look and then she kissed me. She then embraced me and whispered in my ear. “You will always love me. Don’t forget~”

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