Author's Note: This is my first novel, it might not have the best English in the world since it isn't my first language, but I truly hope you enjoy it regardless.
The idea for this story originally began as a random speed-paint for TIKTOK. Eventually it escalated into a manwha then into now, a novel. I deleted the manwha because I was still unsatisfied with the storyline. The plot is slightly more polished now than before, quite a lot has been changed but some of the elements of the story still remained the same, and if you were able to previously read "The Onion Villainess" this novel's manhwa predecessor, you still might recognize the scenes and its characters.
it will be written quite loosely, in a way like how things would still appear in the manwha and I won't focus much on professionality but I will do my best to make it as understandable as I can.
I hope you enjoy it though, regardless if you a new or old reader!
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It was dark and quiet outside; I was all alone. All I can hear are the creaking of the swing and my hushed sobs. The park was empty; the kids that you usually see playing in the sand and fighting over who gets to play at the seesaw weren't around. No, they're at home with their parents, while I'm out here celebrating my 8th birthday without my parents. I've always celebrated my birthday with my parents; they'd never forget it. But today was an exemption... It's my first time celebrating my birthday when both of my parents are dead.
"Young lady," says a delicate female voice. I looked up to see who it was, but it was too dark for me to see her face. She also had her red cloak hood up, covering her face and attire, so all I'm able to notice about her is the golden ring that she was wearing around her thumb.
"You look like you had a rough day." The lady kneeled in front of me to match my eye level, and I could faintly see her smile beneath her hood. "You must miss your parents," she says in a consoling tone. My eyes slightly widened from shock, as I had not said a word to her yet about my name or my family. "How..."
"How did I know about your family?" She interrupts me finishing my sentence for me as if she expected the question already. I nodded in response, and she let out a soft sigh. "Well, anyone can easily tell if they see a random kid at the park in the middle of the night all alone. If you were just trying to run away from your parents, then you would be wearing a very different expression from the one you're wearing right now," she explained, and I could only frown in response. She might've noticed the way I looked and slightly panicked.
"Hey, it's okay! You have to keep your head high. No matter what challenges you must face, don't give up. The most disrespectful thing you can do for your parents is to give up when they didn't give up on you. So keep fighting, Jil." The lady holds my hands gently, and I feel as though it's been so long since I last felt like this. Since I felt the determination to find my happiness. Yet there was also something else about this lady that felt familiar. The lady lets go of my hands and grabs something from inside the pocket of her cloak.
"Here," she says, handing me a book. It looked pretty simple and didn't look anything special. I took the book from her and hugged it over my chest. "Happy Birthday, Jil," the lady said, and coincidentally, the wind slightly blew over her cloak, and I could make out a smile from the street light shining over her face. She was beautiful.
I hugged the book even tighter, as it was the first gift I'd ever received after my parents died. I looked down shyly. "Thank you," I said sheepishly, and as I looked up, the lady was not there anymore.
As I saw my cousin burn the book that I had cherished for ten years, the aroma of burning paper filled the air. All I could think about was why because I didn't know how or what to feel.
Why is my life the way it is? Have I done anything in a previous life that might've caused this kind of treatment?
After my parents passed away, my aunt became my guardian, although I never asked her for anything. Since my cousin is their child and I'm only a boarder in their house, I always tried to avoid trouble and I never sought to get under my cousin's skin.
Although I did my best to behave well, I was once again given this as payment.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Billy?" I said angrily as I looked at him with scornful eyes.
Billy turned to face me with a maniacal grin that nearly made me shiver. Billy turned to me and said, "Wow, I've never seen a reaction like that before. You used to just not talk and accept whatever I did to your things. But I didn't think I'd finally get a reaction out of you over a trash novel." Billy laughs slyly as he picks up the burning trash and moves towards me. I began to move away from him since I had a nasty feeling about this and wanted to maintain my distance.
"You want your silly novel, Jil? Well, here it is." Billy hurled the blazing trash at me, and I bit back a yell as some of the trash touched and scorched my skin, I gently touch my arm, which was burned the most severely by the debris, while kneeling on the ground. Billy also got down on his knees in front of me and gripped my chin with a hard grip, forcing me to look him in the eyes.
"You're angry that I burned your book, but you weren't angry when I burned you? Ha, are you a masochist, cousin?" Billy remarked, his eyes so full of malice, It appeared as though I wasn't speaking to a person at all, but rather to a being who was only interested in hurting other people.
I pleaded for an explanation, any type of explanation, I didn't care, asking, "Why are you doing this, Billy, and what have I ever done to you?" All I wanted to know was why. Billy gripped my face roughly while grinning menacingly. He also chuckled a little.
"You want to know why, cousin? The fact is, I just hate you. You're the reason why auntie and uncle died in that accident. If they hadn't chosen to adopt you, then maybe they would still be alive." Billy stated in a deep, vengeful voice.
Until I moved into this family, I was unaware that I had been adopted. My cousin and aunt made sure I understood I wasn't a member of this family. But even so, I felt appreciative of them for not entirely discarding me when they had the option to do so. Despite everything, I had a house to return to, even though I am aware that they are only after the money my parents have saved for me.
Billy grinned, releasing his grip on my face harshly, getting to his feet, and walking behind me. "Word of advice, cousin, you should probably just end your life," he whispered spitefully as he walked away from me.
I still knelt there, thinking back on the things I've done and not done in my life. For a brief period of time... merely for a second... I thought about Billy's comment. Perhaps it would be best if I simply vanished from this world. I wonder if maybe I don't fit in this world after all.
Darkness.
That's what I saw moments later when I had those thoughts. My eyes blurred, or rather, my sight was enshrouded by the void.
I could hear a baby wailing somewhere, and though it was far away, it seemed to be nearby. The baby's cries echoed as it could be heard getting closer and closer. then comes a halt.
"Congratulations, your majesty, it's a girl!" A voice said with a tone that sounded simultaneously joyful and terrified.
"Thank you... Thank you... What should we name her, love?" A man says, his voice deep and also in panic, laced with an overwhelming happiness to his tone.
"I think..... would be lovely," A woman said, her voice soft, dry, and hoarse. She sounds as if she'll pass out at any moment.
"Your majesty?" Another woman's voice follows, and it sounds like she's getting anxious and is later followed by more anxious voices.
"Your majesty!"
"Grazilldha!"
"Call the Physician, hurry!"
"Hang in there for me, please, love. Please."
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