There once lived a psychic.

She foresaw her future at a young age- that she was going to die young.

Although saddened by this, she knew she could not change fate.

She continued to live her life and had a small family.

But when her inevitable time came, she had many regrets in her life.

“I lived such a meaningless life,” she said to herself. 

In her last minutes of living, she had another foresight- her daughter was going to die young as well.

So she made a wish to god: 

“I wish for my daughter to continue living and find herself a life with meaning.”

₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊

[In a corporate office in the modern world, a lone woman, Norma Lee, clicks through her simulation system. The dark and empty office is dimly lit by her computer screen. After working meticulously on her simulation setup, she watches the job status window. The simulation iterated through a couple cases successfully but all of a sudden: “SIMULATION FAILED: NO CONVERGENCE.” Expecting this, she stares blankly at the error message- too tired to feel anything.]

NORMA (talking to herself):

“Maybe it’s time to go home.”

[The only source of lighting in the office disappears when she closes her laptop. Almost like she had broken free from a trance, realization sets over her as she scans the dark office. A short sigh escapes her mouth as she gets up from her chair and walks around. One by one, the artificial white lights flicker, causing her eyes to squint. Still blinded, she goes back to her desk to start packing up her things to go home.]

I wasn’t a brilliant, fast-talking engineer who won awards and got promoted. Most days, I kept my head down and did as I was told like a cog in the corporate wheel. Having little interaction with others, I found some solace from working alone. It’s a lot more quiet that way but…

Every day is the same day: wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep. Maybe this is how my life will play out, I always thought to myself.

Just another mundane, insignificant life.

───── ⋆⋅⊹⋅⋆ ─────

[It is a rainy night as Norma leaves the office. Her headphones cover her ears- drowning out the sounds of the city environment. She keeps her eyes on the sidewalk, half-asleep, watching her steps throw small splashes of water. An intersection stops her cold - red light, no traffic, just rain hammering the empty road. A tired sigh escapes her mouth as the rain soaks through her clothes. The light turns green and she crosses without a second thought. All of a sudden, a screech. Then a long horn that progressively becomes louder. She turns toward the sound as she stands in the middle of the crosswalk. A truck hydroplanes, sliding faster directly towards her- its headlights consume her being.]

And then…
I was suddenly removed from my world.

₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊

[Blue jays chirp loudly outside a palace window as a morning greeting. The bright sunlight bleeds through embroidered curtains into an ornate room crowded with gilded furniture. A beautiful woman sleeps on the king-sized bed- her unruly black hair sprawls on the silk pillow. She slowly awakes to the sound of the birds singing sweetly. After a beat, her eyes snap fully open and she lets out a small gasp. She bolts upright, her breath becoming increasingly unstable.]

???:
“Where...? Where am I…? Didn’t I just get hit…?”

[Norma takes in her surroundings- a fancy, huge room that she isn’t familiar with. Her eyes travel down to her palms- slender fingers without any callouses. Turning toward a flicker of motion, a full body mirror catches her reflection. A stranger stares back- long, wavy black hair that cascades over her shoulders, unfamiliar gray eyes, and a white regal nightgown. Norma doesn’t move a muscle and neither does the woman in the mirror.]

??? (whispers to herself):
“That’s not me. Am I dreaming?”

[Before Norma could process her thoughts, the bedroom door creaks open, and a maid cautiously steps inside carrying a tray. The moment she notices the beautiful woman sitting upright in bed, she freezes.]

MAID:
“L-Lady Caelia… You’re awake?”

[Caelia turns her head to the maid standing frozen at the door. A perplexed expression crosses her face for a split second before being replaced with an awkward smile.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Caelia..? Who’s that…? Is that supposed to be me?

CAELIA (hesitant):

“U-Um… Yes…?”

[Hearing Caelia’s calm response and seeing her uncommon smile, the maid tightens her grip on the tray.]

MAID:
“...You’re… smiling?”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

That’s such a weird question to ask!!

[Caelia’s mouth opens, then closes as she scrambles for something- anything- that sounds like whatever “Caelia” is supposed to sound like.] 

CAELIA (shaky):
“Do I usually not…?”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Who is Caelia? It sounds like a pretty uncommon name, but why do I feel like I’ve heard that name before? Honestly… it sounds like a villainess name.

[Her eyes dart around the room, taking note of the historic and gold plated furniture. Going still, she makes a realization.]

Fuck.

──────────﹒✶﹒﹒─

[LADY CAELIA ARDENT - The Princess of the North. A cruel noblewoman and antagonist of the romance novel The Radiant Rose of Everhart who is doomed to die.]

─﹒﹒✶﹒──────────

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:
I think I know this story and this woman. She’s the villainess- the arrogant, bitter one who spent the entire book torturing the heroine and then… died. Have I reincarnated as her?! No way, right?!

[She lightly pinches herself to test if this was all a dream but when she feels the pain, a stronger wave of confusion consumes her.]

I… I feel the pain… How does this even happen?! There is no logical explanation for this!!

MAID: 

“I-I’m going to leave the tea in your room, Lady Caelia.”

[The maid fully enters Caelia’s chambers, making her way to the nightstand next to Caelia’s bed. She carefully drops off the items from her silver tray one at a time. As the maid prepares her morning tea, Caelia glances over at the window.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

How come when I die, I am reincarnated? Much less, reincarnate as someone who has already done damage… I skimmed this story in my previous life! I barely remember it! Where are we even at in the story? 

[A quiet exhale escapes as the natural morning sun warms her face.]

Realistically… shouldn’t I have just moved on when I passed?

[Her fingers tighten around the bedsheets.]

Honestly… Would that have been so bad? Why give someone like me another chance at life…?

[She thinks of the long hours staring at the computer screen, aimlessly clicking random buttons without any reason. If she didn’t get hit by the truck, she probably would’ve made it home, made the same dinner, and then slept. Her phone would’ve been empty of notifications from anyone with no one checking up on her. It would’ve been like any other day.]

It’s not like I lost too much in my life anyway…

[Outside, the sky is clear- a contrast to the rainy day when she had passed.]

I need to do some research about this situation. Maybe the library has something. 

[Caelia turns to the maid and forces a smile. The maid keeps her head low as she pours tea into Caelia’s teacup.]

CAELIA:

“Could you remind me where the library is later?” 

[Her gaze still focused on the teacup, the maid’s hand jerks- almost dropping the teapot.]

MAID:

“M-My Lady, are you feeling alright? You have never been interested in reading before.”

[Caelia’s demeanor falters before awkwardly smiling again.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Was Caelia’s only hobby torturing the female lead?!

CAELIA:

“I’m feeling fine… I just want to try it out…”

[The maid finishes pouring, straightens, and bows.]

MAID:

“V-Very well, Lady Caelia. Let me help you get dressed and we can go.”

₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊

[End of Prologue]