I’m back in my old body.

The old me stands on the stage, holding the medal in my hands. The applause deafens my ears. Lights blind my eyes. My smile dazzles through the air.

I did it! I won the writing contest, beating hundreds of other contestants in our middle school. I felt a surge of pride, joy, and gratitude. My smile extended from ear to ear.

I looked at the judges, who nodded approvingly. I looked at the audience, who cheered enthusiastically. I looked at my friends, who hugged and congratulated me.

But the most important people in my life are those absent, my family.

That’s when I got a call that pulled me toward the hospital. Lying in a bed, I saw my real Mom. I rushed to hold her pale blue arms.

“Mom, don’t leave me! You’re all I have!” I cried, stroking my chest from the unbearable pain in my heart.

Weakness paralyzed her body, but she continued to hold my hand. That’s when her chilling voice told me,

“D—Don’t worry about me.”

“Mom!”

“The world doesn’t—forbid you—to smile. T—Take your time.”

“Mom!” I screamed, reaching her vanishing body away from me.

In the blink of an eye, everything turned dark. Lately, I realized that I’d been kneeling on a floor filled with dark muck.

The moon is red. The trees are dead. There’s nothing left but dread.

The muck slowly eats my body, gulping me whole from my toes. For every millimeter, my body vanishes from my view.

“N—NO!” I squealed, begging for help from someone unable to see me. Crawling for escape doesn’t help. Everything slides through, and for every move, the sinking hastens.

This darkness reminded me of how stale my life is. A sunray never strokes through my bangs. This is the place where I should be.

I’m all alone.

No one will come to help me.

Suddenly, a light strikes from heaven towards my eyes. I can only see a hand reaching out to help me.

I can’t see a face, nor where the hand connects. It’s too foggy. But somehow, it gave me a clue on who it was.

“Miss Veniara, hold my hand!”

I did, since the voice where it came from comes from the crispiness Elara gives me. My eyes gloomed in tears. My lips trembled not knowing how to react.

My hair suddenly turned crimson red. A small portion of my body fattened. Veniara’s body was given back to me again.

I didn’t hesitate to take her hand as she pulled me out.

“Honestly, Miss Veniara, you’re making us worried. You should take your time.”

The grip on my hand loosens. I fell down the vortex of darkness as I stared at Elara’s hand whose also going away.

I didn’t want to let go. It was just out of reflex. There’s still something holding me back from what I should do.

“Elara!” I screamed.

Then I woke up.

“Elara!” I screamed.

I unconsciously sat straight like I hit a spring on my back. I woke up in my room, but the person I saw wasn’t the one I was expecting.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“That hurts, little princess. It’s just my first day working, and you’re already appealing for my dismissal?”

The narrow-eyed Ellyn remarked. She wears her maid outfit, preparing tea from the tray she brought into the room.

“I— I’m sorry, Ellyn! It’s not what I wanted to—”

“I knew, little princess. You’re somewhat cute when you’re teased.”

My face blushed, and I looked away from her. She continues her mature chuckle while covering her mouth.

“You’ll pay for this,” I remarked.

“Well, I don’t go easy on kids who lie. You dumped me your fault when in fact I have no idea what you’re doing.”

“S—Shut up!”

Ellyn chuckled but with a louder volume. Still, the touch of elegance appraises her from my view. Even just laughing, she looks noble.

While I, away from the norms, don’t know what I should do in sudden situations. As a member of the royal family, that should be the first to adapt without suspicion.

“Ellyn, to be frank, I have other reasons why I’ve put you in this job.”

“Isn’t it obvious? Aren’t you filling this mansion’s hole from Elara’s absence?”

“So, there are also cases you can’t completely read my mind?” I smirked.

“Expecting what someone has to say is a defensive measure, little princess. Anyway, I didn’t study a nine-year-old’s mindset well. I didn’t know it was that complicated.”

“It’s just simple, Ellyn. I want you to secretly teach me how to act noble.”

“That’s— too normal.”

After seconds of pausing, she laughed hard again. I can’t contain my embarrassment by just covering my face. Still, she isn’t suspicious of me.

Someone should already doubt if a noble who lives with royalty from birth can’t act formally. Well, I guess it’s going well.

That’s only one thing to wrap up and prepare. I don’t have much time to defend myself for my upcoming demise.

After this year as I turn ten, I will face the villain of the story, the Dark Lord himself.

He’s still a human here yet. The world continues to follow the storyline. Hence, he’ll turn the dark lord by the age of sixteen.

Next year, he’s twelve. I only have four years to enhance myself and become stronger than the disastrous villain.

But four years isn’t enough. It’s nearly impossible. My free time will soon be stolen by the academy the moment I turn twelve.

Also, I’m not accustomed to this world yet. Because of the author’s bad world-building, I’m still gathering information.

I need to push myself to the edge to save Veniara and to survive.

I ate my breakfast in my room while Ellyn taught me the proper manners, from holding the spoon, up to swallowing. It’s a hard norm that needs practice.

I informed Mom that I might not go with them to the family dinner. It’s not just the norm, but I also hated Dad’s jokes.

After eating, I asked Ellyn to accompany me to where the Cavalry Captain was. I wore my most comfortable and flexible outfit since a gallant dress would surely hinder me.

Our kingdom is divided into classes, and I’m currently residing in the highest-class area. The other areas are for the nobles, the middle classes, the marketplace, and the slums.

Inside the walls of the highest-class zone, there are five distinct buildings. First is the castle which is the center of commerce and politics.

Second, the mansion is where the king’s family lives. Third is the event building which is surrounded by a huge garden. This is where parties and balls are organized.

Fourth is the military barracks, where the soldiers of the kingdom are trained in every specialty. The fifth one is the arena, which is currently useless as of now.

The military barracks are a few walks away from the mansion. Walls surround it, making it hard to see the soldiers practice from the outside.

The barracks were divided into sections, each with its own banner and color scheme depending on the specialty. It bustles with activity, as soldiers trained, drilled, and prepared for battle.

They wore armor and weapons of different styles and materials. Some were forged by skilled smiths. Some were enchanted by powerful mages. Some were looted from fallen enemies.

The barracks were a place of order, discipline, camaraderie, and loyalty. The soldiers shared a common bond, a common cause, and a common enemy.

The main practice zone was designed to test their skills in combat, stealth, and survival, as well as their teamwork and leadership.

The zone was also enchanted with magic, creating realism with weather, noise, and damage.

The recruits felt every hit, every wound, every drop of sweat and blood. The practice zone was not a game, but a harsh and demanding training that prepared them for the real war.

I gulped seeing how hardworking the soldiers can be under pressure. I only saw a few female soldiers in the army.

Can I do this?

“And now you’re doubting? Aren’t you only words?” Ellyn said.

“I didn’t give you permission to read my mind.”

“I don’t care either way. You’re just lucky that Elara isn’t here with you,” she smirked and continued walking.

“Are you here to brag?”

What does that mean? She didn’t leave another word. I just followed her feet instead.

In the cavalry zone of the military barracks, it has scattered hay rustles. The barn complements its neighboring flat plains.

The plains consist of targets in which the cavalry knights train with their horses. Both they and their horses wear armor representing dignity and pride.

Ellyn led me to a private room with feathers hanging on the metal door. She knocked thrice, which created a crater.

But when the cavalry knight opened the door, nothingness resided in his eyes. He even accompanied it with a yawn.

“Yo!” He said, gesturing his fingers on his eyebrow.

“Don’t ‘yo’ us, Cavalry Captain. Don’t you see someone almighty beside me, waiting for you to wake up? We’ve been waiting for you for ages.”

But we just came in. Is she trying to tease him?

He releases another yawn and speaks in a low-tone voice. “I woke up early.”

I didn’t know they were this close.