Angelina.

That was the name of the novel. A tale of the life of an orphaned girl named Angelina. The ending of the novel was Angelina becoming the highest ranked lady in the Amarian empire, The Empress. That also meant that she married the emperor, and they lived their lives happily ever-after.

Now...how did the emperor, the highest-ranked person revered by many in the Amarian empire, notice an insignificant orphaned girl, a person trying to survive at the slumps of the Amarian empire?

This question was easily answered in Raven's former life. She had stolen the novel from a prison guard and read it to pass away the time. She had finished this novel of over 100 pages in a few days, and returned it back to the same prison guard.

'I can't believe I am inside a novel.....is that even possible?' Raven did not think there was something like magic or witchcraft in her former life. But looking at the reflection of her perfect face on the plate, she started to think there was something like that.

How did she become this character with an unfortunate fate?

Was this world really a novel or a real world?

Were the characters real people or just characters?

Now that Raven had a guess of her situation, questions began to appear in her mind, but it seemed she would have to ask herself later as another set of large doors on the side of the room suddenly opened and entered the Grand duke with his wives.

Staring at the handsome man surrounded by his six beautiful wives, Raven was momentarily pleased that she got to openly admire another set of beauties. Now she understood where the original owner and Izer got their beauty from. Her other siblings were not shining less than them.

The Grand duke was really blessed with good genes. His wives were no exceptions.

Earlier, she noticed their absence, but it had always been like that in the original owner's memories. The children would wait in the dining hall, and the six wives would meet up with the Grand duke before coming together.

''Greetings Father.'' Raven and the other children acknowledged the Grand duke according to the etiquettes they were taught by their tutors; the males bowed, and the females curtsied. Their movements were perfect and fitting as the children from a prestigious family.

''...um.'' The Grand duke responded with a low hum, not saying another word, and sat on the chair at the head of the table.

Once the Grand duke was settled, the wives followed after, and the children sat back down on their seat. Everything was uniformed and perfect. Seeing that, the servants waiting to serve the meals began to place the plates on the table without making a single mistake.

Raven stared at the plate of soup placed in her front. Eyeing the shredded things on her plate, her nose twitched at the aroma of a familiar food.

'Is this.....chicken?' Raven's brows twitched at the sight of the plain shredded chicken and watery soup. This must be chicken soup, since there was only shredded chicken and nothing else in the soup.

'What blasphemy is this....?' Raven wanted to cry. Was this only her dinner? A simple chicken soup, and nothing else?! Would this even hold her throughout the night? Chicken in her former life was well garnished and marinated to perfection. Even one could drool from its picture.

The food from prison was also better-looking than this!

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''Fourth young lady, is there something wrong with the soup?'' A soft feminine voice disturbed the trials of Raven's thoughts.

Looking up from her plate, Raven's vibrant eyes were directed to the woman seated next to the sixth madam's side. She was the same woman who glared at her on the battlegrounds. She was also the mother of her cute elder brother, Edwin.

''What does fifth madam mean?'' A smile slowly spread across her lips.

They couldn't just wait to bully her. How impatient of them.

''You are the only person who hasn't lifted a spoon. I wonder if there's something wrong with the soup? Is it not to your taste or there's something actually wrong? Perhaps her excellency can do something about the chef,'' suggested the woman, staring at Raven as if she was worried about her own daughter.

But...her choice of words was clearly targeting Raven's downfall.

'A poisonous tongue.' Raven's smile did not drop as she studied the fifth madam. This woman and her son targeted the original owner for unknown reasons. As always, they came out victorious, and the original owner suffered more in their hands. No one pitied her or tried to help her out, even if they were aware that she was the victim.

'Even you won't help me.' Raven's gaze shifted to the side, staring at the woman peacefully sipping her soup as if her own daughter wasn't bullied.

'Well, I wasn't expecting anything since it has always been like that.' Raven did not bother with the nonchalant attitude of the sixth madam. When the original owner was in danger, the sixth madam never helped out as her mother. If this mother of hers did not help out the real daughter, why would she, the fake one, expects anything?

'Such useless thoughts.' Raven's eyes moved back to the fifth madam who was expecting her to speak. Her heart has been long dead since her former life. She never understood the relationship between a mother and daughter or families, when she was never placed in one.

She only had an idea of how families should be, because of the therapist in the special organization. This new family of hers was definitely not like the words from the therapist.

''Fifth madam, did I ever complain about the soup?'' Everyone in the dining hall had to pause and stare at the little girl, who asked that question with a smile. The Grand duke was the only one eating as if nothing was happening in the room.

'W-When did this girl learn how to talk back?' Fifth madam had to control her stunned expression, and quickly looked for words to say in her defense.

''You never did. I thought there was something since you haven't started eating.''

''You just assume, fifth madam.'' Raven's smile was brighter as she calmly dealt with the older woman. ''This is father's manor. When did I have the right to complain about the food? You dragged mother's name as well. Makes me wonder what fifth madam was trying to do?''

If the fifth madam's words were poisonous, then Raven's words were deadly.

''....'' There was nothing fifth madam could say. What could she even say? Raven had thoroughly exposed her little scheme.

Everyone in the room was not blind to what she was trying to do. They only turned blind eyes, since this wasn't their business. It was the fourth young lady that was her target, not them.

''Delicious.'' Raven finally sipped the soup. Much to her surprise, her taste buds were pleased with plain soup. ''Doesn't fifth madam think so?''

The smile on her lips, and amusement in her eyes, frustrated the fifth madam. How could that spawn with a low blood talk back to her?!

''Fifth madam thinks the chef in father's manor is bad?'' Raven bluntly returned the little scheme back to the fifth madam.

''W-What are you saying, fourth young lady? The soup is very much to my taste.'' Out of fright, fifth madam nervously glanced at the Grand duke. Seeing him still eating relaxed her anxious self. At the same time, she was disappointed that he did not help her, even though she knew that was very unlikely.

''I am happy to hear that,'' Raven sweetly said with her smile and enjoyed her soup with relish.

''Haha...'' Fifth madam awkwardly laughed and buried herself in her soup. The pleased look on Raven's face extremely vexed her, and she was tempted to slap it off.

While the mind of the fifth madam was clouded with anger, the people in the room returned back to their eating with different thoughts in their mind.

'Serves her right!' The Grand duchess, seated on the end of the table, sneered, pleased with the outcome of the foolish scheme from the fifth madam. 'His excellency hates unnecessary disturbance. Just because he hasn't done anything yet doesn't mean he feels anything for you.' The grand duchess took a peek at the calm grand duke at her front as his personal butler changed his plate to another meal. She was satisfied with his unconcerned attitude, and returned to her meal with a small pleased smile.

Meanwhile, the sixth madam mutely glanced at her daughter. Her empty eyes took in the little girl, who returned her glance with that smile of hers. She had a single thought as the maid standing by her side changed her empty plate to another meal.

'She talks back.'