Chapter 1: Chapter 1

My name is Veronika. I am 23 years old. My house was in the northeast section of the town, where all the villas were, and I was not married. I was a simple university student, and I got home every day by 8 PM at the latest. I didn't smoke, but I did occasionally drink. I was in bed by 11 PM, and made sure I got eight hours of sleep, no matter what.

After having a glass of warm milk and doing about twenty minutes of stretches before going to bed, I usually had no problems sleeping until morning. Just like a baby, I woke up without any fatigue or stress in the morning, and there were no issues at my last check-up.

I was trying to explain that I was a person who wished to live a very quiet life. I took care not to trouble myself with any enemies, like winning and losing, that would cause me to lose sleep at night. That was how I dealt with society, and I know that was what brought me happiness. Although, if I were to fight, I wouldn't lose to anyone.

It was the most ordinary evening of my life. Returning home from a part-time job, I decided to cross the road at the wrong time, and a car hit me. Such a stupid mistake on my part cost me my life. But imagine my surprise when I woke up and saw the ceiling of a completely unfamiliar room. Unfamiliar people fussed around me, calling me lady, and I was one hundred percent sure that they did not speak English. But somehow, I understood what they were talking about. A month had passed since that incident.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror again, I took a deep breath. There was a girl with wavy blonde hair, piercing amethyst eyes, a neat, straight nose, and small plump lips. The girl in the reflection was not me. It seemed like my soul had moved to the world of the novel, which I read before my death after death. This complete nonsense was now my reality. In which I became the unloved Grand Duke Daughter who lived a short life: Ariana de Valmont.

"Riya, Riya. Look more at me." Ariana's younger brother, Desmond, pulled me by the dress.

"Desi, I'm sorry. I was thinking a little."

"Do you know how long I've been calling you?" He puffed out his cheeks in disgust.

"I already asked for forgiveness." Smiling at him, I stroked the boy's soft blond hair. This child was just an angel incarnate.

“Riya, Mom said that brother Alex is coming back today.”

“I’ve heard. It would be better if he stayed at his academy.”

“Well, I wanted to tell you about it first.” The boy said in annoyance.

“Desi, who do you love more? Me, or Alex?” I asked with a smile.

“You, because when I grow up, I will marry you.”

After his words, I burst into loud laughter. Children were so straightforward; they didn’t hide anything. The original Ariana never loved her half-brother Desmond because he was the son of the duke’s second wife, whom her father loved, but her mother did not. But Desmond was only six, and he was not guilty of anything. It took me a week to get close to him. He reminded me of my little sister, Sasha.

“Desi, do you know that by then I will be old and ugly?” I made a face at him.

“Not true. Riya, you are the most beautiful!” The boy wrapped his arms around me.

“Thanks.”

“Lady, young master. Your father asks you both to come down to the first floor.” Our butler, Tom, bowed his head.

“Has Alex arrived?”

“Yes, they are waiting for you in the dining room.”

“Come on, Desi. Your older brother has returned from the academy.” I took the boy’s hand.

Alex de Valmont was the son of Ariana's stepmother from her first marriage. He hated his half-sister for her terrible attitude toward his mother and brother. He died at the hands of the crown prince a little before Ariana because he was in love with the main character. The jealous prince killed all his rivals, and then calmly married Bella. The main character was so kind that she forgave him for everything. Holding hands, Desmond and I entered the dining room.

“Good afternoon, father, mother.” I made a small curtsy. Ariana’s body remembered everything, so I had no problems.

“Good, have a seat.”

"Can I sit with Riya?"

“Desmond, what about your big brother?” The Duke looked sternly at the boy.

“I want to sit with my sister.” Desmond clutched my dress.

“Desi, please sit next to Alex, and after dinner, we will go to play in the garden.” I smiled warmly at him.

“Do you promise?”

“Promise.” I smiled.

“I’m sorry. He’s giving you a lot of trouble.” The Duchess shook her head.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to apologise.” I sat down in the chair across from the boy.

“Ariana, you didn’t greet your big brother.” The Duke’s voice was cold as ice.

“Welcome back, big brother.” I looked at Alex’s platinum hair and blue eyes. He looked like an exact copy of the Duchess. This guy was really handsome, but he had a disgusting personality.

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“Darling, don’t be hard on Riya.” The Duchess took her husband’s hand.

“Mother, why do you call her that? Do you forget how she acted?” Well, I knew this could happen.

"Alex, please stop."

"Riya, I'm scared." Desi jumped up, frightened from his seat, and ran up to me.

"This girl even deceived Desmond, but he is still a child." God, this guy annoyed me.

"Son, Riya has changed." The Duchess tried to calm Alex down.

"You can't change in one month."

"Riya, let's go!" The boy hugged me tightly.

"Desmond, get back to your seat." Alex raised his voice. He threw the napkin on the table angrily.

"No, my brother is very scary!"

"It's all right, don't be afraid." I stroked the boy's hair.

"Stop arguing. Let's have lunch in peace!" The Duke slammed his fist against the table sharply.

"Sorry, father."

"Riya, can I sit on your lap?" Desi almost whispered to me.

"No, sit down next to the chair." If he sat on my lap, Alex would make a hole in my head with one look.

After this scandal, the dinner passed quite calmly. The Duke and Duchess hung out with Alex, and I sometimes hung out with Desmond. We finished lunch with him and went to play in the garden, as I promised. The weather was wonderful; the sun was shining bright; a warm breeze was blowing. I would never have thought that I would see such beautiful and untouched nature.

If we compare it to the stuffy and bustling capital, then I liked this place much more. However, there were not enough of such familiar things as the Internet and telephone. When Desi got tired, we sat down with him in the shade under a huge old oak tree in the back of the garden. The boy immediately fell asleep, laying his head on my knees. If not for him, I probably would have gone crazy.

No one in this house loved Ariana or mourned her after her death, except for Desmond and one of her maids, Nina. Even his own father mourned the death of Alex more than Ariana. Her mother died when the girl was ten, and the duke immediately brought Ophelia, his new wife, and Alex into the house. The only one who loved Ariana was the crown prince, but he executed her on the scaffold for a crime she didn't commit.

He didn't believe in Ariana's defense because his love for Bella Rosewald was greater. Bella was the only daughter of the count, and would appear at the debutante ball in two weeks, where the prince would fall in love with her at first sight. I must avoid meeting them. I couldn't refuse to debut, though. All the girls who have reached the age of seventeen in this world would definitely make their debut at the ball. Regardless of my actions, the protagonist and the heroine would fall in love with each other, as it was written in the novel.

"No matter what you think, you will not succeed. I will not let you hurt my mother and brother." In front of me was an angry Alex.

"Please don't talk nonsense. He is my brother, too.” I arched an eyebrow.

“You can keep pretending to be kind, I don’t believe you.”

“I’m not interested in your opinion. You better get out of my sight. You give me a migraine.”

"That's your real face." Alex said with a smile.

“Stop talking nonsense, you were the first to be rude to me.”

“Don’t even think about doing anything, I’m watching you.” He turned and walked towards the mansion.

"Crazy jerk, you're so paranoid!" I wanted to shout these words after him.

"Riya, hold on a little longer while I grow up. I won't let anyone hurt you, not even Alex." Desmond put his tiny hand on mine.

“Sorry, I woke you up.”

“Riya, don’t leave me anymore.” Desmond muttered. His voice was a little sleepy.

“What are you talking about, Desi? I’m next to you.”

"Just promise you won't leave me." The boy held out his little finger to me.

"Promise." I smiled at him and started tickling him. Desmond's ringing laughter spread throughout the garden.

Knowing the future, I shouldn't have made that promise. What should I do now? Perhaps I should try to live longer. Not for my sake, but for the sake of our promise. Even if I died, I would find a way to return to life. I wouldn't give up. I wouldn't be like the Ariana of the novel. The goal was to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life!

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