Chapter 2: Meeting the protagonist.
I don't know how to explain this bizarre situation, but I am not myself right now. What I mean is, this body doesn't belong to me, but I think now it does?
I am not quite sure, but when I woke up this morning, I found myself in a strange room, unfamiliar bed, strangers I have never met, and a body that wasn't mine.
The strangers wore a maid outfit, and these people were calling me by the name Nasrin Urduja.
This name reminded me of the novel I read before coming into this place. In that novel, Nasrin Urduja was the name of the villain, and her only ending in the book was death.
It's strange, and I don't know how it all happened, but right now, I am Nasrin Urduja, the villain of the novel I had read before waking up in an unfamiliar world.
At the current moment, I am inside a luxurious carriage, staring outside the window.
The rising sun painted the sky in yellow, red, orange, purple, and blue. The loud chirping of the birds resounded to my ears, while the rustling trees dance and swayed from the gentle breeze. The weather was serene, but seeing a dark cloud slowly advancing covering the sky made me feel otherwise.
The lingering scent of the wet soil reached my nostrils as it rained, dropping liquids from the cloud, soaking the dry surface of the grassland. The loud boom of thunder blared across the vast gloomy atmosphere, thundering frighteningly in my ears.
The weather almost seem like a herald signalling that something was about to happen. My heart thump vigorously as if matching the mood today.
"Lady Nasrin, this maid noticed that the lady looked pale, perhaps the lady isn't feeling well?"
As I heard a humble voice next to mine, I turned my head to the maid sitting beside me. She had purple wavy hair tied in a neat bun; her almond skin was glowing under the dim light of the sun; her messy eyebrows were pulled up together, pursing her thin pale lips as her face showed deep concern.
"I'm fine, Lory, don't worry too much," I smiled awkwardly, trying hard to look calm and happy, but as the carriage slowly moved forward; it only made me feel like I was slowly being delivered to my death.
Lory stared at me for a long while as her inner brows crossed upward even more. "Lady Nasrin, this maid has been with the lady ever since childhood, and it may be presumptuous of this maid to say this, however, this maid noticed that the lady was acting strange ever since this morning…?"
Hearing the slight tone of doubt in Lory's voice, I inwardly became anxious, feeling my stomach churn as I gulp hard, but I tried to remain stoic on the surface. I don't know what actions or words I said that led to her suspicions, oh wait, I never acted the way the usual Nasrin does.
In the novel, Nasrin Urduja acted arrogant, narcissistic, self-entitled, and selfish. Perhaps it was the reason why Lory became suspicious?
I look back at Lory; her violet eyes stare intensely at me making me more nervous, I swallowed once more, waiting for her to continue.
Her thin lips opened as she worriedly questioned. "Is the lady nervous because Sir Lukas isn't here to accompany the lady?"
I heaved a sigh of relief as silent as I could, and for a second there, I thought that Lory already noticed that the original Nasrin Urduja wasn't inside her body anymore. Well, I don't know what happened to this body's original soul, and I don't even know why or how I ended up here, but right now I am Nasrin Urduja herself.
I calmed my rampaging heart first, then I smiled comfortingly at Lory. "I'm fine, just a little nervous since this is my first time going to the academy."
Right after saying that, I look outside the window indicating that I no longer want to continue this conversation, and to my relief, it seems that Lory got my message because she was silent as a rock again.
Lory is actually one of the supporting roles in the novel, and her real name was actually Mallory which means the ill-fated one, but the Nasrin in the book calls the maid beside me as Lory. Because Nasrin Urduja was too lazy to call Lory by her full name, is what the villain stated in the book.
As for the reason why I have always felt apprehensive and uncomfortable around Lory, well, that was because Lory is not just a simple maid. Lory is anything but simple; she isn't an ordinary person, because Lory is also a skilled assassin.
It was stated in the novel that Nasrin Urduja, the original owner of this body, had never known about Lory's secret until the end. In the book, Lory was known as the bringer of death and her alias in the assassin guild was Persefoni.
Additionally, Lory, in the book, is also known for bringing an end to the, well, villain. Which is me currently, and when the Nasrin in the novel entered the academy, Lory then met the protagonist because of the disturbance that the villain caused.
As it turns out, the protagonist was actually Lory's only relative, so Lory betrayed the Urduja family for the sake of helping the protagonist. Because Lory and the protagonist are half sisters. As they said, blood is thicker than water, so no matter how long or loyal Lory served in the Urduja Clan; she will still prioritise her own blood related family.
So in my ending or the ending of the villain in the book; Lory gives her full assistance to the protagonist to bring Nasrin Urduja and her whole family to bankruptcy. In addition to that, Lory was the one who killed the villain in the book, but the villain didn't know that it was Lory.
After all, Lory was always wearing a mask whenever she was carrying out her task as an assassin, so until the end, the villain never came to know that Lory was the one who betrayed and killed her.
Recalling the tragic end of the original Nasrin Urduja in the book made me feel cold in my heart and uncomfortable. I don't know if I would ever be able to return to my original world, and I'm not quite sure if dying here was also equal to dying for real.
I am aware of nothing.
I do have information about everything that would happen in the book, but I sense that I couldn't trust nor depend on anyone, and the only place I perceive that could possibly protect me for a while is getting myself enrolled in Mystic Academy.
It is where this carriage is headed to at the present time, and it is also the starting point of the novel. The main characters of the novel all met there in Mystic Academy. I could have chosen a different academy, but that would lead to more suspicions, because the original Nasrin Urduja wanted to enter this academy since it is her parent's alma mater.
Enrolling in the academy might end me in a lot of trouble, but it is also a place where a lot of opportunities exist. After all, the academy doesn't let nobles have a maid, so when I get myself permanently admitted at the academy, Lory will not be able to follow me around.
I will have enough time to prepare myself for a grand escape, and once I graduate from the academy and learn magic and other skills, I will escape to the forest and just live my life as a hermit.
'I'm so smart,' I praise myself for my brilliant plan.
'Hopefully my plan goes well,' I thought while looking outside the luxurious carriage. After several hours, the carriage had arrived at last in front of the entrance of the academy.
"Lady Nasrin, this maid feels it was unfortunate that I couldn't accompany the lady inside, but I will pray for the lady's successful registrations, I wish you all the luck in the world, milady," Lory said disappointedly, handing my luggage to me with great reluctance in her face.
'What is unfortunate? This is fortunate for me,' I answered in my heart as I rejoiced inwardly. Despite my joyous thoughts, I tried to remain dignified like the real villain that I am.
I raised my hand as I gaze at Lory's plastic concern. "Nonsense, we will see each other again after my fateful graduation," I said smiling dismissively, receiving my things in a hasty way.
Lory then took a white handkerchief inside the pocket of her apron, wiping them under her dry eyes. "We will wait for your return then, milady."
I didn't respond as I waved goodbye at Lory and to the coachman, turning around and almost fleeing the place with sweat pouring out at my back.
This is exactly the reason why I wanted to continue to enter the academy; even though it might lead me to the progress of the novel, I would at least not meet Lory everyday. I feel like Lory is far more dangerous to have around. On the other hand, if I enter the academy, all I have to do is to keep a low profile.
In the first place, the reason why Nasrin Urduja was led to her demise was because of her arrogant attitude to everyone, especially to the protagonist.
So in order to avoid this tragic end, all I have to do is to keep a low profile; keep a distance from all of the characters of that stupid novel; train hard and be a good obedient student.
'What an awe-inspiring strategy,' I praise myself again, feeling proud of my intelligent self as I suppress my lips from smiling triumphantly.
Although I am quite happy on the inside, I made sure to remain neutral on the surface as much as I can. I couldn't possibly let my guard down. After all, Lory is still there; probably watching my every move.
At that, I quickly walk towards the registration lane. No matter what, I have to pass the entrance examination test. I don't want to return to that unfamiliar mansion being surrounded by people I couldn't trust. Mostly Lory.
With those thoughts in mind, I walk towards the last standing person on a long lane lining up with other applicants. I waited patiently, feeling nervous for some reason.
At the back of my head, I could feel someone staring intensely at me, but no matter who it was, I resolved myself not to turn around. I'm not curious to know whether it was Lory or not. Because I know for sure that it is indeed Lory; she is the only person who is suspicious of my identity right now and...
"Excuse me. Is this the registration lane?"
My thoughts were interrupted as I heard a pleasantly smooth alluring voice behind me. The voice was so enchanting that it made me curious to whom it was.
I turned around to answer good-naturedly with the intention of making a friend. I plastered a gentle smile to appear approachable and welcoming, but when I saw who it was, my body became stiff. For a moment I felt my heart freeze as it stopped beating for a few seconds. I couldn't help but repeatedly think, 'I'm doomed! I'm doomed! I'm gonna die!!!'
My mind was in a state of chaos as the lids of my eyes widened in horror, staring at the friendly smiling face of the protagonist of this damn novel.
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