Chapter 1: To die and to live again
The girl opened her eyes to a familiar scene. She felt like she had just read this exact scene somewhere.
She looked around. Tall white pillars, a cathedral ceiling, and a large number of people wearing white robes. She must be inside a temple. The people in white robes were staring at her with such expectation and marvel, she couldn't speak in fright of saying the wrong thing. What if she says the wrong thing and she gets attacked by these weird cultists kidnappers?
But were they really kidnappers?
She looked at herself. She wasn't tied and she didn't looked harmed. She was just sitting at the middle of the temple floor while everybody stared at her.
She was still wearing the blue dress she wore at the party. It had too many shimmering stones for her liking but she had to wear it because it was a gift from her fiancé.
She remembered retiring early from the party. Her engagement party. It was too dull and depressing. Her fiancé paid more attention to the guests than to her which she should have been used to already.
It was an arranged marriage but she couldn't help but wish for more. It was for the family business. Everything was always for the family business.
She went back to her room and decided to finish a webnovel she was reading. She liked reading webnovels. It was her secret hobby. She could escape to a fantasy world where everything was better than her real life. The title was Taming the Saintess. It was about a girl who gets reincarnated in a different world and she's the saintess who will save the Empire of Aderlan. A saintess is someone who has holy powers that can fight the evil forces.
She remembered finishing the novel and feeling sad about it. The protagonist died in the end after saving the kingdom. It was a noble death but why did she have to die? Why didn't the male lead, the prince, prevent her death?
"You left the party."
She turned and saw her fiancé. He had a strange look on his face. Was he angry?
"I'm sorry. I wasn't feeling well and I didn't want to bother you," she said.
Her fiancé handed her a glass of wine.
"Here. Drink it. You'll feel better," he said.
"No, I'm going to sleep already. I-" she tried to say but he took her hand and forcibly made her hold the glass of wine.
"Just drink it. You'll sleep better," he said firmly.
She looked at his face. Her fiancé was good-looking. She knew he had lots of admirers and he was nice to them. He came from a wealthy family and he was handsome. Who wouldn't want to be his wife?
But is it so difficult to treat her like one of his admirers? A smile once in a while? Some caring words from time to time?
She couldn't refuse him. He might get a fit and she would have to cover up her bruises again.
"Thanks," she said softly. Maybe this was his way of showing he cared for her? He did come looking for her.
He was looking at her expectantly. Oh, right. She had to drink it. She gulped the wine quickly. She didn't even like the taste of wine.
"I'm done," she said.
"Yes, you are," he said and then smiled.
Then there was darkness.
*
*
*
"Welcome to the Empire of Aderlan, Holy Saintess!"
She snapped out of her thoughts. Aderlan. It's impossible but it was the only explanation. Everything and everyone looked different but so familiar.
"I am the High Priest of this temple, Reverend Anthony. May we know your name, Holy Saintess?" He had long silver hair but his face looked not a day older than thirty. He was wearing a long white robe and he was also holding a golden staff in his right hand.
The High Priest reached out his hand to help her up but she ignored it and got up on her own.
"My name is Mi—"
No, she didn't want to be that girl anymore.
That girl was killed by her own fiancé.
If she really was in Aderlan, if she really had reincarnated in another world, it was her chance to live her second life. It was her chance to no longer be that dutiful girl trapped to her duties.
"My name is Euphemia," the reincarnated girl said with a determined smile. "I look forward in my stay here."