The streets of Terriant were empty, a rare sight to see when you were in the capital of the Empire of Siente. But this street was not so ordinary when you took into account the fact that the daughter of the Duke was passing through it. A road separating the nobles from the riff raff of peasants, just as Hyacinth had always wanted. Swine should know their place in society, but this wasn't Hyacinth, this was Ha-eun.
This girl didn't hate the poor, nor was she born with a golden spoon, she had just been tossed into a soft bed laid with golden spoons, silk pillows and all the other luxuries one could only ever imagine of having. It was a week ago when this happened. Fifteen year old Hyacinth Ninette Sylvester had fallen off her horse and when she awoke she had become one with Ha-eun.
"Miss, miss Hyacinth!" her maid called out.
Ha-eun blinked,"we're here?"
The maid nodded. They were at the gate, still quite a distance from the palace but that didn't diminish its beauty even slightly, but Odette had no time to take it all in, no she didn't want to. How could she when it had been only a week since her mistress lost her memories and was now being summoned by the Crown Prince?
"I am not permitted to pass the gate, please take care of yourself my lady," Odette said, her eyes were earnest, but ever since her mistress has lost her memories it had become almost impossible to gauge what she was thinking.
Ha-eun nodded and Odette got off the carriage.
The interior of the palace was as grand as its exterior, if not more. Ha-eun followed the aide, her mind was unfamiliar with the place, but her feet were not.
She entered the Prince's office alone, he was there, going through some papers. She bowed and gave her salutations as she had been instructed to do in a last minute etiquette class. The prince ignored her and so she remained in that position. A minute passed, then two, then five and soon ten. Her feet were sore, even her P.E teacher had not made her do something so redundant.
Finally he spoke, "Hyacinth."
She looked up, the crown prince was stunning. Hael. Truly an angel. Platinum blond hair, cascading down to the nape of his neck, his lips were thin and inviting, in contrast to his frown, his skin was pale with a slight flush to his cheeks, and his eyes... His eyes were golden, they carried the weight of a leader, a commander, an Emperor.
"Sit," he offered, though it was more of a command.
She obliged.
"How are you feeling? I hear you lost your memories."
Ha-eun nodded, "I'm feeling much better now, your Highness. Thank you for asking."
"You remember me?" The Prince asked, slightly amused but mostly annoyed.
"How could I not?" Ha-eun smiled awkwardly.
This was Ha-eun, not Hyacinth. Her mediocre performance of pretending to know etiquette and her cheap imitation of Hyacinth may have worked on those at the estate, but this was different. This was the Crown Prince, her fiance, the man who detested her and the Male Lead. But he was also the man who had been brought back in time and knew what Hyacinth was capable of. Something was wrong.
Hael walked up to her, observing her, the way she sat was different from before. Improper and lacking etiquette, it was austere and unbecoming of a Duke's daughter, much less the fiancee of the Crown Prince. This behaviour didn't seem to come from defiance or spite, rather, she seemed nervous. Afraid? He sat down on the chair opposite to her, resting his arm on the arm rest. His actions were simple, natural. His eyes met Ha-eun's. He smiled. Maybe some things had changed since he came back, maybe this Hyacinth was different from before, or maybe she was just a viper hiding its fangs before it pounced and dug into his flesh.
The girl took a deep breath, "May I know why you called for me, your Highness?"
"Does a Prince need a reason to call for one of his subjects?" Hael replied.
Ha-eun paused and looked away. She didn't dare to cross him.
"But yes, I called you here to discuss our engagement."
Her ears perked up, "I was hoping to talk to you about that too, your Highness."
What was she going to say now? Another complaint about his lack of affection towards his fiancee? Making a threat by using her status against him? Hael grinned, there was no way this woman had changed. Not even the miraculous feat of the turning back of time could change her. "Speak."
"I wish to annul our engagement!" She said with the resolve of the girl she had been before her accident. But her wishes were different. An annulment and cutting ties with the Crown Prince was everything that Hyacinth was against and everything that would Ha-eun needed to do to live just a little bit longer.
Hael was taken aback, this was unexpected. Was this another attempt at trying to get his attention? The Hyacinth he knew was a woman full of pride, an unyielding force that would never back down. Such a ploy was not in her area of expertise. Giving up was not a word she knew nor had she ever experienced. Even in her death she was relentless. The epitome of ego till the very end.
For Ha-eun, this surprise was not apparent. She could not see it on his face.
"Are you sure?" The Prince questioned.
She nodded. There would be no place for her in the world if this continued. Only death. "I've prepared the necessary documents. I shall send them over by tomorrow if your Highness permits."
If this was a trap then Hael did not care for it. It didn't matter. No, this was good. Now he could focus solely on finding and cherishing Edith.
"Do as you wish."
Ha-eun's face lit up with joy, a new-found excitement for the life that was to come.
The Prince would verify and rectify anything necessary in the documents and soon they would both be free.
When she left the room, the girl had a slight hop in her step. Outside, by the door was a man. He towered over her. He seemed to be around the same age as the Crown Prince. Of course his face was not up to par with the Prince, but they both shared a similarly well built body. Broad shoulders and toned muscles. An unnamed character, only mentioned as the Prince's loyal right hand. Ha-eun froze. The man gave a slight bow. As the shadow to the Crown Prince, he was well aware of her superiority complex. To his surprise, she nodded back with an awkward look on her face.
"Um, may I know your name please?" She asked, a little unsure as to what she would do with that information.
"Dietrich. Dietrich Killian Brander, my lady." Her politeness had startled Dietrich a little but that did not mean losing composure for the knight.
"I see, thank you." Ha-eun seemed lost in her own thoughts for a moment but was snapped back to reality when the knight offered to escort her out. "Please do, it seems I'm still a little unfamiliar with this place." She smiled, a little embarrassed.
Dietrich led the way and Ha-eun followed, trying not to fall behind. It seems he noticed her trying to match his pace, he slowed down. They walked side by side. The windows attached to the walls seemed to overlook a garden. The breeze was faint and cool.
"The weather is so nice isn't it?" She tried making small talk.
"I agree, my lady," Dietrich's face was indifferent.
"It's perfect for a picnic. Oh and please feel free to call me Hyacinth," Ha-eun said with a cheery smile, still looking out the windows.
"We've arrived," Dietrich stopped walking.
Ha-eun paused and looked at the carriage, then at the knight. She got on the carriage.
Dietrich closed the carriage door.
"Farewell, Lady Hyacinth."
Ha-eun beamed with joy, "Farewell, Sir Dietrich."
Dietrich returned to his master. The Crown Prince had been waiting.
"She has changed, hasn't she?" Hael expected no reply from Dietrich and Dietrich, as expected, remained silent.
"Hyacinth seemed to show an interest in you." Hael paused, "well, it's of no importance. Did you find out anything regarding the job I sent you to do?"
"Yes, your Highness. She was in Halesworth as you predicted. Shall we bring her here?"
The Prince weighed his options for a while, then spoke. "No, not now. We will introduce her during the coming-of-age banquet. There is still some time. For now, send someone to ensure her safety and report whatever they observe. You have a different job to do."
The knight awaited his master's orders.
"Keep an eye on Hyacinth. Find out what's going on and if she displays any signs of trying to harm Edith, dispose of her." Hael's expression darkened.
"Your Highness, the consequences could be dire. The Duke of Sylvester highly cherishes his daughter, are you sure?" Dietrich tried to be rational
"Do not question me Dietrich. Though I understand your fears, the Sylvesters will only be a temporary hurdle. I can deal with them. Focus on your orders," Hael barked.
"My apologies, I was out of line," Dietrich nodded. It wasn't his job to question his master, only obey.
Back in the Sylvester estate Ha-eun lay there on her bed, alone in her room. It had been almost a week and she was still not used to the luxury. Maids that were at her beck and call, meals that were designed to be perfectly delicious, expensive, filling and nutritious, silk and satin bed sheets, walls decked in gold, silver, marble and jewels, a seemingly unending closet of clothes crafted personally according to body, taste and comfort, and a lot of other things Ha-eun had never experienced before.
Ha-eun was a normal girl, with normal but loving friends and family. Sure, she was a little timid but she knew how to step up when it mattered. But this was all so different from Hyacinth. Hyacinth was anything but normal, born with a golden spoon, a fierce yet calm and collected personality. She knew how to conduct herself, but perhaps the most contrasting characteristic were the people around her.
Though Hyacinth's father truly cherished her, and spoiled her with gifts, he was unable to offer her his time due to work. Her brothers either despised or avoided her. As for friends? She had none. But how could she blame them, she had always had a difficult and cold personality. There was no warmth hiding behind that harsh exterior. Once in a while there would be someone who believed they could bring out her inner softness, but they were mistaken. This was who she was and there was nothing they could do about it.
Ha-eun sighed, this was why she was the villainess. How did this even happen? There was no way she could play the role of the villainess. Even asking for the annulment had taken a lot of courage. Could she really change fate with that timid personality of hers? Even her death had been an act of cowardice. Seeing the love of her life, her first love, Seo-Yun with another girl and running away, only to end up dying in an accident. Even she found it pathetic. But… this was a chance, a chance to change Hyacinth's fate and hers too. She was no longer Ha-eun, she was Hyacinth Ninette Sylvester. It would take time, but she could do it.
Then her mind shifted to the knight. His name wasn't familiar but his face was. The unnamed right hand man from 'The Opulence of Love' looked exactly like her first love, Seo-Yun. They shared the same brown skin she had scratched countless times as a kid during their arguments, the same short chestnut hair she went with him to the barberber to cut, the same green eyes she had been surprised to find out existed as a child because she had always been surrounded by brown ones. The same eyes she fell in love with. When Dietrich had spoken, his voice had broughten her back to the conversations they had had as they walked back home from basketball practice.
These memories were fond to Ha-eun, and now to Hyacinth too.