3 Estelle's Past

Kirisaki Reina.

That was the name of the girl dubbed as 'Prodigal Goddess'. It didn't matter what she was doing, she would always excel in every aspect, learning at a pace thousands of times faster than the norm. Her name was always mentioned everywhere.

She possessed stunning beauty. Unrivalled intelligence and talent. A mellow, ticklish voice to the ears. A calm and cold disposition, opening her heart to none but herself.

She was a lone wolf, and yet admirers would always look up and worship her.

People's praises and flattery could be heard every single day. But never did she associate with anybody except her closest friends.

She had two childhood friends who she still kept around even after she fully closed her heart.

Their names were Yuuma and Hikari, two children who came from the same orphanage Reina stayed for 8 years in, who later got adopted along with Reina by the Kirisaki family after much consideration.

Yuuma belonged to the average category. Well, that was what everybody thought. He was actually silently supporting Reina from behind, but never showed his skills to anybody besides the trio.

Those who knew his real name were few, as he broke his ties with others after he decided to be Reina's shadow. He dealt with the underground activity as an informant most of the time, but his true skill laid in the hacking department. If he and Reina were to compete in hacking, he would win by a hair's breadth, only losing in some cases where he lost focus.

Hikari belonged to the special category. Her talent laid in her charms and wits. She would get along with anyone in a single breath, her character was truly that sociable. It was as if the term 'social butterfly' was made solely because of her. She also possessed dazzling beauty, though it leaned more towards the cute and lovely, in contrast to Reina's sharp features.

Those who knew of the trio called them the 'Royals'.

Reina, like the literal translation for the Spanish term for 'Queen', was under none but the heavens itself. She never cowered under any challenge, no matter how pressuring nor dangerous it was.

Yuuma, who supported the Queen from the shadows, was alike the 'Prince' depicted in stories, those who laid low and pretended like they couldn't shake the throne.

Hikari, with her likable and charming personality, truly suited her name which meant 'Light' in Japanese. She was like a warm light to the masses, and that made her get nicknamed as 'Princess'.

As for a King? No one matched Reina's capabilities as to deserve the title 'King'.

Things were going well for the trio.

As the main spokesperson, Hikari would show herself as the face of everything they were doing. Reina would then take charge of the executive department, while Yuuma would assist Reina in keeping everything under control. They delved together in many fields, building associate companies left and right after the first parent company, 'Estelle', meaning 'Star' was made.

However, a certain problem arose. And it didn't sit well with Hikari.

Hikari was envious. Even though she always tried her best, her results were never comparable to those of Reina's. Even though the one who was shown to the public was her, people would always admire and talk about Reina as if she didn't exist.

Reina's beauty. Reina's composure. Reina's wisdom. Reina's intelligence. Reina's capabilities.

Reina, Reina, Reina. It was always about Reina.

Reina was the Queen, but she could only measure up to the title 'Princess'.

At first, Hikari didn't pay attention to the details. Their friendship meant everything for her. They shared the same background, same history, same past. But over time, she began to feel like they weren't equals. Reina ended up above her and Yuuma, even though they were together in every single moment.

Of course, Yuuma, who deeply admired and adored Reina like she was his blood-related sister would not have such thoughts.

But Hikari, who felt like everything was unfair, began to set up a plan.

As a childhood friend, Hikari knew what Reina's so called reverse scale or achilles heel was.

It was precisely the two of them. Yuuma and Hikari, the ones that have stood beside her for as long as they could remember. Other than them, there was probably no one who could order or ask her to do something willingly.

After all, those two were the only living proof that Kirisaki Reina, even with all of her inhuman characteristics, was still a human being in nature.

It was raining heavily. Reina, with her jet black hair draped against her simple evening dress was sitting in the balcony, as she found the crowded party atmosphere to be sickening.

Listening to the borderline peaceful sounds coming from the trickling rain was the only way she could cope with the disturbing cheers coming from the party.

Reina hated crowds. She didn't understand why people liked to mingle with each other so much. To her, every relationship except the ones with her childhood friends was just a transaction.

No emotions involved, interaction purely made for benefits.

She was never someone who would throw a party. However, that day was special. It was her birthday, and although usually they would just celebrate it by having a dinner by themselves, Hikari objected to this.

Hikari said that she should at least throw a party befitting of her name and status once in a while. And that day was her 25th birthday, which she honestly didn't find special. But, to satisfy her friend's nagging, and especially because Yuuma also felt like Hikari was making some sense, she agreed to throw a party. Her company and business partners were the only one invited, which meant the party truly was only attended by the high class people.

Hikari did doubt her plans. Seeing how Reina and Yuuma didn't care about the titles and how people looked at them brought Hikari to a dilemma. It felt like she was the only one who cared about the differences between them.

Then, seeing how people praised and flocked to Reina the whole time, not minding her in the slightest even though she always attended to the masses steeled her resolve.

It was now or never.

Hikari picked up her cellphone and dialed Reina's number with a dark expression.

"Reinaa? Could you go to the parking lot and fetch the box in our car trunk? It's black in color,"

"Why can't you get it yourself?" Reina calmly replied.

"I'm in the prep room right now, I broke my heels... There should be another pair in that box,"

"Clumsy as always. Fine, I'll get it for you, I want to get away from this party anyways. I'll take it to the prep room, okay?"

"Yes... thank you, Reina,"

Upon hanging up the call, a smile blossomed on Hikari's face.

Finally. Finally she could get rid of the disgusting bug that has been plastering itself all over her heart mind and heart.

Reina went down to where their car was parked. She opened the car's luggage compartment and found the box Hikari mentioned.

Unsuspecting of her friend's schemes, she opened it without restraint.

Little did she know, the moments right before she opened the box was her last moments on Earth.

"Reporting from Building XXXX, Tokyo. An unknown explosion was triggered in the parking lot of the building where Estelle's president, Kirisaki Reina's 25th birthday party was held.

A body, which was identified as Kirisaki Reina herself was found lifeless next to her own car. The explosion is now undergoing further investigation, and the incident itself is under suspect of intentional murder."

.

.

.

The next thing she knew, she was already reincarnated inside an infant.

Kirisaki Reina had a special perk. Her mind worked wonders, but it was terribly mechanical. Her thoughts were always well organized, and if someone were to hear them, they would definitely point out that it was robotic.

Her mind worked like a system. Even in the modern day Earth, her mind would automatically analyze and study her surroundings and convert what she perceive as 'data'.

Perhaps others would call her memory a 'photographic memory', since she would never be able to forget what she had converted as 'data'. However, her mind would be closer to a supercomputer. Information and incidents passed through her five senses. Her brain would then rack them up and store them.

As far as she herself had researched, no humans were noted to have such a strange ability.

She didn't train herself. It was something as natural as breathing for her. Ever since she was born to a couple she didn't know about, she had this ability.

The only thing she found strange was the fact that she wasn't able to recall the faces of her parents, even though it should've been registered as 'data'.

No one knew about Reina's thoughts. Not even Yuuma and Hikari.

Estelle opened her eyes. Her golden irises were extremely captivating.

She thought for a moment.

Well, that's statement could be considered incorrect now. Upon entering this new world, a fae king had rudely imposed on her thoughts.

He would be the only exception.

Estelle slowly closed her eyes back and ended the night with a peaceful sleep.