2 CHAPTER 1. LADY PATRIZIA

"Ahh!"

Patrizia woke up screaming. All she could see in front of her was a mahogany desk with a white book placed on top, and sitting on the chair… was herself. She sat for a while with a dazed expression, until she realized the crucial truth.

"I… definitely…"

Died. She had definitely.

"Died..."

She could still remember the bleak blade touching her neck. It was a frightening and terrifying memory. She trembled without realizing. What was even more surprising was the feeling of fear. It was exclusive for the living. She couldn't accept this situation. No, she wouldn't accept it.

"How? How…"

The fact that those nonsensical words could be heard through her ears was surprising. The dead couldn't hear. Did this mean she was alive? She slowly moved her hands and turned over a page from the book. One more number increased from the last page.

Nevertheless, she couldn't believe it. So she finally tried the test for utmost certainty. She raised her hand smoothly and hit her cheek without any hesitation.

SLAP! She felt the pain with the harsh sound of friction. Patrizia murmured while wrapping her hand over her cheek that had reddened.

"It hurts…"

It was certain. She was alive. But what in the world… how? As she looked down at her body with confused eyes, someone suddenly opened the door.

"Patrizia!"

This voice that called out to her was definitely…

"Nill…"

"Lizzy, you were reading a book again!"

Petronilla approached her younger twin sister with a look that showed she knew she couldn't stop her. Patrizia's body began to tremble as if she had seen a ghost and questioned in a voice full of disbelief, "Nill, really… Nilla, is that you, sis?"

"Lizzy?"

Only then did Petronilla realize that her sister was acting a bit weird. She tilted her head to the side and asked, "What is it? Did something happen?"

"Ha!"

Patrizia hugged her sister without waiting for an answer. 'Oh, my goodness. My sister is really in front of me. Nilla, my precious sister, is alive.' She muttered to herself.

"God, how in the world..."

"Lizzy? Why are you acting like this?"

Petronilla was taken aback as she showed signs of rejection, and then Patrizia fell out of the embrace with a tearful expression.

'I'm sure. I'm alive, and Nilla is alive. But then how is this place…' Patrizia, who couldn't understand the situation, soon heard a thunderous sound.

"It won't work, Lizzy. I will never become a Queeness!"

Ding! Patrizia momentarily felt something strong struck her head and gripped in confusion. She asked, stammering, "Q-Queeness?"

"Yes, Queeness. We have to say something by tomorrow."

"Ridiculous..."

"What do you mean ridiculous. You and I have discussed this problem even yesterday."

Petronilla smiled brightly and said to Patrizia. "So, Lizzy, I thought about this. As your older sister..."

"..."

"Let's decide with the luck of the draw. How about that?"

However, even with Petronilla's question, Patrizia had no response. When Petronilla opened her mouth, in that moment, Patrizia called out to her, "Sister."

"Yeah, Lizzy. You like it right?"

"Now... you and I..."

Patrizia, with her lips shaking, managed to ask a question.

"Are you 19 years old? Is it?"

"This girl. Did someone so smart forget her age?"

Petronilla snubbed her sister with a tone revealing the absurdity

"We had our birthday not too long ago. Why are you like this today?"

"Did you read too many books that made you weird in the head?"

Patrizia found Petronilla's joke incomprehensible because her mind was in chaos. Her sister was chosen as the next Empress nominee, Queeness, at 19 years of age. If so, then possibly right now...

"I returned to when I was 19..."

"What?"

Petronilla asked, as she had no idea what was going on, but Patrizia still continued to speak to herself.

"Regression... Regression? But how..."

"Lizzy, snap out of it!"

Petronilla widened her eyes as she comforted her younger sister.

"You are really weird today. Are you still not fully awake?"

"Aha..."

It was then that Patrizia returned to reality. She couldn't believe it, but she had to admit it. Right now, she was 19 years old, and had returned to the time of the Queeness selection.