1 chapter 1

So peaceful....

so quiet.....

I heard birds chirping. I could feel my back lying down on something warm and soft.

Am I laying on a bed?

Just then I noticed something off.

wasn't I hit in the head. How am I still breathing?

I opened my eyes curiously to see what was going on.

The first thing i see was the sun shining in through the window.

Huh?

I sat up and examine my surroundings. It wasn't big or anything but it was strangely rural like.

Where am I? Hadn't I died?

I look around and notice a small mirror on a table nearby. Walking over, I take its handle and look into it. I stare in the mirror in confusion.

My face. No his face. 

My thoughts went back to a cover of a novel I had read before....

It took me a lot of willpower not to scream but the face that was reflected in the mirror was that of a novel's side villain. What was it called again...that's right! It was called,'Dear Rose.'

.

.

.

Yup. The face right in front of me now was that of the side villain, William Jackson. 

How was this possible! I mean if reincarnation really existed then why! why, I , Lukas Jones must be in the body of this man!

Making sure this isn't just some horrible nightmare, I slap myself. 

" OUCH!" I yelped in pain. Damn, it hurts.

If I remember correctly, I am currently in the body of William Jackson, a peasant boy from the countryside also the boy who on at the age of fifteen would get taken away to pretend to be a dead princess and face a brutal and painful death when he aligns himself with the wrong faction.

Dark brown hair, pale blue eyes, ears pierced with red studs, smooth skin. Its him alright.

"No way..." I said in despair. " this can't be happening." I mumbled as I clutch the handle of the mirror hard.

This is too unrealistic. I mean reincarnating in a novel only exists in stories right. But everything seems so real. Fine i accept my fate but WHY?!

WHY OF ALL PEOPLE MUST IT BE WILLIAM JACKSON! 

If so then wouldn't I be killed at the hands of the heroine and heroes. 

Taking a seat, I found a piece of parchment and immediately start writing down what I know.

Based on the novel, William was just a country boy who on his fifteen birthday is taken away to the royal palace where he is forced to pretend to be the dead princess Eira. AS far as I'm concerned this world is basically a merger of a bunch of fairy tales .So if i'm not wrong then princess Eira would have been snow white and the style in which William is in be the prince and the pauper.

According to his backstory, William is actually Eira's twin however their mother the previous queen had given him away. why? simple. Their father, the king was a great ruler on the general scale but a horrible husband. He would cheat on the queen often and had many concubines in his harem which would unfortunately caused political turmoil, when she finally gave birth, she thought that by just giving birth to a girl and was very disappointed when a boy was born as well. So she gave the child away. Unfortunately, the relationship didn't change very much between the king and her so she dies alone. 

According to the script, Eira dies on the fifteenth year after she is poisoned to death. Wanting to keep this a secret to prevent the harem situation to worsen the empress dowager and the princess's loyal aide track down  William and get him to pretend to be Eira. However, the new queen corrupts him or something and he becomes evil. When the main heroine, Ella whom you can guess plays the role of cinderella comes along. He gets jealous and plots with the step-queen to kill her. Unfortunately it fails and the step-queen pushes the whole blame on him. He dies at the hands of hero-princes.

AAAAHHH!

WHY GOD! WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH! I rather go back to being struck in the head again then die by guillotine. 

Just as I thought I might faint from shock, the door suddenly opened to reveal a middle aged woman with graying red hair and pale blue eyes. Her skin was tanned from working in the fields all day and her face was grimmed. 

" Hurry up and get dress you have a lot of work to do." she said and with that she slammed the door shut.  I know that woman, the former midwife, Louisa Anne. A greedy and stingy woman who only took William in because of the money the queen had offered.

Getting dress, I suddenly stop. 

wait what's the date today.

Buttoning up, I hurriedly run down and find Louisa in the kitchen making butter. Cautiously, I approach her. " Um.. ma. sorry to bother you but how old am I?" I said remembering to call her ma just like william would do. She stares at me funnily." Fifteen, three days before your birthday. Now hurry up and collect water." she snaps at me before returning to work.

I widened my eyes before running off, collecting a pail.  If I'm fifteen then that means the story will start soon. Oh no. I'm doomed.

shaking my head, I settle myself down by the river.  If the date is right then that means they will be getting me tonight. 

sighing, i lower my head. This was going to be unfortunate. why am i so unlucky.

Time Skip to night

I sit down on the floor, the only light coming from the lantern sitting by the table.

" why god why." I mumbled as I bury my head in my knees. soon the guards would be here to kidnap me. 

Time went by slowly and soon it was midnight. Tired, I felt my eyes close and was about to drift off to dreamland when suddenly I heard the unlocking of the door. 

That's strange hadn't I locked the door.

However before I could react I was knocked out unconscious with a soldier's hand.

(while I was unconscious we had already travelled to the royal palace) 

The Kidnappers with their utmost respect bowed their heads to the figures standing on the top of the stairs

" You will not speak of this. Understood." spoke one of the voices this one a male and stern yet smooth.

They nodded their heads before taking their leave.

The figures finally looked down onto the pale black haired boy that lay on the floor in a helpless heap. They couldn't help but feel shocked and saddened when they looked at him. The boy a complete replica of the one that had recently passed. They closed their eyes not looking at him trying to remember what had made them brought him here.

(I wake up)

I opened my eyes to find myself in a room of sorts. 

slowly I sit up and as I try to focus myself, I look up to see none other than the empress dowager and the personal aide, Kevin Reinhardt. 

Damn. I must have been knocked out and transported here just like the original story. Realising the plot has started, I look up to examine the two. The dowager was quite old yet she seemed to sustain her youth. The dowager I had read in my book was a kind and caring woman yet she could also be stern and cold to people she didn't trust or like. From the way she was looking at me, she didn't trust me.

Kevin Reinhardt was another matter, he was a thin and beautiful man. His silver hair was kept in a low ponytail, a mask covered his left eye. From the novel, he was a loyal man who only gave his loyalty to people who earned it. He treasured Eira very much and was saddened by her death, he is also unfortunately going to be one of people who will be the one who kills me. The look he regarded me told me that he saw me nothing but a tool to prevent more trouble.

" Bow." Kevin said as he looked at me with his piercing red eyes. Hesitating, I do as he says. 

" William Jackson. You are called here today for an important task." said the queen as she took a sip of tea, its aroma filling the room. " You are to be impersonate the princess Eira." she then looks at me waiting for a reaction.

I knew this would happen and knowing that she would want to see my reaction. I look at her calmly hoping that at least I wasn't showing any fear.

I hesitantly open my mouth. " Yes your highness. However I would like to set a condition." If I was going to be princess I can't let it be this easy. " If it is money you want you will-" I cut Kevin off. " It's not money I want. I simply want my freedom to do what I wish and allow myself free rein in what I do." I look at her waiting for her reply.

" Very well then." I widen my eyes, this was too easy something is definitely up." However in return you will pledge loyalty to me." 

I let a small smile appear before kneeling and placing my hand on my heart, " I, William Johnson( Lukas Jones), swear to bear true allegiance to the queen, empress dowager in exchange for my freedom according to god's wish and direction." I internally smile happy to have remembered the oath of allegiance.

She regards me one more time before she raises her hand. The next thing I know I'm knocked out unconscious again.

(Empress Dowager and kevin)

As the boy fell in a heap on the ground and dragged off. 

The Empress sighed taking a long sip from her tea.

" My queen is it alright to give that boy freedom, I mean there is no telling what might happen." said Kevin.

The queen simply raises her hand before eyeing her tea. " I don't think I need to worry too much Kevin. The way that boy looked at me just now, he was scared but he placed a brave front and the condition he placed. One who would be offered a role of a princess wouldn't dream of that would they, instead they would be too happy to be given a role and not think of such condition."

Kevin looks at her with silent surprise but nonetheless keeps quiet. Instead silently telling himself to keep an eye on that boy and see what would unfold, after all no one could replace Eira. 

No one.