| 2nd Chapter
As I move the curtains fell, blinding lights from the windows peaked in full force making me close my eyes. The knocking on the door made my head pound harder. The dim lighted room became livelier as rays of the sun hit every corner that was previously enveloped in darkness. I tried to get up, slightly wincing when I have felt stinging from my wounded arms as it start to bleed.
What has this princess been up to! My feet were tightly tied to the sides of the bed. With all my might, I pulled myself to sat, and as gentle as possible lean on the headboard of the bed. The white satin sheets were covered with dried blood. I've observed how many cuts there are on my body. It wasn't too deep but with enough amount of pressure the person will surely lose a lot of blood and eventually die. But it wasn't an easy death, she silenced herself and decrease the possibilities of survival through binding her legs. Enough to prevent her from struggling and breaking free.
If the doors and possible exits weren't locked, then I must say that someone might have set her up and killed her. But based on the memories that I could recall from her consciousness, she was alone and she did everything on her own. Such courage was there, but for some reasons she's a coward! How stupid was she to sacrifice herself and escape a pitiful marriage. It is a good chance for her actually, but she wanted not to take part of it, she was scared and naive, not weighing the pros and cons of how this marriage can benefit her.
In this Era where the strong dominated the weak her existence can only depend on sticking to people with enough power. She should have been happy with the arrangements made by her father, it was good enough that they have thought a good way to keep her safe. It just makes me mad how this useless body never minded things that could boost her up or help her achieve power.
This body's weak state will change starting now for the better, I need to survive on my own and gather the right amount of information to cultivate and retain my strength. It won't be comparable to my past body's strength, but at the very least if I want to stay alive, then I must plan ahead and strategically make miracles to improve my stamina. No one needs to know and I needed to be vigilant at all times.
"Zhi Ruo! Open the door!" Her father, who's now going to be my father, shouted. I steadily held enough energy and tried to withdraw a good amount of force, forcing my vocals to regain a slim chance of voicing out a normal tone. Emperor father doesn't need to know my condition right now and I must avoid suspicions at all cost. With exact calculation, I must convince his Highness in a span of 5 minutes that I am not feeling well that's why I need more rest. Besides, I still need enough time to recuperate a bit and clean the crime scene.
"Father I'm fine, just a little bit sick. You don't have to worry, your precious daughter will take care of herself for a moment. So I humbly ask honourable Emperor father to give this princess a little more time to rest." Persuasion hinted my plead, from the previous owner's interactions with her father, her father would insist on little things and make sure she's fine at all costs.
"The more reason that this Emperor shall check on you, your mother, the imperial consort wanted to check on you too dear, but your brother needs her at the time being. It's not good to let you tend yourself alone when you're sick--"
"Emperor father, this princess has grown now. It's time that I take my responsibilities seriously and I just want his Highness to understand that I need this moment for myself. I just-- need the time to reflect my past actions and learn from it. I wanna improve my being, so Emperor father, I plead that you let me test the water's depth alone."
The emperor sighed. I'm giving him no other option than to surrender and leave me alone.
"Fine princess, maybe your mother and I are growing old, indeed our princess has grown enough. Well enough that the way you've addressed me change drastically. If this is what the princess wants then I shall give it to you. You'll know how to call or where you'll find us when you need help dear. This Emperor shall take his leave. Get well soon my precious daughter, and report to me whenever you're ready."
"Many thanks to Emperor father." Blood spill out of my mouth as I held my chest. A wave of burning sensation weathered my heart. The wounds I acquired from her brutal devastation were healing one by one. I prevented myself from squirming as my hand fisted against the bed's sheet. Tears slowly poured from my eyes, as my breathing hitched past its limit.
Blue flame rose from the ends of my feet, the ropes were severed. The dried blood that I once bathed in turned into an ugly shade of crimson, making it alive. The feeling was indescribable as pain soothed every fiber in my body making me as stiff as a person turned to ice. The room temperature started to drop and whirls of wind entered my chamber through the windows.
My wounds felt numb, then I saw how everything healed. My body trembled weakly, as I fell back to my bed. My knees involuntarily curled up, meeting my chin. Sweat emersed from my skin with black ink. If this body was accumulated before possessing a good-for-nothing constitute, then what triggered its potential to show? It even eliminated the poison that was blocking my meridians.
"I need to find out the reason behind this, who tried to poison me from the very start and why they've done it? I also need to find immediate cure to the remnants of the poison in my body. My curiosity needs to be satisfied, and I need to obtain not just theories but facts and evidences." I murmured, but for now I need more rest.