The Female Lead
#WSA2024 Have you ever wished of traveling to another world? Traveling to a place filled with magic and magical creatures, being part of a wonderful and powerful family? Being loved and admired by people, especially cute, hot and dreamy guys?. Well, guess what? You are not the only one. One of the things she has ever wished for was to transmigrate to another world, leave her awful, stressful, God forsaken life behind. Meeting handsome and hot guys who would do anything and everything for her attention. Well if wishes were horses, riders would ride. And truly wishes were horses because it finally came true. After another stressful, boring day of work just as she slowly drifted off to sleep Emilia Jones finally transmigrated to her favorite novel ‘Twisted Fate'. A novel that is on everyone's lips, it is all over social media, everyone is dying to know what would happen next as each pages unfold, discovering new path each character takes and not to forget how hot the characters are, especially the male leads. Now Emilia Jones is finally part of the novel but here is a twist, she did not transmigrate to the heroine, who has the purest of heart, her silver long, silky hair glows in the moonlight, with twinkling blue eyes that captivates every soul that gazes at it, her voice was as angelic as ever, enticing every one to it's tune, she was the ride or die of all the male leads. She also didn't transmigrate to the villainess, her heart is colder than ice, her hair darker than ebony and her eyes red as velvet, she was the one many people in the novel feared. Being the one with magical powers that transcended all except the Royal family, she took everything and anything she wanted but she could not have the hearts of the male leads. You would think that she transmigrated as a supporting character but nope, an extra…. Maybe. Her soul passed into the body of a thick skull, half-witted, her stupidity knew no bound. The only thing good about her was that she came from one of the powerful families in the country, her power was known to be the weakest, a flicker of a flame. She was a beauty to a point and she had only a few scenes in the novel and experienced a very idiotic death. She was the beanbrain that Emilia transmigrated into. This was not part of her wish!!.
Our First Meeting
"This is the last batch of magical books we have in the library!" Lenora said whilst she placed the books on the table with a light thud.
"Thank you Lenora!" I replied without giving her a glance. I leafed through the next page of the book I held, highlighting the necessary information that I needed.
For the past few days, I have been cooped in my room, reading any and every magical books that I could lay my hands on. With Lenora's help it made it a tad easier to find the accurate ones. My isolation does worry the people around me but no one has had the courage to approach me and speak up about it, probably because they arread that I was still angry about what Edward spoke of during our last family dinner.
I slammed the book shut when I was done, noticing Lenora flinch a bit at the action, it must have taken her by surprise. She seemed a bit uneasy, like she had something to let off her chest.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
She shook her head slightly, "No My lady, I am still in awe that you decided to know more about your power and you intend to nurture it!" She explained.
I nodded my head slowly to the words she said. "Is there a problem with it?".
She exhaled and hesitated before replying. "No… it is just that after you got your power evaluated when you were little and you were told how weak it was. You lost all hope in learning about it and never practiced!" She said in a sullen tone.
I smiled at her, knowing how concerned she was felt nice, I also realized how concerned my Father was for sending her to me two days ago.
"I understand!".
"... But I am glad that you have gotten a desire to study it now!" She said quickly, looking more cheerful "Even though people believe that one's power cannot grow once they are born with it but I believe yours can!" She gave me a thumbs up as she smiled at me blissfully.
I chuckled at her whim, she had an airy aura which resembled that of a little child. It felt nice having her around.
I got up from the chair, grabbed the book I read with me and made myself comfortable on the carpet. The book I read spoke mostly of unlocking the energy within oneself and feeling the energy in one's surroundings, to do that one needs to be in a state of utmost tranquility. One must free themselves from any thoughts and problems. This was the first phase of nurturing one's power and it turned out that Rosalind hasn't done this ever so it seemed that it might be a bit difficult for me to pull it off without a suitable teacher.
I closed my eyes and focused more on my breathing, trying to feel, to grasp the energy within me. I had to clear my mind from any form of thought and distractions for this to work.
"My Lady, may I remind you of something?" Lenora's voice altered my concentration.
"What is it?" I asked with gritted teeth.
"It is about the tea parties you were invited to for the past three weeks!" She continued.
"What!".
"You see, you were invited to a number of tea parties by other noble ladies!" I could hear her approach me as she spoke.
"Lenora I do not care about tea parties!" I said firmly.
She sighed, keeping quiet. I took a deep breath sensing that she had dropped the matter on that subject. Focusing on my breathing, I continued my concentration on the energy.
"... I know that you are not interested!" My body flinched on hearing her voice "...it is just that it has been so long since you attended one!".
"Lenora, you are wrecking my concentration!" I said as anger and irritation stirred within me.
"I apologize My lady!" She said quickly.
I nodded, accepting it. The room grew quiet, I took it that she had finally given up and continued my meditation.
"But… are you sure that you do not want to go?" She asked slowly.
"Yes, I am sure!" I replied sternly.
She sighed and grew quiet once more. I was about to drift back to my concentration when she spoke again.
"What does 'wrecking' mean, My Lady? You used that word earlier!" She asked.
"That's it!" I yelled, standing up. She looked at me, stunned at my outburst.
"I can't take this anymore!" I yelled, grabbing the book on the floor, I made my way to the door.
"Where are you going My lady?" She asked from behind me.
"Wherever you are not!" I replied harshly, grabbing the door knob. I thrutched the door open and stormed out of the room.
* * * *
"I am sorry Your Majesty but I cannot endeavor to go to war with you!" Leopold said in a genuine manner.
He stared at him, pondering if he angered him in some way but the man before him said nothing, he only exhaled and took a sip of the tea he was offered.
"May I ask why?" He questioned.
Leopold let out a breath, hesitating for a moment "It is just that I am needed here Your Majesty and I cannot afford to leave everything to my Father, not when I will be succeeding him when he retires!" He stated.
"I understand!".
Silence settled in the room, Leopold pondered on what he could offer him, it had to be something that could replace his presence in the ongoing war. His eyes glinted at a thought.
"If I may, would it be alright with you if I make an addition of a thousand Everhart knights to the Royal battalion?" He asked, feeling hopeful for a positive response.
Cedric's gaze shifted a little, amused by the offer. The number would greatly increase his forces and it was too tempting not to refuse it.
"It is hard to say no to it but since you brought it up. I will accept it!" He replied.
Leopold felt lighthearted hearing his response. It felt good to know that he didn't anger him with it. He took a sip of his tea with gladness in his heart, pleased by his decision.
The door was pushed open, a man in a black suit walked in, his expression was indifferent as he approached Leopold.
"The Duke requests your presence, young Master!" He spoke in a whisper. He made a polite bow and exited the room.
"If I may be excused!" Leopold said.
With a dismissive wave of Cedric's hand, He took that as his response and got up, exiting the room.
Cedric placed the porcelain cup on its saucer, he stood up and made his way to the books placed on the shelves at the far end of the room. His hands slowly grazed the books, he paused as his attention diverted to the arrays of paper placed on the table in the room. He walked towards it, picking them up, he leafed through them and halted. His eyes lit up as he gazed at the painting of her, it seemed to have been recent seeing that it bore the same resemblance with the lady with flames in her hair.
Her wavy red hair vibrant as flames, filled with a strong and powerful energy, full of passion and strength, her turquoise eyes calms the flames, carrying an air of serenity and transparency, he felt like he could see through it deep into her soul. She smiled warmly in the painting. Her smile was soothing, relieving and placid. It bestowed peace to a troubled soul.
He found himself smiling at the painting, his fingers slowly grazed the hue of colors. Something about her, unsettled his emotions, troubling his stone-hearted heart, creating emotions he never knew he could possess. He took a deep breath and laid the papers on the table, being hesitant to let go of the painting.
Indistinct voices drew his attention, he walked towards the door and pushed it a little, enough for him to see what was transpiring. A gasp escaped his lips when his gaze landed on her, she seemed to be in a haste to leave the maid that scurried after her.
"My lady, why don't you want to attend any of the tea parties?" The maid inquired.
She sighed, halting for a moment and forcefully looked at her, her eyes glazed with anger as she spoke.
"I told you! I do not want to attend those fancy tea parties!" She replied and continued down the stairs making her way to the doors.
"But just think about it for a moment!" The maid insisted.
"There is nothing to think about. Right now I just want to get away from you!" She yelled, her voice resonated her surroundings.
"You could build connections when you attend the tea parties!" The maid suggested.
"I don't need connections!" She responded harshly.
"What about the things they will say about you because of your absence?".
She scoffed at the question "Oh please! What are they going to say that I haven't heard before?".
The maid looked puzzled for a moment, pondering on what else to say.
"Where are you going?" She asked suddenly.
"Somewhere far away from you!" She yelled whilst the doors were pushed open by the doorkeepers.
"Thank you!" She spoke to them.
They made a polite bow in response.
"But…" She got interrupted.
"Don't worry I am not leaving the estate I will be in the gardens, if and a very big 'if', there is something very important that you have to report you can come to the gardens and hopefully by then I can accept your presence!" She said, stressing the word 'very'. She halted for a moment, the maid almost bumped into her.
Staring at her, she ordered "Do not even think of following me!".
The maid was about to protest but she held a finger up silencing anything she was about to utter.
"If you say so, My Lady!" She responded in a state of a bow.
"Good!" She responded, smiling forcefully at her, turning around she left and continued her journey.
Cedric watched the maid leave, he gazed at the closed doors that led to the outside world. He knew no reason why but he found himself going after her, he needed to see her once more. If the gardens were where she desired to be then that's where he will go.