Learning the Ways of a Villainess

It was a normal day. A day like any other I suppose. Except I was dying, lying on the ground, bleeding out from the head.

I was a simple university student who was on my way home walking by myself on an empty street when a mugger tried to grab my bag. Shocked as I was, my reflexes kicked in and I fought back the mugger. He then punched me right in my face, knocked me down and bumped my head on a steel lamp post. Grabbing my bag he proceeded to run leaving me alone on the ground, bleeding from the head.

As I laid there on the ground bleeding out, I had a thought. People said that your life flashes before your eyes when you're about to die. So I thought of all the things that had happened in mine.

Left on the orphanage door at about 6 months old. Grew up in a poor orphanage where we had to fight for scraps. Then I studied hard enough to get a scholarship in a local university that gave me a stipend for cheap housing. Just as my life was improving, I had to get mugged and left alone to die with no one who cared about me by my side.

Today is my last day as Ellen Rose.

ᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢ

'Hello, Miss Ellen.'

Whoa who was that? His voice is echoing around this dark room. Wait, why can't I see anything?

'That's because you had died remember?'

Oh that's right, I bled out from fighting a mugger.

'Yes you did. However, I am here to give you another chance at life, a better life.'

A better life?

'Yes a better one. One where you will have everything you could ever need and live in luxury.'

That sounds too good to be true.

'Well, there is one catch. You will need to do something for me.'

Of course there is. There really is nothing free in life, or after-life I guess. So what do I have to do oh mysterious voice of the night?

'Don't get smart with me. I need you to ensure Prince Alex doesn't end up with Lady Anastasia.'

What the heck are you talking about?

'You will understand everything. All in due time. Unless.... you prefer to die right now?'

Well... I don't know what the after-life will be like. But to be honest, I am not ready to die just yet.

'Great! Then off you go!'

With that I lost consciousness once again.

ᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢᓚᘏᗢ

'Miss Elaine, are you alright? Please wake up,' a voice next to me said. I could feel someone's hands holding mine, it felt warm.

Slowly I opened my eyes. I was on a huge canopy bed. The room I was in was huge, fit for a princess. I used whatever little energy I had at the moment and turned my head to look at the person holding my hand. She was dressed in a typical maid's uniform with white laces and an apron.

'Oh thank goodness you're alright. I was worried sick Miss,' her eyes shined with tears in them looking so happy that I had woken up.

Why was she referring to me as Miss? Did this have anything to do with that weird dream I had earlier?

I straightened up on my bed and realized I had someone else's body. I had short red hair and fair skin like that of a fairy. Behind the maid was a rich-looking woman. She had a rose colored dress on with black laces and gloves on. She looked like an evil step-mother.

Whoever she was, she looked at me with indifference and said, 'Good. You've finally woken up.'

She then looked towards the maid, 'Hurry and dress her up if you want to keep your head.'

What is she? An evil queen or something?

She then turned and left the room through the big white and golden doors. I was now alone with the maid.

Wait a minute. Where am I? Wasn't I just mugged? I was confused to say the least and then I remembered the dream I had. Did I get reborn to another life?

I looked back at the maid and her whole disposition towards me changed. She looked at me with no concealed hatred and stood up.

'Hurry and get up, must I do everything myself? You can't do anything right,' she said rolling her eyes. Whoa, whoa. Hold on a second, what kind of maid speaks this way. Don't get me wrong, I'm up for equality, but talking that way is offensive.

Was that all before just an act? Why was she acting so nice to me before? I really hate two-faced people.

'You can't talk to me like that. How dare you?', seeing as she is a maid and she called me Miss. I must be the child of her boss, so I should be able to say something like that right?

'Hahaha. And who are you going to tell? Just hurry up and get dressed so I don't have to look at your face anymore,' with that she went to the closet, probably to pick my clothes.

I was confused. Maybe I should stay quite until I get more information. Just act cool and no one will know that you are another person. Yup just be cool.

I then got dressed by the maid who handled me quite roughly I might add and left the room. I was wearing a simple white dress which I never had the luxury of wearing before in my previous life as I was poor. I smiled at the thought, was this real or just a dream? Had I really been reborn to a life of luxury?

We went down the hall with red carpets and red drapes on the left side of the wall. The maid who gave me a glare then opened the door. Oh how I wanted to glare back at her. But I held my cool and ignored it. There were people sitting on a big table which had a big feast on it. I wanted to drool at the sight of such delicious food.

No control yourself Ellen.

There was two gentlemen sitting next to each other and the woman that was in my room just now was sitting next to them as well. Next to her, there was a younger man who seems to be my age looking bored as hell right now.

'Hello Miss Elaine Castelle. It's a pleasure to meet you,' said the older looking gentlemen on the table.

I bowed my head copying the gentlemen who bowed when greeting me. What world am I in right now? It doesn't look like modern-day Japan.

'Well isn't she beautiful?', said the gentlemen.

I took a seat nearest to the door. I was planning to run away, just in case.

We then began to eat and I was tasting the soup presented in front of me. I took a gulp and it was amazing. I have never tasted such a delicacy before. Is this what heaven feels like? And though I felt like jumping at the taste of the soup, I kept a straight face not wanting to embarrass myself.

The others began to discuss something, but all I could focus on was the delicious meal in front of me. There was steak, fish, roasted vegetables, you name it.

'Do you agree Elaine?', the other gentlemen asked me. I didn't want them to know that I had tuned them out, so I simply smiled and nodded.

'Great, it is settled then. You will marry Alex on your 18th birthday.'

Wait, what?!