Fake Villainess - The other Ducal Princess

1

"... a! ... Veronika!" 

Crash!  

The cup that Wera had been holding fell onto the floor, shattering into many pieces. A woman in maid's dress, who was on standby behind her, hurriedly came over and began cleaning the mess. 

Wera awakened from her absentminded state and cast her eyes toward the voice she had heard. 

     'How come there is a maid?' 

From what Wera remembered, she should be death, or at least in hospital. Then why is she here in new but ancient looking room with unknown people. And why is she not feeling pain from her stabbed stomach and bullet-pierced shoulder. She was sure her legs were beaten to pulp before.

     'I'm alive...!'

It wasn't a dream or a hallucination.

She turned her head to other side, where a large mirror reflected her.

She was twenty years old, however, the figure she was seeing in front of her was ten years old at the most. The girl in the mirror's eyes were of blue-green colour rather than her dark-brown ones and luscious pink hair that cascaded down to her waist in place of her shiny black shoulder-length hair. Beside she was dressed in a dress, which was straight from some history books she read years ago. 

Unable to comprehend the situation or find a way to cope with that unbelievable circumstance, Wera continued to blink. Then, she heard a cold voice from the very seat next to her. 

"Wera, are you alright? I called you several times, but you didn't answer." It was voice of another woman, dressed in fineries, standing beside the marble table. She was a beautiful, elegant woman who could captivated the hearts of people with her lips redder than roses and sensual body. 

She stayed silent. She was not sure what was happening, where was she. So, staying silent should be best.

She felt her body losing control and blood drained out of her face. She heard shouts of people around her, but she couldn't see anything. Her eyes become hazy and soon she slipped into darkness.

_____

She was feeling drowsy when she woke that and couldn't even open her eyes.

It was a moment later when she heard a rustling sound from the back.

She was somewhat awake from sleep now. She was about to put strength to her body to get herself up from the bed.

A lightning-like pain was felt on her forehead. As if it was hammered from inside. And there was very loud sound of drum beating. Actually it was her throbbing vein, making the headache nearly unbearable.

There were voices around. She can't hear anything clearly but there were a lot of voices around her. And it was making her head ache more. 

Again she tried to put her hand on om head. Her palm were as cold as ice slab. Or it was opposite. Her head was burning hot.

"So, she was poisoned."

     'Poison. What poison?'

"Yes, but rather than tea, tea-cup was poisoned."

     'Tea-cup was poisoned? But who drinks tea.'

"When will she wake up?"

"The poison is very deathly, my lady was given the antidote but we don't know how much of poison she had consumed. She can wake up in few hours or few days."

"Would there be any aftermath?"

"No, but in rare cases there can be."

"Then, wait outside, I will call if there is something."

     'What happening. I opened my eyes. The room was unusual. Similar to one in my dream. No' its the same. Am I still dreaming.'

"You're awake now."

A concerned but childish voice came from beside the bed. A young girl was standing there. She saw the girl's worried face weeping. Even as her tears fell, she was looking elegant.

"Your Grace! Young lady Veronika is awake ."

"Ah! Veronica are you awake? Are you okay my child?" The lady from before, who was sitting on sofa came on the bedside, asked.

     'Why am I still dreaming? Your Grace? Veronika? What is it?'

"Doctor, call the Doctor?"

_____

Several days had passed since Wera had been in her dreams or in a novel. As days passed she realized that the setting was somewhat similar to the novel that she had read in her past life. That story was titled 'Swords with Wings.'

'Swords with Wings' is a story of Second Princess Evangeline and Ducal Princess Angelica. While the other Ducal Princesses Madeleine and Veronika were the villainesses. While Madeleine maintained her pure white lotus image, she used Veronika to attack Evangeline and Angelica.

She was transmigrated into Veronika's body, one of the adopted daughters of Eaton Duke family.

However, not long after she was adopted, another daughter was adopted, Madeleine.

Madeleine was the villainess who drove Veronica to death and was cause of miseries of Original Female lead, Evangeline and her friend, Duke Eatons' real daughter, Angelica.

According to the original story, Madeleine was daughter of a bankrupt Count and her mother had left her to marry a rich merchant. The Count of Goldwyn, Madeleine father, kidnapped a six year old Angelica but then lost her. When Duke adopted Veronica due to her resemblance to Angelica while searching for her, Count faked his death because his daughter also had Pink hair like formal Duchess and blue eyes. 

The new Duchess was once friend with the Count's sister, so she decided to adopt Madeleine as well. Madeleine and her maid Amelia tries to kill Veronica. Poison on the cup was there first attempt.

When at the coming-of-age ceremony of Veronica, Angelica arrived in the Eaton Duchy, she was poisoned by Madeleine and Veronica was blamed. This made Veronica against Angelica. Madeleine used this rift and caused both of them trouble with the help of Count.

Even if Veronica didn't do anything the whole family blamed her, so she then emerged as a real villainess and then died in one of the traps of Count of Goldwyn.

It was then. Knock knock-.

She heard the knocking sound from the door, twice.

"Who is it?" Veronika checked who came in.

"Lady, it's Georgia." It was the head maid. 

"Come in." 

Click, the door opened and a mid-aged women entered her room.

"Have you slept well?"

"Why did you come?"

 "Lady, her grace is commanding for your presence."