The Duchesses

Chapter 1 : The Adaptation (1)

Natalie's POV

After concluding that I have been reincarnated in this world as Duchess Natalie, I feel nervous since I don't know how to adapt to this situation. I understand this is a medieval-era novel, and aristocrats play a primary role in society. The etiquette and how they behave will display their character the most. I need to remember the novel's critical events and surfaces to survive. However, as screw-up as it sounds, I read some of the content before reading the finale part. Or did I read it all? How frustrating is this situation?

Duchess Natalie Wilson Smith, one of the main characters from the novel I read, met with a miserable ending in her life, whereby she was sentenced to a guillotine. This is because her weird obsession with Prince Ares causes her to be exploited by him. She was being manipulated to kill everyone that was in Ares' path.

Duchess Natalie played an essential role in supporting the Crown Prince, Ares, in fighting with Duchess Medea for the throne. The Crown Prince turned tyrannical after losing the support of the nobility and his ability to enforce his will. That's when he ordered Duchess Natalie to make an assassination plan to secure his throne again. At first, it seems impossible to assassinate Duchess Medea. She is a skilled swordsman and the finest one within the Empire. Finding a moment of vulnerability is even more difficult with the great Hero of the Empire, Marquess Hector, at her side. Aiming to fulfil such a request would be impossible. Yet Natalie was not giving up on the concept.

They had been watching for quite some time and giving it much thought before settling on a single strategy. They've plotted to frame Duchess Medea by poisoning Countess Hera's tea. The old classic move. The initial plan was to start a nasty rumour about the two women. However, as the two ladies were competing as candidates for the Crown Princess, these two never saw eye-to-eye in the first place. Because of this, the opportunity to cripple Duchess Valimos' influence in high society must be seized now while it is still present. However, Duchess Natalie and Prince Ares eventually realise that both women were hidden allies but still won't divulge it to the people.

After the initial scheme was successful, Countess Hera's tea was poisoned during the arrival of Duchess Medea to the manor. There was a moment of triumph for Natalie's side when Hera drank the tea and passed out. Duchess Medea, the novel's protagonist, is aware of the plot from the beginning. So the Duchess devised a strategy to flip the situation around for them. As it happens, the tea was never actually poisoned. Instead, everyone in the room has been fooled by the Countess's acting skills. The servant promptly revealed that Natalie, not Medea, the master criminal, was the one who placed the monstrous order.

When Natalie committed her crime, Duchess Medea told everyone about it at the night banquet. Additionally, Countess Hera's backing of Duchess Medea's assertions was genuine, which shocked Duchess Natalie by surprise. Ares's power has been severely weakened by the loss of Natalie, who has been one of the most important allies in his quest to reassume the throne. Medea used this moment to insinuate that Ares had approved of the murder. In the end, Medea took over as empress and had Ares and his supporters, including the unfortunate Duchess Natalie, guillotined in public before sunrise. At that moment, the awful end comes for Duchess Natalie.

Well, pretty much, long story short of it. There's a lot of it that I should remember because it doesn't sound as easy as that.

'I need to avoid that tragic death of Duchess Natalie', I remind myself of something obvious enough.

When the physician realised I'd lost my memory from poisoning, Duchess Natalie's trusted advisor, Lord Apollo, opted to keep the news from the others. After I have fully recovered, Apollo will have me take classes in things like dance and etiquette so that I can once again fit in with the upper crust. And to his utter shock, I suggested he take lessons with a swordsman. In my defence, I have to figure out how to make it here while I look for a way home.