I Hope This Time

CHAPTER ONE

Lily's regular day in the busy city started like any other. The sun made long shadows on the crowded streets where people rushed around. Their laughter and talk created a lively city symphony. But for Lisa, life was always hard.

In the city center, surrounded by tall buildings and a mix of wealth and struggles, Lily moved through the maze of alleys and streets with a strong purpose. Her old backpack stood out against the fancy bags others carried.

Lily's home, a simple apartment in a busy neighborhood, showed the challenges she dealt with. The old furniture and faded wallpaper quietly spoke of facing tough times. It was a place where dreams met reality, and the sounds of laughter mixed with the harshness of life.
Despite her financial constraints, Lisa approached her education with unwavering determination. She attended a Private school nestled within the city, a place where diversity thrived, but so did the stark contrasts in privilege.

Btw Lily Hermes is 17 Years old An orphan because her parents died 2 years ago when she was 15 and a schoolar in Elite High School.

As Lily approached the school gates, a wave of anxiety washed over her. The imposing building stood as a fortress of education, but for Lily, it also harbored the daily challenges of being an impoverished student in a world where privilege often overshadowed potential.

Inside the school corridors, Lily's steps echoed a different rhythm, one marked by whispers and judgmental glances. The jeers of her more privileged peers became a constant companion, a cruel reminder of the socio-economic divide that permeated the halls of academia.

One particular group, led by a girl named Emily, reveled in tormenting Lily. Emily, with her perfectly styled hair and designer uniform, embodied the epitome of privilege. Lily's passion for history only fueled the mockery, as Emily and her followers dismissed it as a futile pursuit for someone destined for a life of struggle.

On that fateful day, as Lily navigated the halls with her head down, the echoes of laughter intensified. Emily and her clique closed in, creating an invisible barrier that amplified Lily's isolation.

"Look who's here, the history geek," Emily sneered, her followers joining in with mocking laughter. Lily, though accustomed to such treatment, felt the sting of their words pierce through her resilient facade.

Ignoring the taunts, Lily continued on her way to her room. Suddenly, one of Emily's minions pulled her hair and kicked her stomach. As they see lily's situation, they all laugh at how pitiful lily is. The students can't help but to look at lily's situation with sympathy because they can't help her knowing they are just as poor as her. Emily then poured her Ice coffee in lily's head.

Lily with an embarrassed face ran outside the school since she lost interest in attending school on this day. As she stepped out of the school gates, the familiar cacophony of the city turned into a symphony of screeching brakes and blaring horns. Then suddenly She felt herself getting hit by a car passing by. She thought that this is probably her end.

The world blurred, and Lily woke up and found herself on the cobblestone paths of an ancient courtyard.
Disoriented and bewildered, Lily blinked against the sudden change. The cityscape had been replaced by historical archways, and the distant sounds of traffic were replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant melody of a flowing river. The transition felt like a dream, but the cool breeze and the ancient surroundings affirmed its reality.

Confused and apprehensive, Lily realized that she was no longer surrounded by towering skyscrapers and buzzing urban life. Instead, she stood in a small, quaint village, surrounded by cobblestone streets and thatched cottages. The air was filled with the scent of earth and the distant neighing of horses.

As Lily navigated this unfamiliar world, she discovered that she had traveled back in time. The once familiar cityscape had been replaced by the simplicity of village life in whatever century. Yet, amidst the charming surroundings, Lily found herself facing the persistent challenges of being an outsider and the recipient of disdain from her new peers.

The village, with its rustic charm, became both a haven and a battleground for Lily. The villagers, dressed in period attire, eyed her modern clothing with suspicion. As she walked through the cobblestone streets, the whispers followed her like a haunting melody.

"Look at her, an outsider in our quaint village. Where does she come from with those strange clothes?" one villager scoffed, drawing the attention of others.

Lily, accustomed to the judgmental gazes of her privileged peers in the bustling city, felt a familiar pang of isolation. However, she knew that her presence in this historical setting was not a result of a chance but a consequence of her choice in the mystical courtyard.

Despite the challenges, Lily decided to engage with the villagers, hoping to bridge the gap between the unfamiliar past and the resilience she carried from her present. She approached a group gathered near a well, their hushed conversations falling silent as she drew near.

"Good day, kind folks. I seem to have found myself in a place quite different from what I know. Might you guide me through the customs of your time?" Lily asked, her words carefully chosen to reflect both politeness and curiosity.

The villagers exchanged skeptical glances, unsure of how to respond to this stranger who seemed out of place. One elderly woman, with a weathered face and a warm demeanor, stepped forward. "Ye be not from around here, that's for certain. What brings you to our humble village, lass?"

Lily explained her peculiar journey, recounting the events that happened to her that she got into an accident then boom she's here. The villagers listened with a mix of disbelief and intrigue, their initial wariness giving way to curiosity.

Despite the initial look of the villagers, she's still insisting on telling her story.

While she was walking, she heard someone gossiping about the princess.

Villager 1: Have you heard that the princess was really cruel.

Villager 2: Yes I've heard about it. I'm afraid she will be the next Queen. What if she made us suffer?

Villager 1. Stop thinking that, It's making me frighten. I also heard that the King is finding a husband for the Princess who will guide her.

Villager 2: Hahahaha I'm afraid no one will like her. But since she's part of the royals. Many princes attempt to get her.

Wow I didn't know I existed in this era where Queen and kings are the leader ( in lily's mind)

I didn't know even in this era, people really love to gossip around tsk tsk

Damn I'm starving, Where should I get something to eat.

That is the only thing in lily's mind.

As she continues walking she notices a bunch of people or more like soldiers

Intrigued by the gossip about the princess and the unfolding events in the village, my curiosity led me towards the gathering of soldiers. As I approached, the crowd parted to reveal a young girl seated on a makeshift throne, her regal attire contrasting with the simplicity of the village.

To Lily's astonishment, the princess bore an uncanny resemblance to her only friend back in the bustling city. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, and she couldn't help but wonder if this historical setting held a connection to her own life.

As the soldiers maintained a protective stance around the princess, Lily hesitated but decided to approach, hoping to uncover more about this peculiar parallel. The villagers observed her every move, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"Amelia my bff it's me bitch," Lily greeted excitedly, trying to blend courtesy with the casual tone of her time. The princess glanced at her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, her eyes narrowing slightly.

The soldiers tensed, but the princess gestured for them to stand down. "Who are you, stranger? And why do you address me in such a familiar manner?" she inquired, her tone hinting at a curiosity tempered by caution.