The Killer's Next Life

That Day Under the Sleeping Willow

I was kneeling by the lake under a sleeping willow to look for my doll, which had slipped from my hand into the water. When the ripple slowed and calmed, a perfect reflection lit the water. I feel out of place as I stare at my reflection.

I have a doll face, with red hair and eyes. I thought I looked like a Victorian doll from an antique shop. That's when I realized I could understand a language I'd never heard before.

As I blink my eyes, the plagued memory of twenty years rushes through my mind, and breathing becomes intense and palpitations increase.

... I was once a murderer.

I crouched down unintentionally, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to endure until I felt calm.

Once I felt calm enough and realized that this was, in fact, a reality, I thought of why I wasn't in some fiery pit of doom, like they say happens to murderers. Why am I now a little girl in old-fashioned clothes by the lake?

Possibilities are running through my mind, but I was interrupted by the commotion near the tree.

It was Violet, my maid, panting heavily. "My Lady," she gasped, "I've been searching everywhere for you."

"Let's go back," I said, "and get me something refreshing, please." I said and left the willow canopy.

I know my name is Yoruella de Luna. Five years old, and I came from a noble family in the Kingdom of Dulcinea. My parents, Duke Giovanno and Duchess Lucianna, are on a political vacation, and I believe they will return before winter with their promised souvenir for me.

Based on my memories of this world and my surroundings where electrical devices are not even in fiction, it's like in European early renaissance period. I knew that this was a different world, not the earth. And in this world, I am someone important who will soon become the crown prince's wife and be the queen consort of this country.

Pondering why it happened won't change anything at all. The family of the person I killed won't get the justice they seek because I killed myself. But now, as someone important, I won't be trampled upon, without such condescending, there will be no reason for me to kill someone.

This is my chance to get the peaceful and quiet life I've always wanted.

But being the future wife of the crown prince will be a pain in the ass. What if we had a marriage quarrel and argued, then ended up killing him? That would be a real disaster, and I'd lose my head. Well, it's not that I plan to follow my parent's order. Getting involved in political business means there is no peaceful and quiet life. I don't want that. I guess I'll have to work on turning off the crown prince in the future.

But what's more important than what should be done right now is to know more about this world. What happened to their past? The history? What's happening right now? How do evolution and revolution play in this world?

I went to the library to look for information, but when I opened the first book I grabbed, I realized that I don't recognize the letters, it's not old or new English, not even close to Italian, nor French, or German.

I was about to go to my governess to ask her to teach me how to read but was distracted by a large book with pictures of fantasy creatures. Every page has a familiar fantasy animals that I watched on television when I was little on it, like dragons, unicorns, flying horses, and even a flying cat, a cat with a unicorn horn, and a cat with a fishtail in the water.

Before I could looking at even a quarter of its page, a knock on the door pulled me out of my head. A maid came in and told me, "The dinner is ready, My Lady."

"You wish to learn how to read, Milady?

"Yes, that's right," I responded, spearing a small slice of steak with my fork. "And I want it as soon as possible." With that, I brought the fork to my mouth and bit off the whole slice.

"I'm pleased to hear that. The tutor your father selected for you last month will be arriving the day after tomorrow after a three-week journey. He is renowned as one of the finest scholar on the entire continent."

"What? I still have to wait for two nights?" I asked in disappointment.

"I understand you are excited, but it cannot be helped as he came from four countries away, Milady."

I click my tongue unconsciously in annoyance.

Ehh, I cannot wait that long.

"Yeah, yeah, I am really excited to learn that I have an order for you to teach me how to read right here and right now," I said as I drank every bit of water from my glass and pulled out the folio-sized book I was looking at earlier from the library and slammed it into the table. The servants around me seemed to be shocked or something, did I overdo it? I got so excited that I slammed it a little too hard, probably.

"Luanne, you are the governess of the De Luna Family, I'm sure you're capable enough to teach me the basics." I said, "Am I wrong? "

I couldn't tell if Luanne was irritated or stunned, but she was sweating a bit.

"If you wish, Milady," she said with an awkward smile.

We went to the library for a proper session. She taught me everything I needed to know to read—the alphabet. With my 16-year experience of sitting in the class to learn useless things, I was able to learn everything in just less than half an hour. And now, I was able to read Legends of the Wild: Where to Find Them. I was wrong when I thought that this was just some children's book of mythical creatures, but it's apparently a real existing creature in this world.

I wasn't just reincarnated in another world, but in a fantasy world. How did I miss that when, earlier, the maid lit the lamp without any matches?

How can I sleep now when I just learned something so interesting? I want to know more.

But how can I do that when Luanne has been staring at me for an hour in disbelief? Is she that—no, a barely five-year-old can't learn that fast, right? Should I just tell her I'm just a naturally gifted child? Wait, that's not a smart move. I guess I have no choice.

"Reading is so complicated." I cried in a child-like way with a tiring yawn. "I think I just lost interest in studying."

A five-year-old acting like her age is just normal.

"Oh my, I thought you're reading like a grownup. But it turns out you were only looking up at the pictures, huh?" She said as if she had just pranked in a fun way.

I'm glad she was buying it.

"Let's call it a day, it's time for your bed," she said, helping me get off of my chair.

As much as I want to learn more about this new and mysterious world, a five-year-old is a five-year-old who cannot stay sober for more than twelve hours daily. Before I knew it, I fell asleep.

Or so I thought.

I found myself in a familiar room. Fragments of memories flickered like old film reels. Voices of laughter and screams echoes through my ears.

When those blood-stained blades fell from my hand, I knew that I was dreaming and kicked my consciousness back to reality.

It's still dark behind the curtains when I slide them open.

The moon is perfectly full and tinted with blue.

And I know deep down that I didn't regret anything. And if something like that happens again, "I wouldn't hesitate taking anyone's life again." But this time, I will live no matter what.