The Transmigrated Villainess

The Beginning

"... Then the villainess Alicia gets executed for her evil deeds and Alisha and Lucian live happily ever after."

Alice felt pain in her heart and unknown to her tears streamed down her face. She had finally completed reading her favourite romance novel 'Our hill of the Stars'. She thought she'd be happy after reading the happy ending so she kept binge-reading night after night. Because that was the only time she had some time on her hands. But after completing the novel she felt immense pain for the villainess who had gotten executed.

"She never got the chance to be truly happy. How can it be? I don't want her to die." She mumbled to herself hiding the book inside her bed.  It was the book she had borrowed from the library where she was working but she was sure if her stepmother came to know about this book she would not get any money to spend anytime soon. Alice was the only one working in her entire family but she had to give it all to her stepmother. She couldn't mutter a word in front of her. Why? Because she was too scary. As a victim of her abuse from childhood, her hands always trembled in front of her. Soon after she fell asleep exhausted from all the work she had to do at her 3 consecutive part-time jobs.
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It was the night of the banquet for the knights who had returned victorious to the empire. Alicia was quietly gazing at the stars in the sky. The banquet was yet to start Her crush and the heir to one of the two dukedoms in the empire, Lucian had emerged as a war hero along with the crown prince Alexander. She smiled as she looked at the gift in her hand. It was something she had prepared meticulously for Lucian. Something that he always wanted from childhood. The Frost fruit

Alicia was a heiress to the Duchy of North. Her and Lucian's family often had gatherings at her mansion since childhood. Nearby her mansion was a mountain where frost fruits were located. They are said to enhance magic powers and strengthen the body. From her childhood to even recent times, she had often seen him struggling to get the frost fruit. Achieving the frost fruit is considered a big accomplishment as one had to go through many challenges to get it. Every time he tried, he failed. Alicia had seen it. His obsession with getting stronger. That's why he was trying so hard to obtain it.  But she had kept it a secret from everyone.

"That's why I chose to give you this today. I hope it makes you happy." She beamed to herself and wondered what kind of reaction he would give. Would he be so happy and then hug her?

"No. No. What am I thinking?" She shook her head in denial. He's too cold-hearted to do that but I hope I get a permanent space in his heart even if it's little. But she knew deep inside he was a warmhearted person. She had known him from childhood but their relationship was too formal to call it friendship.

She had tried many times on her end to help him open up to her but his response was always cold so she gave up. She was wondering what way would be most impressive to approach him.

That's when an opportunity opened up for her when her father was busy preparing for the victors' banquet. Alicia was never allowed to even go near the mountain because she was a girl. But that time she sneaked out and after many trials and tribulations she obtained the frost fruit.

"It would be all so worth it if he at least smiles at me." She innocently thought, unaware of what lay ahead.

"The Crown Prince Alexander and Duke Lucian have entered." It was an announcement and a sign that the banquet was about to start. Alicia hurriedly left the balcony and came inside the hall.