I Was Reborn To Be The Evil Queen

My plan went well as I had anticipated. But I'm literally dying to see Eleanor. After encountering a real life ghost, I wonder how her condition will be.

Next day a very strange rumour spread around the palace. They said that the cold palace is haunted. Some maid said that Eleanor had a nightmare and she got scared frantically.

Of course, she's not that dumb to mention the whole incident. She can't tell them about seeing the dead body of Lily. It will be irrelevant since she claims that she's not responsible for her murder.

Anyway, Gilbert was going to kill Lily or hire someone to do that. Since the day Eleanor went to the cold palace, they hadn't met each other. Not even Martha had any chance to see her for once. In fact Eleanor can't meet with others except her maid who were appointed by Timothy. Even if she's going to deliver a letter she will need Timothy's permission first. That way she can't do anything harmful to others.

Eleanor knew that Lily had to die in order to hide her evil crimes. That's the only way to perish her existence.

Even if she stays locked up in the cold palace, her fellow underlings—— Martha and Gilbert will take action. When she heard that Lily is dead, she believed that it was done by Gilbert.

In real, Lily is alive and right now she probably reached my hometown. Hopefully I'm gonna use her as my pawn in future.

" Your highness, have you heard the rumours?" Anna spoke while brushing my hair. We were alone in my room.

" Yes."

" But it's strange that Lady Eleanor didn't mentioned anything about Lily." With a hint of doubt, Anna said.

" Since she's staying at the cold palace, she couldn't meet Gilbert." Rolling my eyes at her, I replied back.

" And that's why Lady Eleanor thinks that sir Gilbert had killed Lily." Good catch Anna. Seems like you're getting smarter day by day.

" Correct. She feels scared at the moment but she's not mentally retread enough to disclose the whole thing. We gotta find more proofs so that we can expose their true motives. Death penalty will be their only punishment."

" Are you thinking about killing her?"

" Me? And killing? No way. I'm not cut for that job. We gotta focus on our goal, Anna." Honestly I can't kill someone. It's too much for me.

" Yes, your highness."

" By the way, this is going to be my first banquet." As the issue with Eleanor ending, a new challenge is approaching me.

" You mean the banquet at Vice count's residence ? But your highness, you have attended banquets before." Honey, that was the real Lucinda. I'm her replacement. There's no way I can act properly like a well trained royal woman.

" I know... well. Umm.... so Anna, how about you help me with it... the banquet." A mountain of questions were about to launch at me. Thinking of that interrogation made me hesitate before I asked for help.

" How may I help you?" Like a innocent little girl she asked.

" Everything." And I replied like a caveman.

" Huh? .... I.... pardon me, but what do you mean by that, your highness?"

" This is going to be tough." I tried to explain the fact that I kinda forgot how to attend a party hosted by royalty. The proper way of speaking, eating and the manners,every single thing, I had to learn about. In real I never attend any banquet.

If it was some random party I would have managed it but I have to learn all the etiquettes of high society. I can't do any mistake or else I'll become a laughing stock.

It's been so long since I'm going to attend a banquet. Previously, Eleanor went on behalf of me. Not only her, other concubines also attended the party and all sorts of occasions, while keeping me in the dark.

I had to learn the dance as well the proper way to walk and tons of various customs in those three days. Anna was really bothered by my lack of knowledge. She did doubted me for not remembering all of these. In the past, Lucinda did everything so flawlessly and here I am, her so called substitute, being useless.

The day of banquet is here finally. I had to start getting ready after opening my eyes. Yes, since I woke up, the maids came to my chamber and dragged me to the bathroom. They begun to do all sorts of stuffs such as bathing me in rose water, scrubbing my skin with aromatic oils massaging my hair with such gentle care. It was like being in a spa, even better than spa treatments.

When the bath was over my body felt so refreshing. My skin was lot smoother than before like a baby. My hair felt light and airy. Sweet floral fragrance was coming from my body. I looked into the mirror to see my face and got startled.

" It's me!" I literally spoke those words to myself after looking at the mirror. My hand touched the gleaming cheeks, caressing it softly. The more I look, the more I get captivated by the stunning features of this body. The golden locks of my hair were still little wet but they were glowing like the rays of sun. Being a narcissist is not my cup of tea. God! I can't help but admire my own beauty.

Suddenly I was jealous, jealous of the goddess, who's body is occupied by me. I'm no where near to Lucinda when it comes to beauty and elegance. This body, this face, this eyes, all of these aren't mine. I'm just an imposter, a thief, a liar who stole the body of Lucinda. I can't never be this beautiful even if I tried. The differences are far more superior. My heart felt pained.

" Haha... I'm just a substitute." A sarcastic laugh escaped from my mouth although I was only speaking to myself. It was a futile wish of mine to live with the identity of Lucinda. There's no Lizzy in this world. I suddenly felt so alone. My identity has no value in here. I'm just pretending to be someone else.

The maids entered again to my chamber. They began to do my hair and makeup. People in this era are obsessed with wigs and long hair. Since my hair is pretty long, they are gonna tie it and braid it in many ways. I just sat there as they were all dressing me up. In the beginning, I felt kinda good being dolled up. Although it ended up being hard and annoying to just sit there like a lifeless doll.

Not only my neck, my dress and my hair was decorated with elegant ornaments. Precious jewels which are probably costly and rare items. Those beautiful stones were all over my body. Such elegance, such beauty, such daintiness, I don't deserve them at all. The moment my eyes faced the mirror, I fell in love with myself. I was looking like a queen.

I have only watched kings and queens on TV and movies but today I was just mesmerised by the way things were done. To experience such thing was like a dream for me. A dream, a beautiful enchanting dream which is too good to be true for sure.

Even the shoe I was wearing, it had valuable jewels and pearls attached to it. If I sell this shoe I'll probably get rich over night.

" Anna, take care of my son. I'm leaving him in your care."

" Don't worry your highness. I'll protect prince Alex. So,there's no need to fret, enjoy your night."

" How can I not get anxious? Eleanor is waiting for an opportunity. I know, sir Joseph is here but still, I can't stay calm."

" It's going to be fine, your highness."

" Then goodbye for now." I walked out of my room to see a hunk waiting for me. Hearing the clacking sound of my heels, Timothy moved his body and faced my directly. His eyes were enlarged with delight and surprise. I felt his sharp gaze burning on me, making me restless.

Why the heck he's staring at me like a creep?!

" You look beautiful." How shamelessly he said those words. But I'm not really disgusted rather than that I'm happy to hear it.

" Thanks." I don't wanna be rude to him that's why I retuned his compliment. " You too look .... handsome and quite dashing." I felt so shy to speak those words from my mouth. He was dressed very elegantly, like an emperor. Oh wait, he's really an emperor though. My bad. As a man, he can't wear any jewellery but he had brooches on his clothes. Even a commoner like me can tell, the stones of the brooch are very costly.

" Thank you." Letting out a cheerful laugh, he held my hand gently. I was being escorted exclusively by him. We went to the carriage. My dress was pretty long. I was having a hard time while handling it properly. Timothy got inside the carriage and he reached out his hand to pull me towards him.

That's so nice of you but what about my dress? Huh? It will be ruffled, thanks to your kind generosity.

Anyway, the carriage began to move. The whole ride was kinda boring. We were silent. I could have started the conversation by breaking the silence but why bother? It's not like I have to throw myself at him every time. There's a limit to my acting. I can't just pretend all the time, hiding my original self away from him and the others around me.

As the carriage halted, the coachman came to open the door. Timothy got down then held my hand to escort me into the banquet hall.

~ to be continued