The Villainess Went Back Time

The news spread like a wild fire on the whole Empire that the Crowned Prince had taken a like and doted on the third Princess of the neighboring Empire and I was chased away in my osition as the Crown Princess.

"Always remember Milady, you will be the next Empress of this Empire." was what everyone told me since I was a kid. I lived my life studying to become a proper and suitable lady for the Empire who would stand beside the Emperor someday.

As I was walking inside the Palace, everyone turned their heads to me with their malicious eyes boldly staring at my way before murmuring something to the person beside them. Instead of worrying the murmurs I had been hearing from their filthy mouths, I walked in the middle of the hallway with my head held high.

Everyone was wearing their most expensive dresses, coats, shoes and jewelries. The whole place was grandiose, from the marble gold floor up to the diamond-made ceiling where chandeliers made from mixed expensive stones were hanging elegantly.

I should have been in the East right now, together with one of my brothers but the Emperor and Empress wanted me to have an audience with them. I did not know what was the matter but the only thing that was obvious was because they feel comfortable with me around.

"She is really straight face."

"She looks arrogant."

"I heard, the Prince refused the tea she brewed herself."

"Shhh. Tone down your voice ladies, she is just meters away from us."

I sighed. I could hear you very well people.

I stopped in front of the door with two Palace guards guarding the entrance. They were wearing gold armor with a gold lining cape with the Empire's crest at the back.

My Lady-in-Waiting, Pristine Gerald standing behind me a while ago stepped forward and looked directly at one of the Palace guards.

"Lady Maxineirah Shinoe Alde Levyne Zachrono is here to have an audience with His Majesty." She said before she went back on her place behind me with her head, bowed.

The guard nodded at his co-guard. They pushed the gigantic doors in chorus that made a reverberating deep sound in the whole place. The moment the speaker saw me behind the doors, he announced my arrival to the room.

"Maxineirah Shinoe Alde Levyne Zachrono of Grand Ducal House of Zachrono is now entering!"

I walked in the middle of the throne room. A red soft carpet lies beneath my feat was a heavenly feeling like I am walking in a cloud nine.

I stopped my pace when I wasalready near the stairs of the throne and clasped my dress with my fingers royally. My 10 ladies-in-waiting behind me did the same and bowed in front of the Majesties as soon as I bowed.

"We greet the greatest Fire of the Empire, His Majesty, the Emperor and the greatest Water of the Empire, Her Majesty, the Empress. May the Gods bless you with great and longer health." My ladies-in-waiting and I chanted in unison.

"Lift your head Lady Maxineirah." The Emperor said happily.

I glanced on the side where Brother Maxilliary was.

He was keeping an eye on us as his profession, an Advisor of the Empire. He was looking at me coldly with his bored eyes. I immediately looked away when our eyes met for a second and focused my attention to the Majesties.

"Oh my, my. I thought we already told you not to be formal to us, Lady Maxineirah." The Empress said as she chuckled.

"I do not dare to do that to Your Majesties." I said with a straight face. I could see disappointment on their face as I said it bluntly and that proves their sigh.

"I am happy to see Your Majesties in a healthy state. This humble person respects your presence." I greeted after such silence on the throne room.

"How is your stay in the Palace, Ija?" Her Majesty asked formally.

"My stay is very comfortable, thanks to Your Majesties' sincerest concerns."

"We are glad to hear that. We are sorry if you could not be with your brother going in Prague because we called for you to be here." The Emperor said sincerely.

"I do not find anything wrong not being with my brother. The truth is, I just want to tag along with him. I believe that your calling for me right now is more important than my personal reasons."

Come to think of it. Looks like I already know why they called me.

"Our Maxineirah, are you alright?" Her Majesty first asked with a troubled expression on her face and I could not help but be touched on the warmth I only feel when I am with them.

Just a week ago, the Crowned Prince already found the woman he want to spend the rest of his life with.

And it was not me.

Princess Charminia Apastria Vanessa Adelaide Strangford, the third Princess of Strangford Kingdom. The Empire's Prisoner.

The woman with yellow hair and jeweled green eyes.

Jeweled eyes were known to be a part of Royal families.

"...Thank you, Your Majesty but I am quite alright. You need not to worry. I understand His Highness for choosing the Princess. I understand that he fell for her kindness and beauty. His Highness loves her dearly."

...the same as I loved him so...

My fate was to have an unrequited love with the Prince. I already gave up the position to be the Crown Princess and be his because he obviously did not want me, moreover, he already found the girl he was meant to be, the one who made his stone heart soft.

I may have already given up but the feelings I had for him, it was still here. The effect was strong. Painful. It was making me weak.

He also did not want to have a Queen nor Concubines and clearly refused to be married other than her Princess. They were still not married but he clearly announced that he would not take anyone other than her.

Even me. If I would not be the Empress then, I should be the Queen at the least. The role of the Queen was to aide the Empress on her works but the Crowned Prince deeply stated his refusal. He just want me to be the Empress' Solia (Empress' right hand woman from a noble family) if ever.

"As I expected to our candidate." Her Majesty said in a joyous tone and glanced at His Majesty.

In their eyes, I was not hurt. That I am stoic, stiff and arrogant. That was what I showed them but deep inside, I could not even breath properly when talking about the Crowned Prince and Princess.

I love him. It might not be noticeable in everyone's eyes but I did everything just to be loved by him. I even limited myself so they no one would think that I was chasing him that would only lead him to be annoyed towards me.

I did not know why but just by seeing me, my presence alone irritates the hell out of him. I could sense his anger that could to burst out any moment.

I could not seem to find the reason why, he also tried avoiding me but we always crossed our paths. Even I, myself tried to avoid him so he would not have a hard time avoiding me.

I think, we could not really avoid each other just like what he always wanted when we were on the same place, under the same big roof. And same goes for the pain it causes.

The anger of the Prince towards me even before the Princess came to be a Prisoner of the Empire was already hurting me, what was more if the Princess he love was here?

I got the permit to go home at our Estate so the next day, I took my breakfast and left even before the dawn comes out.

I rested well in the carriage and we were caught by darkness in the road before we could even get in the Zachrono's Estate.

The place was undoubtly bright even the sun completely sat. Was it full moon now? The air breezes cooly and quietly, maybe because it was summer.

I was about to go upstairs when I stopped midway.

Brother Millian...

He was wearing his silver armor suit that looks heavy. His armor reflects the rays from the light peering through the windows and I could see clearly the sword on his waist with the emblem of their squad despite the darkness. He was holding onto his helmet on his left side.

Just like me, he was just standing above the stairs, looking below me with his sharp razor eyes. It was cold as an ice piercing through my soul.

Brother Millian was always cold to everyone even to me, his sister, but Dad and my brothers were exception to his attitude. But now, he was colder to me when the news of my engagement with the Crowned Prince was cancelled.

Everyone in the house were disappointed in the outcome of my engagement, no one was an exception. Even I, myself was the most disappointed. All my efforts were all in vain. The knowledge I acquired, the spanking I got from my Teachers, the time I spent learning and the cold treatments I got from everyone were all for nothing.

I clenched when my chest tightened.

His eyes were scrutinizing, mocking me for being useless to this household. He did not have to say it because just the way he look at me, I already could tell.

He started to continue descending on the stair.

"B-brother Millian... W-where are you going? It is already night time-" I asked when he was already in front of me but I was immediately cut short.

I asked even I know where he would be going. He must be annoyed.

"None of your business." He coldly said at walked past me.

I could not do anything but to follow him with my eyes until he vanished behind the door.

He was going on an expedition and as the Captain of Black Shadow Royal Knight Squad, he needs to lead the army.

Before I could even lost his presence behind the shut doors, I clasped my hands infront of my chest, closed my eyes and prayed for his safety.

I was on my way to the castle. My vacation was not yet over but His Majesty, the Emperor and Her Majesty, the Empress granted me an audience to have a tea party on Asiantic Garden.

The Head Maid greeted me in the hallway with her maids following her.

"Greetings Lady Maxineirah. His Majesty and Her Majesty was waiting in the garden, I will escort you there." She greeted and curtsy together with her maids.

While on our way on the garden, the Vice Captain of the Palace guards, my Brother Lein and I crossed our paths. He was with the fourth Prince. We stopped and greeted them but Brother Lein only glanced at me once without stopping on his tracks and passing us by with large strides. The fourth Prince whose with my brother was the only one who stopped to greet us.

Irritation was visible on the face of the Prince because of my brother. And he even scratched his head like he was going crazy, he glanced at me and nodded a little before following the Vice Captain with larger strides to cope up with Lein.

I sighed. Brother Lein...

I felt a fang of pain and sadness in my chest but I immediately ignored it and maintained my normal posture before continuing to the garden.

"Thank you for the audience Your Majesties. As a gratitude, Can I give you a gift? It is not worthy compare to what you have but I hope, it will suits your tastes." I said politely and gestured the maid who have the gift to come near on the table.

"You are so thoughtful and considerate Lady Maxineirah. Of course we will accept whatever you gift us." Masayang sabi ng Emperatris.

"In this case, we might even accept poison if it is from you." The Emperor said and laughed hardly. I felt a chill. I did not know where it came from but I suddenly felt cold from head to toe. I almost tremble but I stopped my self.

"My Emperor, do not say such things! Look, Lady Maxineirah is turning pale."

"Pardon me, Lady. I was just joking." The Emperor said and smiled awkwardly.

The Empress opened the lid where Velvet Mint Tea lies within.

Why... Why did I feel cold and trembling?

I felt like air around me was being stolen and breathing seemed so hard. It was not like, my present has a poison...

I secretly let the air stucked in my throat out.

"My word! It is worthy, Lady Maxineirah! We really like this. Is this tea from Leiston Kingdom?" Her Majesty asked with a joyous tone.

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

After the small tea party, I went back to our estate right away but a bad news greeted us.

"W-what happened to brother?" I asked the messenger. I ignored my brother Amo, Maxwell and Dad that were present in the same room who already heard the news clearly. They look devastated on the news we heard once but I could not believe it. My ears were tricking me!

"He fell on the cliff while chasing the escaped-"

"Milady!" the maids immediately came to my aid and supported my weigh when I was about to fall because of my weakening knees as I heard the terrible news.

No. No. No. That was not true! I heard it wrong!

I should have stopped him that night even if he get annoyed! It was my fault. I was the last one who saw him before he left that night.

If... If... If... If I... If I j-just...

I felt a hand rested on the top of my head and when I looked up, I saw the Duke. It was father with a stone cold face but I knew better, behind those facades, I could feel his sadness and grief.

"Dad, B-brother-" my words were cut when he shook his head to imply that it was over.

"No..." I refused to accept the fact.

"I will find him." My second brother said grimly and walked with fast pace, dragging the Knights under him.

All I could do was to stare his back while he was walking away from us.

That day, I made a mistake again for not stopping him...

I was sitting in the long table inside a big hall hall, together with the members of Aristocratic Faction. I did not know why they invited me in this meeting because our family belong to the Emperialists Faction and I am not even the head of our family.

Maybe they invited Dad but Dad refused that was why they invited me? But they must invite my older brothers first...why am I here?

But the thing I really wondering was why were the Princes here? The second, third and fourth prince belong to the Imperialists Faction. Were they not afraid being found out by the Emperor?

We -they talked about the South ganary and a big discussion happened, the group split into two different plans, resulting to argument. I was just watching them on the side but my silence was broken when the head of the faction asked for my suggestion.

I suggested something that I did not expect them to approve that easily.

The meeting ended but it was not the last meeting I attended, I attended all the meetings until the Emperor approved of the idea he did not knew it was from me.

The South ganary started working under the command of His Majesty.

After my short vacation ended, I immediately went back to the Palace but a horrible news arrived after nights.

"The Young Master was ambushed!" that was the horrible news I heard.

It became an uproar to the Ducal house of Zachrono.

I immediately went back to our Estate that night to confirm the news.

The only thing that came back was his cold corpse bathed in blood. I should have stopped him. Again, I failed. I failed as a sister. I failed as a daughter of House Zachrono.

I knew that there was a chance Brother Amo would end up the same fate with Brother Millian but I did not even bothered stopping him. I should have stopped him.

I did not shed any tears when we buried my brother nor when the burial was over. My face remained stoic like what happened was just a normal thing for someone like me but deep inside, the pain was unbearable. My heart was reaping apart, it was tormenting and bleeding a lot.

I can not breath!

"Did you see her on his brother's burial? She did shed no tears."

"What a cold-hearted sister she is."

"Her father and brothers must gravely disappointed that their mother and wife died giving birth to her."

"She should not have lived. What a pity vessel."

"She has no shame."

"And now, she still have a time to flirt with the Prince."

"Are you okay, My lady?" Prince Aspall whose with me asked worriedly after hearing the whispers around us. We were currently on an inauguration for the new Baron in the North and the second Prince was my escort.

The whispers about me were too loud to be called whisper. It was like, they were talking in that way, meant for me to be heard but despite all that I remained the same, not minding the stares and whispers surrounding us.

"I apologize, I am fine. You do not have to worry, Your Highness."

We were already dancing when a person barged in in the hall with beads of sweat in his face, trembling and catching up his breath.

Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and the whole hall fell into silence, glancing at the new man.

"The Emperor and Empress was poisoned!" that news made an uproar.

The thumping on my chest were fast non-stop. I felt the nervous surged in in my nerves.

The banquet was stopped and everyone in the hall were dismissed.

The Emperor and Empress were both poisoned without eating nor drinking anything from the banquet before they left.

Few days has passed but both of His Majesty and Her Majesty fell into comma and I was sent as a part of the delegation of the Empire's enemy as per His Highness, the first and Crowned Prince's command.

We stayed in guest rooms of the Palace for a month and the Belmonth's Emperor granted me an audience several times, convincing me to sell them informations about our Empire in a round about way but I showed my great refusal to the idea.

He killed men that were part of our delegation everytime I refused. I did care less on the life that perished because of my refusal. I did not want to betray the Empire I grew up.

We were sent back with their praises as a cover up on what the Belmonth's Emperor did.

I did not plan on waging a war so I kept the secret of the Belmonth's Emperor to myself.

"Lady Maxineirah is here." The Royal guard outside Princess Charminia's room said.

The Crowned Princess, Princess Charminia requested to meet me because she wanted to talk something to me.

"Please sit, Lady Maxineirah." Princess Charminia said politely.

Her yellow hair flawlessly moving in the air like a warm sun ray, her small face that looks so bright and inlove with the Prince was so soft like a cotton. She looks like a joyful person too.

Seeing her small smiling face, the urge to crash her in my own hands flowed inside my mind.

I immediately dismissed the thought. That was treachery if someone knew my thoughts. .

"Greetings, Crowned Princess." I greeted and bowed at her.

"Do not be so polite with me, Lady Maxineirah."

"I can not do that to Your Highness."

"My word, you really are kind and respectful just like the Mother Empress and Father Emperor described." She said cheekily. I was silently startled and frozen on the spot.

Mother Empress? Father Emperor?

Sh was still not married to the Prince but...

I swallowed the lump on my throat sat on the chair infront of the Princess.

"I was really sad when I heard the news on Your Majesties." I told her after I settled.

"I, too, they both kind to me ever since I came here. Even as a prison of the Empire, they treated me wamrthly. I do not know why are there people who wants them gone." The Princess said in a sad tone. The sadness was written all over her angelic face.

"Anyways, I requested your presence here I want to confirm something..." she said and I did not know why I felt nervous instantly.

She reached for the teacup in front of her and drank before saying anything.

"Are you really engaged with the Crowned Prince before I came here?" she asked in hesitance.

It was my turn to drink the tea.

I am. If you just not showed up and remained to your Empire I...

"... Yes... Your Higness..." I replied after a moment of silence.

She became teary eyed and suddenly got up from her seat but I was startled when she approached me. She kneeled and reached out my hands.

"I am so sorry! I took the place that must belong to you! I really am-!" before she could even finish her words, the door threw opened and it emitted the Crowned Prince.

He did not even glanced at me but instead, his eyes landed only to the Princess kneeling infront of me.

His face darkened as if he wanted to kill someone -me when he saw the Princess face in tears and kneeling infront of me.

The Princess was smitten. "Lei...?"

Lei? She even called His Highness in his nickname that even I, could not call him?

A fang of pain intruded my chest. I clenched my fists over my lap.

The Prince walked in large and angry strides towards the Princess and carefully helped her to stand on her feet. I stood up in the side.

I saw a Prince held a Princess gently like a fragile flower even in his anger. He looks like they came out from a fairy tale book. Was this really the Prince?

I wonder.

He passed the Princess to the Knight behind him before he finally looked at me and glared with his mad eyes.

"Leave with the Princess here. I will deal with this insolent woman." The Prince commanded the Knight holding Princess Charminia.

"W-wait! Lei! She is not-!" the Princess' still not done with her words when the Knights mindfully dragged her outside the room despite how she fought back in refusal.

When the door finally shut closed, the Prince immediately grabbed my wrist and pulled me near him.

I shrieked when I felt his nails dugging in my skin, plus the tight grip he was giving me.

"What did you told her?! How dare you make my Princess kneel?!" he asked seriously with a geim voice that echoed the whole room.

I remained silent. He would not listen to me anyway.

"After you poisoned the Majesties of this Empire, you still dare to lay a finger on my Princess?!" he asked in gritted teeth.

W-what-?

"Now, you can not even talk, huh? Guilty? Cat got your tongue?" he asked with a devil smirk on his lips.

His grip on my wrist tightened more when I did say nothing. I tried freeing myself from his tight grasp but he was stronger than I am.

He was suspecting me that I poisoned the Royal Majesties?

"You do not even defend your self. What a vixen you are." He spit and threw my hand forcefully. I stumbled backward of how strong he was that I even met the pointy edge of the table.

"Ahh!" I shrieked in pain that rushed in my body but I stopped myself from making a sound.

His highness looked down on me with his grim face.

"Do not ever approach the Princess ever again." He threatened.

He then turned around from me and left the room fuming mad.

My body hurts but it was nothing to the pain I was feeling inside my chest.

MY brother immediately went to my chamber that night when he heard the news.

"What have you done?!" my fifth brother asked in anger. All I could do was to lower my head from him. I cannot face him for the shame I have done.

Right. It was all my fault.

What happened between us three in that room spread like broken dam. I looked like a total villaines in their eyes now and people were cursing me for what I have done to their lovely and kind Princess.

I was bedridden for days after what happened but without hesitance, I forced myself to get up and dressed after hearing news. The Prince wanted to punish me for my insolence but Brother Maxwell took the blame.

"My Lady! You can not -!" the maids could not stop me from leaving and went to the throne room, with my legs trembling, eyes blurry and dizzy.

When I arrived at the hall...

"Your Highness! Please kill me and spare my sister's life!" my brother pleaded, kneeling and ready to kiss the floor. I walked slowly towards my brother who was ready to die in my place.

No... Brother. Not you too...

"Are you sure?" the wicked Prince asked grinning.

I want to protest, to say anything but my throat dried and a lump formed on my throat.

The Prince rose from his sit and looked at me with his mocking eyes.

I trembled on the look he was giving me at the moment, I was frozen on the spot and my limbs would not move anymore. I might collapse if I take another step.

He walked with grace and dignity while walking towards my brother with his attention solely to me. He was showing me his other side, the other side I would not never want to see ever.

"Lift your head." The Prince said to my brother.

My brother lifted his head but he was greeted by His Highness' sword. Everything played like a slow motion in my eyes.

My eyes widen in shock, my heart stopped beating for a moment and I collapsed on the red carpet of the hall when I saw how the Prince swung his sword in the neck of my brother.

The floor was stained by my brother's blood and my brother's kneeling body completely fell on the ground, lifeless.

B-brother-

"Maxwell-?!" I heard someone barged in the throne room without any notice but I did not care. My full attention was on my brother lying on the floor.

I was still on the state of shock and my mind cannot move on on what I saw. M-my b-brother is...

Dead...?

No! Why do my eyes also tricking me?! Why do my senses are tricking me?!

I heard heavy footsteps and someone passed me.

Dad kneeled beside my brother and picked him up on his lap.

"Your Highness! You are too much! How could you-!"

My sight went blurry and a static sound was all I could hear. I also felt numb before everything turned into nothing.

I also did not shed tears on my Brother's burial. How could I? I was the reason he died. It was all my fault.

"His father and brothers are crying but she dare not."

"See? She is still not shedding a single tear."

"She can not even pretend to weep." How could I pretend and jokingly shed tears on my dead brother?

I clenched my fists and stopped my self from bursting my anger on them.

There was not a day I lived my life peacefully. My image on the public worsened.

I could not even sleep a wink at night because nightmares kept flashing in.