I woke up crying.
"Callista!" My mother called, rushing to my side.
"What's wrong Callista, why are you crying?" She asked gently, using her thumbs to wipe away my tears.
I couldn't answer her.
It had been three days since I had regained consciousness, and ever since then I had been plagued by nightmares. Nightmares from my past life.
Until now, I didn't have a single memory regarding any of my relationships in my past life. I decided that it was a good thing, since any attachments to my past life would probably make me suffer. I was right, and now, I was suffering.
"I'm okay mom, just a bad dream." I said, trying to calm my tears. The past weeks had already been extremely stressful for my mother, I didn't want to worry her any further. She had been staying in my room since I woke up, and I'm not sure if it was her mother's instinct, but she definitely knew that something was wrong.
"You know you can tell me anything sweetie," She whispered, planting a kiss on my forehead.
"Yeah," I lied.
My mother climbed into bed beside me, pulling me into a hug. She had been doing this for the past two nights after one of the maids had called for her to help calm me down after waking up screaming from one of my nightmares.
"I'll be right here, okay honey." She said into my hair.
"Okay mom."
After a few hours passed, exhaustion began to take over my body. It didn't matter how desperately I wanted to stay awake, I had lost control, and in the second I closed my eyes, I had already been dragged into another nightmare.
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Dad? ... Mom? ... Where am I?
The ground underneath me was rough and uncomfortable, but I couldn't seem to muster enough strength to get off of it. What had happened again? Just a second ago I was in the car before... Where are my parents?
I tried to move, but my body wouldn't listen. The smell of burning rubber clogged my nose, while a cacophony of shouts and sirens filled my ears.
"I see someone, it's a girl! Call the EMTs!" A man's voice shouted.
"Someone will be here soon, hang in there." He said, kneeling down next to me.
"M-mom," I rasped as I tried to move again. My fingers stirred.
"Don't worry, someone will be here soon," The man said, and for some reason, I believed him. My eyes grew heavy and I couldn't hold on anymore. Everything went black.
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I was fifteen years old the day my parents died. The fire fighter who found me decided to take me in after hearing that I had no other family. His name was Christopher. He was kind.
It took about two years for me to adjust to my new reality. Luckily, Christopher was extremely understanding since also knew what it felt like to lose family. His wife had passed away three years before meeting me. I can't say that the two of us had a father daughter relationship, but we took care of each other, and slowly, I began to look towards my future too.
Though my grades weren't all that great in high school, I had decided to study medicine. Maybe it was because I wanted to stop people from dying like my parents, but honestly, it was probably just to do something to numb the pain. If I became a doctor, maybe I would feel less guilty for surviving.
Since fire fighters didn't make much for a living, I got a license as an EMT and started to take night classes at a local community college. I had to start somewhere, right?
About a year before my death, I was in my fifth semester of college and I was still working as an EMT. Luckily, my grades in community college were good, so I was able to transfer into a biology program at a decent university. Now that I was taking classes during the day, I had started to work night shifts as an EMT. Chris had started working night shifts too.
That's when fate decided to get cocky.
Our ambulance had been dispatched to an apartment building that caught fire after a gas explosion. When we arrived, there where already three fire trucks and four ambulances. There were also five bodies. One of them was Christopher.
After a year long break, I decided to continue college with the money Chris had left behind for me. Honestly, I wasn't sure why I kept trying to be a doctor, but it didn't matter since in the end, I would never become one.
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I woke up crying again, but this time my mother was already holding me tight. That's right, in this life I had a family, a family who loved me. It didn't matter if I remembered my past life, nothing about that changed what I had now, and this time, I was not going to lose it. No matter what I would protect them, the people I cherished, the people who were still with me.
"Are you sure you don't want to postpone the date of you debut ball?" My brother asked. The two of us were laying in the grass after a few rounds of sparring. Of course, he had won every single match.
"It's barely been a week since you recovered."
"I'm fine Caden. Whatever you guys did to heal me, it worked wonders. I feel even better than before." I smiled and jumped up from the ground, readying my sword.
"Or do I need to prove it to you by beating your ass in a duel?"
"You two still going at it?"
I turned to see Prince Philip who was being trailed by Ryland.
"Why are you here?"
"Hey! I am your fiancé, of course I should be here!" Prince Philip defended.
"Since when did you care about that?" I mumbled.
"You little-"
"LADY CALLISTA!"
I barely had enough time to brace for impact before Prince Louis tackled me into a hug.
"I missed you so much!" He cried, burying his face into my hair.
"Prince Louis, I saw you at breakfast." I deadpanned.
"Let go of the Prince's Fiancé." Ryland ordered, pulling me away from blue haired prince.
"Why does she have to be your fiancé?" Prince Louis complained.
"Lady Callista, you should just marry me, ok-"
"LIKE HELL SHE WILL!" Prince Philip bellowed. This was bad, if the two of them kept at it, a war might start.
"Prince Louis!" Serge shouted, running up to the prince. My herculean savior!
"Prince Louis, you cannot wander around as you please, it is dangerous. Now come, you decided to stay here, so you have work to do." The knight said, dragging the prince away. He was starting resemble my mother.
"Okay, but really, why are you here?" I asked, glaring at Prince Philip. He never came to the estate without causing me some sort of trouble.
"I'm here for your debut ball."
"That's tomorrow. Leave."
"But I just got here!"
"Leave."
In the end, Prince Philip didn't leave.
"You need to find some female friends to hang out with." Caden grumbled. Prince Philip had gone to formally great my father, giving me a bit of peace before he started to pester me.
"Why don't you find someone who will read books with you and discuss them over tea." He suggested.
"You're right, it would be nice to have some female friends to read books with. But, now that I think about it, Charles and I already have that kind of relationship don't we?"
"Charles doesn't count. He's a man too you know." My brother said, and stopped so he could turn to face me.
"I'm being serious Callista. You are thirteen now, and having casual relationships with boys is considered improper."
"Awe! Is my big brother getting protective over his darling little-" THWAK!
"Hey, that hurt." I complained, rubbing the top of my head where Caden had hit me.
"Never speak like that again," he ordered, his voice low. He was disgusted. Apparently, my attempt to act cute was revolting. How cruel.
I was forced to wake up extremely early on the day of the ball. My mother, who had stayed with me overnight again, decided that she would transform me from a frizzy haired tomboy, into a young lady fit to be queen. I was terrified.
"You look amazing Lady Callista, I can barely recognize you!" My maid Evelyn complimented... at least I think it was a compliment.
"Of course, she is my daughter after all." My mother bragged, standing taller than usual. She must have done a good job to be so proud of my appearance. Usually my appearance would do nothing but worry mother since I often dressed like a boy.
"Why don't you go have a look for yourself," Evelyn said, turning me to face the mirror. The girl staring back at me... was gorgeous.
"Damn, I look like a snack!"
"Callista!"
"Sorry mom."
My wavy red hair had been styled into an updo with small braids woven into the curls, and on each side a piece of hair hung loose to help define my face. Evelyn had applied a small amount of makeup, giving me cherry lips and flushed cheeks. My dress was a mix between and a-line and a ball gown, so that is was layered, but also light. Ruby flowers ordained the right side of my gown, and petals were sprinkled on the skirt as if they were blowing in the wind. I was beautiful, and I knew it.
It wasn't a surprise. In order to properly play the role of a love rival, the villainess had to have looks on par to that of the heroine. That way, it showed that the prince fell for not only the heroine's beauty, but also her heart. At least there was one perk to being reincarnated as an otome game's villainess.
"Remember Callista," my mom began with her lecture voice.
"You are the daughter of a Duke, so please, just for tonight, try to act a bit more like a lady. That means you can't curse, pick fights, run off, or steal all of the cookies on the desert table. Do you understand?"
"I understand mother." I said, feeling a little guilty. Was I really that bad? Well, it did make sense for my mom to worry since I hadn't been to many social gatherings since that disaster of a tea party. This time, however, I was not going to bring shame to Ducal House of Sylvester... I hope.
"Don't worry sweetie, I'm sure you'll be fine." My mother reassured, pulling me into a soft hug.
"Now let's go show those boys the power of a beautiful lady!" My mom said, puffing out her chest and squinting her eyes in determination. I was lucky to have such a cute mother.
My sociatal debut was taking place in one of our mansion's ball rooms, so the sound of chattering and music could already be heard when my mother and I arrived outside the entrance. The guests of honor would arrive shorty after the ball started, so that everyone could admire them and stuff. This included the royal family, my family, Prince Louis, and the prime minister's family.
"Charles!" I waved excitedly, it had been a while since I last saw him.
"You look stunning," Charles praised with an angelic smile, and bowed, kissing the top of my hand.
"Thank you Charles," I said, doing my best to keep from passing out. He was too beautiful.
"Callista!" My brother greeted, shooting Charles a weird look as he walked over to us.
"You look like a girl for once!" He teased. I elbowed him in the ribs.
"Joking, joking!" He sputtered, clutching his side.
"I see you two are getting along as usual," Charles said, letting out a small laugh. I have just been blessed with the melody of the heavens.
"Yeah, getting along..." Caden mumbled, glaring at me. I flashed him my best smile. The hairs on my neck stood up as I sensed the approach of a troublesome presence.
"Lady Callista, I am blinded by your beauty!" Prince Louis exclaimed as he bounded towards me. Caden stepped between us, and with a devil's smile, grasped the prince's hand firmly.
"We are honored that you have decided to join us for this special occasion Prince Louis." He smiled through gritted teeth.
"Of course I must join you in celebrating the wonderful, beautiful, and magnificent girl who saved my life. In fact, I was hoping that I could ask you for her ha-"
"Come children, it is time to enter." My father called, beckoning us to stand beside him.
"Callista, you will be entering with the crown prince." He instructed once my brother and I reached him.
'Oh yeah, I forgot about him. Where was he anyway, I was hoping to shock him with my good looks so that I could embarrass him.' I thought.
"Callista!"
I turned to see the Crown Prince followed by the King and Queen. Ryland trailed behind them along with a number of royal guards. The prince's golden hair had been styled so that it revealed his forehead, drawing attention to his emerald green eyes. He wore a white fitted suit decorated with a sash and emblem of the crown. Even though I had been addressing him as Prince Philip, this was the first time that he truly... seemed like a prince...
Prince Philip looked me up and down with a smile, and took my hand, bringing it to his lips.
"You look beautiful, like a rose." He said and kissed my hand. While this was a normal greeting for an occasion such as this, I couldn't stop the heat from rising to my cheeks.
What the heck?!?! Wasn't he supposed to be the one who was flustered, what is up with this guy? This isn't fair!
"It is time to enter," My father said, and suddenly I was filled with nervous energy. I could do this right? I mean, I had already saved the lives of two prince's, so this shouldn't be a big deal... right?
"Shall we," The prince smiled, offering his arm.
Do I have to?