Chapter Two

Wait, I have to sort things out! If I know who I am and I know how the story will go, I can save myself and live out my remaining years! I can't just give up. I am not that type of girl!

Right. I just have to stay alive. It’s not an impossible task, right?

I mean, I literally wrote this book! I wrote this fictional world that I live in. So what if I reincarnated into a side character who’s meant to die on the first five chapters at her 18^th birthday?

I can do this. Right?

Suddenly, a familiar figure bumps into me causing me to fall on the ground. I protested, “Hey! How could you just bump into someone—“ But as I looked up, I saw him. The signature platinum blonde hair, perfect blue eyes, and very princely stance. It was the male protagonist—

My thoughts were cut off as one of his knights drew his sword and pointed it at my neck. I felt a sharp sting as the blade is slowly piercing through my skin.

The knight with brown hair looked at me, disgusted, and said, “How dare you come near the great Emperor Cadmus Hunter?”

Another knight chimed in and mocked me, “It’s the cursed girl. Despite her family’s high status in the society, she’s merely a Lady. That red hair is unsightly! We might as well cut it.”

I did not plan to die earlier than my predestined death but god, this is annoying. So, I misdirected the blade with my arms risking a small cut on my cheeks and had him drop it to the ground. I glared and said, “I am Lady Erin of House Lockheart and you are nothing but a knight, drawing your blade towards me is treacherous.”

The knight lost it and he was on the verge of transformation but Cadmus finally stepped in and said, “Leave her be. She’s not worth it, Bart.”

“She disrespected you!”

“And she should know best not to do it again.” I could feel Cadmus’ piercing glare but I simply bowed out of respect and left. I wanted to throw a fit so badly but I knew best than to get my anger the best of me.

This may be a fictional world that I created but it is the world I live in and right now, I have a death to escape.

Ah, I am to blame. I wrote him exactly as he’s acting right now. Cold and all like a rightful Alpha and king of Lunaria Kingdom. He was only kind to the main female protagonist, of course, she was his weakness. 

Charlotte finally found me, she was catching her breath as she hit me lightly in the back, “How could you run off like that? You had me worried sick!”

“Charlotte, was I really friends with Emperor Cadmus?” I asked such an obvious question. It was painful to even ask.

There was a pause but she eventually replied, “You were, my lady.”

“What happened?”

“The coronation did, my lady.” Charlotte explained, “I was hoping you’d learn it a little later, at least after your birthday but as you know, the young emperor was sent to the capitol and word has it that he learned of your… true nature.”

“The curse.” I chuckled dryly knowing well enough that was my life now. The piercing glares, mocks and insults, and lowly treatment were all part of my life now, “That’s right. I wrote it that he would hate all those who were half breeds, humans, or in the unlikely case, a cursed one like me.”

Still, it pained me to lose a friend. My only friend aside Charlotte abandoned me for a truth that I had no control over. Everyone hated me or pitied me. None which I preferred.

Losing that friendship with Cadmus was a major detail at the beginning of the novel but how come I’m forgetting it? How come I keep forgetting? I should have known that. He stopped writing back and ignored me even when we would meet ever so rarely. 

It wasn’t like I was the real Erin but I felt that sharp sting in my heart. The curse, of course, that inflicted me was that of the blood moon. My hair as red as blood and when the moon shall turn that very same color, I shall bring misfortune to my fellow kind.

My kind, that is, the werewolves where I am the lowest of the low in status that I was even lower than mankind that we are living peacefully among for I am a threat when the prophecy of the blood moon came. It is known that I would bring misfortune to the land. The last cursed werewolf was said to be the reason behind the death of majority of the she-wolves and was burned alive for a crime that she had no control over.

Simply living and breathing was a cursed wolf’s crime. A cursed wolf like me was outcast not only because of the prophecy but also because of how we are unable to transform into werewolves. I am basically mortal.

The ceremony of the full moon would only highlight a fact that I’ve known my whole life: I did not belong in this world. Not only was I not a werewolf, I was also cursed.

I really should have thought about it before publishing such depressing story because now, I am the one suffering because of it. What’s new?

“Ah, Lady Erin.” Grandmaster Aeron saw me in distress and chuckled, “What have you been doing, child? Don’t you know that everyone is preparing for the young emperor’s arrival?”

“I know.” I groaned, “As a matter of fact, I just saw him.”

“And?”

“And I almost lost my head for merely bumping into him.” I exhaled sharply.

“Well, that is to be expected.” He said to me without hesitation as he continued, “Erin, you know exactly where you stand in the kingdom and so does everyone else.”

“So I just have to stand idly by and accept it?”

“As you did in the past years to stay alive, yes.” Grandmaster Aeron cleared his throat. That was brutally honest as if I didn’t already know that.

I clenched my jaw. I couldn’t accept such fate. I died once and had this second chance, I would not stand idly by and wait death to come for me again. I refuse to! I will stay alive and reclaim my life.

Screw the curse and the status! I wrote this whole world so I can sure as hell write my own destiny as well.

Instead of arguing back, I forced a smile and said, “I appreciate your advice but I don’t have to follow it. I shall take my leave now, grandmaster, I shall see you at the celebration tonight in welcoming the young emperor’s safe return.”

Because why? Why must I accept such conditions? If I have to, I'd leave far away and start anew, regardless of how, I refuse to live my life dictated by what I should and should not do and to do that, I must stay alive.

Just as I was returning back to my room with Charlotte alongside me, Emperor Cadmus, once again reappears with a content smile on his face and arms crossed. Charlotte immediately bowed down before him and tugged my clothes to signal that I do the same.

Cadmus scoffed, “That’s the second time you didn’t bow before your emperor, do you have a death wish?”

Ah, crap. I was just getting used to all the greetings and such. I immediately bowed down as well and said, “Apologies, emperor.”

“You’re already unsightly, you should at least make up for it with manners or intelligence, unfortunately, you are not blessed with either. Such a pity.” Cadmus looked at me without any expression at all.

"Hey, isn't that a bit rude even for an emperor?"

Charlotte grabbed my arms and nudged, "My lady, that is no way to talk to the emperor. That is too disrespectful."

"Respect begets respect, is it not?" I raised an eyebrow as if I was testing Cadmus' patience but he simply looked at me coldly and said, "It isn't rude to say the truth." 

And just before he left, he said with a slight smirk obviously annoying me, “If you are to attend the celebration later, I pray to the moon that you won’t cause any trouble but so far, you have caused nothing but trouble.”

     

So rude! Did I really write that character? I must have been so stupid to write such an arrogant, smug, and annoying character like him! I could swear that he was smirking when he said that! I took a deep breath. I am but a side character trying to stay alive, I should not meddle with protagonists and antagonists or it could be messy.

"My lady, that was dangerous and reckless, even for you!" Charlotte reminded, "Who knows what could happen if you keep pissing him off!"

"He was totally enjoying mocking me." I rolled my eyes, "He is way too annoying."

"I bet he could say the same to you."

"'Course he would."

"Still, he is the emperor and the ball tonight is to celebrate the upcoming full moon and the emperor's safe return to the kingdom." Charlotte said

Wait. That’s right. The ball is tonight! Tonight, Cadmus and the main female protagonist shall meet by the castle’s garden! The female protagonist is a she wolf who is not yet aware of her true nature as the only she-wolf who is able to transform. She’s Luna Woolf.

I remember now. Right after tonight, my 18^th birthday shall be a few weeks after and I would die by then. My death shall be the reason why the protagonists would meet again.

At my funeral, Luna would come out of pity since no one else would come and Cadmus would too, feeling a little guilt that I died.

My death was a major event to lead the two of them forward so I have to find another way to make them meet without me having to die! Maybe then, I could change my fate!

Right now, I need to find the her and make sure they meet accordingly. My eyes light up as I was given hope to see through this! I can live as long as I stay out of their way and have the story progress without me having to die!