Chapter One

Chapter One. 

Nina's POV

Okay. I’m in the body of Lady Marina Edwards, the antagonist of the novel Illuminating Darkness. No need to panic, okay? Nina Facelo don't panic, take a deep breath and relax. You're better than this. 

So let's get our facts straight. We haven't read the book yet, pero may maliliit na idea na tayo kung ano ang mga scenario at daloy ng kwento. Courtesy to our dearest spoiler friends, Mary and Janna. 

I actually felt genuinely happy sa mga spoilers na narinig ko. I’ve never thought that me–who hates spoilers, would actually thank them from spoiling.

I hate spoilers and I hate spoiling. Na wa-wala kasi ang suspense at thrill ng isang kwento. I don’t want to ruin their reading experience. But, who would thought, that I would thank them to death.

May silbi rin pala ang mga spoilers, kahit papaano.

Now, I should start planning my moves and goal. I need to summarize all the information na nalaman ko from Mary and Janna. It would greatly help me avoid unwanted attention and certain dangers.

Now, let’s organize what I knew in this book.

First, Marina Edwards ay isang kontrabida. A wicked Dame to be exact, a powerful Lady with a strong background na patay na patay kay Lord Ethan.

Second...

Second is...

Second thing is wala na! I dont know anything aside from the fact that Marina Edwards is a daughter of a Marquees and the wickedest Dame on the whole Kingdom. A certified villain, who always want everything and anything. A spoiled brat she is!

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Relax Nina, walang magagawa yang galit mo, take a deep breath and chill. Bakit ba kasi hindi ako masyadong nakinig sa mga discussion at spoilers nila. Now, I’m starting to regret all my stubbornness, sa hindi pakikinig sa kanila. If I knew this would happen, I should have listen to their spoilers or read the book immediately. Tama nga ang sabi nila na nasa huli ang pag-sisi. 

Let’s recall all the spoilers na sinabi nila Mary. Alam nating malaking spoilers ang ating kaibigan kaya alalahanin natin to. 

"Tch! tama lang yan kay Marina, akala nya ba matatalo nya si Gina? Kahit na mag-cheat pa sya sa test, she won’t ever beat Gina. She can try, but she will never win," Janna sneered and smirked. Halata sa boses nito ang confidence at pagmamalaki. 

Okay, medyo mahina yata itong si Marina sa Academics. She even tried to resorted into cheating. Ngayon lang yata ako na-inis kung bakit medyo mahina sa utak ang mga antagonist. If it was before, I would probably jump in joy, knowing that the antagonist isn’t smart. Baka mag pa-fiesta pa ako. But now? I want to strangle my neck right now.

"Ang maldita talaga ni Marina! Kagigil sya! Isang spoiled brat. Kahit sino na lang binu-bully. I can’t believe she's a noblewoman, kahit 100 percent elegante sya, zero parin sa manners. Kahit ang kanyang maid inaaway nya, mas bagay pa si Gina maging noblewoman kaysa sa kanya," Mary said in a disappointed tone na may halong matinding gigil.

Bakit puro hate comments nalang ang naririnig ko tungkol kay Lady Marina? Ganyan ba talaga sya kasama? I think everyone hates her to the moon and back.

Well Nina, what do you expect? Isa siyang villain, kaya puro hate and negative comments talaga ang matatanggap nya. Ikaw nga, inis agad kahit wala pang ginagawang masama ang mga extra na babae sa mga novel na nabasa mo. Feeling mo agad third wheel sila.

Okay fine, guilty ako doon. I mean what do you expect? Ayaw ko lumubog ship ko, and I don’t want them ruining my ship. Parang instinct na yata yun, kahit wala pang ginagawang masama, ay na-aamoy ko na ang kontrabida vibes sa kanila.

When I think about what earlier, the woman’s face was so pale dahil sa sobrang takot nito. Her hands even trembled!

Okay, now I get it. Kaya pala ganoon na lang ang reaksyon ng maid nang tinanong ko ito ng may paggalang. She didn’t expect the her wicked Lady would be so kind, na para bang sinaniban ng isang anghel. 

So, Lady Marina is a spoiled brat, among spoiled brats.

What a disaster this is.

I took a deep breath and calm down my nerves dahil sasakit yata ang ulo kung paano ko ito malulutas ang ganitong kalaking problema. If I keep pretending as Lady Marina, I would need to keep up her evil facade pero if this continue, I would probably perished! Everyone would hate me and probably wanted me dead! But if I suddenly change my attitude, it would gather suspicion and malicious attention. They might investigate me and will know the truth! I would be accused as the murderer, an evil spirit invading Lady Marina’s body!

No! No! That can’t absolutely happen! I’ll make it won’t happen because kapag yun ay nangyari, it would be the death and end of me.

Now, now. Let’s think slowly and to things step by step.I closed my eyes and sighed on the bottom of my heart.

When my emotions and mentality got stable. I open my eyes in determination.

Now, let's investigate kung nasaan tayo at kung ano ang iba pang bagay na dapat nating malaman. I can’t feel the security, knowing that I don’t even now where the heck am I? how could I relax at such state?

We can do this.

"Fighting Nina!" I shouted in full determination at saka tumayo mula sa malambot na kama kung saan ako naka-upo. I slowly walk and observed the whole room.

I just a minute ago, I briefly saw the interior of the room, I was already amazed by it. But now, looking carefully and properly. Never in my life I felt so poor. The whole interior of the room shouts money, and the more I stared at the shining thing, I’m starting to hear a little whispers in my ears. They keep saying, “slap-soil.”

I almost drooled, thinking how rich Lady Marina is. Confirm, Lady Marina is a walking bank, a walking gold, and, diamond.

“Haaa.”I took a deep sigh. It’s not the proper time to drool over this expensive things.

I stared at the corner of the spacious room, looking closely, ngayon ko lang naramdaman na the whole room looks quite empty and lifeless. It may contradict on what I said previously, but the whole vibe of the room emits strange melancholia.

Maybe it’s just me, na naninibago lang dahil hindi ako sanay sa sobrang laki ng kwarto. I shook my head to clear up the roaring emotions.

I diverted my atention to the double door, and started walking through it. When I reach the handle, I slightly push it down.

A soft click echoed inside the room and the door open widely. Mabilis akong lumabas mula sa kwarto ni Lady Marina. When my vision got stable ay tumambad saakin ang napakalaki ngunit bakanting hallway. 

Nakakalula naman dito, natatakot tuloy akong humakbang baka kasi masagi ko ang malalaking vase at mabasag pato. Wala pa naman akong pera pambayad at sigurado akong ang halaga nitong mga vase ay mas mahal pa sa buhay ko, jusko! 

But I need to explore if I want to know the things I’m craving for, I need to take a step and explore upang malaman ko ang dapat malaman. Things I need to know to survive this world. 

If you can’t take the risk, you gain nothing. High risk, high return.

With a certain goal and courage in mind, I started walking on the empty hallway. My steps were light as feather, being very careful, and I stick at the middle of the hallway. Natatkot akong masangga ang mga mamahaling vase.

Habang naglalakad ay napapatingin ako sa dingding, napakarami kasing magagandang painting at mukhang pa itong mamahalin. I’m not a fan of arts pero I could surely say that the paintings are expensive. When I look around, all I could see it another empty hallway. They might be different but the thing is, mukhang nawawala na yata ako. How can I not be lost? Sa sobrang laki nito bahay nato, you shouldn’t suspect that! This house is just to big and spacious – No, scratch that. Mansion pala! 

Paano ako hindi mawawala sa laki ng mansion nato! All the corridors alsmost look the same kahit medyo may pagkaka-iba sila.

"Oh!" I gasped ng makita ko muli yung maid na pumunta kanina sa kwarto, o chamber kung tawagin. 

I smiled, and wave my right hand at her. But instead of smiling back at me, ay mas mukhang nagulat ito ng makita ako. Her face was mix of worry and scared. 

Nagtaka naman ako sa biglang asal nito.

Did I do something wrong? 

Kahit mukhang natatakot at nag-aalala ay marahan parin itong naglakad papunta sa kinatatayuan ko. Napalingon pa ito sa magkabilang gilid, na parang nagmamasid kung may tao bang biglang susulpot. 

"Lady Marina," she greeted with a worried tone saka marahang yumuko ng makalapit ito sa sakin. 

"Lady Marina, we must go back to your chamber. If the Madam see you like that, you will be discipline," nag-aalalang sambit nito. 

The smile in my face froze when I heard the world discipline. Mablis kong tinignan ko ang aking kasuotan. It was a long silky white gown. It’s actually very soft, the silk gown gentle brushes my healthy white skin.

"Why?" Nagtataka kong tanong dito, finding it weird. 

Nanlaki ang mata nito ng marnig ang tanong ko, mukhang hindi ito makapaniwala. "Lady Marina, you are wearing your sleep wear, and its improper for you to wear this outside your chamber." she said, hinting that we must hurry.

Nanlaki tuloy ang dalawa kong mata ng marinig ang sinabi nito. Ganoon pala yun?

Aishh! Ano ka ba Nina!? Wala ka na sa modern world, na okay lang lumabas sa bahay at pumunta kahit saan na walang bihis, walang ligo at hindi nakakapagsuklay. Remember your Lady Marina now, kahit kontrabida sya. She's still a noblewoman with pride. 

"Y-yes, I know that. I want to take a bath please." the maid gasped, when she heard me using the word please. 

Mabili naman itong tumalima at sinabing,"As you wish Milady, I will prepare your bath." saka ito yumukod ngunit, hindi parin ito gumagalaw sa pwesto nito. 

Nagtaka tuloy ako sa asal nito.

"Umm … excuse me? Bakit hindi ka pa gumagalaw?" I asked in worry. We better start moving, baka maabutan pa kami dito.

She lifted her head and looked at me weirdly. 

Did I do something wrong again?

Mukhang nabasa nito ang pagtataka sa aking mukha. 

"Lady Marina, I’m only allowed to walk behind you. As mere maid, I’m not allowed to walk in a same length or above you Milady, that’s truly disrespectful," she said with a serious face.

 Ganoon ba yun? Napaka-ridiculous naman ng rule nayan, but its a norm in this world. Wala na akong magaga tungkol diyan. All I could do is follow the rules if I want to survive.

Kaya naman ay naglakad ako sa direction kung saan ako ng galing, kahit hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang aking direksiyon. 

Para akong bumalik sa pagka-bata, na walang kaalam alam sa mundo. Walang magawa kundi lumingon sa bawat sulok. 

I have decided that, as soon as possible I need information. Kailangan ko rin matutunan ang manners at kung paano maging prim and proper lady. 

But before all of that. First, I need to ask her name. I need someone I know. I look closely at the maid’s gentle face, mukha naman syang nasa mid-twenties, and I assume she's Lady Marina's personal maid servant. 

"What's your name again, Miss?" I asked in wary, baka kasi magduda ito. But to my surprise, wala man lang nagbago sa expression nya, hindi ito nagtaka o nagulat man lang. 

"My name is Rita, Milady." sagot nito, na puno ng paggalang with no hint of strangeness,para bang sanay na ito.

In conclusion, mukhang malilimutin itong si Lady Marina. She even forgot her maid servant’s name.

“Rita…” I softly said, and stop my track.

Huminto rin ito bago sumagot ng, “Yes, Milady?”

I turned to her direction and asked, “What date is today?”

Rita look at me before answering, “Milady, today is 4th the day of the Month of Gold (March), year 1875 of the Agamantha Calendar.”

Wow, I’ve never heard someone telling me about the date like this. Dapat pala ganito yung style ko kapag-gumagawa ng essay sa history class ko noon. It sounded so posh and elegant.

I slightly nodded my head, and said, "Rita after this, I want to go to the library."

Rita smiled and bowed. "As you wish my lady."

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