"Mary, you're here! We already prepared everything you need," it's RJ who met me at the front of their house. Of course, I'm with my friends.
"They wanted to know the details," I meant to my friends and he simply nodded and led us inside.
"Mary, it's ready. Are you… ready?" Nanna's soft voice calmed my nerves.
I nodded, and Nonno handed me the book while explaining what I should do. I read the book—it says that during the process, I will be momentarily asleep in the present time, so technically, it's just my spirit that will roam around 500 years into the past.
I followed the steps from the book and made it myself with their help. I did it. Inside a not-so-small bottle was the potion I created. All I had to do was drink it and think of the time I wanted to go to.
"Mary… we will be waiting for you." I looked at Jad and the others, hoping to gain some support.
I want to go to the time when Emerald met Harry—that's what I thought as I drank a little of the potion.
I felt dizzy, my head spinning. I opened my eyes only to see darkness, but later, I heard some noise—people talking, drums, guitars—then my surroundings became clearer. The place looked like it was having a celebration. Yeah, right. In the diary, Emerald and Harry met at their town's fiesta. One of these young ladies must be Emerald, and I guess she's in her twenties right now.
"Where are you, Queen Emerald?" I scanned the place.
"Emerald! Gosh, you're so naughty!" I heard a loud voice from someone.
"Let's go home, Savannah. I'm tired," that must be Savannah. So she's indeed Queen Emerald.
She had such a bright smile. By their standard of beauty during this time, she was beautiful. They shared a lot of similarities—same height, brown eyes, and wavy hair—but Emerald's hair was a darker brown and have freckles in the face, she also have this big black mole beside her mouth, while Savannah's was lighter hair, glass skin, no pimples and freckles.
"Let's stay here for a bit, Emerald. You know the governor's son is coming," Savannah squealed.
"Whatever. I'll just be over there," she said, then left. I decided to follow her since she's my mission here.
She sat under a tree. I walked closer. She sat on a rock and started counting the falling leaves, even humming a song.
"Emerald!" someone called out to her—it was a boy.
"Sevirious! Come here!"
Who is he?
"Why are you here alone?" he asked.
"I got tired of running around with Savannah. She has a lot of admirers; surely they're there to help her if she needs anything," she said with a bitter smile.
"You talk as if no one admires you."
"Why, is there?" she asked, looking at the sky.
I felt like I was invading their privacy by listening to their conversation.
"Of course! Who wouldn't like you, Emerald? You're smart, strong, and brave. You can do anything and everything. And not just that—you're also kind. Your soul is as gorgeous as your looks." Wow. You can't tell me he doesn't like her.
"You don't have to lie to me like that. I know I'm not as pretty as my sister, not as gentle, not as soft. But it's fine, because my sister is the only person who sees me as beautiful." She didn't know her worth—or maybe her confidence was just low. "Anyway, Sevirious, go back to town. A lot of people are expecting the Pride of the Town."
Sevirious looked reluctant as he left. He likes her, that's for sure—but Emerald seems too blind to see it.
"Hey, miss! Do you own this place?" another guy arrived.
"No. Who are you?"
"Right, because I own it—you don't know me?"
"I wouldn't ask if I knew you." Slayed.
"Harry. Future governor of this town." So this is Harry? He's nothing like how Emerald described him in her diary. "Here's a flower for a beautiful lady," he said, handing her some wildflowers that looked like he just pulled them from somewhere.
"You think I'm pretty?" Is she blushing? Gosh, she settled for this?
"Of course. What's your name, my lady?"
"E–Emerald."
"Perfect name for a perfectly beautiful woman like you." I saw how Emerald's face flushed. Seriously? That's so cringe.
I can't believe what I'm hearing. This is how he managed to poison her heart? By using flowery words? I can't watch this any longer. I just witnessed the first interaction of Queen Emerald and her cringey, not-so-good-looking Harry.
I grabbed the potion and drank a little more. I wanted to go to the time when Savannah and Harry met.
Again, I felt the dizziness.
Now I'm standing in front of a gate. Whose house is this? I looked around and saw Emerald and Harry walking hand in hand.
"You'll be meeting my sister. We're twins, but we don't look alike," she chuckled. They went inside the house, and I followed. "Savannah! Look, I'm with someone I told you about!"
"Coming!" Savannah came out of the room, her hair loose and her lips red.
"He's Harry… my lover," Emerald blushed as she said that. I looked at Harry—he was already drooling over Savannah. Seriously? Right in front of his girlfriend?
"Hi, Harry! I'm Savannah! Sorry I didn't get to meet you at the town last week, I went home immediately."
"It's okay, Savannah… N-nice to meet you." The way he looked at her—gosh, what an asshole.
Love at first sight in actual mode? It's giving yuck.
I saw Emerald walk into the kitchen to prepare food while Savannah kept talking to Harry. They were made for each other—they both used flowery words to lure people. Their hands brushed… gosh, am I really witnessing this?
Emerald served them food, but she was invisible to them. Only Savannah and Harry were happily talking, not even noticing her presence.
"Next time, I'll be back," Harry said as he bid goodbye. I saw Emerald kiss him on the cheek, but his eyes were on Savannah.
I couldn't help but feel pity for her. If this was the reason she became the ruthless queen, I could say it was deserved. They betrayed her. The people she trusted got involved behind her back and used her. That's enough reason to be mad.