"Ughh..."
I looked at the handkerchief after I coughed and saw some blood on it.
It's been months since I've been coughing up some blood. I didn't even have enough money to see a doctor, as I was paying for my brother's debt that he left in my name.
Did I overwork myself again?
I sighed as I coughed again; my situation is getting worse at worst.
I could already feel life slipping away from me as I closed my eyes and wished for another chance to live and undo everything that I did.
--------------------
"What's wrong with Lady Navia?" I heard a woman speak, and I didn't recognize her voice.
"Her Highness fell in the pond yesterday while she was—" the other person said, but he didn't finish it.
"What did my daughter do?" I heard a man's voice and I frowned at what he said.
"Daughter?" since when did I have a father? I said inside my mind as my eyes were still closed.
I wanted to open them, but it seems like they were too heavy to open.
"The healer said Her Highness was shocked when she fell in the pond." I heard one of the people inside the room say this.
And who are they calling Her Highness?
"Why is she even in the pond?" I heard the man sigh as he spoke.
"S-Her Highness..." I heard one of the men's voices say, "He sounded hesitant to say something."
"Did she cause any trouble again?" the other man asked confidently.
"Tell me the truth, Cortiz," he said with authority in his voice.
"Her Highness punished one of the maids when she failed to give her what she wanted," the man said as his voice sounded hesitant.
Why do you keep calling me Her Highness? Am I living in a dream? Perhaps there's someone next to me who inherited some royal blood from birth?
But what I don't understand is why I am beside them. I am someone who couldn't even afford to have a checkup because all my money went toward paying off my brother's debt, which he incurred after being swindled by his lover.
I heard their footsteps walking away from where I was. I tried moving my hand and luckily I could.
Why is the bed so soft?
It feels like I was lying in silk, which is odd.
I open my eyes, but I quickly close them again due to the sunlight coming from the balcony.
Balcony?
I looked around again and saw that I was in a very expensive room that screamed richness and luxury.
I tried getting up.
"Where am I?" I said, which made me startled as my voice changed.
I looked around again. I was in an unfamiliar place.
"Your Highness..." I looked at the door when I heard it open, and there was a woman who came out who was holding some food and was wearing some maid uniforms.
"Your Highness?" I asked her as I frowned at what she just called me.
"Yes, Your Highness?" the maid said as she looked confused at what I acted and said.
"Why are you calling me, Your Highness?" I asked as I looked at her with curiosity in my eyes.
"Pardon?" she asked, appearing more confused by my question.
"Why are you calling me 'Your Highness'?" I asked again, which made her eyes widen in shock.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed, her face showing panic as she spoke.
"This is bad; the duke would probably kill us all," she murmurs as she looks at me while she is pacing back and forth.
I don't even understand what she meant, as she kept on pacing back and forth while biting her fingernails.
"Excuse me?" I tried to get her attention, which I successfully did as she lifted her head and looked at me.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness..." she said while bowing her head in apology to me.
"We are calling you 'Your Highness' as you were the daughter of the duke," she said as she was explaining things to me.
"Daughter of the duke? Are you pranking me?" I exclaimed in surprise at what she said.
"Pardon?" she asked, as she seemed not to understand what I said.
"I asked if you are making fun of me," I said as I looked at her, who suddenly paled when I said those words.
I was more shocked when she just kneeled and bowed her head to me.
"I wouldn't dare to make fun of you, Your Highness," she said as her voice was shaking in fear.
I slapped my forehead as I looked at her.
"Stand up and tell me what I need to know..." I said as I looked down to see her.
The maid stood up shakily and avoided making eye contact with me.
"Now, who am I?" As I sat on the bed, I realized how soft it was and wondered why I had thought I was in a hospital.
"You are Lady Navia Devineris; you are the youngest daughter of His Grace Aurelius Devineris and the younger sister of Declan Devineris," she said as she was still bowing her head to me.
No...
Declan was a side character in this story who died after the female lead chose the crown prince.
However, unknown to everyone, he took his own life because he felt ashamed of his sister's actions towards the female lead.
The duke, who was away at that time, was devastated to learn that his heir had died.
Only his daughter remained, and he made sure to stand by her side, determined not to lose her either.
But too bad, he was accused of plotting to kill the female lead, who was the daughter of Marquis, who was a close aide to the emperor; that's why the crown prince and she were even close, and they fell in love when they were young.
While Navia...
Navia was a daughter of a duke and a fallen princess from a fallen kingdom, which this empire has conquered, who did all the evil things to the female lead as she fell in love with the crown prince when she met him when they were young too, but that crown prince didn't like her as she was arrogant and pushed the female lead when they were both—
Wait a minute... Based on my voice...
"How old am I?" I asked as I looked at her and saw her pale at my question.
"You're only eleven, Your Highness..." she said as she bowed her head.
Eleven?
Wasn't this the age when Navia pushed Camilla to the pond at count Rowens house?
"Did I really push someone yesterday? A maid?" I asked to confirm whether I had actually pushed someone, as I already had an idea of who it might be.
"Y-your Highness..." the maid said as she looked hesitant.
Oh, we've been talking and yet I still didn't get her name.
"What's your name again?" I asked as I sounded kindly. However, the maid appeared to be more terrified than relieved.
"I am Bisnna, Your Highness," she said as she bowed her head.
Interestingly, Bisnna appears slightly older than me.
"Now, tell me, Bisnna, did I push the maid, or did I push someone else?" I asked as I put my hands together on my lap.
"Y-you pushed Marquis Bixston's daughter, Lady Camilla," she said as she sighed.
I know I've already alienated myself, but why did I find myself trapped here?
The last time I remembered, I was coughing blood in my small apartment back then as darkness consumed me....
Wait, did I die?
And I did! Why am I unexpectedly immersed in this novel that I used to read during my free time?
You heard it. I was in a novel called "The Commoner Saintess."
Why am I even here?
The worst part is that I'm now the antagonist!
I am now the villainess in here....
I looked at Bisnna and told her that she could leave.
I found myself isolated within the room.
The room was beyond my imagination.
But that's not what's important. I needed to think of a way to escape Navia's unfortunate end.
I needed to be cautious with everyone around me. In the story, Navia has no allies except for those within the dukedom, since few would dare to oppose the duke.
And besides, the Devineris were one of the houses that protected the empire, and Navia has a natural talent for magic, which she uses in the wrong way.
I shrieked in frustration as I buried my face in one of the pillows.
I know I should be happy getting the luxurious things I had never had in my previous life...
But what is the value of luxury if my life here is also short?
I do not want to become the villainess!