EVERYTHING was too much for akari as she’s worried sick about her friend inside the chamber in front of her and now, she was having a terrible flashback about almost everything in her life. she regretted everything that happened after hearing her friend keiko died and she blames herself for saying those cruel words to keiko. all because she was scared of keiko’s stepsisters and now she can't do anything else than just blame herself and cry about losing her only friend.

the city was buzzing around as it was busy as ever while it rains. she wondered, what would happen if she was strong enough to fight for her friend, would keiko still be alive and be here beside her? she wanted to apologise but it was too late because keiko is gone and she will never come back ever again.

akari didn't bother looking at her surroundings as she just kept walking and bumping to everyone around the city as she's now wet because she doesn't even have an umbrella and she doesn't even feel a thing anymore… she feels numb. suddenly, a loud scream made her come back to her sense as she saw a truck coming fast towards her and she wasn't able to move as her feet felt stuck on the ground. is this the end of her life? was this the punishment that god will give her? the last thing she remembers was that she got hit and a lot of people are trying to talk to her and the rest, she doesn't know anymore.

she opened her eyes to see herself in the mirror as she's in a child's body with the same name she had in her past life. it's been eleven years since she was stuck in the body of this girl she was possessing and she knew that she was in the book that keiko and her had been interested in reading in their past life.

“akari?” a woman spoke as akari looked behind her to see her mother. “mother, is there anything you need?” akari spoke as she greeted her mother.

alanya smiled at her daughter as she went beside her. “my dear, the crown princess has requested your presence and it seems like she wanted you to be her playmate.” akari looked at her mother as she was confused. “me?” she pointed at herself as her mother nodded. “but why?”

“your father may or may not have said that you will be the crown princess future knight.” her mother chucked as akari frowned by this. of course, her father would say something like that as duke daniel always love to brag about how good she is in swordsmanship inside the palace and she has a good reputation among the imperial knights. well, she has no choice but to see the crown princess that they're talking about and somehow she's also a bit interested meeting her because the last time she read the book, there was no crown princess in the story named antanasia.

“then, i shall meet her highness?” akari spoke as the duchess nodded. “it's great for you to meet someone your age, my dear. you should take a break from your swordsmanship for the time being and you'll have someone beside you while your father and i are in arlanta.” her mother said as akari nodded in response. she can't wait to see the crown princess and try to see what kind of person she is.

as per the request of the princess, she finally arrived at the palace as she was in awe to see how big it is. well, she knows that it's big since she can see it from outside but it's her first time being here and now seeing it in person makes her happy as she can't believe that it's more beautiful on the inside.

the knight named felix robane which was her favourite character went to escort her where the crown princess is right now. and and there she is standing in front of the crown princess as she spoke. "i will be here as her royal highness antanasia's playmate starting today. a pleasure to meet you, princess." she said as she bowed elegantly and smiled at the royal princess.

akari was mesmerized by the looks of the princess as she's indeed beautiful as the others says. the way her hair is white as the light. sleek and wavy, trailing down. her skin as pale as moonlight, projects a silvery glow all around. the crown princess is really beautiful in person and that made akari idolised her immediately.

the crown princess smiled at the blue-haired girl and then she spoke. "the pleasure is all mine, lady setsuko" antanasia smiled at the blunette, giving a pleasant and welcoming aura to her.

akari was slightly surprised by the welcoming aura that the princess gave her and so the girl butted in and said, "please call me akari or any other nickname you'd prefer, your highness.” she spoke softly to the princess.

"then call me nas, akari." both of the girls smiled, loving their bond of friendship already. the bond that they shared grew faster than the plants that were planted in the garden and she even went to suggest the princess to study in arlanta just like her which made antanasia consider it and talk about it to her father. both of the girls spent a day chatting with each other until it was time for them to depart as akari was now called by her father. it was soon sunset, and akari headed to their manor. both of them had bid their farewells and somehow, akari reminds antanasia of her old friend keiko. and now, she was hoping to meet the princess again and spend time with her.

time passed by and it's been five days since antanasia and akari have been playmates and today they're at antanasia’s chamber chilling, she noticed that her friend was in deep thought so she spoke up. "still haven't decided on going to arlanta, nas?" akari asked as she sipped her milk.

the princess snapped back from her trance as she looked at akari and tried to process what to respond, and then she answered. "i don't know how to approach dad about it since he might say no immediately." she pouted.

akari closes her eyes as she munches her cookie. "make sense, since his majesty is quite protective of you. also, it'll be great to study there." she said while looking at her friend then continued talking. "i mean, we had a dorm there. i'm sure his majesty will say yes to that. you can try to persuade that magician if you want."

she saw antanasia frowned. "that magician you're talking to is a playmate of athy so i can't let him join me in arlanta." she sighed as she stared at the big window beside her. "I'll try to talk to dad about this," antanasia said.

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IN THE END, antanasia was allowed to study in arlanta which made akari happy about it. at least that she would have a lot of time spending time with someone she knows while being stuck in the academy for years.

it may sounds selfish, but akari just want to spend time with the princess all because she reminds her of someone she used to adore. it's not that harmful to use someone's presence just because they reminded them of someone they used to know. in fact, it's like a win to win for both of them as akari gets to be close to the crown princess because she reminds her of keiko while antanasia gets to have a friend by her side. and for sure that antanasia won't mind the true reason why akari is beside since the princess is a nice person after all. is what the blunette would thinks of her friend's reaction if ever antanasia knew the real reason of accepting their friendship.

and now, it's been years since they've been in arlanta as a lot of things happened while staying in the academy and she also met a lot of people while being here but she would always stay close to antanasia as she's more comfortable with her than the others.

she just kept watching antanasia as she befriended almost everyone that people had a hard time to befriend with. antanasia was indeed like a goddess who fell down on earth as she's beautiful and very friendly to the others despite some people being rude to her. akari was just happy being beside antanasia and that's all she ever wants and there's nothing more.

“akari?” a guy spoke which made akari come back to her senses. she looked at her right to see ijekiel smiling at her. “ijekiel… was i spacing out again?” she asked as the lad nodded while chuckling.

“are you thinking of her highness again?” he asked as akari blushed for a bit. she shook her head as she looked away from the lad. “was i being too obvious?” she looked once again to the lad who nodded. she was now embarrassed that she was too obvious that she was thinking of antanasia again.

she almost forgot that she was talking to ijekiel and went straight to thinking about her friend once again. “i apologise, what were you talking about again?” she spoke as ijekiel sighed went to continue what he was saying. ah right, she almost forgot that he likes and wanted to be in a relationship with her. akari also likes the lad but she doesn't want to be in a relationship with someone because she wants to fulfill her duties first and ijekiel respect that. so in the end, they both had an agreement to be friends for now and decide to do their own things.

by fulfilling her duties, she meant by being antanasia's knight and staying by her side. she made sure to always be with her and protect her from harm so that antanasia would live in a world without and danger. she even made sure to even kill all the assassins that went to kidnap antanasia that night while she was sleeping and then akari pretended that nothing happened that night while the princess was oblivious about the incident.

akari was now blaming herself all because of the incident that happened in the ball. how could she let her guard down? keiko— no, antanasia was now poisoned and it's her fault for not noticing at all. she isn't keiko anymore and akari knows that as she's now the crown princess of the obelian empire. she knows everything now and that's because she heard antanasia talking to herself about her past self. antanasia and keiko are the same person and now akari wants to protect her at all cost and won't repeat the history once again but now, she failed to protect her best friend and she's ashamed of herself for being useless.

"please be alright, antanasia…”

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SHE IS VALKYRIA CLAIRE ELISE, that's the name that her parents think of to name her. she's a lovely child indeed she is favoured by the emperor of the castina empire she always gets what she wants because she's the only child of the elise household but was she happy about it?

as much as she loves being spoiled by everyone, money can't solve her happiness as much as she wants to say that she's not happy about it. she couldn't bear to say it because she didn't want to make her parents worry about her. she doesn't have any friends except the prince because the girls around her age hate her for being favored by the emperor. that was until she met yua.

"val my darling, meet yua azrielle voneza! she'll be staying with us for a while because her parents will be going somewhere for the time being so i hope that you two will be friends in a short time." val's mother elizabeth said to her.

the two kids looked at each other shyly until val broke the silence between them.

"greetings lady yua! i am valkyria claire elise. it's a pleasure to meet you." she said as she smiled at the white-haired girl.

yua looked at her for a second then nodded her head in response. "it's nice to meet you too lady valkyria…" on the other side, val's parents are just watching her proudly that their daughter is now having a new friend.

the two became close after a day of spending time with each other. yua also told her about her special illness that they called and said that she was scared to tell her because val might judge her but all val said was.

"why would i even judge you? we're friends, right? friends don't judge each other, they judge others together!" val said as they just giggled.

"mother said that once i grow up i'll be the empress of the castina empire! will... you still be there by my side?" valkyria asked as yua nodded. "of course! i'll always be there by your side no matter what happens because we're friends!"

but…
why did the little purple-haired girl suddenly change?

from a girl who's always loyal to her fiance and loves him with her whole heart has to turn into a girl who always flirts with the other guys… so why did val suddenly change as they grow up?

"val… i think we should go already. i'm not good at being in the ball this long, you know." yua said to the purple-haired girl.

"yua i'm still busy looking at these handsome boys just a little more okay?"

"but… you also said that a while ago…" yua said as she stared at her friend sadly.

"i see that she's doing this again." a familiar voice said. yua looked behind her, seeing the crown prince eric.

"ah- your highness! it's not-" she was about to explain but eric cut her off. "no need to explain, i did say to her that i'll just support her in whatever she's doing as long as she doesn't go too far," eric said as yua looked at her pitifully.

"she's been like this ever since the incident happened." the two looked at val who's busy dancing with the guys. "it's all his mother's fault for making her like this." yua angrily said as eric calmed her down.

"it must be hard for her to handle all of those in her age… it's also quite my fault for proposing to her at such a young age." he said as he looked at his fiance full of affection in his eyes. "if only i knew what would happen i would have waited till she's 18 but since i was too scared to lose her i proposed to her too fast."

"it's not his highness's fault… i'm sure that val will be fine again not now but soon."

"i do hope so…"

it's already night time and all the people in the elise household are now asleep except val and her mother. "remember what i told you, my lovely daughter, that you do not bow to anyone even if they come from a high status. because you will be the new empress in the castina empire it will be a disgrace if you bow to anyone." val's mother elizabeth said as she hugged her daughter.

valkyria looks at her mother, emptiness fills her eyes. of course mother… i will be the new empress and i will make sure to kneel everyone to me."  she said as she hugged her mother back.

"this is why mother loves you so much because you always listen to what i say. mother will help you be the most powerful empress in the whole world," she said as she patted her daughter's hair.

the household wasn't the same anymore when she was a child as her father cheated on her mother years ago. her mother after that also wasn't the same as a lovely mother should be. this person in front of her is nothing but a stranger just trying to help her succeed to become an empress soon.

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SHE WENT TO the palace as per the emperor’s request. as much as she wants to decline it, she knows that the emperor won't stop pestering her at all so she doesn't have any choice but to come and visit him.

she looked at the throne then bowed. “greetings, your majesty. may i know the reason for why i’m here?” she asked him boldly as she knows that the emperor won't do anything to her after all.

the emperor gazed was a bit intimidating at first, then he started laughing. “ho, you still a bit have temper as ever, my dear. to answer your question, do you think that it's time for us to announce the engagement of you and my son?” he asked the little girl.

she looked at him as she's trying hard not to rolled her eyes at him as she spoke calmly. “your majesty, please do respect my decision for the time being. i assure you that i’m not ashamed of being engaged to the crown prince, i’m just not prepared to be in the position where people might betray me once they knew.” she forcefully smiled at him.

he nodded in response. “well, you do have a point in there. then, you shall go now since that's all i needed to hear from you.” he dismissed her.

“then i shall leave now, your majesty.” she spoke softly as she was about to leave but got stopped by the emperor. “oh, do visit my son since he's been in his room for a week now. i’m sure that boy will listen to you.” he scoffed as he finally dismissed her.

she sighed as she have no choice but to visit her fiance who went to lock himself in his room again. she looked at the maid who's head is bleeding as another maid was helping her, valkyria sighed once more as she knocked at the door but then she heard someone throwing something at the door inside his room. “your highness, I'll be coming inside.” she spoke loudly as she opened the door.

as she opened the door she was greeted by a vase that was inches on her face and a messy room. “if you do hit my face, then you won't be seeing me ever again.” she glared at him as eric immediately looked at her. “val… i didn't mean– i apologize, my lady.” he looked at as he was now ashamed that his fiance sees him being a mess.

she rolled her eyes. “now, do tell me why on earth are you being like this again?” she sat down on the bed as she was avoiding all the broken pieces of glass that he broke.

he looked at her once again as he went to hug her tightly. “can we not talk about it for now? let me just… hug you for the time being.” he spoke softly as he lays down the bed with her beside him. she was a bit taken aback but just let him be as she understands that all he needed is someone beside him who knows him very well.

after an hour of the two of them laying down, she went to sit up then looked at him. “your highness, i must go now. i do not have a lot of time to just lay down in your bed.” he looked at her sad that she was now leaving.

“wait– val… why must you be so distant from me?” she looked at him then raised an eyebrow. “pardon?”

he stood up then put his hands in her shoulders. “why must you have to change in order to meet the expectations your mother wanted too? you can leave however you want and live here as i have the highest rank than her. that woman is crazy for trying to use her own daughter and putting you in danger.” he kept talking which made the girl mad at him as she removed his hands in her shoulders.

“your highness, i would appreciate it if you do not speak ill about my mother like that who's done nothing but just raise me like how a mother should and my mother would never put me in danger. since that you're doing good now, i shall take my leave.” she spoke in a serious tone as she went to leave immediately, leaving the crown prince alone in his broken chamber.

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IT'S BEEN A MONTH ever since that argument they had and valkyria made sure to always stay away from the crown prince as possible. while eric tried everything he can just to talk to his fiance, he knows that she still hasn't forgiven him after what he said in front of her.

but god seems to be on his side as now both of them are in the presence of the emperor. “you two might be wondering why you're here. well, i think that it's better that both of you go to the arlanta to study there for the time being.” the emperor spoke as the both of them looked at him shocked.

“really, father?” eric looked at his father who just nodded.  “yes, might as well invite the daughter of the voneza manor too.” valkyria smiled at