"What happened to here? I thought you gave her medicine today Richard." The Duke paced back and forth in front of the bed before walking to Alina's side to check her fever.

"My lord, with her condition nothing can be done to her symptoms, after all she is -ughm" Dr. Richard stopped his sentence while eyeing her maid, Chrysta, who was tending to Alina. Dr. Richard tried to calm the duke down but couldn't explain her condition further as he knew Alina did not wish for her to know.

"You. You are dismissed." The Duke quickly caught on and sent Chrysta out of the room.

"My Lord, the young Miss' body is in a constant state of decay. The nature of her sickness causes one to freeze from the inside out. The organs and central nervous system will decay, causing her serious pain along with other symptoms. All we can do for the young Miss, as of now, is to give her supplements to support her body, not stop her symptoms." Dr. Richard explained to hopefully calm the Duke, but the Dukes face became darkened.

"Sob-I,I'm-Sob." They both turned their heads to see Alina sobbing in her sleep. They both listened closely as they could hear her talking in her sobs.

"Sob-I,I'm sorry-Sob-Sob-I,I don't want -sob-to die-sob." Both of their faces distorted at her sobs and pleas. It hurt their hearts to see her to beg for her life.

"She is but a young girl, we cannot forget that. There will be her mental and emotional health to keep in check also. She has lived a life of comfort, it is terrifying to face a future that only shows death." Dr. Richard felt bad for forgetting about the mental side, she was happy, so he thought she either didn't fully understand or was able to overcome the thoughts of death, but he was being insensitive.

***

"NO!" I sat up with force. As I was struggling to escape, I felt as if I escaped their clutches, but I soon realized I woke up.

"Miss!" Chrysta ran to me and started to check my health before running out the room.

I was left dumbfounded in the room as it took a minute to register what happened. As I was collecting my thoughts, I see a flash of red come at me from the side. I turned to see what it was, but I found Seth grabbing me and yelling at me.

"Are you stupid! Why did you do this! ---" I listened to him for a while letting him get it out of his system, I knew he was worried so I did not say anything.

"I don't think this is how you should treat a sick person." I scolded him as I did not feel good but I did so with a smile. 

"Humph-" His face turned red with my scolding, so he tried to turn and hide it.

"haha-" I couldn't help but chuckle and pat his head.

"Sorry." After I realized what I had done I pulled away my hand and pushed it under the covers to try and control it.

"Do whatever you want. I won't be so cruel to a sick person." He acted as if he was giving handouts reluctantly, but I knew his character from the novel, he was a tsundere.

'He is still but a young boy.' I smiled warmly at him while patting his head since I had gotten permission. I could tell he was a boy without much affection as he was still open to my affection and I was in the body of a terrible person...

 or so I thought.

I remembered the memory, and felt chills go down my back. I remember watching the continual abuse that was almost like brain washing done to the little girl. There had to be someone behind it, someone who wanted to thoroughly break Alina. I clenched my teeth at the thought of an adult doing this to a child. 

"Brother, what happened to my nanny? The young one with brown hair and hazel eyes." I needed information as soon as possible. If the person was going as far as breaking a young child, I think they would find no fault in killing me off at anytime they see fit. 

But the question is why? 

What were their motives? 

Is the plot in Lovely Heroine all what it seems to be?

"She retired after you were old enough to be without a nanny." I was pushed out my thoughts by his answer. 

'But that is too simple, am I mistaken? Am I over thinking it?' I tried not to let the ominous feeling devour me, but I started shaking as I remembered the hands and Alina in my mind. The malice and emptiness in her eyes as she screamed.

'Our fates? Are we connected?' I began to question if the malice she held in her eyes were aimed at me.

"Urgh-" I started to feel nauseous from the dizzing thoughts that threatened to consume me.

"Mia." I heard my name, a name that is no longer supposed to exist. I felt as if snake like chains crawled up my back and locked me in place. I turned to where I heard the voice, I could see Seth look at me and try to speak but I could not hear his voice.

 My ears were ringing as my body went cold, I could see nothing behind him, yet I knew it was there. I could not control the shaking that overtook my body.

"Take heed child, for the the old and ancient beast wishes to devour the white pure rose and trample it's garden. It does no good to trust all truths as to blame all wrongs, for the truth will make itself known my child, for it is closer than it seems." As the warning was finished I could come to my senses, but I soon noticed Chrysta and Dr. Richard surrounding me while Seth held me.