Second Female Leads' Playbook

That dream I had when I lost consciousness felt weird. It felt more like my memories than a dream. The beginning of the dream was a memory, but sand castle appearing out of thin air? That scene where grown-up Sebastian and I walked on the beach? That must be a dream. If those scenes weren't dreams, how could you explain them?

When I woke up, Mother was staying by my side.

"Liana, are you feeling better? Why did you stand there like a statue? Haven't I taught you since you were small? When you see a fire, run! Run like your life depends on it! Even a five year old understands that, why didn't you run! If the prince wasn't there, you would have been burnt alive!"

I froze at the words 'burnt alive'.

"Why didn't you run, Liana? Sally told me that fire was originally just the size of a hearth fire. I don't think you would be frightened by a fire the size of a hearth fire! "

"It... it spread on pretty quickly."

"Sally said you froze as soon as you saw the fire."

"I... I was caught off guard."

Mother eyed me suspiciously. She knew I was hiding something from her. But I couldn't explain it to her, could I? How I wished I could tell her what had happened. How I wish I could do that. But I knew too many secrets. Too many terrible secrets. I knew too well what secrets could do.

Secrets could kill.

Without saying anything, I leaned forward and hugged my mother. Mother knew I would not tell her. She sighed and patted on my shoulder.

"Now young lady, since you're saved by the prince, you'd better think of a way to thank him!"

I knew she had left things dropped for now. I smiled.

"I will Mother."

Even without Mother reminding, I was planning to do that. He saved me. Both from the real fire and my nightmare. If he wasn't there, I might have screamed or gone mad. Then I would not just be the Queen that brought Misfortune but Mad Queen as well.

Wait. I wasn't going to marry Sebastian anymore. What was I thinking?

But why was he at the party yesterday? Shouldn't he be entertaining Lord and Lady Astor? I did not remember him attending the party in my previous life.

... Encyclopedia? If not why was there an encyclopedia in my room?

But that was not creative. Think! You had been married to him for 2 years!

He was a workaholic. He cared about his kingdom and his subjects. His hobby was looking at paperwork. He liked to eat meat. Especially steak. He did not like sweet things. He preferred wine. Oh! And dark chocolate.

I once had had a box of dark chocolates. I had kept it in my room as my reading snacks. I ate only two pieces each day. As a Queen whose only work was to look through the castle bill once a month and stayed in her room all day. It was easy to gain weight. So I had stopped myself from indulging too much. But the chocolates kept disappearing. I had been certain I didn't eat that many during the day. One explanation was that I dream walk. The other was Sebastian eating them. (I did not think servants dare to eat the Queen's chocolate.) I had asked him one day while he was looking through some papers. And he said yes without blinking. Those were my chocolates!! For one moment, I was really worried I dream walked and ate that many chocolates.

So... chocolate. Chocolate then.

I decided to find Sally and go shopping together.. After the fainting spree, I decided I deserved some chocolates.