"Hey, Hana! What are you doing up there? Come help us here!" a girl's voice called out to Hana.
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"Coming!" Hana replied, reluctantly closing her book. She took a deep breath, letting the comforting words on the page slip away as she went down to join her friend.
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---
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"You keep locking yourself away again, Hana," the girl said with a slight frown. "And you're always reading books," she added, trying to sound lighthearted but unable to hide her concern.
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"Well, it's my only escape..." Hana replied, her voice softer than usual. She looked down, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.
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The girl’s gaze drifted to Hana's wrist, where a faint bruise peeked out. Her eyes widened slightly. "Hana... did that family of yours mistreat you again?" she asked, her tone filled with worry.
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Hana hesitated, her eyes avoiding her friend's. After a moment, she forced a smile. "It's not what you think, silly. I’m fine," she said, her voice almost convincing.
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"Hana, if—" Before the girl could finish, a voice called out to Hana from a distance. Her adoptive parents stood by the car, waving and smiling warmly.
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"I'll get going, Vil... See you tomorrow," Hana said, putting on a bright smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She gave her friend a quick hug before walking towards her parents and getting into the car.
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Once the car doors closed, her adoptive parents' warm smiles faded, replaced by a cold, critical look.
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"Didn't I tell you to pick up your siblings earlier?" her stepmother’s voice cut through the silence like ice. "Did you even think about what could happen to them? They're only 10 and 8 years old! You should've gotten them!"
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"I... I'm sorry... I was going to, but..." Hana stammered, her voice trembling.
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"Going to? Look at the clock. What time is it?" her stepmother demanded.
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Hana glanced nervously at the dashboard clock. "7... 7 p.m.," she replied.
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"And what time do your siblings get out of school?" her stepmother continued, her tone growing sharper.
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"...6... 6:50," Hana murmured, her voice shaking as she shrank back into her seat.
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"Wait till we get home," her stepmother said, her voice low and ominous.
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Hana swallowed, her fingers gripping the fabric of her skirt as she tried to steady her breathing. Outside the car window, the world passed by in a blur, but inside, each second felt like an eternity, and every word from her stepmother weighed heavier on her heart.
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___
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When they reached the house, Hana quietly slipped out of the car and carried her things up to her room, her heart sinking as she prepared for what awaited her. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, then made her way down to the basement for her punishment.
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In the basement, a dim and cold space with no hint of sunlight, chains hung ominously from the wall. Her father roughly clasped the chains around her wrists and ankles, the cold metal biting into her skin. The silence was heavy, broken only by his harsh breaths as he stepped back.
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"No food for three weeks!" her stepfather shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. "And I don’t care if you get dropped from school! Starve yourself—this is what happens when you don’t repay the favors we gave you!"
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Hana looked down, her body tense as he reached for his belt. She knew what was coming. He raised it, the leather cracking through the air as he brought it down on her back, her body instinctively flinching at the impact. She clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.
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Hour's of torture there Hana's frail body full of bruise she cried silently enduring the Pain in her heart.
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Hana’s POV
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"This will be your family starting today, Hana," the nun said with a gentle smile.
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I was overjoyed, my heart swelling with hope. Finally, I would have a family. Seeing the couple’s warm smiles and feeling their kindness—it was everything I had dreamed of for as long as I could remember. For the first time, I thought I had found a place where I truly belonged… or at least, that’s what I believed.
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But just twelve weeks later, everything changed. Their warmth faded, replaced by cold, indifferent glances. My stepfather's hands, once gentle, turned harsh—he began to shove, push, even hit me. At first, I brushed it off, telling myself he must just be tired or stressed.
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Then, my stepmother got pregnant. From that moment on, they lost all interest in me. I became a shadow in their home, someone to blame whenever something went wrong. If anything went missing in the house, it was automatically my fault. The beatings grew worse, and sometimes they locked me in the basement without food, leaving me alone in the dark and cold.
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This went on for years. When I turned 20, I finally got a job at a grocery store and worked as a waitress in a nearby restaurant. I even volunteered at the orphanage where I had grown up, hoping to give back and find a sense of purpose. Somehow, I managed to juggle it all while still studying, even though every penny of my salary was taken by my so-called parents.
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One evening, as I was heading home, I felt a sudden wave of dizziness while crossing the road. Bright headlights and the loud honk of a truck snapped me back to reality just in time, and I jumped out of the way.
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"Ha! I thought maybe today would be my lucky day to be hit by the famous 'Truck-kun' and get reincarnated into another world," I muttered to myself with a bitter laugh.
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Just as I let my guard down and stepped back onto the sidewalk, a bicycle came out of nowhere and collided with me, sending me sprawling onto the ground.
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"A bicycle? Really?" I groaned, lying there in disbelief.
____
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Hana’s POV
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"Huh? What's this?" I murmured, squinting into the blurriness around me. "Everything is fuzzy, but… this warmth… it feels so…" I trailed off, struggling to put the feeling into words. It was soothing, comforting, something I hadn’t felt in years.
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"Your Majesty… she's beautiful," a gentle woman’s voice murmured nearby.
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"Indeed, she is," another woman replied softly.
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Who… who are these people? Where am I? The thought struck me suddenly. Did I finally reincarnate? A thrill of relief washed over me. I don’t care where I am—as long as I'm free from that hellish life, it’s good enough for me!
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Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted my thoughts. "Let me in! My wife is in there!" The voice sounded urgent, deep, and filled with authority.
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"Your Majesty, you still can't enter; the Empress is still changing her clothes," another voice replied nervously.
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"I don’t care! I’ve seen everything before—she’s my wife!" the voice snapped, laced with an unsettling aura. "Now let me in, or I'll make sure your salary is the last thing you worry about!"
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"Y-Your Majesty…" the voice stammered pleadingly.
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A warm chuckle echoed through the room. "Just let him in," said a woman, amusement lacing her tone.
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Through the haze, I could barely make out faces, but the hands touching me were gentle, filled with a warmth I’d only ever dreamed of. I sank into the feeling, my heart aching with unfamiliar joy. If this is a dream… please, let me stay in it forever.
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"...Is this her?" the man asked, his tone softening.
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"She looks so much like her father," the woman said with a smile.
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"It’s strange… I didn’t hear her cry after the birth," a midwife commented with slight concern.
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Cry? I wondered. Was I supposed to? I guess… my tears have all dried up after everything.
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The woman leaned closer, cradling me in her arms. Her voice was gentle, soothing. "My dear baby, you don’t need to worry about anything. Mommy will always be with you, every step of the way."
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The man wrapped his arms around us both, his voice filled with warmth. "And Father will ensure that I am always by your side, protecting you."
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What is this feeling? My heart felt strange, like it was swelling, almost tingling. After years of loneliness and pain… to be held so gently, to feel safe… I didn’t think it was possible.
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Nine months have passed, and here I am, living as the sole princess of the empire. And while I’m still not sure which novel world I’ve landed in, I don’t really care, because guess what? I’m crazy rich, baby! With my new life, I’ve got some plans lined up to ensure things go my way.
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Plan A: If I'm a villainess: Change my fate, become the sweetest princess around, and avoid any nasty endings.
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Plan B: Get filthy rich. Check! Mission already accomplished. 😎
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Plan C: Female lead? Hard pass, baby! I have no desire to deal with all the chaos, drama, and heartbreak. I’d rather sit back, eat, and sleep in my palace.
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Plan D: Build a secret underground mansion—just in case things get sketchy. If the empire ever falls, I’ll have my escape all set.
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Plan E: Marry a rich, powerful man. Why not add some spice to the plan? 😎
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With these plans, I’m ready to live my best, stress-free life!
_____
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While I was sitting in the garden with my parents, happily lost in my planning, a woman’s voice suddenly echoed through the tranquil air.
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"Moonnnnn!!!" she shrieked, dashing toward us. "How could you not tell me you had a baby?!"
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My mom laughed gently, her voice soft and soothing, like a lullaby under the night sky. "Careful, Sarah. I didn’t tell you because I knew you'd come running." Her voice held a warmth that could melt any worry. With her pinkish hair reminiscent of spring blossoms, her eyes like thousands of shimmering galaxies, and her sweet, gentle smile, she was a picture of pure grace.
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"M-a…" I blurted out, reaching toward her.
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Everyone froze for a moment, then erupted with joy at my little attempt to speak. It was a bit embarrassing, but seeing their excitement was strangely heartwarming.
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As for my father… well, I can’t really describe him with the same poetic beauty. Honestly, he’s more like a big, lovable robot—a bit clueless and totally lost whenever it comes to my mom.
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