Taste of Poison

01

Chapter 1:

Living in the same nightmare.

-

Roseanne wanted to believe that she had died.

That is what she wanted, after all. She was ready to perish if it means saving her own son. It was easy to admit that she had not been a good mother to him, so she was ready to face what Alistair deemed as rightful punishment for her. But what is happening?

Where is she?

With a sucked breath and terror in her mind, she let out a small gasp as she sat up from where she was lying down. Her hands had touched her neck, and she was surprised to feel her smooth skin. Not only was that surprising, but everything around her was coated with inexpensive things.

...why does everything seem familiar?

Looking down at her clothes, she quivered.

“What is this?” She asked, confused and clearly panicked.

Her room opened with a bang, and maids lined up before her as they bowed. She let out a scream, her body shuddering at the sudden entrance. It had let out a wave of fear rushing to her system. That was until she had seen one person. All who were serving her seemed surprised by her reaction, but one person was different from all.

She carried a worried expression.

Roseanne sobbed, standing to her feet. She staggered but managed to catch herself before running to hold the lady standing before everyone else. Marianne Velasco, her maid of honor. The very person who had cared for her and the one who was willing to die to protect her.

“Your Grace, why are you shedding tears?” She asked, still in that tender voice.

Still unaware of what was happening, Roseanne continued to cry. It was clear that everyone was perplexed by their master’s actions. Everyone was worried about her, looking at her with distress. Roseanne had always been good, someone who seemed quiet. People would quickly see her as perfect for the role, but the people of the household had always been worried about their Duchess.

Never had she shown emotions.

So, what is happening to her?

The one who was worried most was the lady she was hugging, unable to know what she needed to do.

With a desperate cry, she asked. “Marianne? What are you doing here?”

“You have called for us, Your Grace.” Marianne then answered, confused.

“Y… Your Grace?” She asked, now terrified.

Staggering back, everything felt familiar. It was impossible that Marianne would come back to life, especially after she had seen her let out her last breath. Everyone had made her watch her die before her eyes. And now she was being called in that name?

No. What is happening?

It was only when she faced the mirror did she realized something terribly wrong.

Walking forward to the tall mirror, she was surprised to see the other side of the mirror. Her cotton candy pink hair was below her waist, and her porcelain skin was still there, beaming as it used to be. It was a complete contrast to what she had become over the years. She remembered cutting her hair shorter and coloring it black. Even her skin had turned tan over the years of working under the sun.

She could not even recognize the woman staring blankly at her.

Looking back at her lady in waiting, she remembered that Marianne died days before she was banished to the palace. Roseanne had heard that the heavens would permit people of good graces to change the bad things that had happened in the past. While it was nothing but tales for the youth, it was the only way to explain what is happening to her.

She had come back to where all the horror of her life had started.

“Marianne, can you remind me of what I had done today?” Roseanne asked as if wanted to confirm her suspicions.

Despite the confusion, the woman answered her master quickly. “Of course, Your Grace. You had a visit from the Viscount and his new wife, and had joined the celebration of the knights.”

Roseanne was right.

She didn’t know how things are happening, but she could remember this day as it haunted her every day of those horrid years of her life.

This very night, the failed assassination of her son would happen.

Remembering the events from her memory, she recalled that she would be blamed for that fiasco planned and placed by her family. Young Alistair would never get injured, but it would be enough to know that he would be in grave danger. Looking at herself in the mirror, she knew that she had the advantage of turning everything back to her family.

Growing more determined, she had seen how her eyes had glinted in the mirror. Then, remembering how things were from before, the Duke showed her care and had only banished her when she was framed for harming their son.

“Marianne.” She called, remembering how she had seemed like a visitor in her own home. Roseanne remembered that the Duke had never raised his voice on her nor stopped her from venturing into the mansion. Then, standing straight, she posed a question. “Where is the Grand Duke?”

She could see the surprised expression on everyone’s faces, knowing that she had always done everything she could to never met the path of the Grand Duke. Her sister had fixed a schedule for Roseanne to never see him.

But now, Roseanne knew better. Trusting her sister is not the safest thing in the world.

“Marianne?”

The lady jumped, bowing her head. “I would guess that he is still working, Your Grace.”

Hearing those words, she knew that everything was happening as she had remembered. Offering a small smile, she uttered. “Then, escort me to the Duke’s office this instant.”

“Your Grace?” Marianne asked, astounded by the command.

“Huh?” others could not help but utter, only holding their mouth shut the second they all realized that they had spoken without command.

Offering another one of her soft smiles, Roseanne carefully repeated her words. “Please take me to the Grand Duke’s office. I wanted to see him if that is possible.”

Everyone stood there in surprise, but she did not care less. Not only did she want to know where her husband was, but she was making her move to approach him. Everything seemed off for everyone in the mansion, and she knew that. Roseanne never wanted to deal with the Duke, as she knew that she had only married him because of the family debt.

“Of course, Your Grace!” Marianne smiled, letting her feel at ease.

This was only the beginning.

From here and now, she will not let the future that she had lived ever happen again. No matter how much she needed to change, she couldn’t lose everyone she cared for.

Never again would she make the mistake of trusting people who only used her.

Never again.

This time, she will gladly fight for her true family.