Don’t Trust The Hostess - Chapter 1

[History remembers winners.]

Medina, sitting in front of the guillotine, recalled the old saying. She was reincarnated into a ‘novel’ she read in her previous life. The contents written in that book was this world’s foundation and history.

If so, that particular novel can be regarded as the book which contains the history of this place. Moreover, the author of the said novel was the winner, or the heroine.

“Prisoner, Medina Rodenherg, lift your head!”

Medina frowned and obeyed the order.

‘It’s probably because I was in jail for a week or so that seeing the sun almost blinded my eyes.’

Her appearance, that used to be praised by many, is now mocked and insulted. The glossy hair and white jade-like skin she used to have became rough. The ragged clothes she wore were now dirty because the muddy water on it had dried up.

She looked so miserable that she couldn’t believe that she was the daughter of Lo Rodenherg, one of the richest men in the Empire.

“Think back on your sins. Attempted murder, crime of rebellion, and….”

Medina looked away blankly from the official, not listening to the official’s long accusations to her. As soon as her eyes landed on the spectators, it made her want to look away as soon as possible. It was like she was looking at the sun.

From afar, I could see a silver-haired beauty shining brightly that he could easily catch the attention of many. He was heading towards me. But, I couldn’t see his face because of the distance. He’s probably being looked at by many because of that face of his.

Medina gritted her teeth.

“…with a body guilty of more than one heinous crime, you dare not beg for forgiveness. You shall repent with your death.”
Two executioners approached her and grabbed both of her arms, forcing her to stand. As she was being dragged to the guillotine helplessly, she recalled the events that happened in the past.

She always made sure that she gave everything and anything to the heroine of the novel.

The heroine was someone who always had a huge smile plastered on her face, deep blue eyes, and silver hair. She was like an innocent angel.

Thinking that she was a kind person, I was satisfied with a life where I could help her even if it was just a little. I gave her whatever she wanted, and was always there when she felt lonely and sad.

I treated you so kindly, but why?

Do I deserve all this when I was just betrayed and blamed for such acts that I never even committed….?

It turns out I didn’t know anything.

The winner will always be the one that is stated in the original.

The final winner, who was the heroine, was the most righteous, most beautiful, and kindest than anyone else in this world.

It might’ve been her biggest mistake to trust her without a doubt like an idiot.

When Medina arrived in front of the guillotine, she put her neck in between the lunette.

“Execute!”

The people’s cheers. The dull sound of the rope being cut. Those are the sounds that rang in her ears.

I closed my eyes tightly, and regretted everything. I don’t think I reincarnated to live this type of life.

‘If I am given another chance, I will surely….’

Her consciousness began to fade at that moment.

***

“…..Ah!”

My face was red and full of sweat. My whole body was trembling in fear.

As soon as I opened my eyes, a colorful chandelier came into sight.

A chandelier that was made by a glass craftsman by hand from the finest materials and high-quality crystal from the far south.

It almost seemed as if she was in her own room because of such an exquisite chandelier.

‘My room?’

Medina got up in surprise.

Blue silk, gold embroidered walls, black mahogany furniture, and gold-rimmed chairs.

She used to change the interior of her room every year when she gets tired of it. If I remember correctly, it was about 10 years ago when my interior was decorated using the gold and blue color.

“What. I’m not dead….?”

Medina walked to the dressing table, wiping the cold sweat off of her forehead.

A mirror made with pure gold and sapphire edges illuminated her whole body. It wasn’t the body of Medina Rodenherg, at 27, reflected on the mirror. Instead, it showed a girl in her late teens. Though her hair was disheveled from sleeping, she was a beauty with jade-like skin and rosy cheeks.

“….Is this real?”

She quickly opened the drawer located at the side of her bed. I’ve been writing about the things that happened everyday in a diary ever since I realized I was reincarnated as Medina from the novel.

I opened the diary with trembling fingers.

The last date written in the diary is March 20, 1521.

It was a few days after her seventeenth birthday.

“Did I really come back to 10 years ago?”

Medina became weak and collapsed. It was only a short time ago that she was punished and sentenced to death to pay for her sins.

Whenever I think of the sharp blade that was used to split my neck, I feel shivers down my spine.

I knew that my neck was still there, but I still can’t get the feeling of the sharp blade cutting my neck off of my chest. That alone seemed to bring tears to run down my face.

‘Calm down…. This isn’t a dream. But even if so…..’

The word ‘return’ floated in my head.

‘I don’t know why…..’

She longed for another chance in her mind before she died.

If I am given another chance, I will never live so foolishly again.

And I was given that opportunity. I’m back in the past.

“Yes. I won’t die this time.”

In this life, I will not be swayed by the contents of the novel and try to please the heroine, Susan.

Medina clenched her fists. It’s time to get my mind straight and think of a strategy.
‘By any chance, some time after my seventeenth birthday….’

I quickly reviewed the contents of my diary. After reading the last page, she swallowed her breath.

<i’m finally=”” going=”” to=”” see=”” susan=”” tomorrow!=”” what=”” kind=”” of=”” heroine=”” is=”” she?=”” when=”” i=”” read=”” the=”” novel,=”” she=”” seemed=”” really=”” kind.=”” hope=”” we’ll=”” be=”” able=”” get=”” along=”” well.=””></i’m>

A laugh came out of my mouth as I read the ridiculous words I wrote before. That ‘kind’ heroine from the novel is someone who is actually an expert at scheming and was the one who secretly stole their family’s fortune.

Medina rose from her seat, sighing at her naivety in the past.

As per what’s written in her diary, tomorrow was the day when she was supposed to meet Susan. Originally, she was going to go and become Susan’s sponsor.

TL/N: How about becoming our patron instead?

But not anymore. She’ll go the other way, opposing Susan.

“…..I’m going to choose Faren.”

The villain of the novel, Faren, is someone who always stood in the way of Susan’s ambitions.

I’ll become his sponsor.

***

The most popular activity in the aristocratic society of the Alleo Empire was the patronage culture. The aristocrats sponsor young people who have talent but can’t develop their skills further because they lack the necessary materials to do so.

Those chosen can receive financial support from their sponsor, in return the said sponsor can earn honor. In that sense, it was a type of business that was beneficial to both parties.

The aristocrats competed for how much value their ‘jewel’ would have ever since.
After the soprano encore performance, how many roses were thrown onto the stage?

Each participant was sponsored by a certain aristocrat, and whoever wins, its sponsor would be the talk of the whole society.

‘To be able to find such a capable scholar, the sponsor truly had great insight.’

Those are the things they brag about in the aristocratic society.

‘In its essence, it’s like choosing expensive jewelry.’

So did Medina in the ‘original’ novel. Unlike the others who sponsor artists and scholars, she wanted to choose a child to sponsor in an unusual field.

What she chose was a ‘wizard’.

Usually, the wizards of fantasy novels are often described as a rare being recognized for its value, but that’s not the case here. Contrary to that, the Alleo Empire despised wizards, and was wary of them.

If a child turns out to be a wizard, it is often abandoned as soon as it’s born. If they do raise the child, it was common for the parents to hide the fact that the child was a wizard.

The reason why they would rather choose ordinary people than rare wizards was probably because of their survival instinct.

That is mainly because their existence causes a mysterious phenomenon. Because of that, the people here have a fundamental fear, thinking that they can only survive by making sure wizards vanish completely.

‘In the future, wizards will overthrow the Empire.’

She tried to recall the summary of the book

The original Medina likes those with outstanding magic talent, so she chooses the main character, Susan, as the one she’ll sponsor.

Medina supports Susan’s studies in magic, while also admonishing her as an unashamed little girl.

She abused Susan in public. She wanted to show off and seal herself in a superior position.

Susan, being the heroine, develops her skills and becomes a Magistrate. Then, she unabashedly participates in the wizard liberation movement.

In the process, the male lead falls in love with Susan, and proceeds to take revenge on Medina who persecuted him when he was a child.

Then, the events after were like any other novel. The wizards were able to overthrow the empire. They were able to set up the country, and it ended just like that.

‘When I first realized that I was reincarnated in a novel, I was really surprised.’

It was when she was sixteen during spring that Medina remembered her previous life.

After suffering from a severe fever, I was able to remember my previous life and the novel.

In the original, she abused and humiliated the heroine, Susan, but Medina has no intention of doing such a foolish thing.

Later, among the wizards, Susan, who will become a Magistrate, tried to survive until the end.

‘It was useless.’

She trembled as she recalled the memory of her neck being split by the guillotine before she returned to the past.

Then, the carriage stopped, and the horseman called me.

“Lady, we’ve arrived at our destination.”

“Good work. I won’t take long. Please wait for me nearby.”

“Of course, My Lady.”

Medina walked alone to the orphanage, putting the horseman and butler on standby.

The orphanage in the suburbs was composed of children with magical qualities, particularly the orphans.

And, in this orphanage you can find Susan and Faren, the heroine and the villain.

‘Now, then…..’

Before she returned, Medina was planning to sponsor Susan from the beginning. Therefore, she looked around the children, and without any doubt, went and picked up Susan and brought her to the mansion.

But this time, it’s different. I’ll bring Faren, not Susan.

“Welcome, Miss Medina Rodenherg!”

When she was guided into the director’s office, a middle-aged man welcomed her with open arms. It was Laithan, the director of the orphanage.

“Nice to meet you.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve heard rumors about you, but I can’t believe you were actually this young and beautiful. You’re a very high-minded person, even at a young age.”

Smiling tauntingly, Director Laithan pointed to the low sofa and asked her to sit.

Medina’s mouth curved slightly upwards as she stared at him.

She didn’t know this before, but experiencing it now, she knew that he was belittling her and treating her like a small girl.

The more people that come and sponsor, the more prosperous the orphanage becomes.
But not many people would even consider sponsoring a wizard.

From Lanthan’s point of view, the young and rich Medina was an easy-to-handle person.

Medina sat on the sofa and went straight to business.