Fluffy nodded, its eyes serious for once. "It's something she kept hidden. It might help you understand what happened before... you woke up here."
Evelisse swallowed hard, bracing herself. 'Am I really prepared for this? What if I find out something terrible? No... I have to know. If something happened to her, it could happen to me too.'
Her heart pounding as she flipped to the first page. The handwriting was neat at first, the ink a soft, faded blue.
Diary of Evelisse Ashthorne
For my thoughts, fears, and secrets—never to be shared.
Her hands trembled as she flipped through the pages, her eyes widening as she read the hastily scrawled notes, some barely legible through smudges and blots of ink.
"Someone's watching me. I hear footsteps at night when everyone's asleep. I asked the maids, but they say it's just my imagination. I feel like someone's always behind me, but when I look, no one's there..."
A chill crept down Evelisse's spine as she scanned more entries, each one darker than the last.
"Yesterday, I found a ribbon in my room that wasn't mine. I asked Mother, but she looked confused. None of my dresses have that color. I hid it under my bed. I don't want anyone to know I'm scared."
"The garden felt safe once. Now I feel watched even there. I saw shadows moving between the trees, but the guards said it was just the wind. Am I going crazy?"
As she neared the last few pages, the handwriting grew messier, almost frantic.
"I told Father too. He just patted my head and said I was letting fairy tales scare me. But I know what I heard! I wasn't dreaming! They don't take me seriously... why does no one listen to me?"
Page after page was filled with similar fears and observations—shadows moving when they shouldn't, cold drafts in sealed rooms, muffled whispers just beyond hearing.
"I'm not crazy. I know someone's out to get me. If something happens to me... I just hope someone believes me."
Evelisse's heart thudded in her chest, the air in the room suddenly feeling colder. She traced the faded ink with her fingertip, wondering how scared the original Evelisse must have been.
The final entry was the most alarming.
"I can't sleep. I feel like every time I close my eyes, someone's right there. I heard whispers through the wall again. I'm going to hide this diary in the drawer. If anyone finds it, please... help me."
Fluffy's ears flattened, its tiny body hovering closer to Evelisse's shoulder. "She must have been so scared..."
She felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. 'Was that... what happened? Did her fear and exhaustion finally break her? Is that why I woke up in her body? Did no one ever take her seriously?'
Fluffy nudged her shoulder, its usual cheerfulness muted. "Princess... maybe that's why the Fluff System chose you. To give you a second chance and protect you... so that this time, someone notices."
Evelisse wiped her eyes, forcing down the wave of emotions threatening to swallow her. 'I don't know who or what scared her, but I won't let it happen again. If I'm here now, I'll protect this life. I'll make sure no one hurts me—or my family.'
A sudden, loud knock on the door made Evelisse jump, clutching the diary to her chest.
"Eve? Are you alright?" Felix's voice called from the hallway, worry lacing his tone.
Quickly, Evelisse stuffed the diary back into the drawer and closed it. Taking a deep breath, she forced a small smile. "Y-Yeah! I'm fine!"
The door creaked open, and Felix peeked in, his blue eyes scanning the room. "You sure? I thought I heard something."
Evelisse forced a laugh, hoping it didn't sound as shaky as she felt. "I just... tripped over one of the pillows. No big deal."
Felix's eyes softened, and he stepped inside. "Alright. Just call if you need me, okay?"
She nodded, managing a smile. As he closed the door, Evelisse let out a shaky breath, her heart pounding.
'Something bad happened to the original Evelisse... and it might still be happening. I need to find out the truth before it's too late.'
Fluffy floated in front of her, tail swishing nervously. "Maybe... just maybe you should act like nothing's wrong. If the real Evelisse acted paranoid, that could have drawn suspicion. You're supposed to have amnesia, right? Use that to your advantage."
Evelisse nodded slowly. 'Yeah... if I act too cautious, someone might notice. Better to play the clueless princess for now.'
Fluffy chirped approvingly. "Smart thinking! You just have to be cute, and no one will think twice!"
Evelisse shot the fox a glare but didn't argue. She knew that maintaining a cheerful, clueless persona was her best chance of figuring out what really happened.
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
The next morning, Evelisse woke up to the sound of a light knock on her door. A maid poked her head in, bowing respectfully.
"Your Highness, it's time for your morning etiquette lessons."
'Oh great, royal torture,' she thought, rubbing her eyes.
Fluffy hovered near her face, giggling. "Time to learn how to be a proper princess!"
Evelisse groaned. 'I thought being a pampered princess meant eating sweets, being cute and napping...'
"C'mon princess! You can't be a lazy one." Fluffy chimed before giggling at her grumpy expression.
Dressed in a simple, pale lavender dress with lace trim, Evelisse followed the maid down the corridor to a bright, airy room lined with mirrors.
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
The etiquette instructor entered, an elderly woman named Madam Hildegarde, who looked like she could snap a sword in half with just a glare. Evelisse gulped, trying to sit up straighter.
"Good morning, Your Highness," Madam Hildegarde greeted, bowing deeply. "Today, we shall be covering proper posture while sitting, basic table manners and royal greetings."
Evelisse forced a polite smile, mentally screaming. 'Kill me now.'
Fluffy nudged her mind. "Be cute! Smile!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Evelisse chirped, giving a bright, innocent grin.
The instructor's stern expression softened just a little. "Very good, Your Highness. Now, let us begin."
What followed was two hours of pure, unfiltered torture.
Evelisse followed the woman's instructions, trying to balance a book on her head while keeping her back straight and her hands delicately folded in her lap. It wasn't as easy as it looked.
'This is ridiculous,' Evelisse thought as the book wobbled dangerously. 'Why does being a princess mean sitting like a stiff, overstuffed doll?'
"Head up, shoulders back. Excellent!" Madam Hildegarde praised, clapping her hands. "You're doing wonderfully!"
Fluffy nudged her mental space. "See? Cute and graceful! You've got this!"
Evelisse bit back a grumble. 'If I have to balance one more book on my head, I'm going to scream.'
After an hour of sitting, walking, and bowing practice, Evelisse's muscles were starting to ache. Just as she thought they were done, Madam Hildegarde switched o more drills.
Evelisse struggled to balance a book on her head while reciting greetings in three different languages, all while curtsying without dropping the imaginary teacup in her hand.
'This is not royal training, this is boot camp!' Evelisse screamed internally as Madam Hildegarde corrected her posture for the tenth time.
Fluffy whispered encouragement. "You can do it! Just imagine it's a dance move!"
When they finally moved on to table etiquette, Evelisse eyed the array of utensils like they were foreign weapons.
Madam Hildegarde placed a silver spoon on Evelisse's plate. "Now, which spoon is appropriate for soup?"
Evelisse wracked her brain. 'I don't know! They all look the same!'
"The soup spoon is the largest, Your Highness," the instructor prompted gently.
Evelisse grabbed the biggest spoon and lifted it triumphantly. "This one?"
Madam Hildegarde gave a stiff nod. "Yes. Proper form, now."
Evelisse carefully scooped invisible soup, trying to look graceful while desperately wanting to fling the spoon at the wall.
After the lesson, Madam Hildegarde gave a small, rare smile. "You've improved since last time, Your Highness. Keep practicing."
Evelisse grinned, trying not to look too relieved. "Thank you!"
As the instructor left, Evelisse collapsed back into the plush chair, groaning. "I'd rather fight a dragon than do this every day..."
Fluffy giggled. "But you did well! Your cute act totally won her over! No one suspected a thing!"
Evelisse huffed. 'If being a princess means etiquette torture, I might need to reconsider surviving this life.'
But her thoughts shifted back to the diary, and her smile faded. 'I have to find out what really happened to Evelisse... before it happens to me.'
However, as Evelisse returned to her room, she noticed something unsettling—one of her dolls had been moved. It was facing the door, its glass eyes staring straight at her.
Her heart pounded, and a cold sweat broke out on her skin.
'Did someone... come in while I was gone?'
Fluffy's fur bristled, and it whispered, "We're not alone."