Chapter 1 — Once Bitten, Twice Shy
The familiar smell of meat and blood, both fresh, assaulted my senses as I opened my eyes again. It was so familiar that my reaction wasn't anxious or panicked, just silent reflection.
"So, it's happening again." That was my first thought upon waking up.
Staring at the familiar cave with air rushing in, bringing a hollow whistling sound, I guess it's midnight. My fingers brushed against straw and fur, and before figuring out which period of time I had woken up to, a flood of memories came rushing back.
My second life. The beast world. I've been here before. I know this smell, this light, this silence, that random howls of beastmen.
And if my memory is right, after choosing a mate, I left my cave and moved into my partner's. Since I'm still in mine, it means I still haven't chosen anyone yet.
I could almost laugh. The gods must have a cruel sense of humor, dropping me into the same world that already chewed me up once. But it's okay. Once bitten, twice shy. Three times a fool. But after being a fool long enough, you learn.
Another version I remember from my first life, the modern world, goes: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Deceive me once, and that's on you, but never again.
Who would've thought the fool would be me, Aria?
It's a popular saying, but everyone goes on with their life without thinking much about the phrase. I've been walking in the dark for a long time, thinking I was walking in light. And when it got dark and difficult during the journey, I thought I had people to rely on.
If by now I still haven't wisened up and realized that humans are unreliable, led by a collar around their neck called emotion, then I'm a big-time fool.
Everyone makes mistakes, I know, and no one is perfect, this I also know. But no one is as lucky and unlucky at the same time as me, a lucky fool with tons of bad luck.
Waking up now makes me linger more and think about my first life, the modern world. I had worked and strived to stand at the top, and even at the top, there's always another top. At some point, I started wondering when I would stop running.
I built my empire from scratch. People say privilege brings opportunity and connections, but they're wrong. For someone considered ill-omened and a stain on the family, I had to grovel, be smart, and project different personalities to get what I wanted.
And when I reached my goal, I felt relieved that all those people who had scorned and mocked me were now at my feet. The 360-degree change in their attitude, people who now depended on me, my blood, sweat, tears, and snot all mixed together just to survive and live, made me satisfied and also kept me running to maintain my position at the top, widening the distance between myself and others.
But it turns out that humans and life itself are unpredictable, and sometimes life is just not fair. There's no one to complain to, and in the end, our breath halts and the running stops.
It was quite a shock to die at the hands of a fellow competitor in business, but what's done is done.
If my first life was unfortunate and pitiful, my second life was foolish and prideful, a downfall from grace to grass.
When I first woke up here, I thought, 'oh, this world is backward'. And like a moth drawn to fire, I was everywhere. People probably saw me as prideful and annoyingly forward, and I guess I was. I let my guard down and trusted people. Fell in love with sweet words and affection. I was love-brained, comparing my modern world to this one, thinking a man would never do this or that, and how women here were lucky.
Like what? I had been starved of affection for so long that a little attention and sweet words satisfied me and made me happy. I went as far as trying to make people live better lives.
All my knowledge and ideas were put to use. I wasn't just sharing information, I was active in helping. I thought that made me seem lovable, better than the lazy and dirty women of the beast world, forgetting that all humans are driven by the same thing called emotion.
And now, waking up and finding myself in this hollow cave with hay, straw mats, and the familiar smell of herbs, blood, and meat, suddenly I didn't feel relief or peace, just a hollow calm.
Last time, I picked with my heart. I thought kindness mattered and loyalty existed.
This time, all that screwed me over better be prepared, because if I don't crown myself the witch, I'll create another hierarchy and become a queen. And those who led to my downfall will suffer a thousand times over.
Should I change my name since it's a rebirth and revenge? Vall? Varra? Never mind, let's keep Aria.
You just watch. New life, new strategy, new era of the white lotus bitch.
And as this innocent Aria flips the coin and pushes you down the cliff, first, I need to pick differently. That old fox better have more than nine tails and lives, because he's going to wish we never met.
But who is worthy of this queen?