Money is freedom! The more money I make the more freedom I have! This is the motto I've been following ever since I could remember.
And to follow that motto I managed to get into a company that pays well despite the work being quite hectic.
'As long as I make it back to my newly bought apartment everything is fine. ' I thought as I typed up the reports I needed for next day's meeting. After all the best part of the day starts after I reach home. Having a dinner of my choice, a nice bath, catching upto the latest anime and to top it all off, reading novels on my phone before bed. Although sometimes I read too much, end up staying awake till late and show up raccoon eyed at work the next day. My manager goes into mom mode everytime she sees me like that. It's kinda nice though.
Finally I was done for the day. Being one of the last people to leave the office I was all alone in the elevator going down. It's something I'm used to but today the lights inside were flickering a bit too much.
'This isn't one of those the elevator stopped at a floor that doesn't exist type of scenario now is it?'
Despite being well into my twenties, my overactive imagination would beat my rational side in a fight anyday. The unusual sounds which could only be described as the sounds that a breaking machine would make did little to ease my anxiety.
I was sweating now. I figured I should press the emergency button but the elevator was still going down. Isn't it the button for when it gets stuck?
Snap
Before I could think of anything else, I was in a state of free fall. I don't remember the rest.
...
"My Azelia is so cute. I'm going to die from her cuteness." A grown man's voice woke me up. Sounds like some weeb fawning over his favourite gacha game character.
"Dear, you've woken her up now. Don't you know how important it is for children to get proper sleep?" This time it was a female voice.
" Well, my dear Azelia doesn't mind waking up to see her poor old father now, does she?" I was being lifted up by firm and warm hands. When I fully opened my eyes, a smiling middle aged man was holding me up in the air.
"Ehhhh?" Shit! I accidentally let out a sound. Wait a second. My voice sounds different.
"See, you've disturbed her." I followed the voice and saw a woman who was now reaching to hold me.
Hold me?
I looked down to see that my body was that of a toddler? Maybe a bit bigger like a kindergartener. What the hell is going on?
The woman held me and patted me on the back. Maybe it was because my body was that of a child but her methods were effective and I was fast asleep.
Azelia....
Azelia.....where have I heard that name before?
I woke up in the fluffiest bed I've ever slept in. I looked around to see that it was a luxurious canopy bed. The room itself was something straight out of a european fantasy novel.
Oh.
Oh.
Oooooh. It's one of those situations.
I am very quick to accept the reality although I do give myself a few pinches to confirm that it wasn't a dream.
The novels I used to read used to have similar settings. Hell, a lot of them were about my exact same situation in which the protagonist would transmigrate or reincarnate into a novel that they had read before. Normally that would mean that I should be fine. But here's the thing.
Ihad not read this novel yet.
Out of the thousands of novels that are available to read on the internet how am I supposed to know which one I'll reincarnate into? The even sadder part is that I added this one to my library to read and if not for the fact that I died, I would've finished it last night.
That's right. This is the world of the new hit novel 'That time I got reincarnated as a Saintess in another world'.
Which layer of irony am I on right now?
Although I had planned to read it after I saw it climb up the charts, it only had a few chapters at the time so I wanted to wait till it had enough so I could properly binge.
Ahhhh I should've read it back then!
I was thrashing my arms and legs in frustration when a maid entered the room.
"Miss Azelia, I see you've already woken up." She said with a smile. Everyone I've met in this world so far have been very kind and affectionate so far. Children do have it easy.
The maid got me out of bed and started preparing me for the day. As she sat me down to wash my face I finally saw what I looked like.
Wow, as expected of a character from a fantasy novel.
There was no denying it. I was an adorable child. The bright red hair and red brown eyes were far brighter and prettier than my old self. But a part of me did missed my old face. I did invest a lot in skincare.
After washing my face the maid started to brush my hair. Her gentle brushing almost made me fall asleep again.
"I'm glad that my brushing is comfortable enough for you to fall asleep but Miss Azelia, you have guests today. You must not fall asleep now." The maid advised with a kind smile.
"Ok." I replied.
Guests? I wonder who's coming. Not that I know anyone other than the protagonist though.
After brushing my hair the maid helped me pick a dress from the vast collection present inside in the closet along with matching shoes and accessories.
I can never get used to this show of wealth in these types of stories.
By the time we were done, I almost looked like a doll. Far gone was the 20 something woman in her business suits. Now in the mirror stood a little girl.
This is going to get some time to get used to.
I hadn't been this small for a long time afterall.
A knock interrupted my retrospect.
"Miss Azelia, His Highness and the rest of the royal family have arrived."
His highness and the royal family???
"Oh, look! It's time, Miss Azelia." The maid rushed me out of the room.
The rest of this place seems to match the same luxury of the room. I looked around in awe at the architecture and decor. It was impressive. It reminded me of my apartment hunting days during which I'd oogle at mansions and villas miles away from my budget.
Well if the family is important enough for the royal family to visit, they're probably big shots.
I had to be careful.
The maid guided me into a room in which the middle aged man and woman from before and another family, probably the royal family, consisting of the queen, a prince around my age and a princess who was a bit older, was sitting in.
"Azelia, my dear daughter, come inside and greet His Highness. " The middle aged man, who was my father in this world said.
I did my best at greeting them hoping that whatever mistakes I make will be expected from a child of this age.
The rest of the day passed with the adults talking about geopolitics, none of which I could understand since I did not know any of the names or context. The princess and the prince seemed to keep each other in check and I avoided interacting with them before I knew enough about the world.I almost fell asleep if not for the fact that the snacks kept me busy.
"Shall we finally get to the main event?." His highness, announced.
"Yes yes." My father replied.
My mother made me stand up along with everyone else, while Her majesty made the prince stand opposite to me.
" Erik, Azelia, you two are to be bethroted to each other."
Bethroted? As in we should get married in the future?
Throughout my short but fulfilling life I never put in any effort to get married. Afterall it went against my motto. Because if money is freedom....
Marriage is prison.