Rena Moon

Yuna asked, "What do you mean?" Princess Ara explained, "The way you answered Father's test questions was remarkable. I couldn't believe such efficient methods could be used to solve those problems. I believe that you are the only one that can help me. I haven't married yet, but it doesn't mean I'll remain unmarried. It's only a matter of time before I get married to the Dark Lord."




Yuna had never heard anyone call themselves the Dark Lord. Why did it sound similar to a demon lord in a fantasy rpg game? She wondered if maybe she was going crazy. Is this world similar to a game? She asked, "Who's the Dark Lord?" Ara sighed, "He's my fiancee. I was arranged to marry him 3 years ago. No one knows anything about him, nobody except me."




Yuna could guess who this 'Dark Lord' was. He must be the ruler of Miyon, the person that allied with the Empress. She knew a few things about him, but had no clue how he looked like and what type of person he was. The only thing she knew about him was that he was an ally of the Empress and that he betrays the empress in the end.




It seems that regardless of how much she changed fate, she still had to face the same problems. The war seemed inevitable to Yuna. There's no way of knowing what the Dark Lord is planning. If he easily betrayed the Empress, he is capable of much more.




Yuna asked, "Have you met him yet?" Ara's face froze for a second when she thought of him. Yuna wondered what could be making her freeze up like this? Is the Dark Lord as scary as a demon lord in novels? Yuna wondered out loud, "Is he that scary?"




Princess Ara nodded, "I can't imagine having to marry him that's where you come in. I was hoping that you could help me one more time. I know it's rude to ask you such a huge favor, but you're the only one that can help. I don't have many supporters. My mother isn't exactly on my side either. More like the opposite. She hates me and she never shows it, but I can tell."




It made Yuna feel bitter when she saw how helpless Princess Ara was. There is no one in this palace that wants to help her. She really needed to save Ara before she gets sent off to marry the enemy. If the marriage was a scam, what really happened to her?




Yuna wanted to beat herself up after not being able to gain any clues from her memories. Her stupid memories were all wasted on that oaf, Minho... If she could guess what could've happened to Ara in her first life, she must've been thrown away or even worse, murdered. Yuna felt her heart grow cold thinking about how dangerous the Dark Lord could be.




Yuna patted her head once more and said, "Don't worry you're not bothering me at all. I've always wanted to help you, Princess. I'm sorry I couldn't help these past 3 years. I was unconscious." Ara sighed, "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you with anything. I have no power against my 2nd brother. He doesn't like me because he thinks I'm weak."




Yuna wanted to punch Minho in the face. How did she ever fall in love with such a pigheaded man! Yuna suddenly hugged Princess Ara, "Don't you dare call yourself weak! You're a lot stronger than you think. You've survived for these last three years without my help. You shouldn't demean yourself like that."




Princess Ara smiled, "Thanks. You're so nice to me. I don't know why I've never met anyone like you. The only other person I get along with is my brother, the crown prince. I just haven't met another girl like you. You're like a sister I never had. Can I call you sis?" Yuna's heart was trembling from how cute she was, "Yes, call me sis."




Ara's smile grew bigger with joy when she heard Yuna's response. She resembled a cute little bunny rabbit. Yuna wanted to squeeze her cheeks and give her tons of hugs. It broke her heart thinking that nobody wanted to take care of her. She is so cute, but the first thing people do is discriminate. This world is so cruel.




Yuna couldn't help it and pat her cute fluffy head. Princess Ara suddenly said, "Sis? To be honest, I'm not ready for marriage. Everyone tells me that it's a woman's job to get married and have kids. Do I really need to do that? The Dark Lord isn't a good person." Yuna asked, "How is he bad person?" Ara seemed reluctant to tell her. She paused, "... I don't know if I should tell you."




In that moment, a memory popped up in Yuna's mind. She remembered seeing the same reaction in someone she met in her second lifetime. She met a woman that was married and had a son. Yuna wasn't a psychologist and she naturally wasn't too interested in it. That changed once she met this woman. The woman's name was Lee Yunji.




Yuna was in college at the time. She didn't have a lot of friends during her life and she preferred to be alone so she got herself an apartment near her university. Once she moved in, she determined that the apartment she rented was not in a good place. There was always a woman screaming and arguing with a man next door.




She couldn't ignore the screaming so she chose to knock on their door. The man angrily stormed out of the apartment while glaring at her. He didn't acknowledge her and walked out. The door shut behind him as he left. Yuna knocked on the door once more. When the door opened, a frightened woman stared back at her.




Yuna smiled to calm the scared woman a bit, "Hi, I'm your neighbor. Nice to meet you." The woman didn't inch forward to give her a hand shake instead she stared at her for a bit. She seemed very cautious and afraid I might have heard or seen anything. She hurriedly asked, "Can I help you with something?" Yuna asked, "I just moved in next door. I heard screaming so I came over to see if everything is okay."




At this moment, the woman named Yunji had the exact same expression as Princess Ara. Yuna remembered that expression. The look of not wanting to reveal information because they're afraid of someone. Yunji was suffering from an abusive relationship with her husband. Yuna was able to help her out of her situation.




Yunji ended up getting a protection order against him and winning the case. She also got full custody of her son and they were able to live peacefully from then on. Yuna enjoyed peace in her small apartment. She wished she could go back there...




Yuna shook her head to clear unnecessary thoughts. If their expressions are the same, Princess Ara must be in a similar situation. It all came to Yuna like a single puzzle piece completing the full picture. The Dark Lord is a violent person that is abusing Princess Ara.




Yuna's face grew grim at the thought of him abusing Princess Ara. Yuna didn't waste time, she frantically pulled up Ara's long sleeves. The weather is hot and she's wearing long sleeves. There were various bruises all over her arm. Yuna wanted to cry looking at all the purple/blue bruises that covered every inch of her body.




Princess Ara began tearing up, "I couldn't tell you... I'm afraid that he'll kill me if he found out I told anyone what he said." Yuna hugged princess Ara, "He won't find out you told me. It'll be okay." Ara continued, "He told me I'm going to be a sacrifice and not a bride... He said that if he hears those same words come out of someone else's mouth, my neck will be cut." She began shivering and crying thinking about those memories.




Yuna hugged her harder and said, "It doesn't matter what he says. I'll protect you." Ara cried, "How? He's strong and I'm afraid you'll get hurt. I just need help convincing my father.to cancel the marriage." Yuna reassured her, "I'll help you, but I need to know more information about the Dark Lord. Do you have a meeting with him?"




Ara said, "Yes, I'm supposed to meet him soon. The meeting is in 2 weeks." Yuna's next response surprised Ara, "I'll be going with you to the meeting."