The Villain Princess survived the Imperial Riot

The Villain Princess survived the Imperial Riot

Author: 21

Introduction:

"You're right, but Eternal Shadow is a brand-new open-world adventure game developed by Hestia. Set in a great nation known as the 'High Empire,' you'll play the role of a powerful imperial princess, immersing yourself in the thrill of bullying classmates, dominating subordinates, engaging in colonial plunder, and engaging in iron-blooded repression. In a world where no one picks up anything, you'll encounter friendships with rebels and revolutionaries, even staking your claim on lifelong friendships—and experience the irresistible invitation to the guillotine."

Volume 1: Dreamer: . Traveling through time and becoming the Villain Princess

The sky was pale, a thin layer of snow rustled, and the branches and leaves rustled. The mountain ridges curled up in the silver wind like stray dogs that had been strayed from their homes and were dying, and the world was covered with a layer of misty frost.

One hundred years ago, on the same winter day, the blue-washed bay was filled with blood, the once-mighty Kingdom of Fran was destroyed, the iron hoof of the empire reached the coast of Yunling, and the giant warships of the Plantagenet dynasty faced each other across the sea.

The Divine Emperor ordered a giant statue to be erected on the top of the Cloud Peak, with the tip of the sword pointing to the borders of the world. Countless iron-clad soldiers eager to make achievements are waiting for the new journey, waiting to let the order of the Supreme Empire shine on every inch of land under the sun.

Today, the statue has become a cultural symbol of the National Genting University of Law and a sacred place for venerating the divine emperor. Beneath its majestic pedestal, faculty and students decorate the Crown Plaza with lanterns and hold an annual celebration.

The platinum-colored buildings with pointed roofs and curved walls are arranged in an orderly manner, and the layout from the inside to the outside is very layered. The arcade columns connecting to the main road are carved with iron guards. People are bustling in and out of the museum, astrology room, arcane scroll shop and souvenir shop in the building.

Deeper, against the Colossal Cliff, a solemn, towering, church-like building rose silently. Its facade, convex and concave, folds of light and shadow, its pointed ribbed vaults and flying buttresses elevating the tower to infinite height. The pediment was broken, and carved armor was inlaid, as if a vast army was cheering, sending a celestial being to the zenith to ascend in broad daylight.

In front of the collapsed open-air stall, the roof, wooden frames, and cotton wool were all in a mess. Occasionally, a passerby would glance over and then quickly move away, escaping into the distance for fear of being caught in the act.

"Hestia, Your Highness..."

A pretty, dark-haired girl knelt on the ground, her thickened wool uniform skirt soaked by the snow, leaving the white, black, and gold twill fabric filthy and disheveled, a Cinderella who had emerged from the coal dust. She tilted her head back, her voice trembling with plea for mercy, a flicker of resentment and unwillingness in her humble, stubborn eyes.

And the instigator of all this, the elegant girl with silver hair and golden eyes, was gazing at her in a trance.

After a moment, Hestia came back to her senses from the scene before her. She glanced at the face reflected in the broken mirror, and chaotic memories flooded into her mind, gradually becoming clearer.

She traveled through time and space to a large-scale MMORPG game called "Eternal Shadow", where she saw a villain princess bullying her classmates.

She was very familiar with the face in the mirror - it was almost a word-for-word depiction of her own holographic image when she was fifteen years old. If she were asked to give her original face a score of twelve, then the imperial princess named Hestia Heberus would at least receive a high score of ten.

But if she had to make the choice again, she would tear this face off her skin without hesitation.

Because this princess was never a decent character. Cruel, cold-blooded, insane, and despicable, every negative connotation associated with gore was embodied in her stern and handsome appearance. As her best friend and game planner had said, she was a crucial character to the main storyline, so crucial that without Hestia Heberus, the game's plot wouldn't progress. Narcissistic as she was, she believed her bestie's lies, slipped in her own agenda, and inserted herself into the story, serving as a free face model.

She is as beautiful as a flower and is born to be the protagonist.

Then, he bullied his classmates, tortured his maids, brutally colonized the land, roasted heretics, exploited his subjects, suppressed uprisings, and defected to Chaos... Finally, in the 2.0 [Divergence] ending, he was met with a guillotine CG. Over half of the main NPCs, including the player character's origin story, share a deep vendetta against this scum of the earth.

The Apostle of Light Viola Leland's difficult journey to the destiny of the savior was entirely facilitated by Her Royal Highness the Princess. The two can be said to be destined enemies.

According to the game's published historical records, Hestia is a fanatical worshipper of the God-Emperor, arrogant, narcissistic, and jealous. Because Viola Leland's academic performance consistently surpasses hers, she repeatedly bullies and trips her up, determined to turn Viola into a wailing, begging, and slaving dog. This directly forces the talented girl, who had the opportunity to join the rentier camp, to "awaken," and she switches sides with the rebels on the eve of the empire's collapse.

Hestia narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze like a pair of coiled golden cobras.

She was fifteen years old now, and not to mention the unfortunate people she had persecuted before, at least at this moment, her relationship with Viola Leland had not reached the point of life and death.

Hestia bent down, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders. She reached out her white wrist to hold the snow waterfall and gracefully picked up a stuffed doll from the stall.

Hand-sewn with exquisite craftsmanship, this is the chivalrous knight Natalia, one of the Twenty-Eight Danube Generals appointed by the Divine Emperor during the Empire's hundred years of conquest.

The Empire's vast territory is the largest in two thousand years. During the reign of the God-Emperor, he united many races, not just humanity, under a single banner. Regardless of the bloody means employed, this was a truly magnificent spectacle rarely seen in history. Though Viola is a native of Fran, the lower classes know nothing of Fran's past glory. They've only heard stories of heroes since childhood, a sentiment they harbor in their hearts. This is the Imperial Festival, and Viola is sewing and selling pieces of past heroes—a truly loyal and legitimate business for a poor Fran.

Hestia sneered again, her voice clear and pleasant, "You're a despicable Fran pariah, and you think you're qualified to create an idol for the Twenty-Eight Danube Generals? You reek of money, and it really makes me sick."

She didn't know how many eyes were watching her, so she simply maintained her arrogant demeanor. As long as no one was killed, even the teachers at the academy wouldn't dare to contradict her on such a trivial matter.

On the contrary, if she showed leniency, rumors would probably spread to the palace the next day.

Oh my God, Princess Hestia is not loyal!

The few traces of grief and anger in Viola's eyes vanished. She lowered her head, not caring about the cracked chilblains on the back of her hands. She subconsciously tugged at her long skirt that was torn by glass fragments to cover up the low-quality cotton that was spilled out from inside, and a deep sense of shame appeared on her face.

Speaking objectively, it was her fault for using money to blaspheme the chivalrous knight, and Her Highness Hestia's teaching was justified...

Viola pursed her lips: "I... no... I just..."

"What do you mean by just not? You like to quibble? Hehe... Then I'll use the fire tongs to burn your little mouth into a piece and see how hard it can get."

Hestia's casual words frightened Viola so much that her face turned pale. The black-haired girl shook her head in fear. She looked around the square, trying to seek help from passers-by, but all she got were cold or complicated gazes.

Viola bit her lower lip until it was purple and blue. She said with difficulty: "I...I'm sorry."

Hestia then smiled with satisfaction.

She leaned over, put her lips on Viola's ear, and breathed sweetly, making Viola's body tremble:

"You should apologize to the heroes of the Empire, not me. If you truly want to say sorry, then bring these despicable little toys with you and come with me to the shrine of the God-Emperor to repent! If you dare to play tricks, hehe..."

After saying this, Hestia walked out of the square along the platinum stone-paved arcade, leaving Viola alone in the messy stall with tears in her eyes.

The black-haired girl climbed up from the rubble, wiped away her tears, and silently cleaned up the "ruins" that were kicked down by Hestia. She put the doll soaked in snow water into the bag and made room for it.

She silently looked at Hestia's back in the distance, with fear in her eyes. However, after thinking it over again and again, she did not dare to disobey, so she followed with heavy steps.

Volume 2: Dreamer: . Because I like

As Hestia expected, Viola retained her law-abiding nature in her early years. As long as the reins were tightened slightly, there would be ten thousand ways to control her within the rules.

If she was like the original owner, who humiliated Viola unreasonably at the college celebration out of jealousy and forced her to kneel down and kiss the tip of her shoe before letting her go, the situation would be irreversible.

In the meditation room, a solemn and majestic statue of the God Emperor sits high on a throne engraved with a dragon. The space is deserted, the atmosphere is dull, and the cold incense burner is filled with ashes.

Viola knocked on the door, walked in cautiously, and lifted the curtain embroidered with a cross and a golden shield.

Before coming here, she had already rehearsed a thousand times, knowing exactly how to resolve the conflict with Her Majesty. Ultimately, it was her selling of hero stuffed animals that had offended Her Majesty's faith. Therefore, as long as she sincerely apologized and demonstrated her loyalty to the Divine Emperor, she would be able to overcome this difficulty.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry. Viola is guilty of an unforgivable crime. She shouldn't use a hero's portrait to..."

Before Viola could finish her words, she saw Hestia approaching playfully, their noses almost touching. The huge sense of oppression almost suffocated her. The words she had prepared were stuck in her throat and shrank into her stomach as she walked backwards.

Forced into a corner.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

Viola avoided his gaze, breathing rapidly. After arriving at the Offa Academy, she had heard many rumors about Her Royal Highness.

A cold and cunning venomous snake, a tyrannical and capricious beast, he once drove a carriage to kill civilians. Afterwards, he did not offer any compensation or apology, but instead imprisoned the victim's family for the crime of disrespecting the God-Emperor.

The order of the Supreme Empire is strict, with a clear distinction between nobles and commoners, humans and demihumans. The only two ways to break the shackles of class are to become an officially certified arcane sorcerer, or to worship the tower and become its follower.

The poor and the serfs were nothing but worthless grass that could be buried at any moment. Even if their bones were broken into pieces, not a single sound would be made.

The Heberus royal family flows with the blood of the legendary dragon. They are the successors of His Majesty the Divine Emperor, with the manifest destiny to rule the world, and are undoubtedly the supreme beings.

Even if Her Royal Highness the Princess cut her into pieces at this moment, the law would only stand on Tianlong's side.

Viola's heart surged with indignation at the thought. She respected heroes with outstanding achievements, those martyrs who sacrificed their lives for great causes, but how could a bad guy with no achievements stand above millions of people and wantonly destroy the lives and dignity of others?

Just as she was daydreaming, a white, tender and delicate hand without any signs of fatigue pinched her chin without any explanation and forced her to look up.

Hestia commanded, "Pariah, look me in the eyes."

"Your Highness, please respect me! I have a name. My name is Viola Leland!"

Viola pushed Hestia's lower abdomen weakly. She was trembling and had no strength to move.

"Oh, Lelan." Hestia pretended to be surprised. "Do you know why I asked you to come here?"

"Because I sold hero idols privately..."

Viola turned her eyes away, her chin still firmly fixed. She twisted her shoulders uneasily, but could not break free.

Hestia teased, "Such an insignificant matter?"

Viola's eyes widened, her crystal-clear dark eyes filled with disbelief.

How can this be an insignificant matter!

Besides...if it was an insignificant matter, why would Her Royal Highness the Princess destroy her stall in public?

As if she understood the question in Viola's eyes, Hestia said calmly, "Because I like it."

Because... like it?

Viola's body trembled with excitement under her long skirt. Anger welled up in her throat, but she didn't dare to vent it. She just asked, "Why...why? I never provoked you!"

To easily destroy all of a person's efforts, to deny the souvenir doll she completed by staying up late every night and pricking her fingers countless times, just because she likes it?

"If you want a more definitive answer, it's that I hate people who are better than me."

Hestia's aggressive gaze made Viola very uncomfortable, and her unreasonable personality made her even more upset.

Why would people be so despicable? What good would it do?!

"Just that?" Viola bit her lower lip. She never expected to get such an answer in the end.

"For those who are better than me, I usually only give myself two choices," Hestia raised her index and middle fingers, pressed them against Viola's lips, and said to herself, "First, destroy her at all costs to prevent her from becoming an obstacle in my path. Second, make her my own, my loyal subordinate and servant."

To be fair, Hestia didn't want to be Viola's enemy. But she was a genius arcane girl, a once-in-a-millennium genius, a divinely inspired apostle of light, the destroyer of the old empire, the much-anticipated savior, and the CG monster who could crush a chaos vortex with a single punch.

This kind of character could be killed or controlled, there was no third way—she was the imperial princess, the most despicable and shameful vested interest, a natural candidate for the guillotine. If Viola were even slightly deceived by the evil rebels, she would sooner or later meet her on the battlefield.

The empire may need reform, but it must not be destroyed. This difficult and arduous chariot is tied to her future and life!

"I'm not as good as you say..." Viola clenched her fists, and the backs of her already cracked hands were broken into shocking frostbite. The pain made her nails dig into the flesh, but she gritted her teeth and said nothing. "Let me go, please, I won't go against you."

"So your answer is 'no'?"

Hestia's laughter turned cold and terribly indifferent.

"William Leland, your father, upon learning of your arcane talent, mortgaged his land and moved his family from a remote village to Cloudtop City, all so you could receive a better education. He worked as a dockworker during the day and hauled fertilizer for the company at night. The heavy debt burden left him breathless, and he contracted lung disease but refused treatment. Despite this, he never expected you to achieve great success, only hoping that you could find a comfortable job in the future so you could better take care of yourself."

Her Royal Highness the Princess's narration was plain, but every word was like a sharp knife piercing Viola's heart.

"Mara Leland, your mother, worked first in a textile mill and then in a match factory full of toxic phosphorus. She rose before dawn and worked until dusk, yet her factory salary was barely enough for the most basic bread and butter. She fell ill many times and was later fired due to her inefficiency. She remains weak to this day, but she still worries about your tuition and sews children's toys to supplement the family income. Unfortunately, the sales were poor and they couldn't be sold. In the end, all of them became Alice's pet. Oh, yes, and your sister, Alice Leland, um... a seven-year-old girl, so fair and tender, so adorable..."

“Enough!” Viola screamed, the indignation in her eyes replaced by intense fear, “How do you know…”

She had only been enrolled in school for less than three months and had never had any contact with the princess before, but she knew her family background like the back of her hand.

"You understand, Miss Leland, I won't allow anyone to be better than me."

Hestia brushed the back of her hand across Viola's cheek. Her pretty face was far inferior to hers, but the inferiority and proud stubbornness in her eyes were fascinating, and her coercion had a unique flavor.

Viola isn't as brave and fearless as she appears later in the story. She has ties to her parents and sisters, her weak points. Viola's first "awakening" comes after her parents' deaths. A group of Fran rebels blew up the statue of the God-Emperor during the annual celebration of the National Academy of Olympian Law. This incident intensified the century-old ethnic conflict between the Empire and the Frans, resulting in countless deaths in the secret police's crackdown on the rebels.

In other words, as long as Viola is controlled with flexible means, using both kindness and force to prevent her from going to extremes, there is a high probability that the savior who has defected to the rebel party will turn over a new leaf.

Wait…a celebration explosion?

Hestia suddenly realized something and was about to go out to confirm it when she heard the bell tower of the Crown Hall sound the noon time. Then, the earth shook violently.