Not The Girl You Used To Know

I am a woman of science, and what's happening right now is beyond any explanation one could come up. I still can't believe that I am inside the novel I used to read. I tried every way possible to wake myself up if I am only dreaming and after bumping my head to the wall for couple of times, I'm finally convinced that I am not just dreaming.

Since I can't do anything with my situation anymore, I just have to live with it. I just have to deal with it. I won't complicate my situation even more!  Knowing what's really happening and finding ways how to return to the world I came from can wait.

Empress Lucia..  Known for being a worthless empress as she knows nothing about her work. She's naive, foolish, dumb and a happy-go-lucky person. But she was kind, and she never harmed anyone. However, she was framed up. Many noble men did not like her, and they did everything to ruin her and drag her down which led her to her current state.

To my current state.

Lucia is framed up for being an arsonist and for murdering someone, then she was convicted and executed.

But I won't die here.

I won't let the story end here.

I am a detective, and given that I already know who is the culprit, all I need to do is prove that they're the ones who did it.

"Empress Lucia--"

"Don't call her with honor and respect anymore, a killer does not deserve that." The lady standing before me said, I guess she's Caroline. The description about Caroline suits her well.

I smirked, "Are you not informed about the phrase, 'a person is innocent until proven guilty?'" I asked.

Her forehead creased, "What are you talking about--"

"Article 3 Bill of rights section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied by the equal protection of the laws." I stated which made her look confused even more. I sighed when I remembered that I am not in the world I came from, "Don't mind me."

She arrogantly smirked, "Hmp, she's really gone mad. Bring her to the dungeon."

"We apologize, Lady Caroline, but His Majesty's order was to bring her to the palace first to hear her side before deciding about Her Majesty's punishment." The knight said with full of respect.

Caroline's smirk didn't fade, contrary to it, she smirked even wider. "Looks like you will be punished more, Lu-Si-Ya." She purposely said the latter while emphasizing my name to make it look like I am already not befitted to be called an "empress."

I only smiled at her which made her flinch. That wasn't the reaction you were expecting, huh? The knights handcuffed me but I didn't resist and I just followed them silenty. There's no point in wasting energy by resisting right now.

When we arrived at the palace, we immediately greeted the emperor. The emperor did not disappoint me, he looks exactly like how he was described at the novel! How can he be so good looking?

Anyway, that jerk ghosted Lucia. After making her fall through exchanging each other letters, he suddenly stopped sending one. He did not even reply! A living book version ghoster of the real world. A typical asshole. Not to mention that this is the first time Lucia officially saw the emperor, they never met each other.

How devastating it must be for her. She finally met the person she loved, but in this very pathetic state.

He gazed at me with his cold eyes. Wow, the jerk really changed. Or was he really like this at the beginning? Up til the novel I read, when he was still exchanging letters with Lucia, he was characterized as a warm hearted and a jolly person. And that's the exact opposite of what's happening and what I see right now.

"Four of your servants-- not to mention your first grade servants said that they saw you trying to burn the estate you are in. The young maid who accidentally spilled a hot tea in your hand was found dead in your room. Do you deny the crime you are accused of doing?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Your Majesty, we are not lying! We wanted to shut our mouths about this matter, but we can't just because the lady she killed was a friend to us!" The servant bowed in her knees.

"Your Majesty, we witnessed how she tried to burn the estate, and everybody saw the corpse of Yeina in her room!"

"Are you saying that Empress Lucia is lying?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He looked at me like he's waiting for my answer. "I did not try to burn the estate I am staying, nor did I kill the servant." I said firmly.

"You benefit from burning the estate you are staying in many ways. You would be moved to a much more pleasant and near estate to the palace. You could earn sympathy from the people and meet me. You also have a motive to kill the lady."

"Your Majesty, I may benefit a lot from burning the estate, but it was the place I grew up to. The place I was raised, and I've grown to love that place and the people in it. Never did you hear that I punished anyone over a little mistake. The motive alone is not strong enough to prove me guilty of killing Yeina. Of taking a life of someone very dear to me."

"Then what would you say about these servants accusing you for burning your estate?" He asked and arched his brows.

"They are lying, Your Majesty."

"Even though they were also one of your closest servants?"

"That's not for me to answer, Your Majesty. Because me myself does not understand why would they frame me up when I was good to them." I said firmly.

"But did you not feel any sign of irritation when the servant spilled the hot tea on you?"

"I invoke my rights against self-incrimination, Your Majesty." I said.

His forehead creased by my answser, but sooner faded. I think he understood it, "You do not have any evidence, and there are four people who witnessed you for burning the estate. No matter what you spout, rationally, you are guilty for burning your own estate and--"

"If we are talking about rational things here, isn't it irrational to also believe just because of what you've heard without giving facts and evidences that prove I am guilty of the crimes that have happened?" I asked which made him stop. "Your Majesty, shouldn't we investigae about this case? Solely believing that someone committed the crime because it is what the people say without any proofs is rather irrational, too, yes, Your Majesty?" I asked directly while looking to his eyes.

"Empress Lucia! Watch your mouth! You are speaking to His Majesty--" One of the higher ups exclaimed.

"Very well, then let us investigate this case." He answered while directly looking to my eyes too.

The servants eyes widened upon hearing this. "But Your Majesty--"

"You don't have anything to worry about if everything you've stated were the truth, right? Divien, I trust you to handle and investigate further to this case." I heard him say, "Empress Lucia is still an Empress until proven guilty, dismiss." He officially announced before turning his back against us.

I smirked at the servants who were glaring at me, "Check mate." I said with the most smug smirk I'd ever shown.

I will win this case.

TEASER:

Who would imagine that a detective would die without even knowing the reason why she died? Ironic, isn't it?

I was a detective, and now I am a detainee. A detainee of a place I didn't even know that existed! How is this possible?

"Shame on you, Empress Lucia. You've had everything but you still wanted more! Look what did your greediness lead you, you will rot forever in the dungeon." A lady with said with a smirk on her face.

Lucia? This is seriously getting unbelievable! The poor empress on the novel that I've read? I am her? How is this possible? This is beyond science, I don't understand this logic at all!