[*Power on. starting back-up drive*]

[Process complete]

I opened my eyes, blinking. It was the same white walls and empty space from before. In front of me was the familiar bright blue orb floating on a platform.

[Welcome back trainee#021400, how was your trip?]

This bastard. 

[I will pretend I did not hear what you just said.]

I stared blankly at the orb, fatigue overcoming me. My chest felt heavy as I breathed. I can still feel the suffocating pain from the moment I drank that wine.

[As promised, rewards will be given.]

The fatigue suddenly washed away, I stood straight as I expectantly looked at the blue orb.

[Out of your two missions. One is completed. Thus the monetary reward will be deducted; from 1 million to 500 thousand.]

...What is this?

I only accomplished one mission you say? How? Did the crown prince die in the end? By the time I died, everything went perfectly well.

The orb shone faintly as if looking at me with disappointment.

[Did you think that once you died nothing will change? You are an anomaly that made their lives change.]

Suddenly, a screen appeared in front of me.

--

It showed what happened next. The consort was seized and imprisoned as the maid who delivered the silver cup confessed of the consort's evil deeds. People were horrified as they stared at the Empress lying lifelessly on the floor. Around her were the ones who held Hae Gi dear the most.

The one who stood out the most was Minjoon, who kneeled at her side holding her hand. He was sobbing as he looked at his mother who lay lifelessly on the floor. Her best friend and empire's greatest doctor was trying to make her heart beat once more.

The general who was standing at the back was now in front, ordering his soldiers to seize the consort. Yoonjae clenched his fists closing his eyes. He failed her, He failed to protect the woman he promised to protect. 

The emperor coldly stared at the woman who killed his beloved, hatred in his eyes. He did not even look back as he ordered the woman to be hanged. He felt angry. Angry at himself for not protecting her well. For not protecting the person he loved the most. He felt so drained, lifeless. He did not have the will anymore to live.

A funeral was made for her. She was buried at the same place Daehyun and Hae Gi met. Many people cried and mourned for her - the maids, the servants, and the people who loved her for who she was.

The emperor, Minjoon's father, decided to send Minjoon on a mission along with his friend, Baekho. They ventured far north, where the general was standing on guard.

They discovered their sworn enemy much earlier than expected, thanks to Minjoon's interference. Thanks to that, they were able to gather enough evidence and think of strategies to protect their kingdom from the enemies.

Minjoon was able to reunite the three kingdoms through their findings and together they fought the Bakjans. They had an overwhelming victory.

It was just like the plot. The male lead succeeded to reunite the kingdoms and successfully sat on his throne. But many things changed.

The male lead's father did not die and instead helped him fight back against the corrupt officials in the palace. Together, they got rid of the officials and nobles who adulterated the kingdom and its people.

The male lead did not marry the villainess for he saw how cunning and vile the woman was. She did not adhere to the customs and rules and instead tempted him to accomplish her wishes by acting innocent and meek. He later discovered that this backstabbing woman was conniving with their enemy, the Bakjans.

If it wasn't for the time that the male lead spent with his mother during his childhood, constantly dealing with such kind of people, he would be doing exactly what the villainess had planned.

The female lead helped him discover the villainess' deeds and eventually win the war. Adopted by the country's former commander, she was taught how to strategize and fight battles. During that time, women still were not accorded any significant role. The female lead was the first woman to ever have a role, the kingdom's strategist. Together, the main leads fought to protect their kingdom and to achieve peace across the lands.

The male lead married the female lead. Something that was once fated but did not happen due to the villainess' intervention.

After the war, the general retired along with the former emperor. They passed on their will to the succeeding generations.

It was a peaceful ending with not much blood spilled.

But no one will ever forget the name that was uttered by children, by mothers, and by the people.

Il Hae Gi.

The former Empress of the Il Kingdom was born on February 14th and died on the same day. She died by drinking a poisoned cup intended for the prince. Unlike before, she was no longer remembered as treacherous, evil, or heartless. She was called the mother of all mothers. She selflessly protected her child, she stood on her ground while being besmirched and humiliated, she held her head up high upholding her role as Empress, and she sacrificed herself for the sake of her child.

She wasn't called a pretentious woman who was blinded by power and greed, she was called the woman who protected the empire's hope.

Their hope was her child, the same child who led them to victory and helped spread prosperity across the lands.

-

I'm glad.

All the time I thought that I wasn't able to do anything, to change anything. But as I saw what happened after my death, I felt like a huge and heavy weight being lifted from my shoulders. All the sacrifices, all the sufferings, and all the hardships that I endured were all worth it.

A laugh escaped from my lips as I felt the contentment seep within me. I did not notice the wetness of my cheeks nor the trembling of my hands.

The stuffiness in my chest increased as I remembered the times I spent with those people. The happiness and the laughter, combined with the sadness and tears that made my stay in that world so real and worthwhile.

Now that I am in a similar situation like those characters that I read in reincarnation novels, I feel like I have a connection with them. An understanding of what's it like to be in a foreign world filled with different people you don't know, and having the knowledge that no one else knows about it.

It was always a big burden. And I wondered how those people cope with the feeling of having those characters live in their palms, and at the same time, be detached from the characters of the story. 

Because I myself couldn't. I grew to love a child that wasn't mine, I learned how to care for people I did not know, and I felt happy, just being with them.

My heart ached as I realized that I couldn't meet them again. The story was now closed and I couldn't go back anymore.

My laughter turned into silent sobs as I sat down, hugging my knees to my chest. The tears couldn't stop flowing.

[This is just the beginning. Your path of becoming a beauty is still ongoing.]

I slowly raised my head to look at the orb. My eyes were still red.

What do you mean?

[This is the goal of the program 'Captivating Beauty Achieved!'.]

Then I shouldn't be attached. If I had to captivate them all, then was I doing a terrible job? 

[You're doing fine. Just be yourself.]

[It's okay to be attached. That just means you're human.]

I grew calm as I listened to the orb. My hiccups were still rampant as my breathing slowed. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, willing myself to calm down.

[That's what you said anyway.]

Because I was busy breathing deeply and dealing with my thoughts, I failed to hear what the orb said.

I thought of the ending of the story, and I couldn't help but think...

Wasn't that a happy ending?

[No it wasn't.]

What do you mean? Didn't the male lead have a happy ending?

[... were you happy?...]

As I was mumbling to myself, I failed to hear what the blue orb said.

What?

[...]

[Anyway, you have earned 10 points throughout this challenge. These points can be used when buying in the gift shop, be sure to buy what you need for the next world.]

Points? Gift shop?

Oh, I totally forgot.

I punched myself in the head as I was suddenly reminded of the gift shop. Of course, why didn't I think of that?!

[Would you like to open the gift shop?]

Yes, please.

A holographic screen suddenly appeared.

--  

{Gift Shop}

Choose wisely, and may the odds be with you.

{Heal- 6 points}

{Wisdom - 8 points}

{Strength - 5 points}

===

{Items/Equipment}

Locked. Will open once you meet the requirement of traveling to a minimum of two worlds.

World {1/2}

--

So, now I basically have 10 points in my possession. The most expensive is Wisdom, the least is Strength, and at the middle is Heal.

Wait, can I even see my stats?

All the novels that I read suddenly came to mind as I saw the choices. Normally, a reincarnated person will have the ability to look at their stats and have access to a store. Since there's a gift shop, then maybe I have that ability too?

Stat

[...]

...

[Error-]

Okay, nevermind.

I have three choices. Heal, wisdom, and strength. 

Choosing 'heal' can be very beneficial. Based on the novels I read, healers are always sought after because of their scarcity. For every 10 thousand cavalrymen, there will only be at max 1 thousand healers available. If this is the 'heal' that I know then it can help me stay alive, and maybe help save the male lead. 

If I chose 'wisdom'. Well, wisdom is a pretty simple but broad word. It can mean that I may have insights on what will happen in the future, or maybe I would be able to appraise an object, or it can be me having a personal google in my head. But I'm not too sure. If it was the first one, then I just wasted my points. The system supplies me of the plot so I do not need insights or predictions that much. Although the appraisal is very powerful - I mean, most main characters in novels get rich with just having an appraisal skill. As for having my own personal search engine; yes, I would definitely love that!

As for 'strength'. What, will I have abs now? Will I be able to lift a giant boulder? It seems a bit risky because it can be either mental or physical strength. Having mental strength, then I won't be shaken by any traumatic events? As for physical strength, no I do not need it. Why? I can train and exercise and do all those things to make my body stronger. And it's not like I would have to lift someone while I'm in the next world.

Ema, think think think...

What is the best choice?

[Have you already decided?]

'Wisdom' is too expensive, and I don't need 'strength' that much either...

Since I'm such a cheapskate...

I choose 'Heal'.

[Acknowledged. Transaction processing...]

[Transaction complete.]

[6 points deducted. 4 points remaining.]

Is that it?

No bright light? Or anything?

[Your 'Heal' ability is already acknowledged.]

[...Now, here is your reward...]

--

A woman with black ebony hair and a handsome man with misty green eyes faced each other.

"Why can't you just leave me be?!"

The woman screamed as she glared at the man. Her hands formed a fist as she shook with anger.

"I do not need your concern nor do I need you telling me what to do!"

The man looked pained as he stared at the woman. He tried to reach for the woman, trying to reason with her. He just wanted her to listen to him, just for once.

"Isane it's not like that. I'm just worried for you-"

The woman slapped the hand away as she took a step back. She wiped the hand touched by the man using her dress. A clear show of disgust.

"I don't care! I love him and you won't stop me from seeing him!"

She ran towards the door and held the knob. She halted then turned towards the man. Her eyes were full of hatred and contempt.

"Even if you are my husband. I will never ever love you."

The woman slammed the door shut leaving the man behind. He stood alone in the room, his lips in a tight-lipped smile.

'It hurts.'

The hand that was slapped away stung from the force of the slap. But that was not the only thing that hurts.

'It really hurts.'

His heart ached yet again. A lump formed in his throat as he tried to keep his emotions at bay.  

He closed his eyes to conceal the pain. His smile was wavering as his lips quiver.

Just once, he wanted to be seen by her. For her to listen to him and to acknowledge him.

'Just this once, please.'

--

That scene... It felt familiar...

Where did I see it?

[Ema.]

Huh?

Suddenly, a handkerchief appeared in front of me. I held it in my hands as I stared at the orb, confused and a bit disoriented.

[Wipe your tears.]

I wiped my cheeks using my hands. It really was wet. The tears that I tried hard to stop were again rolling down my cheeks continuously, without me noticing it.

I remembered the scene from before. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity - it felt so real - like a memory from the past.

[You will now proceed to the second world. Good luck.]

Wait, I'm not yet ready-!

[Remember who you are. Do not forget.]

Blackness engulfed me once again.