In the Empire of Eisenburg, where the sun was brought up by the Goddess of light, the power of light was inherited by the Eisenburg imperial family. Where the sun would light up the window crest that lead to the throne, within the heart of this palace of the royal family, a place where whispers of power and ambition turns into a wave of light.

"Father, did you ever cared for me even once?"

A shivering tone Elise made only to disappoint her in the end.

"I have never once thought of you as my daughter." His majesty replied with a cold sharp tone which pierced Elise's heart.

His Majesty, locked her up in her chambers for she had been accused of wounding her step-sister Carolina, the second princess of Eisenburg.

Years passed by before she finally turned 17. Elise moved through the ornate halls with a quiet cold grace that was often noticed by the maids of the palace. Her own father never gave her a maid in waiting, he only continued to neglect her.

Her blonde gold-like hair, as radiant as the shining sun, and her striking blue beautiful eyes were a testament to her royal lineage, but despite being the spitting image of her father, he never cared and only continued to care for the second princess, Carolina von Eisenburg.

Emperor Lucas von Eisenburg was a man with dignity and of stern countenance. His only love and pride had always been reserved for the second Princess Carolina von Eisenburg, whose kind heart and smile would capture the emperor's attention and favor effortlessly. Elise, who had always been the one to prove her worth, was always outshined by her only sister, jealousy and sadness had only circulated through her mind hoping that one day maybe her father would love her too.

Elise's days were always filled with studies and earnest attempts on getting on the top of her class, focusing on the governance, and culture. She has always wanted to make his majesty proud, but none of it worked out. In every display of wisdom, to only find her accomplishments were met with indifference. Not only by her father, but also by the people of Eisenburg including the aristocrats is favor of Carolina being crowned as the official "Crown Princess Of Eisenburg".

Carolina on the other hand, who had always loved Elise as her own sister not knowing that Elise has always been neglected by the people around her and would favor Carolina instead. The court, too, followed the emperor's lead, often disregarding Elise's presence and hard work.

Among the few who saw Elise's worth, stood Lord Caius Desmond, the first and only son of the right hand household of the imperial family, the household of Desmond. He secretly studied magic hoping that one day he can use these abilities to help Elise with following her path. His affection towards her has always been a secret, his unwavering loyalty despite the path that might lead him down or even kill him. Caius has always understood the amount of pressure and immense pain Elise has gone through, and the power he sees inside her hoping that one day she'll start accepting herself, only then will she unleash its true powers.

Before traveling back in time, his majesty has celebrated Carolina's 18th birthday. Although the emperor never really wanted to invite Elise to her party assuming that she might do something to harm her. Elise realized it to herself that it's not anyone's fault that my father failed to love me. She truly cherished Carolina and always saw her as a sister, but she couldn't hide her jealousy and sat quietly.

"Sister Elise, would you like to have a drink with me?" Carolina was filled with joy knowing that her only sister was there to celebrate her birthday, she couldn't contain her excitement.

Elise responded with a warm smile and nods saying, "It's my pleasure"

The two sisters chatted and got a glass of fine wine, only then did the party's lights suddenly blacked out. Everyone was in a panic and Elise started to look for her sister. As soon as the power went back, everyone looked at Elise's way.

Confused, she turned around to see Carolina coughing blood. The emperor immediately rushed to her and Elise stood still shaking in shock.

"It was Princess Elise who put something on the drink!" A familiar voice echoed in the room and all the nobles started whispering.

I could feel their eyes on me...she said to herself.

The emperor angrily got up and slapped her. Elise collapsed with the slap of her own father. As she held her cheek where his father had slapped her, the overwhelming mixed feelings that her father and other nobles gave her was too much that she cried.

As she slowly looked up, there he was...Heinrich Falkenheim. She always knew that he hated her.

"Your majesty, the princess dared to poison the second princess! She must be charged of treason!" Heinrich grinned seeing her kneeling on the floor.

His schemes were intricate, when you get into his trap, there's nothing left but death. He saw in Elise's neglect as an opportunity for him to take advantage. He began to spread insidious lies to the emperor and to the other nobles, casting Elise as a potential threat to the throne. His ultimate plan was to assassinate Elise, and there will he take advantage of the fractured royal family.

Elise was thrown in the dungeon and didn't give her food to eat for a day. She was accused of conspiring against Carolina and the throne. The charges were baseless, but Heinrich's manipulation had done its work. Emperor Lucas who had been blinded by these lies, condemned Elise without hesitation. His harsh words and cold judgement shattered her fragile heart, the betrayal cutting deeper than any sword.

As Elise was led to the executioner's block, her mind raced with the injustice of her fate and bitterness of her father's rejection. Along the crowd, there he was, Caius Desmond with the despair look on his face.

Don't look at me like that...don't look as if I mean something to you...she cries her heart out.

"Princess Elise Elmire Von Eisenburg, for your treachery against the crown and your betrayal of this family, I sentence you to death. May your name be erased from the annals of history, as a reminder of the consequences of disloyalty. You have brought nothing but disgrace upon this family, Elise. I have always despised the very sight of you, and today, you will finally pay for your deceit. Behead the Princess!" He coldly looked at her as if she was some kind of parasite, Elise's heart filled with hatred and sadness. After all that she had done she was still abandoned again in the end.

As she was beheaded, the crowd cheered that there was no longer a threat in the Empire.

“I have always despised the very sight of you.” The voice of His Majesty echoed relentlessly in her mind, accompanied by the pleased expression on Heinrich’s face.

Elise awoke in a panic, the phantom sensation of a sharp blade against her neck jolting her upright. She instinctively grasped her neck, tears streaming down her face. As her vision cleared, she recognized the familiar yet aged and dirty room around her. “What’s happening?” she whispered to herself. Trying to comprehend her situation, she glanced down at her tiny hands. “A baby?” she wondered, her confusion deepening.

As Elise cried, overwhelmed by feelings of betrayal and loss, someone suddenly entered the room.

“My lady!” called an unknown yet strangely familiar voice echoing through the room.

A maid rushed in, immediately picking up Elise and gently walking around to calm her down.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone with the other maids. I should have known their little tricks,” she said, her voice filled with worry.

Elise, still confused, looked at the maid and continued to cry.

“Why am I so sensitive?” she wondered, trying to stop the tears but failing. She longed for this kind of comfort, something she hadn’t felt in years. The loneliness that had haunted her was soothed by this woman, someone she barely knew, or perhaps, vaguely remembered.

"Shhh, it's alright now. I'm here," Flora whispered soothingly as she comforted Elise. She began humming a familiar melody, one that Elise vaguely remembered from her previous life. It struck Elise that Flora was the person who had hummed this melody to her before she fell asleep in her crib every night before she travelled back time, still wondering why did she suddenly left.

While Elise peacefully slept, Flora quietly moved her crib back to Elise's own room. Determined to address the situation, Flora gathered all the palace staff and demanded to know who had placed the princess in such a dusty, neglected room. As the head maid of Sapphire Palace, she was furious that Elise, placed there by her father Lucas Eisenburg, had been mistreated.

"Which one of you put the princess in that dirty room?" Flora's voice was sharp with anger, and the maids, casting nervous glances at each other, realized their mistake and forgetting to return Elise to her chambers they were caught abandoning her inside that dark and dirty room. Flora punished them by assigning two weeks of laundry duty as a consequence for disrespecting the princess.

The next morning, Elise woke up still bewildered but relieved to have narrowly escaped danger and returned to a previous time in her life. She couldn't shake off her confusion about how she had traveled back in time.

"Was I given a second chance at life?" she pondered silently. Despite being a baby, her memories remained clear, and she gazed around her large, clean room from her crib, overcome with curiosity.

"Flora..." she murmured in her tiny voice, then gasped in surprise at the sound of her own voice her tiny hands covering her mouth. "My voice sounds so small," she marveled to herself. As she waited for Flora, she contemplated how she could have been transported back in time. Was it fate, or perhaps the work of a powerful magician? Such magic, she reasoned, could only come from someone with immense power.

As Elise pondered with her fingers on her chin, Flora entered the room.

“Good morning, my dear princess,” Flora greeted with a smile, lifting Elise up. Elise admired Flora's beauty, her eyes sparkling green like emeralds. Elise giggled, quickly covering her mouth when she heard her own voice.

“Our little princess is as cute as ever!” Flora chuckled softly as she carried Elise towards the bathroom to wash her up. Sensing Elise's lingering gaze, Flora asked, “Is something the matter, my lady?” She kissed Elise on the forehead, and a small bubble of joy seemed to float in the air, eliciting another giggle from Elise.

“This isn’t so bad…” Elise reassured herself with a small smile.

Flora's gentle hands moved with practiced care as she bathed and dressed Elise, the warmth of the water soothing the princess's nerves. Elise, still adjusting to her infant form and the startling transition back in time, found herself drawn to Flora's comforting presence.

As Flora dried her off and dressed her in a soft, embroidered gown, she spoke in a soothing tone. “Your father, Emperor Lucas, has been occupied with kingdom affairs,” Flora shared, her voice filled with both respect and affection. “But he always asks about you, even amidst his duties.”

“As if he did…” Elise listened intently, absorbing the details of her father’s life that had been absent from her previous timeline. She felt a pang of longing for the lost years of distance between them.

“I'm grateful for you, Flora,” Elise told herself, “It’s strange...feeling so safe and cared for.”

Flora paused, her expression gentle and understanding. “You are deeply loved, my lady,” she reassured Elise, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “And you have many who care deeply for you.”

Elise smiled gratefully, her heart lighter than it had been in ages. As Flora carried her back to the nursery, she nestled into the maid's embrace, cherishing the newfound warmth and acceptance she had longed for.

After Elise was brought back to her room, she felt a sense of determination wash over her. She couldn’t dwell on the pass any longer because it’s only holding her down, but instead, she decided to plan everything first and work on changing her fate.

Elise pushed herself to stand up, but couldn’t, it only leave her to falling. As Flora watch her crawl around the room she smiled, “My lady has a lot of energy, would you like me to take you to the garden?”. Elise had an idea and clapped her hands and giggled as a response to Flora’s suggestion.

As Flora carried Elise to the garden, Elise was stunned with how beautiful her palace was. Unlike before she travelled back time, without Flora, even the maids neglected her and served her rotten food. She dare not to scold the maids because of her father.

“The air here makes me feel so free, I wonder what happened to Flora after she left.” She wondered to herself as Flora carried her to the beautiful lake. As Flora laid Elise on the picnic mat preventing the grass to pierce Elise skin, Flora sang and danced. Her voice is soft, it’s as if she’s comforting me. Flora danced and made the water float turning it into a beautiful artistic beauty. She danced and sing devoting her love and loyalty to the lady.

As she finished singing and dancing, Elise giggled and clapped her hands. She watched as Flora’s movements, forming beautiful patterns that sparkled in the sunlight.

“Did you enjoy it, My lady?” Flora smiled as she sat beside Elise patting her tiny head.

Elise looked at her with a delight smile on her face which led her to hug Flora.

Flora in the other hand, was surprised by Elise’s sudden hug chuckled and kissed her forehead.

“If only you hadn’t left me…would have I been happy in my past life…” Elise wondered to herself lying down and gazing at the sky.

“Flora…” Elise said in a soft and lovely tone making Flora pause.

“What did you just say, My lady?” She was left shocked, hearing her first word coming out from that tiny little body.

“F-flora…” she said again stuttering to say Flora’s name.

Flora teared up leaving Elise shocked and panic. But before she could say anything again, Flora hugged her softly, “Her hugs comforts me…” she told herself.

As they both returned to Elise’s room, Flora prepared Elise’s milk and baby food for her to eat. While eating Elise knew she also had to get everyone on the palace to like her to lessen the problem on the future. Because her past life, the maids of the palace had neglected her and didn’t bother to care for her but instead ignored the very sight of her.

3 years had passed since then, Elise is now at the age of 3.

As Elise ran around the palace garden, she was playing hide and seek with the maids, the two maids who abandoned her inside the dirty and dark room. As she was trying to hide she came across with another garden that had a big fountain and beautiful roses. She hid behind it and waited for a the maids to find her. She waited for a while but they couldn’t find her somehow.

“What’s this thing doing here, how did it get into the palace of Elizabeth?” The familiar voice that came from behind her.

“This cant be…” Elise told herself while clenching her fist. Into knowing whose voice owned that.

“Child, face your Emperor” He said in a cold tone. With his Guard beside him.

Elise froze, her heart pounding in her chest as she slowly turned to face the imposing figure of Emperor Lucas Eisenburg, her father. His expression was a mix of surprise and curiosity as he gazed down at his daughter, standing amidst the grandeur of Elizabeth Palace.

He chuckled, “You are the spitting image of me, how surprising. I thought you’d look a lot like your mother, because after all, she is very beautiful.” looking at Elise’s face.

"Father..." Elise whispered, her voice barely audible as she struggled to find the right words. Her mind raced with conflicting emotions…fear, longing, and a hint of defiance.

Emperor Lucas stepped closer, his piercing gaze studying Elise intently. "How did you come to be here?" he asked again, his voice commanding her to speak up.

Elise swallowed hard, steeling herself against the overwhelming tide of emotions. "I...I don't know," she admitted hesitantly, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I...just...found myself here."

Lucas Eisenburg's brow furrowed in contemplation, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of regal composure. He reached out a hand, gently tilting Elise's chin up to meet his gaze. "You have grown," he remarked quietly, his tone betraying a hint of sadness.

Elise felt a lump form in her throat as she struggled to contain her emotions. Memories of her past life, of the neglect and longing for her father's affection, flooded her mind. Yet here he stood before her, a powerful and distant figure she had yearned to understand.

"I...I wanted to see you," Elise finally managed to say, her voice wavering slightly. "I wanted..." Her words trailed off, unable to articulate the depth of her feelings.

“As if I wanted to, not after killing your own daughter.” Elise looked down trying to avoid eye contact with him.

“Hahaha…I think the princess is tired now your majesty why don’t we bring her back to head maid Flora-“ before Marcus could finish his sentence his majesty glared at him which led him to retreat.

Lucas studied her for a moment longer, his expression softening imperceptibly. "Come," he said finally, his voice gentle yet authoritative. "Let us talk…do you like strawberry tarts?”

Stunned with his majesty’s request, she looked up and gazed confused. “He’s not the type to do this kind of things with me.” She told herself.

With a mixture of trepidation and hope, Lucas carried Elise which left her stunned as he walked through the corridors of Elizabeth Palace holding Elise tightly. As they walked, she stole glances at him, trying to avoid moving too much.

As Lucas let her sat on her seat by the garden filled with roses, he said…”this palace was owned by your mother…”

Elise looked at him with disbelief…she looked on her tiny hands, “I only saw her portraits in my past life…” she mumbled to herself.

His majesty, who was didn’t hear her clearly looked at her, seeing her hands trembling in fear.

“Are you afraid of me?” He said in a sharp tone yet calm.

Marcus and the other maids of the palace of Elizabeth was stunned by his question.

“All of us are!” They all said together to themselves.

“Doesn’t father hate me…?” Elise said while gritting her lips until she wounded herself.

“Yes, I did.” His response pierced Elise’s heart again daring not to say another word again. “Elizabeth died because of you after all…” he sipped his tea and looked at Elise straight in the eye.

“Right…I only met his majesty at the age of 13…but I met him at this age, the age of 3. I still have a few more years before Carolina and that woman shows herself. The day of my Debut.” she said to herself.

Elise clenched her tiny fists, feeling the weight of her father’s words but stood her ground and looked at him, “Mother died protecting me…did she not?” Her eyes dropped to the floor refusing to look at him with tears streaming down her face.

“I know I said that now that I’m back I wont care for father anymore. But I cant run away from the fact that you’re my father and I’m your daughter. Blood is thicker than water after all.” Elise said to herself as she wiped her tears with a handkerchief Marcus had given her. As soon as she looked at her father who is surprised with her words.

Lucas who was confused but a hint of happiness was felt in his heart. He continued to listen to her.

“Mother’s death may have pained you but memories that made you the happiest person is bound to be with you even in your after life, right, Father?” Elise gripped her dress as she looked at Lucas on the eye.

Lucas who was taken a back with her words sipped his tea. “Ha…” he sighed brushing his hair back still maintaining his composure. He looked at Elise’s eyes surprised with the maturity she has in handling this unpleasant atmosphere.

Lucas placed his teacup down with a quiet clink as he turned his way to Elise again with a hint of respect and warmth towards her. “You speak with wisdom despite being a child, Elise,” he said, his voice mixed with softness and a hint of pain through his eyes that she had never seen before in her past life. “Your mother, she was the light that taught me what happiness actually was. When she died I couldn’t handle the pain-“ but before he could finish, Elise added.

“Sorry for interrupting you, father, but I too, want to be that light that can bring you happiness, father.” She relaxed her hands as she made eye contact with Lucas.

As he looked at her eyes, there were full of determination. Just like how Elizabeth used to be when they were still young children.

“You truly are your mother’s daughter,” he mumbled to himself smiling with a glimpse of happiness.

As they finished their food, Lucas stood up and walked toward Elise reaching his hand out, “Let me escort you back to your Palace,” Elise nodded and took his hand, Lucas then suddenly carried her once again leaving the maids and Marcus shocked. Lucas is the kind of man to not care for others.

As Lucas carried Elise back to the Sapphire Palace with Marcus by his side, the maids and guards who had been frantically searching for her throughout the palace sighs of relief seeing her safe, but the atmosphere changed after Lucas, the one who had neglected Elise for all this years.

“My lady!” She exclaimed, her voice filled with relief and worry. Flora rushed to Elise hugging her tightly, “I was so worried, don’t do that ever again” Elise reassured her by hugging her back tightly. “I…ran into father when I got lost…”

Flora looked at Lucas with anger but was thankful that he didn’t do anything to harm Elise.

As Lucas noticed the angry and concerned look on Flora’s face he quickly left his cold eyes piercing through all of the maids who are in charge of taking good care of Elise.

Lucas then turned to Marcus. “Ensure that the princess’s safety is always prioritized, I want you to be her knight, and make sure that the other knights are also well trained enough to protect the princess.” He ordered as Lucas started to walk but stopped. “I would like to have an audience with you every weekend, Elise” Marcus and Flora were both surprised with what his majesty had just said.

As Lucas made his way out of the Sapphire Palace, his words echoed in the grand hall, leaving everyone stunned. Marcus bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty. I will ensure her highness’s safety.”

Flora, regained her composure, turned her attention back to Elise, kneeling down to be at her eye level. “My lady, you must never wander off alone again.”

Elise nodded solemnly, her eyes still wide with the intensity of the recent events. “I promise, Flora. I suddenly got lost and couldn’t find my way back, sorry for worrying you.” Flora gave her a gentle smile and hugged her.

“I’m glad that his majesty has seen you now.” Flora smiled filled with happiness.

“I guess he never visited me once back then.” Elise told herself gripping Flora’s hand.

3 days has passed since then and Elise started to get books from the library and find what kind of magic can help you to travel back in time. She spent days going to the library and studying more about the forbidden magics, and also came across a book that can help summon spirits. The Eisenburg family was the only people who has a connection between the Goddess of light and the Eisenburg family.

Elise spent time regularly in the library studying about the history between spirits, as she was reading, Marcus approached her. “Your highness, you’ve been spending so much time inside the library studying about spirits. You are quite bright for your age, your highness.”

“He’s not entirely wrong, he might have find it weird for a 3-year-old to be able to read and learn so much…” Elise told herself.

“I have heard the story once from Her Majesty, His Majesty’s mother, who was like a mother to me as well. It is said that a family ancestor of the Eisenburg family, Lady Sera Eisenburg, was blessed by the Goddess of Light, Elaris. The Goddess, more powerful than any other spirit, possessed the ability to heal the sick and cure incurable diseases. Lady Sera, known for her pure kindness, lived a full life and bore two princes. Prince Nicolas Eisenburg was crowned the prince of Eisenburg, while Prince Leo chose the path of magic. Both princes succeeded in summoning the Spirit of Light, marking them as powerful summoners,” Marcus explained, and Elise's eyes widened, learning such significant details about the connection between the Spirit of Light and the Eisenburg family.

“But the tale does not end there,” Marcus continued. “When the late Empress was around your age, she managed to contact a powerful spirit. Despite not being of royal blood, her identity was shrouded in mystery. Empress Elizabeth Eisenburg was one of the most powerful magicians in history. She married His Majesty, Lucas, as they were compatible and loved each other dearly. However, His Majesty couldn’t save her, even with his ability to heal using the Spirit of Light, a power stronger than that of a priest. He wasn’t strong enough to save her, and she passed away.”

Elise clutched the book tighter, her mind flooded with thoughts. "He still neglected me all those years, not even celebrating my birthdays, because he was consumed by the loss of his wife," she thought.

“Excuse me, my lady,” Marcus said softly, lifting Elise and embracing her. “It must have been very hard for you.”

Tears began to stream down Elise's face as she clung to Marcus's clothes. “Will Father ever love me?”

“I know I can’t forgive him for what happened before, but I still yearn for my father’s love, despite the neglect in my past life,” she thought as Marcus comforted her.

Once she calmed down, her eyes puffy from crying, Marcus couldn't help but laugh softly. A knock on the library door echoed through the halls. “My lady, His Majesty would like an audience with you.” Marcus quickly stood up and offered his hand to the princess. “Let us go, Princess.” Elise smiled and nodded, taking Marcus's hand and carrying her book.

When they arrived at Lucas's palace, the maids and knights greeted the princess, with Lucas standing outside the palace doors. “Welcome, Princess Elise,” they said. Elise had never been greeted like this in her past life, where neglect was the norm, leading to her lonely and painful death.

Elise curtsied gracefully shocking everyone surrounding her. “Thank you for personally coming here, Father,” she said, catching a glimpse of happiness in Lucas's eyes. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “What was that... just now?” she wondered.

Out of nowhere, Lucas picked her up. "I don't like being treated like a baby. Why does he always carry me whenever he sees me?" she mused, knowing she was still a child.

Marcus chuckled at His Majesty's behavior. “At least he’s slowly warming up to her,” he murmured, following behind them.

Lucas turned and glared at him, sending shivers down Marcus's spine.

“What is happening right now?” Elise wondered, confused by the dynamic between them. “They look like siblings…”

“In my past life, Marcus never visited me at my palace. He was always occupied with his duties as the leader of the knights. He grew up with my father and mother. My mother was a noble from the Falkenheim household,” Elise reflected, trying to glimpse Lucas, only to be startled by his confused expression.

“How long was he staring...” she mumbled, only for Lucas to pinch her cheek. “Pillow...” he mumbled.

Confused, Elise tilted her head slightly, aware that many eyes were on her.

“The princess is very cute! She’s just like Her Majesty!” the maids gossiped.

Upon reaching Lucas’s study, he gently placed her in a chair. “Bring the strawberry tarts quickly,” he ordered a maid.

Elise's feet dangled above the floor, and she took a deep breath, grabbing a strawberry tart. “Father,” she began, her voice steady despite her nerves, “I’ve been thinking a lot about our family’s history and the power of the spirits we can summon. I heard from Sir Marcus that Mother was a great summoner and our saint. Do you also know how to summon spirits, Father?” Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“I never learned to summon the Spirit of Light in my previous life. No one taught me such important things. But now, I must survive. I can’t let my father or Heinrich Falkenheim kill me again,” she thought, sipping her chocolate milk.

Lucas froze as Elise mentioned the Spirit of Light and his late wife, Elizabeth. He looked at Elise, “You’re a very clever child. When did you learn to read? I don’t recall providing you with a private tutor.” Lucas sipped his tea elegantly and added, “A three-year-old child who knows palace etiquette, can read, and wants to learn about the Spirit of Light?” He smiled, surprising both Marcus and Elise, who managed to maintain their composure, though Marcus cleared his throat awkwardly.

“You are not ready yet, simply because you’re just a mere child. You’re still weak and too small. Handling such great power could end up killing you,” Lucas said, standing up and patting her head. “You have a long way to go, so take your time.” Lucas maintained his composure, covering his mouth with a fist as he cleared his throat.