3 In between

/You seem nonchalant./

Before I give my black kitten an answer to perhaps one of his rhetorics, I clamped the ink bottle shut sitting duck in front of my desk and placed the pen beside it. Yellow pages of papers scattered across the table, some were crumpled in tiny fists while the remaining remained clean, awaiting for me to write on it.

I stared at the blank pages as my mind kept swimming at my kitten's words last night.

(/You must become queen./)

I do not plan to remain a humble viscount's daughter forever but the thought of striving for the throne did not dare cross my mind.

In am still pondering over the fact that there is worldline different from what I live in. A second timeline where no one remembers anything of the past lives in the original. Well, except for One.

"Ugh! Do I look nonchalant to you?" I slumped back on my chair as I grumbled.

Laticca was slumped on the right corner of my desk as he stared at me. The soft glow of the brass lamp on the corner gave his eyes a tinge of orange making his eyes seem like they were on fire.

I once believed that Laticca was merely a stray cat I found that followed me to my manor from one of my walks.

I can't disregard his words simply because it sounded ridiculous. Obviously, it is indeed ridiculous.

I stared at my kitten for awhile before straying my attention to the window. The light of dawn bathed the outside in a silver hue.

(/You were The Queen in her past and so will you be in the future.

Failure is death thus death will become your future.

Fight Artemesia. Survive and become queen once again./)

His words echoed in my head over and over again.

(/Out there somewhere, there is a girl who has her memories of the past./)

If what Laticca told me was indeed true that somewhere in this kingdom someone who had lived a second time and is plotting against me, should I let it be? Or should I just stay away from all of this. What can I even do?

(/become queen.../)

Laticca's voice echoed in my mind like a mantra.

I looked at the small slits on the window and the towering steeples sillouthed in the far off distance filled my sight.

The Emperius Circle.

The very heart of the Capital itself where the Royal Family resides. A beautiful place clamped with magnificent structures. Palaces that glisten beautifully under the rising sun surrounded by the Capital's bustling street and the outpouring surge of new things.

While I was in reverie, a soft knock came from the door.

I hurriedly gathered the crumpled sheets and threw them into the trashbin besides the table. I stacked the papers in a clean pile. When everything looked tidy enough, I called.

"Come in."

Two women came in carrying a pail of water. I gave them a practiced smile.

"Good morning, miss. Would you like to have your breakfast first or the bath?" A woman with brown hair and brown eyes came forward.

"A bath would do, Rachel"

I let out a soft yawn rubbing my eyes in the process.

The two women started preparing. Moments later, soft scents of flowers filled the room.

"Is father around?" The two women flinched. Has father done something again?

"Yes." The brown haired woman answered. There was a trace of discomfort in her voice.

"How is he?"

"Young miss, your father came home last night. He was so furious that he broke all the furnitures in his room."

"Did he beat someone up?"

"No."

We are a Viscount Estate but we do not share responsibilities with a count nor do we serve under the words of a ducal house.

We govern a quarter of the Southern part of the Empire. A noble household situated in the outskirts of the Capital who defies the noble hierarchy inside and out.

The Silveria's viscount title, despite being an administrative title that shouldn't be passed down to heirs has been going on since the establishment of the kingdom. Due to an ancient oath, heirs born from the Silveria household must uphold absolute loyalty to the throne. The Silverias answer to no one but to the imperial family.

Silveria is a household that belonged nowhere. Too powerful and wealthy to be referred merely as a lowly noble and whose title is too low to be able to stand toe to toe with the high ranking ones. Not a copper, not a gold but silver.

If father is furious, then it should only be because of his work. Or something happened at the capital. If not, then to the Royal Family.

"Quickly, prepare the bath. And also find me a light-colored clothing." I instructed. I stared at Laticca before calming myself. "Father will come."

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