Chapter Two

A sudden rush of chills in my whole body managed to wake me up from deep slumber. I opened my eyes wide, not knowing what to react. I felt myself panting and sweating, as if I ran around the world without a break.

"That is how it is..." I gasped for air as I recalled the memories I may or may not have had from the future events. They felt so real and vivid, everything happened in a flash. I can't call them a normal dream.

"I'm alive...thank God.."

The door suddenly opened, making me jump from my skin before I can even look around and process everything else in my mind. There peeked the faces of familiar people I hold dear to my heart.

"Sister, are you feeling good now?" My older brother, Yuniszheff, inquired. Unlike the day we got executed for false accusation of treason, he looks younger now.

Beside him stood a smaller boy, my younger brother Yurinzhel. "She's awake! Mom! Dad! Sister Lettuce is—oomf!"

I felt like tearing up. Despite the weak body staggering to stand, I forced myself to run to them and locked them into an embrace. They managed to catch me, both brothers confused of my action.

My brothers...they're alive too!

"Sister...?" Zheff worriedly called for me as he tried to glance at my face. It felt as if I released a heavy burden from my chest, the pain of watching their deaths took a toll on me. I don't ever want them to die like that.

"I'm okay..." I responded, not wanting to worry them anymore. As I released them from my hug, both of them eyed me suspiciously. "What is it?"

Zhef sighed. "You really..."

His words got cut off when we suddenly heard footsteps running wildly towards the room we are in. As if on cue, the brothers made way for the couple to enter, both their appearance appeared to be younger as well.

"My lovely girl!" The Countess, Aleandrice, cried as she embraced me into a bear hug. "You made us worry! Are you alright? Do you feel any pain? Quick, tell me what's wrong!"

The Count, Leandro, looks concerned too. "Aculeatus, is there anything you want?"

Despite the sudden embrace in which almost knocked the wind out of me, I can only feel blessed upon seeing the life in their eyes. Not the dull lifeless ones the moment they died.

My parents...my whole family is alive!

I pulled them into a hug as well, making them confused and concerned. "My dear, do you feel sick? Please tell us, we can't watch you be in pain."

"I'm alright now." Releasing from the hug, I roamed my eyes around as I managed to shot a question. "Where are we? Ah, what day and year is it today?"

Since I can't comprehend what truly happened yet, I'm not sure what timeline I am in right now. I am too stunned to be crying at the moment, even if I felt like tearing up.

I also pinched my cheeks. Who knows whether this is just a dream I had, to escape reality of dying? But I don't think so, since I felt the stinging pain in my pinched cheeks.

They fell silent for a split second upon hearing my question, before everyone screamed in both horror and terror.

"SHE'S GOT AMNESIA!"

"CALL THE DOCTORS!"

"Should I punch her head?"

"Zhel, don't."

"Aww."

I sweat-dropped, a hand raised on air yet dejected of attention. "Please...let me have a say with this situation."

They forced me to sit and lie down the bed again as the couple discussed what they needed to do.

"Honey, stay here. I'll call some of the imperial doctors as well." The Count stated seriously. The Countess gave him a firm nod. The brothers glanced at me pitifully with concern, and I sighed.

Hey, atleast hear me out first. I'm about to cry.

"Please listen, I am perfectly fine." I decided it is best to interrupt them, and their attentions all landed to me. "I don't have amnesia. If I did, I should have asked who you all are."

"But—! How can you forget a normal day, and this place?" Mother almost cried again. "Oh no, it can't be. Is it retrograde amnesia?!"

They soon fell into chaos once again. I sighed, and for the second time, I tried to explain.

"I was sleeping for so long, so I only got curious. Please do not misunderstand. I am perfectly healthy now."

They all blinked their eyes, squinting at me. "So, sister has no amnesia?"

I nodded in response to Zhel's question. "Yes. I didn't have amnesia, or retrograde amnesia. I'm just asking weird questions since...as I said, I'm curious." I hoped my reason wasn't suspicious. This is the best I can come up with which fits my personality best.

I have always been the forgetful and confused type. This shouldn't be a surprise for them.

And it seems my explanation worked. They all look relieved unlike earlier. "It seems sister is really okay. We worried for nothing!" He exclaimed.

"It doesn't matter. Our needless worries paid off with good results." Zheff responded as he crossed his arms, leaning his back on the door.

"If that is your question, then it is the 430th year, month April, and day 2, my girl." Mother answered my question in which I smiled at. "We are also here at our mansion in the capital city."

It seems I did return back in time. The year 430 is when I turned 10 years old, and there is still 2 months left before my birthday. Which means my older brother Zheff is now still 16, and my younger brother is 7.

So reincarnation is possible.

I thought it existed only in fairytales.

Father sighed as his forehead creased. "But to be honest, we are really worried about you."

I looked at father who released a distressed sigh. "Why? What happened to me?" I questioned, curiously.

Since there wasn't an event like this back then, I'm sure what caused this situation is because I came back from the future where I am dead.

"You fell sick all of a sudden and collapsed. We were so shocked we almost called out every doctors out there." He responded, and it was as if his soul left his body momentarily.

"Oh.." I scratched my head. So, is it possible that the me here suddenly collapsed because I was about to go back in this time? I don't understand, but whatever sorcery caused this reincarnation, I am forever thankful.

The Countess brushed my hair as she glanced down to me. "Do you want to rest? Or do you want to wash up and eat?"

I smiled at mother. "I want to rest for a bit. I'll wash up and eat later."

"Alright." She kissed my forehead before she stood up from the bed. "We'll be outside, okay? Your maids will tend to you later."

"Rest well and take it easy, daughter." The Count chose to pat my head.

Zhel waved a hand. "See you later, sister Lettuce!"

Zheff only nodded at me. I gave them a bright smile in return, something I rarely showed to them since I was too focused living my own simple life of luxury.

As soon as they all left the room, my smile faded as I clutched into my neck. My bright cyan eyes suddenly held fear, my lips quivered, and my whole body trembled as I recalled what happened.

"Huff...huff..."

Everything now sank into my mind. Right after rejoicing for my family and I being alive again, I recalled the vivid memories of suffering.

How I died from the blade of the guillotine.

How I felt the pain of getting beheaded.

How I had to watch and endure the deaths of my family.

How we are humiliated and accused of a crime we never did.

I can never wish to experience it again. It makes me want to not die ever again.

I shivered, feeling unknown chills that ran through my neck. The feeling is alike to how the blade sliced my neck. It seems I will be having nightmares about the future starting today.

Fear. Despair. Hopeless.

These emotions mixed within me. And yet, I can feel a stronger desire than that.

Revenge. Vengeance.

I tried to calm myself first. Roaming my eyes around, I finally got the chance to observe the surroundings. Indeed, we are in the mansion in the capital city. I am inside my old bedroom when I was a child. This is the room in our estate in the capital city before I changed rooms when I turned 12.

The space was huge, and I had quite a lot of cabinets to store all my personal stuffs. Now that I think about it, I've spent a large sum of money for my own luxury. I feel bad, no matter how I look at it, spending lavishly cannot be called simple.

Not even money can buy a life. Should I sell all the stuffs I bought?

That way, I can have my own pocket money. And if fortunate, I can try to start a business myself once I grow up. Since Zheff is the one to become Count in the future, while Zhel is to become a knight, I have no idea what will become of me.

I shall not let my life be just about marrying a nobleman. It is too simple and predetermined. Besides, I have to tell father to choose another candidate for the Emperor and support anyone, but not the Emperor who killed us.

Emperor Rowell is the worst.

But it is not easy to do as I say. Everyone else is just as worse as Rowell. It just so happened that he managed to get the favor not only of the nobles, but also the commoners. The aristocrats weren't pleased, but they easily got to manipulate him somehow.

Someone like him does not deserve to be the leader of the Empire. But if changing the Emperor won't work, I might have a lot of changing to do, go with the flow, or use the same strategy they use against us towards them.

Standing up, I positioned myself infront of a mirror. I saw my reflection, and indeed, I am a child who's only 10 in age. My cherry-blonde hair is quite messy yet remained elegant. My cyan blue eyes stared intesely at the mirror.

My eyes that once teared up from hatred and despair. It seems my tears dried up, for I no longer feel like crying.

Revenge. I really want it so badly.

Seeing and feeling that my head is still intact to my neck, I sighed in relief. However, I cannot be relieved yet. The main problem is still there. Whoever framed us could not be the Emperor, since he is obviously dumb.

Then, could it be one of those pompous aristocrats around him? Probable.

I clenched my small hand into a fist, nails dug deep into my skin. Biting my lip, I felt the rage within me again. That man, who slapped and kicked me, he was an aristocrat who held no respect for someone like me.

Whoever he is, I have to keep him in check. No, not only him. But the other aristocrats as well. Even the nobles are included. They all didn't bother to know and investigate the truth. They wholly accepted the accusations against us.

I was too naive. Now that I see it again, I think I know why.

They were planning to end our family lineage.

They never intended to hear the truth. They only want to believe their own version of the truth. Self-righteous nobles who does more horrible things than we innocent people is hideous and disgusting, such hypocrites makes my blood boil.

I guess I have them all in my list then. The Emperor, the aristocrats, and the nobles are people whom I should be wary of.

"Ah.." I unclenched my hand as I saw blood from my scratched skin. Suddenly, another person came into mind. The hooded figure, whoever he may be, I had a gut feeling that tells me he is connected to this situation somehow.

Was it possible that they are a sorcerer? A mage? An alchemist? The way they looked with that kind of outfit was already suspicious for them to stand out.

I...want to meet that person.

I'm not sure if he had ulterior motives in saving me and my family. Or did he help us because he think we are truly innocent?

Ofcourse, I am only thinking that the hooded person is the one who had me reincarnated back here. There is no other explanation, as it is too suspicious already.

The voices I heard at that time. Even the way they signaled for me to be silent. I wonder why I had to die, why did we have to die, when someone can actually already stop it?

But maybe I understood it wrong. The hooded person could be a red herring, and maybe I just heard nonsense thoughts since I was about to face death at that time.

Sighing, I decided to think about it later. I picked up the bell by the drawer. Ringing it, the maids immediately entered my room.

"My lady, we are here to serve you."

I simply smiled at them. "Prepare my bath."

They bowed down and did as told. Breathing in and out, I calmed myself once more as I hid my bleeding hand. This time, I won't be simply living a simple life. Our life is about to get complicated soon.

My only mistake is being ignorant and naive—but not anymore.

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