Chapter Text
“Lily, do you know how father is like?”
“His Majesty? Um-uh… he… he’s a… a kind man to those he holds dear to his heart.”
“Really? Do you think I am one of them?”
“That’s… haah… Yes, Princess. I am sure you are one of them. After all, you are His Majesty’s one and only daughter.”
“Hehehe. You think he loves me?”
“You sure are chatty tonight, Princess. You should sleep now, it’s getting late. You have a big day tomorrow. Remember tomorrow is your ninth birthday?”
“How can I forget, Lily? Of course I know that! Maybe father will even visit me this year if he’s not too busy!!”
“Ahaha! Good night, Princess. *Smooch* Sweet dreams.”
“… Mmm… Good night, Lily. Love you.”
“Hm… I love you too, my child.”
~
“Lily…? Is that you? Y-yo-your n-neck… Why – why is it bleeding? Your… your eyes…”
SNAP
“Lily!! Focus on me, Lily! Why can’t you look at me!! Your eyes-! W-why is your neck bleeding?! *Hick* *Sob* Who – who d-did this… to y-you, Li- *Hick* -ly? Who…?”
~
“Father!?! I didn’t do it, father!! It wasn’t me, please, trust me! I would never poison my sister. Please, father! Trust me!!!”
~
“I didn’t do it. *Hick* I would never do it. Not to my sister. *Sob* *Hick* Please… why wouldn’t anyone believe me?”
~
“Die!! Die, you witch!!”
‘Why? What have I ever done wrong to you? Why would you say that?’
“How dare you try to poison the kind Princess Jennette?! Do you have no conscience?!”
‘I didn’t do it, I swear.’
“How could you be so jealous to the point of trying to kill your own sister?!”
‘Jealousy…? I was… jealous? … No. No, I wasn’t. I was never jealous. Jennette was alone for so long, she deserverd all the love and attention she got.’
“Die!! You deserve to die after what you’ve done!!”
‘But I didn’t do it. I can’t even speak anymore. my voice is hoarse and won’t come out, my throat is dry. I pleaded all night, I shouted that I am innocent through those bars. No one heard me. No one ever hears my voice or they pretend not to. What more can I say to prove my innocence?'
‘Sir Roger, why are you looking so relieved?’
‘Countess Rosalia, I don’t even know you, but why are you smiling?’
‘Ijekiel, why won’t you look in my direction? Why did you turn your face away? Why won’t you speak up even when you know that I am innocent?’
‘Sister… You have time to cry in father’s arms but not to plead with him to at least investigate who tried to poison you? Do you believe what they say? Do you really believe that I was the one who poisoned you? And after all that I did for you… Is this how you repay me? By abandoning your “dear sister”?’
‘Father… No. you are not my father. You are the Emperor of The Great Obelian Empire, the savior of Obelia and the caring father of Princess Jennette de Alger Obelia. You, Claude de Alger Obelia, are not my father. I was foolish, I was blinded by my love towards you. But now I see, now I understand, although it’s too late. I was never your daughter, just as you told me. But I was, am and always will be, the daughter of Diana of Siodonna. You are nothing to me except a cruel man and the Emperor.’
‘You are not my father… I’m coming, mother. At least… I will finally get to meet you. Mother, Lily, wait for me.’
‘I am coming to see you.’
DROP
“Huk-! Ugh! Nngh. Augh. Ack-! Ugh. Hngh! Hnn… nn… nn…”
LIMP
BLINK
She laid in her bed, not moving a muscle as she stared up at the ceiling of her room. It had small cracks in it and the paint was coming off too. But at least it was familiar.
Unlike this body she was stuck in.
KNOCK KNOCK
“Princess? It’s time to wake up.”
The “seven-year-old” girl didn’t even glance at the door, but a faint smile came up to her chubby face as she recognized the voice.
“Athy’s up, Lily.”
The brunette woman opened the door, her cerulean blue eyes bright and shining, and a warm smile gracing her lips. She looked even more pretty smiling like that.
The head maid helped her get out of bed and the little Princess gave her a peck on the cheek as a good morning kiss. She wanted to appreciate her more. After all, not everyone gets a second chance to see again the loved one they’d once lost.
As Lily helped her bath, the blonde Princess’ mind wandered back to her dreams. Or more accurately; memories. And if everything went the same as before, then her fate in the future would be the same.
Ever since she had turned five she had requested her nanny to not enter inside her room to wake her up with the excuse of, “Athy’s a big girl now, she’s five! She can wake up on her own!” It wasn’t as if she would sleep in, old habits die hard. But if she dreamed of her past again, then it was best if Lily wasn’t there when she woke up. Because then she would remember her slitted throat and dead eyes again and would breakdown in front of her. And Lily would have no idea about what was going on and would worry about her.
And that was just the opposite of what she wanted to do for her only mother figure and beloved nanny who had sacrificed so much, even her life, just for her sake.
Lily dressed her in a plain red and white dress and tied a red bow in her hair at the back, letting the rest of it loose. Their budget wasn’t much to buy pretty and fancy dresses fit for a Princess. Again, nothing she wasn’t already used to.
“Princess?” Lily called as she was done tying the bow. She looked up at her. Lily continued, “Are you alright, Princess? You were spacing out.”
She touched the little girl’s forehead then kneeled down in front of her where the Princess was sitting on a stool before a mirror. The nanny had a worried look on her face as she asked, “Do you feel unwell? Please, tell me the truth.”
‘Haah. You can be such a mom sometimes, you know that, Lily?’
“Lily, do you know how father is like?”
“His Majesty? Um-uh… he… he’s a… a kind man to those he holds dear to his heart.”
“Really? Do you think I am one of them?”
“That’s… haah… Yes, Princess. I am sure you are one of them. After all, you are His Majesty’s one and only daughter.”
The girl just looked at her nanny for a few moments before smiling brightly to reassure her and get that look off her face.
‘I now know how you must have felt back then, Lily. Don’t worry, I’m not mad that you gave me half-truths to protect me from the cruel reality.’
She took Lily’s hands in hers, still smiling just for her.
‘Because I am about to do the same. I don’t want to worry you anymore.’
“Athy’s fine, Lily!” She giggled.
A lie.
“Because you are with me!”
That’s true.
She hugged her as Lily laughed.
‘Because you and the other maids here are the only family I have, Lily.’