The silence around Dafne remained heavy.
The nobles watched the scene as if waiting for someone to drag her out of the hall for daring to speak to the Emperor like that. Even the musicians seemed tense as they continued playing softly in the background.
Dafne held Hazem's gaze, though inside she was already seriously questioning her life decisions.
Again.
Because reincarnating had clearly not given her any survival instinct.
Hazem stood in front of her with that calm expression that was worse than anger. He looked her up and down without any hurry.
Then something strange happened.
The Emperor barely smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile. Not an amused one either. It was slow, dark, almost dangerous.
As if he'd just found something that sparked too much of his interest.
Dafne felt an uncomfortable chill.
One of the nobles spoke quickly, trying to break the tension.
"Your Majesty, the servant clearly forgot her place."
Hazem didn't even look away from Dafne.
"I remember it better than many here do."
"You must punish her."
Hazem cut him down with a single look. His amber eyes flashed with anger.
"Are you giving me orders?"
The man went quiet at once. He apologized immediately.
Dafne barely frowned.
That wasn't what she'd expected.
She'd honestly expected to be thrown out of the hall. Or for someone to shout.
Or at least an elegant threat from a powerful noble.
But Hazem seemed... entertained after all.
And she liked that even less.
The Emperor finally took another glass of wine.
"Get back to work."
Dafne blinked once.
"That's it?"
The dark smile returned just slightly.
"Did you want a punishment?"
"I'd prefer you stopped looking at me like that."
Several nobles let out small gasps of surprise. Lina looked on the verge of passing out.
Hazem let out a low breath that almost sounded like a restrained laugh.
"You're a strange Omega."
Dafne barely raised an eyebrow. She didn't comment, though she wanted to answer him. She didn't want to push her luck any further.
The Emperor watched her a few more seconds before finally looking away.
"Dismissed."
She didn't wait for another order.
She picked up her tray again and walked away from the imperial table, feeling the stares drilling into her back.
Lina practically dragged her to a corner of the hall the moment she was far enough away.
"What's wrong with you?" she whispered in horror. "Do you want us executed?"
Dafne let out a slow breath.
"I couldn't leave that boy."
"Dafne!"
"I'm serious."
Lina stared at her for a few seconds, then pressed a hand to her chest.
"When I saw you talk back to the Emperor like that, I thought I was going to faint."
"So did I."
"Then why did you do it?"
Dafne glanced discreetly toward the main table.
Hazem was talking to some nobles again, serious, distant, as if that conversation had never happened.
But several times she felt his eyes returning to her.
And each time, her arm burned.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"I don't like how he treats the Omegas," she murmured finally.
Lina lowered her gaze at once.
"Nobody talks about that."
"Well, they should. I want to change that."
"Dafne..."
Lina's voice sounded tired.
"People here survive by learning when to keep quiet."
She didn't respond right away.
Because she understood that.
She truly understood it.
But still, there was something inside her that refused to accept that treatment as normal.
The rest of the banquet passed slowly and exhaustingly. The nobles drank too much, talked too loudly, and treated the servants like elegant furniture that poured wine.
When it finally ended, Dafne's legs were shaking.
The moment she walked into the small room she shared with Lina, she let herself fall onto the bed.
"If I ever have to serve at another imperial banquet, I want you to hit me over the head first."
Lina let out a tired laugh as she took off her shoes.
"I've never seen the Emperor look at someone that much."
Dafne closed her eyes.
"Don't remind me."
"He spoke to you differently."
"Hazem speaks differently to people before or after he beheads them."
"Don't joke about that."
"I'm not entirely sure I'm joking."
Lina stayed quiet for a moment before lying down as well.
"Still... it was strange."
Dafne barely opened one eye.
"What was?"
"The way he looked at you."
She sighed.
Yes.
It had been strange.
And the worst part was she didn't understand why.
The next morning, the entire palace seemed agitated again.
Servants running.
Guards arranging themselves in specific positions.
New decorations.
Dafne had barely finished adjusting her uniform when Brina appeared, throwing the door open.
"Move quickly. The future Empress arrives today."
Lina sat up at once.
"Lady Selene?"
"Yes, and I want everything flawless. If anything goes wrong, I'm not taking the blame alone."
Brina left just as fast.
Dafne frowned the moment she heard the name.
Selene.
Something inside Dafne's head shifted.
Quick images. An enormous house. Elegant dresses.
A little girl crying. And a cold voice saying:
"Take her away."
Dafne pressed a hand to her temple.
The pain lasted only a few seconds. Lina looked at her with concern.
"Are you feeling sick again?"
"No... just..."
She swallowed slowly.
"Who exactly is Selene?"
Lina's eyes widened in surprise.
"You really don't remember anything? The Varek family is one of the most important in the empire. Lady Selene will be the Emperor's wife."
Dafne's head ached again.
Varek.
That surname stirred something uncomfortable in her chest.
And then another foreign memory flashed through quickly.
A small girl watching from a distance as another, older girl dressed in fine clothes stood out for being albino, shielded by what appeared to be her parents.
Dafne took a deep breath.
"What a pleasant feeling, having traumas unlock before breakfast."
Lina was clearly getting used to her strange remarks.
"You should rest more."
"I need a sip of coffee."
The main courtyard of the palace was full when the Varek family finally arrived.
Nobles, guards, and servants watched the enormous carriage come to a stop in front of the imperial stairs.
Dafne held a tray alongside other servants while she tried to ignore the strange discomfort inside her.
The carriage door opened slowly.
And Selene Varek appeared. Albino from head to toe. Gray eyes with a violet tint.
She was beautiful.
That was the first thing Dafne thought.
She walked with confidence, like someone accustomed to being admired the moment she entered a room.
The nobles began greeting her immediately.
Selene smiled with practiced grace. Until her eyes reached Dafne. And everything changed for just a second.
Very fast.
But Dafne saw it.
Selene recognized her immediately. Dafne's heart beat harder.
Because she knew it too, instantly. That woman had a connection to the original Dafne.
And not a good one.
Selene recovered her composure so quickly it was almost impossible to notice the change. She continued walking elegantly while several nobles spoke with her.
But Dafne kept feeling that strange pressure in her chest.
Then Selene stopped right in front of the line of servants.
Her gaze passed slowly over all of them until it reached Dafne again.
"You."
Dafne barely raised her eyes.
"Yes, my lady."
Selene looked at the tray she held in her hands.
"Are you new?"
The question sounded soft.
Too soft. Dafne sensed something uncomfortable behind those words.
"No, my lady."
Selene tilted her head slightly, pretending to think.
"How strange. I don't recall seeing such a careless servant here."
Several gazes shifted toward Dafne at once.
Lina tensed her shoulders. Dafne remained silent.
Selene took another step closer.
"Look at yourself. Your posture is terrible."
Dafne felt something icy inside her chest. Because that woman wasn't improvising cruelty.
There was habit in it.
"Forgive me." She hadn't wanted to say that. But her tongue moved on its own.
Selene smiled slightly.
"Omegas should try harder to look pleasant. After all, it's the least they can offer."
Dafne raised her eyes slowly.
And for a second she felt something strange.
Pain. An old one. Not hers.
As if the body remembered fear even when she didn't fully understand why.
"Damn it. I don't remember the original Dafne's past very well."
Selene was still watching her.
And beneath that elegant smile was something dark. Contempt.
But also nerves. The future Empress was uncomfortable.
Dafne noticed it right away. Because even though she pretended not to know her...
She was watching her too closely. Then Selene spoke again.
"What did you say your name was?"
Silence. Dafne held her gaze.
"Dafne."
Selene's smile froze for just an instant.
Very small. But enough. And then she responded softly:
"What a disagreeable coincidence."
Selene turned and called out with that elegance of hers.
"Where is my betrothed?"
But inside Dafne, the headache wouldn't go away. She remembered little. Only the essentials, and her past was hazy. The only thing she knew was that she'd been sold as a child to this castle for being nothing more than a weak Omega. Beyond that, the faces of her former family were a blur.
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