The Message

Silence swallowed the ballroom.

The guard stood frozen, the black envelope trembling between his fingers.

"The second life has already begun."

Elara felt the words echo inside her head.

No.

That was impossible.

Nobody knew.

Nobody could know.

She had died alone.

She had opened her eyes seven years in the past without telling anyone.

So how could someone know about her second life?

Her breathing became shallow.

Across the ballroom, Lucien was watching her.

Not the guard.

Not the envelope.

Her.

His gray eyes narrowed.

Elara immediately looked away.

The King stepped toward the guard.

"Read the entire message"

The guard unfolded the paper.

"There is only one other sentence, Your Majesty"

He hesitated.

"Read it"

The guard swallowed.

"To the girl who remembers her death..."

Elara's heart stopped.

The room seemed to disappear.

"You are not the only one who returned."

A glass shattered somewhere behind her.

Several nobles gasped.

Elara couldn't move.

Someone else had returned.

Someone else remembered the future.

And whoever it was knew about her.

Queen Celestine's expression remained perfectly calm.

Too calm.

Crown Prince Cassian looked confused.

The King looked deeply disturbed.

But Lucien...

Lucien was staring at Elara as if he had just discovered something he had suspected all along.

"Elara"

She didn't answer.

"Lady Valemont"

She finally looked at him.

His voice was quiet.

"Are you going to tell me now?"

Her lips parted.

"Tell you what?"

Lucien stepped closer.

"Why you look like you've seen that message before"

Elara's heart pounded.

"I haven't"

"You're lying"

Her eyes narrowed.

"You don't know me well enough to say that"

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You're right"

He leaned slightly closer.

"But I'm beginning to."

Elara's cheeks warmed despite the situation.

She hated that he could still make her nervous.

Especially now.

"Your Grace..."

"Yes?"

"Stop looking at me like that"

"Like what?"

"Like you already know my secrets"

Lucien's smile faded.

"Perhaps I know one"

Elara's blood ran cold.

"What?"

He looked directly into her eyes.

"You shouldn't have been surprised by that message"

She froze.

Before she could respond, the King ordered the guards to clear the ballroom.

The nobles began leaving in a rush.

Whispers spread through the hall.

"Someone remembers a previous life."

"Is it Lady Valemont?"

"Could this be forbidden magic?"

Elara's hands trembled.

This was becoming dangerous.

Far too dangerous.

The Palace Garden

Elara escaped to the gardens.

Cold night air touched her face.

She needed to think.

She walked between the rose bushes, remembering everything.

The execution.

The sword.

The darkness.

Her awakening.

The strange changes.

The dead servant.

The message.

Someone had returned.

But who?

"Running away?"

Elara stopped.

She didn't need to turn around.

She knew that voice.

"How did you find me?"

Lucien stepped out from behind the trees.

"You weren't difficult to find"

"I wanted to be alone"

"I know"

"Then why are you here?"

He smiled.

"Because you looked like you needed someone"

Elara turned toward him.

"You don't even know me"

Lucien walked closer.

"Then let me get to know you"

She stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because I'm curious"

"Again with that excuse"

He chuckled.

"You remember everything, don't you?"

Elara's smile disappeared.

The playful atmosphere vanished.

She looked at him carefully.

"Why would you say that?"

"Because I saw the way you reacted"

Lucien stopped a few steps away.

"You weren't surprised that someone remembered"

Elara remained silent.

He continued.

"You were afraid"

Her eyes lowered.

Lucien's voice softened.

"Who are you afraid of?"

Elara whispered:

"Everyone"

He didn't laugh.

Didn't tease her.

He simply looked at her.

"Then don't trust everyone"

Elara looked up.

"Who should I trust?"

Lucien's gaze remained steady.

"Start with me"

Her heart skipped.

She almost laughed.

"You?"

"Yes"

"You're the most suspicious person here"

"That's unfortunate"

He smiled.

"Because you're standing alone with me"

Elara rolled her eyes.

"You really can't stop teasing me"

"I could"

"Then why don't you?"

Lucien stepped closer.

"Because I like seeing you smile"

Elara froze.

Her cheeks turned pink.

Lucien's expression softened.

"There"

"What?"

"You're doing it again"

"Doing what?"

"Blushing"

"I'm not"

"You are"

She turned away.

"You are unbelievably irritating"

"And yet you haven't walked away"

Elara looked back at him.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

Then—

A rustling sound came from the bushes.

Lucien immediately moved in front of Elara.

His hand went to his sword.

"Stay behind me"

Elara's expression hardened.

"No"

Lucien glanced at her.

"No?"

"I'm not helpless"

A faint smile appeared.

"I never said you were"

"Your face did"

He chuckled.

"You're learning"

The bushes moved again.

Lucien drew his sword.

A figure suddenly jumped from the darkness.

Lucien blocked the attack.

Steel collided.

CLANG!

Elara stepped backward.

The attacker wore a black cloak.

A red rose emblem was embroidered on the sleeve.

The Crimson Order.

Lucien fought quickly.

One strike.

Two.

Three.

The attacker retreated.

Before disappearing into the darkness, they looked directly at Elara.

And whispered:

"You're supposed to be dead."

Elara's blood turned cold.

The figure vanished.

Lucien lowered his sword.

Neither spoke.

Finally, Elara whispered:

"They know"

Lucien looked at her.

"Yes"

"And they're coming for me"

He stepped closer.

His expression was calm again.

"Then they'll have to come through me first"

Elara stared at him.

"Why would you protect me?"

Lucien smiled faintly.

"Perhaps I'm starting to like you"

Her eyes widened.

"You're joking"

"Maybe"

"Lucien..."

He leaned closer.

"Would you prefer if I wasn't?"

Elara's face burned.

Before she could answer, a distant bell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Lucien's expression suddenly changed.

"The palace alarm"

Elara looked toward the castle.

Smoke was rising above the eastern wing.

Someone had attacked the Royal Palace.

And this time...

The future had changed completely.

To be continued...

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