The noise made by the people in the courtyard of the Camer family mansion slowly woke Eloria from her deep sleep. When she opened her mesmerizing blue eyes, the sudden lightness disturbed her vision and she took a few seconds to absorb her surroundings.
What was this?
All at once, her eyes flew wide open!
Wasn't this place her chamber in her family mansion?!
As confusion washed through her, Eloria Camer pushed herself up and glance around with more commitment this time.
It was really her chamber in her family mansion!
What does this mean?
Was this a dream? The last thing she remembered was herself drinking the poisoned wine given to her by that Rayan Varence!
While Eloria was busy trying to figure out what happened, the door was suddenly pushed open, almost making her flinch. However, the identity of the one who walked inside... surprised her even more.
"Mother," she mumbled with disbelief when her mother approached her with a not so pleased expression on her face.
"Here you are, Eloria." Adeliza, the Duchess of Camer let out a heavy sigh at the sight of her only daughter who was obviously sleeping again in the middle of the day. "Don't you know that whole mansion is in turmoil because you are nowhere to be seen?" The Duchess stood next to the bed, crossing her arms as she glanced down at her daughter.
Bewildered, Eloria couldn't even utter a word.
This should be a dream.
"I came here just a while ago but you were not here. Where were you?" Duchess Camer inquired.
Her mother's gaze was still the same as the one from Eloria's memory - intimidating enough to make you confess everything without intending to. However, her mother was always a warm person despite her cold appearance.
When it seemed like her daughter had no intention to answer her, Duchess Camer sighed and sat down on the bed beside Eloria. "I know you don't like military gatherings, Eloria. But this one is different. It's a feast to celebrate your father's victory and all the military officials will be here. Even the King will be here.
"As his only daughter, don't you think you should save him face by showing up and behaving as good as possible?"
Her mother talked to her as if she was a little girl but... Eloria realized how much she had missed this. Her mother's warm voice... she always missed so much even during her lonely days in the palace as the Queen who had lost her husband's love and attention.
But... victory? Wasn't this too strange to be real?
"What victory?" She asked out of curiosity and... she was amazed by how childish her voice sounded.
Adeliza Camer raised a brow at her daughter's question. 'What victory?'
"Your father defeated the Mopias," she still responded, confused. "What's wrong with you, Eloria?"
The Mopias as in the Mopia Empire?
Eloria recalled the time her father's Camer Army won a huge war against the Mopias. That was... when she was 13!
This wasn't a dream? But that's not possible!
She tried to speak up but before she could say anything, she noticed someone entering her chamber and she turned to the door.
Her father?!
"Don't push her if she doesn't want to attend, Liza." Deric, the Duke of Camer who was also the Commander of the powerful Camer Army calmly said to his wife. When he reached the bed where the two women sat, he also took a seat next to his daughter on the other side. He then reached out his hand and calmly caressed her on the head. "It's fine, Eloria. You can stay here if you want."
Eloria Camer met her father's gaze as she was reminded of that memory - her father's last moment. Just the thought of it broke her heart again until... one thing crossed her mind.
She can feel her father's touch! So... this wasn't a dream?!
At that moment, Eloria Camer forgot about everything else. She didn't attempt to know what was happening. All she did was embrace her father as tight as she could; the action that took the Duke and Duchess by surprise!
Their daughter had never done this before!
"Father," Eloria muttered, oblivious to the shock on the faces of her parents. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
Narrowing his eyes at his sobbing daughter who was holding onto him tightly, Deric Camer was in a daze!
What was she talking about?
The silent sobbing of Eloria slowly turned to a cry and it alert her parents. After much effort, the Duke managed to make some gap between him and his daughter so that he could observe her.
"What's wrong, Eloria?" He patiently asked. "Why are you crying?"
Eloria Camer narrowed her eyes at hands that were too small to be the hands of a 20-year-old woman.
Was this a reincarnation? But she never believed in those things.
She looked at the curious faces of her parents and she could feel her throat running dry.
What was she supposed to say to them?
"It's nothing," she muttered and this time, she hugged her mother who was sitting on her left. Once again, that tragedy crossed her mind and she shut her eyes in pain.
Still feeling bewildered, Duchess Camer gently caressed her daughter's hair as she believed that's what Eloria needed right now. "Everything's fine, Eloria," she whispered in a soothing voice that Eloria found so comforting. "I'm here."
As she felt her mother's tender touch, Eloria still felt like she was having a beautiful dream.
Was she really back to her 13-year-old self?
After what seemed to be forever, her mother pulled back and caressed her face. "If you don't want to attend the feast, then you can stay here," she calmly said to her. "I will tell the servants -"
"I will attend the feast," Eloria interrupted to which both her father and mother raised their brows.
"Really? You don't have to if you're not willing," the Duke chimed in. "You know, I never want to force you into anything."
"I know that," Eloria Camer replied, flashing a little smile for her father to see. "But I want to attend. You achieve a huge victory, Father. As your only daughter, it's only right for me to be there." As that tragedy crossed her mind over and over again, it was getting so hard for her not to become emotional again.
Was she really granted a second chance in life? Were there gods after all?
As Eloria was lost in her thoughts, she didn't even notice how flustered her parents were!
Who wouldn't be when their childish 13-year-old daughter sounded so mature all of a sudden?!
Nevertheless, the Duke and Duchess nodded with a smile.
"That's good then," Adeliza Camer remarked. "You can take your time and come out later. We will go to receive the guests."
Eloria nodded with a smile and her parents walked out of the chamber while she stared at them until the door was closed after them.
Now that she was alone, many questions flooded her mind right away.
She still struggled to believe that this was real!
Slowly, Eloria got off her bed and approached a mirror that was on the right. When she stood before the mirror and stared at her reflection, her 13-year-old self was so much of a miracle for her to see there.
Does this mean there were still 7 years left before that tragedy? Wait... she looked at her reflection more intently when one thing crossed her mind.
Now that she was granted this chance, why would she let it happen again?
Shouldn't she do everything to stop it this time?
Why would she allow Rayan Varence to walk over her and her family all over again?
That will never happen again in this second chance!