Today was the most awaited moment in the Empire of Helione. A new savior and ruler was about to be born, and the kingdom's people were celebrating.
Estyre, the empire's capital, was one of the busiest places and today wasn't an exception. The weather was perfect. Stalls of food and liquor were already set up outside and the people were flooding every nook and cranny of the streets.
Inside the Moon palace, her royal majesty, the empress, stood on the side of the bed. Hands crumpled the sheets, pain, and sweat painted across her face. Everything hurts and she's been chanting curses inside her head while her guts felt like it's going to explode at any moment.
The 4th female who was crowned Empress of Helione, Avery Viesta Aurron was a person of dignity and elegance. The strength she possessed in the art of war and politics terrified and inspire neighboring countries, for she hasn't lost any battle. The Lady of Victory was what they called her with her fierce fighting skills and impeccable strategies.
However, today was an exception. Her wounds in battle stung less than what she's going through now and tears were at the brink of falling from her honey lemon orbs. At some point during the whole chaos happening inside her, she questioned herself if it was the right decision to succeed on the throne and not the church.
Maybe her sister should've been Empress, and her, a Saintess. After all, those who served the church were forbidden to have children or even take a spouse.
'As if'
Her thought was impossible though, her sister suited the church more than she did. They were polar opposites, the more prowess she showed for swordsmanship, the more her twin drowned herself in books and doctrines. Avery was headstrong and sadly her sister preferred to work behind the scenes. There was even a time when they were kids that the current Saintess fractured her arm while trying to swing a sword.
Thinking about that spurred a laugh but came to an immediate halt and turned to a louder grunt from the Empress instead.
"His Royal Highness is waiting outside, he was demanding to see you."
Avery turned to her lady-in-waiting, Hildegard who was carrying a basket full of towels. For years since the empire was founded, the stars of the empire are required to attend the Roux Academy of Elites and Avery wasn't an exception. Lady Hildegard Margaux Spencer who was the daughter of a Count was attending the same school and ended up becoming friends.
"He looks so worried, and I think he rushed his paper works to come and visit you." Hildegard chuckled, expressing the delight in how thought the Empress' husband was. Of course, she couldn't say no. It was the love of her life and the father of her children.
"Bring...him in." she managed to answer amidst the series of huffs.
It only took a few seconds before her husband was beside her and was clearly worried about how ragged she looked at the moment. "Avy, I have never seen you like this. But believe me, you are still beautiful."
His soft voice was music to her ears and maybe to their children as well because the labor contractions ceased right after he spoke. The son of Duke Hanford Silvestre, Tristan Silvestre, gained the title Prince Consort after he was wed to the Empress, 5 years ago.
"Do-Don't call me by that name, they can hear you." Avery retorted, cheeks in the color of red. It was a pet name he gave her and she didn't want anyone else hearing that.
She wasn't wrong. The female servants were giggling while they prepare everything the Empress would need. Hildegard had a teasing smile on her face and it didn't go unnoticed by Avery.
"But I was worried! Shouldn't you lay down, your highness? I think it wasn't a good idea to have kids now!" Panic etched across Sylvestre's face, wiping the sweat on his beloved's face.
"Hildegard, shouldn't she be on the bed? Please fix sheets for me."
A chuckle from the lady was the first response, "Your grace, the Empress feels less pain now. Isn't that right, my lady?"
"Hilda's right, so get a grip on yourself Tris. I don't want our children seeing you close to tears."
"Have you thought of names to give them?"
"I haven't."
Right after Avery's last word, her stomach began to feel like it was ripped apart. The pain numbed her back and in panic, her husband laid her on the bed. It wasn't long before Hildegard butted in to escort the prince out, which she really had a hard time with since he didn't want to leave his beloved wife.
Avery was losing consciousness on the bed, her hands barely gripping Hildegard's palm. "I am so tired, Hilda. It wasn't a good idea to have kids." exhaustion dripped off her words.
"Your highness, this isn't the best part yet. Trust me, the pain you're feeling now would be nothing when you finally meet your child."
Her good friend's words hit like a nail in the empress' head and soon, she was able to draw all of her strength into birthing her child finally.
Cries echoed in the room. "Y-Your Highness, it's a girl"
"Can I see them?" Avery spoke in a weak voice.
Hildegard hesitantly nodded at the servants surrounding them and left one by one. The small figure she held in her hand moved here and there without making any sound, and with eyes half opened.
"Here she is, your highness."
Avery felt weight on top of her chest and she quickly put her arms around to cradle her child. It didn't take long before she asked again. "Where's the other one?"
"I'm afraid the princess is the only child you gave birth to your highness."
[17 YEARS LATER]
"Crown Princess Avione Silvaine Aurron, for the attempted murder of the Saintess Margaret and plotting to overthrow the Imperial Family, you are hereby sentenced to death!"
The mob crowding the town square of the main city of Helione, Veilk, roared. Screaming furiously, wishing her death and throwing things as their only princess kneeled on a small stage, in front of a rusted guillotine.
Tears stung her eyes once more, "I haven't done anything wrong!" Avione's attempts to prove her innocence was drowned by the pleading of her people, wanting to see her beheaded.
Her once beautiful crimson hair was now tangled, held roughly by the executioner standing just beside her. Avione's chin rested on the guillotine, the blade seconds away from cutting her head off when the figure of a woman dressed in white, golden locks and sapphire orbs, made her way in front of her shaking figure.
"Your holiness, you shouldn't have bothered to face the person who almost killed you!" the executioner protested, only to be halted by a smile from the woman.
Dramatically kneeling in front of Avione, the woman said, "How could I not, I know I can't save my sister, but I want to see her for the last time."
Margaret. "P-Please tell them it wasn't me! I haven't done anything to hurt anyone! Please Margaret!" the princess pleaded her sister, in hopes that the people would believe her because she is their Saintess.
However, her hopes were betrayed for the last time. Looking at her, the angel who seemingly descended from the heavens looked more of a demon with her sinister smile.
Confusion flooded Avione's mind. Why was she smiling like this? "Why are you—" her words halted when realization hit her like a ton of bricks. "Y-You...the fire, poisoning mother...those untimely accidents, i-it was all you?"
"I didn't think you'd be so naive and forgiving, considering we're not really sisters." A soft chuckle came from Margaret before whispering the words, "You should blame yourself for your death, Sister."
Petrified from what she just heard, Avione's eyes lost all colors, the loud noise from the people muffled out from her ears with her mind replaying everything she went through was all a scheme that led to her death. As her eyes drifted to her wretched sister's figure walking down the stage, the ropes of the guillotine is released.
"If only I could live one more time, I'd kill you before you killed me."
The weight of the blade cutting through her flesh on that day made everything else seem so slow.
Accepting her cruel fate, Avione's eyes closed for the last time.
___
"...will not hesitate to have your head hanging on the castle walls if my daughter doesn't wake up!"
A familiar voice resounded just a few steps away. Squinting her already closed eyes, Avione wondered how was it that light from the outside seemed to be blinding her with eyes shut tight.
Finally having the courage to take a look, instead of the angry faces surrounding her in the capital of the empire, she was greeted by jeweled furniture, her favorite lilac wallpapers, neatly dressed maids, and her mother talking to a physician near the door.
'My quarters.'
'Mom looks younger too.'
'Rowena's still here.'
'Am I already dead and just trapped inside my own memories?'
'Or perhaps—!'
Heart still racing from the horrible death she had just gone through a few minutes before, Avione jostled up from her bed and dashed in front of the large mirror she had on her vanity table.
"My lady!" Which was quickly followed by Rowena's worried exclaim.
While everyone around her panicked over her sudden actions, her eyes stayed glued on her reflection. Deep emerald hair reaching just above her hips and eyes in the golden color of the sun. Avione just celebrated her 17th birthday when she was framed and executed, and now her body reminded her of when she was—.
"I went back 2 years in the past....." she whispered in disbelief, earning a confused look from her personal and most trusted maid. Tears threatened to fall but was immediately kept in check by the princess, noticing the stares from her mother and the other people present in her room.
Avione cleared her throat, "Please excuse my behavior, I was merely excited to be up on my feet again. I apologize for the commotion, Your Majesty." she bowed her head slightly towards the Empress, who sighed from relief.
"Are you sure you're o—" before finishing her sentence, the Empress cut herself off, taking notice again of the number of eyes on her. "It's fine, you should get back to bed and take the rest of the day off Avione. Your crowning ceremony is still months away, there's clearly no need for you to rush and overwork yourself."
Avione replied, "I will, Your Majesty." bowing her head for the last time as her mother's figure along with the physician and two of her maids disappeared behind closed doors.
What was that? The hesitancy from her mother pulled strange ideas out of her but was quickly brushed off in less than 2 seconds.
"U-Um Rowena?"
"Yes, my lady?"
"I would like to be left alone, you can go ahead and do whatever it is you wish. It is still 2 hours before supper, I will just be reading my book."
"As you wish, Princess." Acknowledging her wishes, Rowena did what she was told and waited just outside the door of her lady.
Right after hearing the door close, Avione slumped on her bed, examining every part of her body. The cuts and bruises present on her arms and legs disappeared as if it was never there. Even the seal painfully burned on her skin before her execution was nowhere to be found.
Grateful. She was grateful for being alive. But how exactly did she go back in time? The mana she had in her body was restrained during her prison, keeping her from using any of her magic. How did she escape that gruesome death?
Avione sighed heavily, her back flat on the soft mattress while her right hand extended upwards, reaching out for the disappearing rays of the sun. Indulging herself into her own thoughts, the princess thought best not to dwell on things she couldn't find an answer to. Instead, she began thinking about the events that will unfold in the next years of her life.
Margaret.
"My sweet sister," holding nothing but grudge and the thirst to get even, Avione smiled deviously. How could I not prepare for your arrival? You have done your best to kill me.
"I'll gratefully take this chance to return the favor."