A gentle breeze swept through the empire, carrying the sweet scent of freshly blossomed flowers. The rustling of new leaves signaled the arrival of spring, painting the world anew.
Yet, in a forgotten corner of the imperial palace, where a secluded residence stood in eerie silence. Black roses and their venomous thorns coiled around its walls, creating an ominous sight. The palace, though grand, appeared abandoned—its dark atmosphere exuding an unsettling aura.
Suddenly, the stillness was shattered by a furious voice.
Inside one of the lavishly decorated room of the abandoned palace, a six-year-old girl stood with an air of undeniable authority.
Her snow-white hair cascaded over her waist, framing a face of delicate features. Azure eyes that gleamed like the boundless ocean burning with rage, standing in stark contrast to the bright colors of her clothing.
Clad in regal attire of vibrant hues, an exquisite necklace shimmered around her neck—a peculiar piece, seemingly ancient yet brimming with a strange energy.
Before her knelt three maids, their heads bowed low in submission, their bodies stiff with fear.
Little girl: Where are the rose petals in my bath? Did I not explicitly order a bath filled with rose petals?
The maids remained silent, enduring her fury. Finally, one among them gathered the courage to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maid: T-There are petals in your bathwater, Your Highness.
The little girl's sharp gaze bore into the maid, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
Little girl: Where? There are so few that I can barely tell if they are rose petals or mere specks of dust! How dare you speak back to me? Do you think yourself above your station?
The maid instantly dropped to the floor, her forehead pressed against the cold marble.
Maid: P-Please forgive my insolence, Your Highness!
But the girl was far from appeased. Her anger flared, consuming her rationality.
At that moment, a cheerful voice interrupted the tense atmosphere.
Girl: Princess Evelyn, here are your rose petals.
A girl with warm brown hair, dressed in the garb of a personal maid, stepped into the room, a plate of petals in hand. Her bright smile was unwavering, even as she approached the furious princess.
However, in a fit of rage, The little princess swept the plate from her hands, sending the petals scattering across the floor.
Evelyn: I will punish you all today! None of you shall be forgiven!
Fuming, she stormed out of the room, The brown haired girl hastily following behind her.
Girl: Your Highness, please slow down! You might get hurt!
Evelyn, without so much as glancing back, barked—
Evelyn: I will punish you so severely that— Ahhh...
She had reached the top of the grand staircase without realizing it. A sudden gasp escaped her lips as her body tilted forward. The world spun as she tumbled down the grand staircase, her small frame colliding against the cold, unforgiving marble.
Girl: Your Highness!!!...
The girl's terrified scream rang out as Evelyn plummeted down the staircase.
Blood pooled beneath her head. Her vision blurred, and her body felt cold.
Girl: Your Highness!...
That girl's horrified scream barely registered as darkness closed in around Evelyn.
Suddenly unfamiliar faint, blurry images flashed before her eyes— Unfamiliar yet familiar peoples, towering buildings, foreign technology, people wielding powers beyond her comprehension. Her head throbbed unbearably as unfamiliar memories surged forth, overwhelming her.
Ding...
Just as the darkness was consuming her, a chime echoed softly in the void, clear and crisp like a drop of water falling into a still lake.
A translucent screen flickered into existence before her dimming vision, its deep blue glow casting a faint light in the emptiness. Strange symbols flashed across the panel before shifting into legible text.
[ System Activation: The Eternal Life System has been reactivated. ]
[ From this moment forward, System » E.L.S. « is once again at your service. ]
Evelyn barely made sense of the words before excruciating pain wracked her mind.
[ Congratulations. All past memories is being awakened. ]
The brilliance of the panel intensified, surrounding her in a cascade of luminous fragments, each carrying a sliver of lost knowledge.
A sharp pain lanced through her skull as fragments of countless lives rushed into her mind, a flood so overwhelming it threatened to shatter her very existence. Her breathing grew ragged, her consciousness teetering on the edge.
More screens emerged, overlapping one another, their messages flashing in urgent red.
Ding…
Ding...
A warning flared across the system's interface, its letters now bold, urgent.
[ ⚠ Danger! ⚠ Danger! The host is experiencing severe mental overload. ⚠ ]
A suffocating force gripped her, an invisible tide pulling her deeper into unconsciousness.
[ ⚠ Immediate action required! ⚠ The system will induce a protective coma until all memories are stabilized. ]
The world around her shattered into fragments of light, dissolving into an endless abyss.
The last thing she saw was the faint glow of the panel fading into the void— before everything went completely black.
Darkness engulfed her entirely.
A Week Later –
A faint rustling of curtains stirred the stillness of the room. Sunlight streamed through the heavy curtains, casting a golden glow over the room, illuminating the pale figure nestled in silk sheets.
Evelyn's eyelids fluttered open.
The ceiling above seemed unfamiliar, yet familiar at the same. A dull ache pulsed at the back of her head, a reminder of her fall. For a long moment, she simply lay there, unmoving, her mind drowning in a sea of fragmented memories.
Then, with slow, deliberate effort, she attempted to sit up. a sharp pain shot through her head, but she endured it.
Suddenly, some faint sound of voices reached her ears.
" She hasn't woken up for an entire week. What if something is wrong?"
" The physician said she will be fine."
A pair of voices, hushed yet worried.
"Her Highness has yet to awaken. What if—"
" She'll wake up soon. We must have faith—"
At the sound of movement, two figures rushed to her side— The same cheerful girl with worried hazel eyes and a silent knight standing tall yet tense. their faces filled with concern.
Girl: Your Highness! Are you alright? Do you feel any discomfort? Should I call for the royal physician?
She spoke in a single breath.
Evelyn did not answer. Her gaze, sharp yet unreadable, fixated onto the blue panel floating in the air before the girl.
[ Character Information ]
[ Name: Cassy ]
[ Identity: Personal Maid of the Princess (Commoner) ]
[ Relation: Personal Maid ]
[[ Skills:
Cooking: Decent (23)
Combat: None (0)
Defense: None (0)
Agility: None (0)
Intelligence: Average (20) ]]
[ Abilities: Skilled in household tasks, capable of cooking. ]
[ Special Ability: Possesses latent magical power but lacks formal training. ]
[ Characteristics: Practical, straightforward, slightly strict. ]
[ Potential: Has an innate talent for summoning magic, though undeveloped. ]
[ Defining Trait: Devotedly loyal to the princess. ]
[ Backstory:
Once a commoner with untapped magical potential, Cassy never had the opportunity to test her abilities. When the princess's father helped her in a time of need, she swore unwavering loyalty to his daughter, dedicating herself to Lirael's service. ]
Evelyn's gaze then shifted towards the knight.
[ Character Information ]
[ Name: Gerald ]
[ Identity: Knight of the Princess (Commoner) ]
[ Relation: Personal Knight ]
[[ Skills:
Cooking: Basic (10)
Combat: Highly Skilled (49)
Defense: Steadfast (37)
Agility: Nimble (47)
Intelligence: Perceptive (45) ]]
[ Abilities: Mastery of swordsmanship. ]
[ Special Ability: None. ]
[ Characteristics: Quiet, reserved, and gentle. ]
[ Potential: Notably fast in battle, capable of swift maneuvers. ]
[ Defining Trait: Deeply loyal to the princess. ]
[ Backstory:
Despite his exceptional skills as a knight, Gerald's status as a commoner limited his rise in rank, confining him to the role of Lirael's personal guard. However, rather than resenting his position, he has accepted it with unwavering dedication, vowing to protect the princess at all costs. ]