This wonderful one-month holiday began wonderfully. Octavia had returned home to enjoy the winter festival. The air was crisp with the scent of pine and the warmth of festive cheer. Snow blanketed the grounds of their grand estate, turning it into a winter wonderland. Twinkling lights adorned the trees, and the sounds of laughter and celebration filled the air.
A week into this marvelous holiday, Octavia received an unexpected guest. Normally, guests don't show up uninvited, right? You send a letter saying you would be coming just in case the person might be busy. But no! It seemed Arabella would take no for an answer. Upon seeing her guest, memories began to flood in…
******
"Please excuse me, I'm looking for a lady named Octavia," Arabella asked with desperation, moving from girl to girl in the hallway of the Academy.
The corridor was bustling with students, their chatter creating a constant hum. Octavia, who had been walking towards her next class, noticed the girl's frantic demeanor. Arabella's eyes were wide with urgency, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her bag. Octavia finally confirmed that she was the one Arabella was looking for, curiosity piqued by the girl's distress.
"I would like to borrow you for a moment, please," Arabella asked, taking Octavia's hand and leading her into an empty classroom.
The classroom was silent, a stark contrast to the noisy hallway. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow on the desks and chairs. Octavia felt a sense of unease; the look in Arabella's eyes suggested this was no ordinary conversation.
"It's about your painting," Arabella continued, her voice almost a whisper.
"Oh! Do you mean the one I painted for my entrance exam?" Octavia asked. She thought it was harmless anyway. A simple piece, she had painted it without much thought, more as a means to express the nostalgia she felt for a place she couldn't quite remember.
"The girl, the handkerchief she held, it's a symbol of a flag. Do you happen to know that flag?" Arabella's words were measured, but there was a tremor of excitement and fear underlying them.
The moment Arabella spoke of this, Octavia's face turned pale. The shock of knowing that someone else knew about that flag told her two things. This person was reincarnated just like her and was from Korea. The person sought her out knowing this fact. Her most uncertain question was: If the person was going to use this knowledge for their gain or leave it as it is.
'Is her purpose for seeking me good or bad?' Octavia thought hard to herself. She had always been careful, hiding her true origins and the memories of her past life. The implications of being discovered were too dangerous to contemplate.
"Are you listening to me? Did you happen to reincarnate, or have you ever heard about Korea?" Arabella pointed out, her frustration growing.
Octavia started to draw out different conclusions to the question she asked. Should she tell her that her grandmother told her mother the story and then she told her, so she was aware of nothing Arabella was talking about? Should she admit that Arabella was crazy and she just painted it because the image came to mind? Should she tell her the truth about it all? Should she tell her that she just dreamt of a refreshing day and happened to hold that handkerchief? Octavia knew she could not tell the truth; it could resort to her disadvantage. Any reincarnated person you meet will have to tell you their past life. She refused to share such a story. How dreadfully embarrassing?
"It was just a random inspiration," Octavia boldly said, trying to maintain her composure.
"It can't be, so explain your signature name that is written in Korean," Arabella refused to give up. She needed someone who would understand her in this drama, someone who shared her secret.
"That's simple, I have a nickname, one given to me by my parents, and when written in Emperian language, I turned it upside down to form this signature name," Octavia argued. She had purposely prepared herself for this moment when she started such a signature pen name for her paintings. It was a clever ruse, one she hoped would throw Arabella off.
The argument didn't end after all that. Arabella still tried to convince Octavia that she was Korean, but Octavia wouldn't budge.
"I said NO! Stop pestering me," Octavia yelled, leaving the classroom abruptly.
Since that very event, Arabella stopped at nothing to convince Octavia that she was reincarnated. Arabella was persistent, always finding ways to bring up the topic, hoping to find a crack in Octavia's armor. She was already aware, but the more Arabella pestered her, the more wary she felt of her surroundings. Octavia felt too much guilt after dying, but as she was able to meet her parents in this world, she had been very grateful. They were loving and she didn't want to cause the same trouble she did for her father in her past life.
"I don't want to remember how cruel I was to the father that tried his hardest to show me love. I'm grateful for my parents in this world, and I want to show them how much I love them," she would recite to herself, as if repeating the words would make them a shield against her past.
******
"Via, you have a guest outside waiting for you," Lillian, Octavia's mother, announced one afternoon, her voice gentle yet insistent.
"Who is it? Why come unannounced? Mum, just send them home, please," Octavia replied, her heart sinking. The last thing she wanted was another encounter that would force her to confront her past.
"I can't do that, dear. It's the first time someone has come to our estate to look for you; you have the right to at least welcome them or chase them away yourself," Lillian instructed, her tone firm.
Reluctantly, Octavia followed Lillian to the door. Her mother was a strong woman, a Duchess who commanded respect, but she also believed in kindness and hospitality.
"But MA! You are the Duchess," Octavia protested, trying to find any excuse to avoid the confrontation she sensed was coming.
"But I'm not the only Duchess. Don't forget there are four Dukedoms that support Arcadia. We are two Duchesses so far, but not for long... Via, we can't use power for everything. Be nice," Lillian added before they finally made it to the door.
The entryway of their estate was grand, with marble floors and high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers. As they approached, Octavia's heart pounded. She felt a mix of dread and curiosity, wondering who could possibly be waiting for her.
"Good afternoon, Lady Octavia. I greet you from the estate of Marquese Wycliffe. My name is Arabella Wycliffe," the girl said, curtsying gracefully.
Seeing her, Octavia's face was full of shock. The last person she expected to see here, at her home, during her sanctuary of a holiday, was Arabella.