The grand ball had left a lingering tension in the air as they returned home. Amelia and Alister now found themselves alone in their shared room, a space filled with an unspoken history and uncharted emotions. The heavy velvet drapes were drawn, and the room was lit by the soft glow of candlelight, casting flickering shadows on the ornate walls.
Amelia fidgeted with the hem of her gown, her fingers trembling slightly. The silence was thick, almost suffocating, as she tried to muster the courage to speak. Alister, sensing her discomfort, poured them each a glass of wine. His movements were deliberate, controlled, yet there was a certain stiffness to his posture that betrayed his own unease.
He handed her a glass, their fingers brushing momentarily. Amelia's heart skipped a beat at the contact, and she quickly took a sip, hoping the wine would steady her nerves. The rich, fruity taste spread warmth through her, but did little to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind.
Alister sat across from her, his gaze intense and unwavering. He was trying to read her, to understand the turmoil he sensed beneath her composed exterior. He took a long sip of his wine, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed, and then leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Is everything alright, Amelia?" His voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the usual curt, noble tone he used in public.
She nodded, but the motion was jerky, unconvincing. "Yes, it's just... a lot to take in."
He arched an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with her answer. "The ball or something else?"
Amelia hesitated, her grip tightening around the wine glass. The liquid sloshed slightly, mirroring her internal turbulence. "Both, I suppose. High society can be... overwhelming."
Alister nodded, understanding. "It can be. But you handled yourself well tonight."
A small, appreciative smile tugged at her lips, but it quickly faded as she remembered the gossip she had overheard and the confrontation that followed. Her mind flashed back to the moment she had poured wine on the noblewoman's dress, a mix of satisfaction and fear twisting in her stomach.
"Thank you," she murmured, taking another sip of wine, hoping to find the courage she needed.
The silence stretched on, heavy and uncomfortable. Alister watched her closely, noting the way her eyes darted around the room, the way she bit her lower lip—signs of anxiety he had come to recognize.
"Amelia," he said softly, "you can talk to me. Whatever it is, you don't have to carry it alone."
His words, so unexpected in their kindness, broke through her defenses. The wine, coupled with her heightened emotions, loosened her tongue in a way she hadn't anticipated.
"I need to tell you something," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked down at her hands, unable to meet his gaze. "Something you might find hard to believe."
Alister leaned forward, his expression serious and attentive. "Go on."
She took a deep breath, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "I'm not who you think I am. I mean, I am Amelia, but... I'm also someone else. Someone from another world."
His brow furrowed, confusion and disbelief evident in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Amelia's hands trembled, and she set the glass down before she dropped it. "I was... reincarnated, I suppose. In my previous life, I was someone else entirely. From a different time, a different place. I woke up one day in this body, with no idea how or why."
Alister's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't interrupt. He simply listened, his gaze intense and focused.
"I know it sounds insane," she continued, her voice shaky. "But it's the truth. And I've been trying to navigate this life, trying to avoid the fate that befell the original Amelia. The one who... who conspired against Ethan and was betrayed."
Alister was silent for a long moment, processing her words. His face was a mask of neutrality, but his eyes betrayed a storm of emotions—confusion, skepticism, and perhaps a flicker of curiosity.
"Why are you telling me this now?" he finally asked, his voice calm but edged with a hint of uncertainty.
Amelia met his gaze, her eyes pleading for understanding. "Because I can't keep pretending. Not with you. You've been... different lately. Kinder. And I thought... maybe you deserved to know the truth."
Alister leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "If what you're saying is true, then... it explains a lot. Your behavior, the changes in you. But it's a lot to take in."
"I know," she said, her voice barely audible. "I didn't expect you to believe me right away. I just... needed to tell you."
He nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Thank you for trusting me with this. It can't have been easy."
Amelia felt a weight lift off her shoulders, the relief palpable. "It wasn't. But it feels right."
Alister stood up and moved closer, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm and steady, grounding her in the moment. "We'll figure this out together. Whatever it means."
She looked up at him, a mixture of gratitude and hope shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Alister."
He nodded, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "We'll take it one step at a time, Amelia. Together."
The room was filled with a new kind of silence—a comforting one, full of unspoken promises and newfound understanding. For the first time since her reincarnation, Amelia felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to face her future as someone who she wasn't. A huge weight wasliftet of her shoulders.
She knew, now she would be herself - her true self. One she had never not been, but that was only as important as a little drop of water in an ocean.