Elanor's POV
This life has become very different. My original plans have all been thwarted. I don't feel bad about that so much; it still miffs me a bit, but anyways.
Whatever is happening is a much better outcome than what I had imagined. And it's all because of Cordelia. She didn't do anything in particular, but her very existence has changed our fates.
For all I know, originally, our blessing ceremony would have occurred in the central church of Cassidoria, not the holy church. Just because of this, we have bagged some very important figures as our entourage. In our previous lives, the nobles had done folly, selecting our entourage per their convenience for political power, but their snakelike hands cannot reach within the holy church.
One-eyed General Garold—I owe him a lot. He's just a lieutenant now, though, and has both his eyes. I will protect him this time. I will find all those who supported and worked for my cause and repay them for their sacrifice and loyalty in this life.
Listening to Cordelia's questions has made me realize that we, too, have a gap in information. We were born five years after the coronation and royal marriage, and this period of time is a gap in the history of Cassidoria, veiled and unrecorded. Even after our birth, many things remain blank and unrecorded for three more years. Historians have wept about this missing piece of the past and called it the Phantom Years.
While living again does make us some kind of prophet over things that will happen in the future, we have not exactly become all-knowing, omnipotent figures. If we were, the misery of the past would not haunt us even after death, so much so that we could not even lay in our deathbeds and rose up again.
I look at the nobles seated in the audience, bowing towards the altar reverently. I would have believed they were truly pious and great believers. I spot some people, too—betrayers, specifically. I will weed them out of the soil before they dare to steal from our roots.
I have to admit, this is the greatest shock: the appearance of the three holy elders. Wow. I have only seen them once before, and that too was to make up the Sael'Mora Vyrn in the capital city of the holy kingdom when under attack from the Spectra. They had given up their lives to erect this shield over the city of refugees.
Is the third choice really supposed to be like this? From all I know, when the flame grows bright, our slumbering magic wakes up and reveals itself. It's not a choice but more of a manifestation of our abilities.
But here, the flame is coming towards me. Is this because of the elders? Or the hearth? Or are the constellations looking upon us?
While this is great, the unpredictability worries me.
The red flame fused with my soul, blending with my essence to bring out my magic.
Wait, stop. What in the name of stars is happening here?
My magic—oh stars, this is no small matter. My magic, that had been honed for 28 years of my previous life, has followed me here. Recently awakened magic is like a small water vein, but this is a complete river flowing to the ocean. I feel like this is more than what I ever had before.
My hair has been set ablaze, and I feel much more control over my magic than ever before. As if I have become a natural disaster.
I look around, trying to see the others after their transformations. The others are also much stronger than they are supposed to be.
CORDELIA? Oh heavens, she… she has a third eye and is holding a beast.
She is a summoner?!
Alice's POV
I like this life much more than before. Don't think I didn't notice that old witch rolling her eyes when I refused her call. She is the same as before. Consort Heather of the mage tower will never care about anyone but herself, not even her own child. She's merely moving for her goals, though I am not sure what.
Hmmmmmmm? .....Hm?..... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
She seems to be fond of the youngest. I wonder why?
No, not just her; others, too. That's really weird. Does the youngest have charm magic? No, magic has not manifested yet.
Ummmmm…. The consorts do have an unhealthy level of attachment to Consort Petunia, so that is now going to be extended towards Cordelia, too? Poor youngest.
Cordelia, Cordeee,... Elia. Yup, that's it—our youngest Elia, our lucky star.
Many things have changed for the better because of her. But I still hate being paraded like some kind of ornament. I am a baby with an opinion.
"Must these choices be made so soon?" I whispered to Dorothy. "We're literally only babies."
Dorothy's response was a solemn nod. "But we're royal babies, Alice. That makes a difference."
She's stupid. Of course, I am aware of that, but why must our entourage be chosen when we are merely six months old? It's like burdening a child with adult choices, robbing them of the innocence and experiences they have yet to live. For an actual six-month-old, choosing an entourage is something they do not even understand. This is wrong. When I grow up, the first thing I will do is change these arbitrary practices.
Sigh… easier said than done.
This is a royal practice, for stars' sake.
On the bright side, I have chosen Miss Riley, future Duchess Crowell. I will be swimming in money soon. This reminds me… young Duke Simon Crowell is also quite the catch. Pity he is seven years younger than me.
Oh wow, Elia Elia, breaking norms from the start. Choosing the most discriminated group as her entourage. Wow, this girl is making waves, and the funny thing is she is not even aware of it.
Time for the third choice. Let's go…
Old man Thales has a nice grandson, too. Lucian… he's quite an eye candy. It's regrettable that he chose the path of asceticism.
Stars, am I seeing things right? The three holy elders.
Oh My Stars!!
They are my idols! Hehe, one day I will become like the first elder, manipulating and charming everyone in my vicinity.
She is the one who taught me that charm is more than mere seduction.
Third choice, magic. Come onnn.
Oohhh… beautiful pink flame. Wow, it's fusing with my essence. Pink, Pink sparkles.
Let's charm everyone.
Wait, my magic… it's a lot. Not like a recently awakened one.
Did my magic from my past life retain itself? Does that even make sense? My body now should be a completely new vessel.
It seems like the same case for others, too. Cordelia is a summoner? Interesting.
I should use Dorothy for my experiments.