As I sat beside the Emperor—my husband—his lifeless body at my side, the weight of my actions bore down on me. The silence of the room was deafening, broken only by the soft sound of my own shallow breathing.
I waited, resigned to my fate, knowing the executioners would come for me soon.
The door suddenly burst open with a thunderous crash, pulling me from my thoughts.
Standing in the doorway was a man with navy blue and black mixed hair that shimmered under the dim light, and striking purple eyes that burned with intensity.
It was Duke Calyric Astraloyn, the North's indomitable Sword Master and the Emperor's most loyal ally.
For a fleeting moment, I believed he had come to strike me down—to avenge the man who had been both his liege and his friend.
But instead, to my shock, he fell to one knee before me, bowing his head low.
"My Empress,"
"Come with me. I will protect you. I will ensure your safety."
I stared at him, unable to process his words. "Why? Why would you protect me?"
He lifted his gaze, his purple eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Because the Emperor wished for you to live. And because I do as well. No matter the cost, I will see you safe."
His words hung in the air like a fragile thread, and I looked at him, my voice cold and hollow.
"I am the Empress of Solasterra,"
"I killed the Emperor. My crime is unforgivable, and I will face the consequences. You should not waste your life for someone like me."
Pain flickered across his face, but his resolve did not falter.
"Even if you believe yourself unworthy, I will not abandon you. My oath is not so easily broken."
Before I could respond, the sound of heavy boots echoed against the marble floors as more figures stormed into the already open room.
Kaelric Solandris strode into the room, his soldiers at his back. His sharp gaze fixed on me, and his voice rang out with authority.
"Hand over the Empress! She is a traitor to the crown and must face justice!"
Calyric rose to his full height, his blade sliding from its sheath in a single, fluid motion. The steel glinted coldly as he positioned himself between me and Kaelric.
"If anyone wishes to harm the Empress," he said, his voice like ice, "they will have to face me first."
Kaelric's soldiers hesitated, but the tension in the air snapped like a taut string as the first sword was drawn.
The clash of steel reverberated through the chamber as chaos erupted.
Duke Calyric moved with the precision of a master, his strikes swift and deadly. Each swing of his blade was calculated, each parry executed with flawless grace.
He stood as an unyielding shield, a force of nature that even Kaelric's elite soldiers struggled to overcome.
But then reinforcements arrived—five other Sword Masters,The male leads, each as skilled as duke Calyric.
The odds shifted irreparably.
Duke Calyric fought like a man possessed, his sword a blur of light and shadow, but even he could not hold his ground against six masters of the blade.
I watched in helpless horror as he fell to his knees, his body broken and bloodied.
He collapsed to the floor, and for a moment, silence reigned once more.
As his life ebbed away, he turned his head to look at me. His purple eyes, dimming with the weight of death, held mine with one final, silent message.
"You- you are worth saving."
Then they closed, and the last spark of his light faded.
I sat there, frozen, staring at his lifeless form.
A man who had no reason to fight for me had sacrificed everything, and I couldn't understand why.
---
I understand four things now.
First, everyone's affection for me was so strong because they recognized me the moment I entered this mansion.
Second, this man died protecting me in my last life because he knew I was his daughter.
Third, that bastard of a husband had known who I was all along.
And finally—the most shocking revelation—I can talk!
That's enough thinking for now. My head isn't made for untangling all of this, and overthinking just gives me a headache.
A few moments ago...
"Selene."
The word fell from his lips like a prayer. He walked toward me, his movements hesitant yet longing, as if trying to reach out to a daughter lost for so long.
My body reacted instinctively—I stepped back.
"Don't come near me," I blurted.
The sound of my own voice startled me. I hadn't expected it. For a moment, I was frozen, but curiosity overtook me. Testing, I spoke again.
"Who is Selene?"
The realization struck—I can speak. My voice is mine again.
The Duke stopped in his tracks, studying me carefully.
Then, with a heavy sigh, he stepped back and sank into the couch. "Please, sit," he said softly.
I hesitated but eventually sat down, keeping some distance between us.
"Do you know why no one has questioned your identity?" he asked.
I hadn't thought about it before, but he was right.
No one had asked for my name or background.
"Maybe... they already knew?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"A letter from the Crown Prince arrived days ago, saying a lady was coming to heal Grace."
"But Grace isn't sick. She ran away from this house two years ago. Her last letter said she was leaving to search for her younger sister."
"The Crown Prince knows this, so there's no way he sent you here to heal her."
'So his first daughter's name is Grace.'
I tilted my head. "Then why is the mansion locked to outsiders?"
His expression darkened, shadows clouding his face. "Because of the tragedy ten years ago," he said, his voice heavy with pain.
'A tragedy? That wasn't in the novel. What was the novel's name again? I can't even remember. Well, it doesn't matter. Digging into the past isn't my purpose here.'
He broke the silence. "I know I have no right to ask, but... how did you survive all these years?"
His voice trembled slightly, and his eyes brimmed with unspoken guilt.
I looked at him, my face blank, and forced a small, faint smile.
'You really don't have the right to ask.'
But I kept the thought to myself. He already seemed fragile, and saying something harsh might shatter him.
"I don't remember much," I admitted. "I lost my memory about a month ago. All I know is that I was the adoptive daughter of House Solandris."
'It wasn't entirely a lie. I had only fragments of Erana's memories, and the rest was a haze. I had also claimed that identity to protect Erana from whatever dangers might come from Tyrian's household.'
His eyes widened. "Did they hurt you?"
'I hesitated. Hurt? They didn't just hurt her—they killed her.'
"I don't remember," I lied, shrugging.
"The last thing I did is burning Tyrian's mansion and fleeing here."
To my surprise, he smiled. "Good," he said. "You've done well. You've grown into a strong, capable woman all on your own."
His voice cracked as he lowered his head, clasping his hands together tightly. "Thank you... for coming back."
I stared at him. I didn't know how to respond. My real father had never spoken to me like this. If Erana were here, what would she feel? Would she be overjoyed or heartbroken?
She must have known who her real family was. Isn't that why she wept so much when she heard about her sister's death?
Then why didn't she return home?
Maybe I could speak freely now because they recognized me as Selene. That recognition had never happened in the novel.
"Hah"....
'I sigh, my mind too cluttered to process everything. I'm too tired to think any further.'
The Duke, perhaps sensing my silence, stood and walked toward the painting hanging on the wall. The sound of his measured footsteps filled the quiet room.
I followed hesitantly, keeping a small distance between us.
He stopped before the portrait and gazed at it with a tender smile.
"This is your mother," he says gently. "She would have been overjoyed to see you again after all these years."
Turning back to me, his smile grew brighter, though his eyes betrayed his sorrow. "Welcome home, Selene."
I nodded, giving a small smile. "It's good to be back."
But it was hollow. The words didn't feel right in my mouth because this place isn't my home.
This isn't my life.
I can't save anyone—
I just hope you can save your sister, wherever she might be.