Light. It was the first thing she noticed. A soft, golden light filtering through the silk curtains of her bedroom window. It was a far cry from the cold, flickering torchlight of the dungeon, or the endless darkness of her death. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the gentle brightness. She was no longer surrounded by the harsh, unforgiving stones of a prison cell. Instead, she lay on a soft, comfortable bed, the familiar scent of lavender filling the air. This was her bedroom, the bedroom she had known as a child in the Smith family mansion.
She raised a hand to her face, her fingers tracing the smooth skin of her cheek. It was small, delicate, not the worn, scarred hands of an empress. She moved her fingers over her arm, feeling the smooth skin. She looked at her hands, and they looked so small and young. This was not a dream. This was real. She was young again. She was back.
A wave of confusion washed over her, followed by a surge of recognition. The memories of her past life, the life as Empress Ella Smith, flooded her mind. The betrayal, the suffering, the death of her children and her family, it was all still there, vivid and agonizingly real. But now, she also felt the excitement of a new beginning. She had been reborn.
She sat up, the silken sheets rustling around her. She looked around the room, her gaze taking in every familiar detail. The intricately carved wooden furniture, the delicate porcelain vases, the paintings on the wall – they were all exactly as she remembered them from her childhood. It was as if no time had passed, and yet, everything had changed.
The door to her room opened gently, and a young woman entered, her eyes filled with concern. It was Emily, her loyal maid. Emily, who had sacrificed herself to save her in her past life. Her heart ached at the sight of Emily's kind face, a face she had seen for so many years, and one that now was given to her again. She saw the young, gentle, and loyal maid as someone she must protect, someone she must keep safe this time.
"My lady, you are awake," Emily said softly, her voice filled with relief. "You have been sleeping for a long time. Are you feeling alright?"
Ella stared at Emily, her throat tight with emotion. How could she be here? How could she be so young again, so full of life? This was her chance to fix her mistakes from the past. She had a new opportunity to protect her family and seek vengeance for the pain she had endured. She knew that she must not trust the people around her. However, this time, she had a chance to change everything.
"I'm fine, Emily," Ella replied, her voice a little raspy from disuse. "Just a bit tired." She looked at Emily, her eyes searching for any sign of recognition or change. However, Emily appeared just the same as she had in Ella's past life, her face young and gentle.
Emily approached the bed, her hands hovering over Ella. She looked carefully at Ella, trying to see if Ella had any aches or pains. Emily was always attentive to Ella's well-being. "Do you need anything, my lady? Shall I bring you some warm water? Or some food?" Emily asked.
"Yes, water would be good," Ella responded, keeping her voice calm and collected. She must not give away the shock she felt, or how much had changed inside her. She needed to act like her old self, at least for now. She needed to make a plan to achieve her goal. This time, she would not waste her opportunities.
Emily quickly left the room and returned with a cup of water and a small, light breakfast. Ella drank the water slowly, trying to gather her thoughts. Each sip was like a grounding cord to the present. She felt the shock start to calm down as her focus returned to her current mission.
"What day is it?" Ella asked, her voice still quiet, but stronger this time, more sure."It is the 15th day of the 7th month," Emily replied, her brow furrowed with concern. "Why do you ask, my lady? Did you hit your head?"
Ella knew the date. It was the year she was fourteen, the year before she had met James Brown. The year her life had taken a tragic turn. This knowledge sent a shiver of both fear and determination through her body. It was clear. She was not dreaming, and this was not a hallucination. This was real life. She had a second chance. And this time, she would be smarter and more ruthless.
"I just wanted to know," Ella said, placing the empty cup on a nearby table. "I feel like I've slept for so long. I thought that perhaps, the date had been changed."Emily smiled. "You always sleep for a long time, my lady," Emily said with a chuckle. "You are a sleepyhead."
Ella managed a small smile in response. She was glad that Emily had not changed. She was grateful that Emily was still so kind, and so loyal. This time, she would protect Emily. She would do everything in her power to make sure she would not sacrifice herself again.
"My lady, I will go and prepare your bath, and then I will dress you," Emily said, her voice bright and cheerful. "Today is a big day. You will be seeing your cousins, Cindy and Amy, again at Rong Hall. You'll need to look your best."
Ella's smile faded. She had almost forgotten about her cousins, Cindy and Amy. In her past life, she had always tried to impress them, to gain their approval and friendship. She had naively thought that they cared for her, that they wanted what was best for her. But she had been wrong. They had used her for their own benefit, and they had not been friends with her at all.
She knew this time she had to change her approach. She needed to become someone who was strong and powerful. Someone who was not easily fooled or manipulated. She had a plan to make her family stronger, and she would need to use the people around her, including Cindy and Amy, to make that happen.
"Emily," Ella said, her voice firm, "I do not want to see Cindy and Amy today. I do not want to go to Rong Hall."Emily looked surprised. "But my lady," Emily said, her brow furrowed, "the old madam will be expecting you. You have always gone to the gatherings at Rong Hall with your cousins. What has changed?"
"I have changed," Ella stated with quiet confidence. "I am no longer a naive and childish girl. I have a plan to become stronger. I want to take control of my life. I want to decide my own future, and if I do not want to see Cindy and Amy today, then I shall not." Her voice was calm, but it carried an air of authority that was new to Emily.
Emily was silent for a moment, her eyes wide with surprise. She had never heard Ella speak with such confidence and conviction. Something had definitely changed. It was not just that she had been asleep; there was a change deep within her.
"Very well, my lady," Emily replied finally, her voice filled with respect. "I will tell the old madam that you are still unwell and cannot attend the gathering today."
Ella nodded. "Thank you, Emily. You have always been so loyal and kind." Her voice was soft, but her eyes were still determined. She needed to protect Emily.
As Emily left the room to prepare her bath, Ella took a deep breath, her mind racing with plans. She needed to be careful. She could not reveal her true intentions to anyone, not even Emily. She needed to observe and learn before making any moves. She knew that her enemies were out there, waiting to strike. She must be smarter and more cunning this time.
She stood up and walked towards the window, her gaze fixed on the gardens below. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, the flowers swayed, as if they were dancing in the breeze. The world outside seemed so peaceful, so serene. But she knew that beneath the surface, there was a web of intrigue and betrayal.
She turned away from the window and walked towards the mirror, looking at herself. She saw a young, innocent girl staring back at her, but she knew that this was not who she was. She was the empress reborn, the woman who had sworn revenge. She was the woman who had come back to rewrite her destiny.
There was a knock at the door, and Emily entered with a large, wooden tub filled with warm, scented water. "The bath is ready, my lady," Emily said, her eyes bright. "Shall I help you undress?"
Ella nodded and allowed Emily to help her into the tub. The warm water soothed her aching muscles and helped to clear her mind. As she washed her hair and skin, she felt the old life start to peel away from her. She was no longer the empress who had been betrayed and killed. She was Ella, the young girl with a second chance, and a fierce determination to protect her family. She would not be a victim again.
After her bath, Emily helped her dress in a simple, but elegant gown. She brushed Ella's hair until it shone, then she fastened it with a beautiful clip. Ella looked at herself in the mirror. The young girl she was looking at was still not someone she fully recognized.
There was another knock at the door, and a servant peeked inside. "My lady, your cousin, Cindy Smith, is here to see you," the servant said.
Ella's brow furrowed. She knew that Cindy was likely there to see what was happening. She was curious why Ella would not come to Rong Hall, and she wanted to take this chance to see if Ella was sick.
"Tell her I will see her in a moment," Ella said calmly. She then looked at Emily. "I need to know what I should do to best protect my family. I must learn everything that I can."
Emily nodded and helped Ella get ready to face her cousin, Cindy Smith. Ella took a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination. The game was on. She was ready. She would not be defeated again. She would rewrite her destiny, and she would have her revenge.