The memory came to her in flashes. Like a broken mirror, each shard reflecting a moment of her past naiveté. Ella sat by the window in her room, the soft morning light casting a gentle glow on her face, but her mind was far away, lost in the corridors of her past. She remembered the young girl she had been, so full of hope, so easily swayed by sweet words and a handsome face. It was hard to reconcile that girl with the woman she had become, the empress who had known betrayal and death, and now, the young woman with the wisdom of her past life.
She recalled the day she had first spoken of her desire to marry Crown Prince James. It had been a casual conversation, a naive confession made to her cousins, Amy and Cindy. She remembered the excitement in her voice, the giddy happiness that had bubbled up inside her at the thought of being his wife. She had believed he was a kind and honorable man, a true prince. She had been so very wrong.
She closed her eyes, the image of James Brown, her former husband, appearing in her mind. The handsome face, the charming smile, the eyes that had once held her captive - now they filled her with disgust and a burning hatred. She remembered the day he had ascended the throne, the day she had become his empress. She had stood by him, supported him, and loved him with all her heart. He had been the world to her. But he had betrayed her in the most cruel and heartless way imaginable.
He had allowed her children to die, had orchestrated the downfall of her family, and had ultimately sentenced her to death. The pain of that betrayal was still raw and fresh, as if the wounds had been inflicted only moments ago. She could still feel the cold, hard stone of the dungeon floor beneath her, the chilling fear that had gripped her heart in her final moments. She clenched her fists, a surge of anger coursing through her veins.
"This time," she whispered, her voice filled with a quiet determination, "this time, things will be different."She would not be a naive girl, easily swayed by flattery or a pretty face. She would not blindly follow her heart and make the same mistakes she had made in the past. She would use her knowledge of the future to her advantage. She would manipulate events, plot her revenge, and ensure that James Brown paid for his treachery. She would also do everything in her power to protect her family and keep them from harm.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It was Emily, her loyal maid, her face etched with a hint of worry."My lady," Emily said softly, "your cousin, Amy Smith, is here to see you. She says it's important."
Ella's eyes narrowed. Amy, the cousin who had always tried to make her look foolish, who had never truly been her friend. What did she want? She knew that Amy was likely trying to find out why she had not gone to Rong Hall, and that she was trying to see if something had changed in Ella. Ella had decided in the previous chapter that she would not attend Rong Hall, and she knew that it would not be long before her family tried to force her to go. She decided that she would use Amy to practice her new skills.
"Very well, Emily," Ella replied, her voice calm and collected. "Show her in."Emily opened the door, and Amy entered, her face a picture of concern, but Ella saw the curiosity and judgment that lurked beneath the surface. Amy looked at Ella with eyes that were trying to see through her mask. Amy saw that Ella looked calm, but did not understand why.
"Ella, are you alright?" Amy asked, her voice laced with fake concern. "Emily said that you were not feeling well, so I came to check on you. Why didn't you attend Rong Hall today?"
Ella looked at Amy, seeing her for the first time with the clear eyes of an empress who had been betrayed. She had been used to being manipulated and made to feel bad about herself. However, this time, she would turn the tables. She would not be the victim anymore.
"I am fine, Amy," Ella replied, her voice even and steady, not showing the turmoil that was raging within her. "I simply needed some rest. I have been thinking about many things. I realize that I have made mistakes in the past, and that I need to make changes." She stated it as a fact, with a calmness that Amy did not recognize.
Amy's eyes widened slightly. She could tell that something had shifted within Ella, but she could not figure out what. She was used to Ella being shy and emotional, but this calm demeanor was new and unsettling. Amy had wanted to come see if Ella was sick, or hurt. However, she had not expected Ella to act so calm.
"What kind of changes, Ella?" Amy asked, her voice laced with suspicion. She wanted to find out what was going on with Ella, so that she could tell Old Madam Smith, and see if she would have a chance to take advantage of Ella's supposed weakness.
Ella smiled, a small, knowing smile that did not reach her eyes. "I have come to realize that I must take control of my own life. I will not let others decide my fate for me. I will not be a victim anymore." She looked directly into Amy's eyes.
Amy shifted uncomfortably. She was not used to Ella speaking to her with such confidence. It was unnerving. "But what do you mean? You have always been so agreeable and so happy to follow the rules. Why would you change now? Is this about James Brown?" Amy blurted out, eager to see if Ella was still as naive and childish as she had been in the past.
Ella's eyes flashed, but she kept her voice calm. "My feelings for James Brown are my own concern. I will not let anyone use them to control me again. I see that I need to be in control of my own life. I want to be in charge of my own destiny."
Amy was quiet for a moment, processing Ella's words. She was clearly confused by Ella's calm and strong manner. She was used to Ella being naive and emotional. This new Ella was someone that she did not recognize. Amy had always wanted to see Ella fail, and this new strength was unnerving."You are acting very strange, Ella. I think you should go back to bed," Amy said, her voice sharp and critical. "You are not making any sense."
Ella laughed softly. "I am making perfect sense, Amy. It is you who is confused. You have always treated me as a child, as someone who is foolish and naive. You have always tried to make me feel small and insignificant. But I am no longer that girl." She was testing her new abilities, and making sure that she could keep her calm. It was going exactly as she had planned.
Amy bristled at Ella's words. She had never expected Ella to speak to her in such a way. She had always thought that she was the smart and powerful one, but now she could see that Ella was different. She was more calculating, and much more dangerous.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" Amy retorted, her face flushed with anger. "I am your older cousin, and you will show me respect."Ella shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Respect is earned, Amy. It is not given automatically because of age or bloodline. In the past, I have always given you respect. I have always tried to be your friend. But now I can see that you do not deserve it. You have never been kind to me. You have always tried to make me look bad so that you can look better."
Amy's face twisted into a sneer. "You are being ridiculous, Ella. You have always been jealous of me because I am more talented and beautiful than you. You are just trying to start trouble. I think you should stop acting like this. It's not a good look."
Ella ignored the insult and continued to speak calmly. "I know your goal, Amy. You are here to see if I am still as naive as I was in the past. You want to see if you can take advantage of me. You also want to go and tell Old Madam Smith that I have changed. You want to take all of this information and use it to try to make me look bad. However, this time, I will not allow it. This time, I am in control."
Amy was taken aback. How could Ella have known what she was thinking? It was as if she could read her mind. This new Ella was not who she thought she was. This new Ella was very dangerous."I don't know what you're talking about," Amy said, her voice trembling slightly. She knew that she had been exposed. "I only came to see if you were okay."
"I do not believe you," Ella said, her voice cold and firm. "I know that you are here to take information back to Old Madam Smith. I know that you have always wanted me to fail. I will no longer be the person that you want me to be. I have other plans, and they do not involve being your friend."Amy stood there, silent and stunned. She had never seen Ella like this before. This new Ella was like a stranger to her.
Ella knew that she needed to be more careful. She could not reveal her true intentions to anyone, not even Amy. She needed to be patient and calculated. She would play the role of the naive young girl for now, but beneath the surface, she would be plotting her revenge."I think it is time for you to leave, Amy," Ella said, her voice still calm but firm. "I need to rest."
Amy nodded silently and turned to leave, her mind racing with confusion and fear. She did not understand what was happening to Ella, but she knew that things had changed, and that Ella was no longer the easy target she had once been.
After Amy left, Ella sat down again by the window, a small smile playing on her lips. She had successfully held her composure, and she had successfully confused Amy. This was only the beginning. She would not let anyone stand in her way. She would rewrite her destiny, and she would have her revenge. She would protect her family, and this time, everyone who had hurt her would pay.She was not the innocent young girl anymore, she was the empress reborn. And she was ready to play the game. She had learned from the past, and this time, she would win.
Ella closed her eyes, her mind already planning her next move. She needed to use her knowledge of the future, to position herself strategically, and to gain power. This was not just about revenge. This was about making sure that her family would not suffer again. This was about ensuring that her family could be safe. This was her goal. And she would not stop until she had achieved it. This time, she would be the one in control. This time, she would be the master of her own destiny.