Daphne jolted awake, her heart hammering against her rib.
The empress's cruel smile, Alaric's tear-filled eyes, all of it was a chaotic picture in her mind.
The suffocating silence of the clearing was gone, replaced by the gentle rustle of silk and the melodic chirping of birds outside her window.
"My lady?" a voice asked, soft and concerned.
Daphne blinked, recognizing the familiar face of her handmaiden, Elara.
Her face, so often a canvas of worry in Daphne's previous life, was unlined and youthful.
Confused, Daphne pushed herself up, her limbs feeling strangely light.
She looked down at her hands. They were small, delicate, and free of the calluses that had formed from years of embroidery.
"How are you feeling, my lady?" Elara's brow furrowed. "Is something wrong?"
Daphne looked around the room, the shock of it all making her dizzy.
The curtains were vibrant, the bedding was white, and sunlight streamed through the open window. This was her childhood room, the one she had left behind at 17 to enter the emperor's palace.
Her breath hitched. "Pass me a mirror."
Elara passed her the mirror, confused.
As Daphne held the mirror, a tremor of disbelief, then a wave of exhilaration, washed over her.
She was 14 again, young, still with her innocent features.
She had gone back six years.
She was not a concubine. She was not a pawn in the empress's cruel game. She was a young girl again, with her whole life ahead of her.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. She was overwhelmed with gratitude for this second chance.
"Nothing is wrong, Elara," Daphne whispered, her voice surprisingly steady. "I...I just had a bad dream."
Elara's face softened. "A bad dream? Would you like me to get you some warm milk?"
Daphne shook her head. "No, thank you."
Suddenly, Daphne saw her parents rushing in, worry etched on their faces.
Her mother's eyes were red, and her father's usually stern expression was softened with concern.
"Daphne, child, how are you feeling?" her mother asked, rushing to her side.
Daphne's emotions overwhelmed her as she gazed at her loved ones. In her past life, she had lost them due to the empress's schemes. Tears streamed down her face as she reached out to her family.
"Mother... Father... I'm so sorry," Daphne whispered, her voice trembling.
Her father placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Daphne, you've been ill with a fever. We're just relieved you're recovering. Don't worry about anything, child."
"I... I thought I'd lost you all forever," she sobbed.
Elara handed Daphne a handkerchief, addressing her with the proper respect. "My lady, perhaps you should rest? You've been unwell for some time."
Daphne's parents exchanged a concerned glance, but her mother nodded. "Yes, Elara is right. You need to rest, Daphne. We'll be here when you wake up."
"No mother, I'm fine. I'd love to take a walk in the garden," Daphne told her mother.
Elara's eyes widened. "The garden? But you never walk in the gardens this early, my lady."
"I do now," Daphne said, her voice filled with a new resolve. "Things are going to be different from now on."
Her parents looked at each other, concern and confusion evident on their faces. They left Daphne's room, not before telling her to rest after her walk in the Garden.
As she walked through the garden, Daphne's mind raced with plans.
She was determined to avoid the emperor's proposal, which she knew would happen in three years at a compulsory ball. She would use that time to build her strength and ensure she was never defenseless again.
Daphne decided she would learn how to fight, and she knew her grandfather was the perfect person to teach her.
Her immediate next step was to convince her parents to let her go during dinner that very evening.
....
Daphne's heart fluttered with nervous excitement as she walked toward the dining hall.
"Daphne, my child, you're looking much better," her mother said, her face lighting up with a smile.
Daphne smiled back, but her eyes were fixed on her two brothers.
Aidan, the elder, his face a perfect blend of their parents' features, a clever glint in his eyes as he debated with their father. She remembered his easy laughter and the way he had always protected her.
In her previous life, he had been the first to be arrested, his brilliant career as a commander cut short by the empress's lies.
Finn, the younger, sat quietly, sketching in a notebook, his features gentle. He was a scholar, quiet and kind, who had been sentenced to exile in a remote, frozen outpost.
The image of his pale, shivering face as the guards led him away still haunted her nightmares.
They were just as she remembered them. A choked sob escaped her lips, and all conversation at the table ceased.
"Daphne? Are you alright?" her mother asked, her voice laced with concern.
Daphne quickly composed herself. "I'm fine, Mother. Just… so happy to see you all."
Aidan stood and pulled out a chair for her. "Come on, little sister, don't be so dramatic. You just had a fever."
After the meal, as the servants cleared the table, Daphne decided it was time to speak.
"Mother, Father," she began, her voice steady with a new resolve. "I have something I need to discuss with you."
Her father leaned forward, intrigued. "What is it, child?"
"I wish to visit my grandparents in the neighboring kingdom," Daphne said. "I'd like to stay there for a while, perhaps until my coming-of-age ceremony or ....after that."
Her parents exchanged a bewildered look. "But why, Daphne? We haven't seen them in years," her mother replied.
"I miss them. And I... I wish to learn from Grandfather."
Aidan and Finn snorted in amusement. "Grandfather? The martial arts master?"
Aidan laughed. "He'll have you running drills and polishing swords, Daphne. He's not exactly known for his delicate art."
"That's exactly what I want," Daphne countered, her eyes meeting her father's. "I want to learn martial arts. I want to learn archery. I want to be strong. For myself, for our family."
"Why this sudden change of heart, daughter?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.
"In my dream, Father… a shadow came over our family. I felt so helpless, so weak. I never want to feel that way again. I want to be able to protect the people I love."
Her brothers' laughter faded, replaced by a thoughtful silence. Her mother reached across the table and took her hand.
"Then you shall go," her father declared, his voice ringing with authority. "Prepare for your journey, Daphne. You have our blessing."
A wave of relief washed over Daphne, so powerful she felt lightheaded.
This is it. The first step.
She would go to her grandfather, and she would learn. She would become the woman who could protect her family, and in doing so, change her destiny forever.
When the family's meal ended, Daphne didn't waste a moment. She rose from the table, a new purpose radiating from her.
"I will go and prepare my belongings now," she announced to them.
Her mother's eyes widened. "Now, child? The journey is long. You should rest first."
"I have rested enough, Mother," Daphne replied, a gentle but firm tone in her voice. "The sooner I start, the sooner I can return."
She bowed to her parents and brothers, then walked to her chambers.
"My lady, are you truly going?" Elara, her handmaiden who was trailing her asked, her voice barely a whisper. "To the Grand Master's estate? I've heard it's not a place for a noble lady."
Daphne opened her wardrobe, pulling out a simple linen tunic and a pair of trousers she hadn't worn in years. "It's the only place for me, Elara."
Elara wrung her hands. "But... your fine silks, your jewelry, your lessons in court etiquette... they'll all be for naught. Are you sure you're not making a mistake?"
Daphne paused and turned to face her maid.
She placed a hand on Elara's shoulder, her eyes holding a depth of experience that opposed her young face.
"I am tired of being a delicate flower, to be admired but easily crushed," Daphne said.
She began to fold her clothing, placing them carefully in a small bag. "But I will not lose myself entirely. I will learn to be both a blade and the silk that conceals it. True elegance isn't a fragile thing to be protected; it's a weapon in itself. My strength will not come from beauty alone, but from a combination of skill and grace."
Elara's eyes, filled with worry, slowly began to clear. With a quiet sigh of acceptance, she began to help Daphne, folding the plain tunics and packing a sturdy pair of boots.
When her packing was complete, Daphne left her room to find her brothers.
She found them lounging in the sun-room, a gentle breeze rustling the ivy around the arched windows.
Finn was engrossed in his sketches, and Aidan was practicing a few sword moves.
"Thinking of going to war, brother?" Daphne teased, a small smile on her face.
Aidan paused his movements, a grin spreading across his face. "One must always be prepared, little sister. Perhaps you should practice with me. Grandfather wouldn't want a clumsy student, would he?"
Finn, without looking up from his sketchpad, chimed in, "Careful, Aidan. She might just beat you. She's been awfully serious lately. I bet she's secretly been training in the stables at night."
"Oh, is that so?" Aidan laughed, then faked a dramatic stumble, dropping the sword with a loud clatter. He collapsed onto a plush chair, sighing.
"I suppose my days as a great warrior are over."
Daphne laughed, "Don't be so dramatic. I have no doubt you could outwit any opponent with your silver tongue alone."
She playfully kicked the discarded sword "I will rely on my own wit, and the training I've yet to receive."
Aidan's grin suddenly faded. He looked at her, his expression serious. "We'll miss you, Daphne. It's strange, knowing you'll be gone for so long."
Finn finally looked up from his drawing. "Are you truly set on this? Grandfather's kingdom is far from here. It will be quiet without you here to fuss over." His voice was laced with sadness.
She walked over and hugged them both, her arms wrapped around them in a tight embrace.
"I'll miss you too," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"But I'll write often, and I'll come back stronger than ever." She pulled back, a fierce determination in her eyes.
"And when I return, together, we'll be able to protect this family from any shadow that dares to cross our path."
The brothers looked at each other, their initial sadness replaced by a look of respect for their little sister.
They had never seen her so resolute. Her words were a promise, and they knew she would keep it.