Callista jolted awake in a cold sweat, surrounded by plush pillows and an unfamiliar setting.
I must have had a nightmare.
She grabbed her neck, a faint, lingering pain in her throat. She looked around the room, taking in the scene before her. There were fresh flowers on her nightstand, and the room smelled of incense, lavender specifically. It was Callista's favorite scent.
This is my aunt's house. Why am I here? The last thing I remember is…
Her thoughts were cut off by a sudden knock. The door cracked open, and Emilie, a maid, stepped in. She was holding a tray of tea, and her dark green hair was neatly tied back in a bun.
Emilie…I haven't seen her in-?! Have I really gone back?
Calista's head was throbbing. Emilie took quick steps to Callista's bedside, placing the tray on the nightstand, next to the vase of red roses.
"My lady! You have finally woken up! The Mrs. will be very glad to hear this news. How do you feel?"
Callista turned to Emilie, still disoriented.
"Why am I here? Emilie, where is Lucien?"
Emilie looked at her, her face etched with concern.
"My lady, don't you remember? You exhausted yourself during your magic training and have been asleep for the past 2 days."
Callista's hand tightened into a loose fist.
Ah, I remember that day, The time I collapsed during my training, I was tired, but father insisted I keep going. I don't think he even dared to visit me once I fell ill…
Emilie paused to pour the tea, handing it to Callista on a saucer.
"Actually, Lucien is the one who brought you to your room, otherwise we would have had to send you to the temple priests right away!"
Callista paused, not bothering to sip her tea.
Lucien, that bastard. I'll make him pay this time.
Callista bit her lip. "Emilie.." She placed the tea back onto the tray. "If you could please tell me, what day is it?"
Emilie thought for a second, tilting her head to the side, rubbing her chin with her index finger. "Oh! My lady, it's your 18th birthday!"
Eighteenth? But that's six years in the past!
Callista tried standing up, but her body caved in on her, and she collapsed to the floor, knocking over the tray and spilling the tea on the sheets.
"My lady!" Emilie rushed to help her up. "Please, you shouldn't try to get up so soon. Don't worry about the mess, I will take care of it!"
Emilie rushed out of the room, and Callista regained her footing, heading to the dresser. Looking in the mirror, she was indeed 6 years younger.
I was really given another chance, but how?
Emilie came back into the room with new sheets and some towels, and with Callista's aunt Victoria.
She was wearing a light purple gown with a sheer, lilac shawl wrapped over her shoulders.
It's Auntie..
"Oh dear, are you alright?"
Callista turned to her aunt, standing up, her body suddenly regaining strength. She ran to her aunt and gave her a long, silent hug. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
Even though I've just returned to the past…I feel like such a child again! Why…am I crying?
Aunt Victoria gently patted Callista's back, slightly confused, but still concerned at her sudden crying.
"I have been with you this whole time dear…I was really worried about you these past two days"
Callista finally released her aunt from the hug, although she still wasn't really ready to let go.
Would aunt still love me if she knew all I had done? All that I did?
Victoria grabbed Callista's hand.
"Lets go have a seat in the parlor dear, and you must eat something. I already have the servants preparing lunch."
She led Callista into the parlor, which was a large room with high ceilings and beautiful, white, framed windows.
The views were of a lovely expanse of gardens with any and every kind of flower, and the interior of the parlor matched, with many vases, blooming with life spread throughout the room. Even the fireplace top was covered in little decorative vases.
Callista took her seat, and Emilie soon brought in the food. It was a large plate, and it had a perfectly cooked steak on it with mashed potatoes.
Callista began eating with no hesitation, and once her plate was cleared, Emilie took it away, and handed her a small, velvet box.
"What's this?"
Callista turned to her aunt.
"Your birthday gift dear, open it."
ah, Aunt was the last one to give me a birthday present..
Callista opened the box, recognizing the piece of jewelry inside from her past life, it was a gold ring with a rose pattern, in the middle, a beautiful emerald.
Emilie smiled, "The green matches your eyes my lady! Try it on!"
I missed this ring..
Callista slipped on the ring, it fit perfectly on her finger, and the gold contrasted her brown skin in a way that empowered her.
I had pawned this ring off in my past life to pay off Lucien's debt.
"Thank you, aunt. I will cherish this."
For real this time. I swear it.
Callista glanced down at the ring once more, content. Aunt Callista broke the silence, she looked a little nervous.
"Callista, I also have this letter for you." She takes a letter off of the coffee table, sealed with a wax, rose crest
. That's from the Imperial palace-father!? After three years…three years of staying with aunt, only giving me minimal contact he writes to me?
Victoria hands the letter to her, watching as she opens it up.
Wakt I remember this..!
Callista read over the letter, her face expressing no reactions.
"Your father calls for you to return to the Imperial palace. You will be debuting in high society soon."
Callista tosses the letter aside.
"So then when am I leaving!?"
"Tomorrow morning"
Tomorrow?! I'm not ready!
Emilie grabbed Callista's hand.
"Dont worry miss, I already packed all your things during your time unconscious"
Callista rested her head back against her chair in defeat.
hah…That wasn't exactly what I was worried about.
Victoria joined in, rising from her seat and helping callista up, her gray hairs were more prominent under the natural light beaming through the windows.
"You just focus on resting for your big day tomorrow, my dear!"
Yes, a very big day indeed…