Lily opened the door and stepped out of the carriage. A pale, muscular hand reached in to help her out. She accepted it and stepped down from the carriage, finding herself face to face with a young man with flaming red hair and pale skin.
"How was your trip, my dearest?" he asked, looking at her with gentle concern.
Lily, who had no memory of the princess's past, hesitated. She turned to glance at Liora, who had floated out behind her and was now circling the man curiously.
"He's very handsome," Liora whispered, spinning above him. "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not an expert on the Selmour royal family. I'm a ghost, not a witch. But he's clearly your brother."
Lily blinked. "Brother?"
"Lily," the man said, his voice laced with concern. "Are you feeling unwell? Your lady-in-waiting told me you fainted twice."
"No, I'm fine, Brother," she replied quickly. "I was just tired."
"Are you sure? We can postpone the trip if needed."
"Yes," she said firmly.
"All right. Lady Reymond, please escort my sister to her room," he instructed, handing her over to a blonde woman standing behind him.
Lily looked around and gasped. There were more than fifty carriages, all lined up. She couldn't see the end of them.
"The princess is beloved in the Selmour Empire. She's the only daughter of the emperor," Liora whispered beside her. "You didn't know that? What did you live in, a cave? Even I, a ghost, knew that."
Lily rolled her eyes but didn't respond. She followed Lady Reymond quietly.
"Are you all right, Your Highness?" Marian asked as they walked toward the towering gates of the villa.
"Yes. Let's go," Lily replied.
Above the gate, golden letters read "Imperial Villa." A line of guards stood at attention, and a man who looked like a butler approached.
"Welcome, Your Highness," he said with a bow. "We have been waiting for you. Please allow me to show you to your chambers."
"Please lead the way," Lily said, glancing behind her.
Her brother stood speaking to another man. As she looked back, he met her gaze and mouthed, "Go. I'll join you later." She nodded and stepped inside.
"You know who that is?" Liora whispered beside her.
Lily shook her head.
"That's the Archduke of Velmira. Very handsome," Liora said with a mischievous grin.
"The Archduke of Velmira?" Lily murmured, her small smile dropping, replaced by a flicker of recognition flashing her eyes. "He looks... different."
"Oh? You know him?" Liora asked, buzzing around her.
"Not really," Lily replied. "Why is he here?" she mumbled, trying to avoid the servants noticing her talking to herself.
"I heard the emperor sent him to welcome you at the Velmira border," Liora whispered.
Lily's lips curled into a slow smile. This Archduke was connected to the same powerful family that had destroyed her as well as the emperor, but before her mother died, they were close.
"You look good when you smile," Liora said. "Duchess, is that a blush I see?" she added, pointing at Lily's cheeks, giggling hysterically.
Lily chose to ignore her. She was still overwhelmed by everything that had happened. In a single day, she had died, been reborn, and now stood surrounded by strangers in a life that was not hers.
The butler opened the gate to the big room. Lily entered and gasped at the sight. Everything screamed extravagance. This was not the Duke's estate; this was the home of a princess. The hall was massive, the walls and floor tiled, and a large chandelier hung from the ceiling.
"That is your chamber, Your Highness. Everything is ready in your room," the butler said, directing her to a room right next to the hall. "Everything is prepared. Please come for dinner once you have finished refreshing," he said, stepping aside to let her enter the room.
"Many thanks," Lily said, stepping in, missing the gobsmacked looks on everyone's faces, but Liora didn't miss it. She smiled, floating after Lily.
Lily threw herself on the couch next to the big bed. Marian came forward.
"Your Highness. Let me help you to the bathing chambers," she said, offering her hand to Lily. Despite her tiredness, Lily took her hand as the other lady-in-waiting helped open Lily's corset. Lily gasped, breathing deeply once the corset was opened as the air rushed to her lungs.
"What do they get by torturing themselves?" Liora said, shaking her head.
Lily looked at her, confused as to what she was talking about.
"Don't mind me," Liora said when she noticed the confused look on Lily's face. "It's the feminist in me talking," she added, further puzzling Lily.
"You have been absent-minded the whole of this afternoon, Your Highness. Is everything okay?" Marian said. "Are you still feeling unwell?" she asked.
Lily took her eyes from Liora and faced Marian. "I'm okay, Lady Reymond."
Marian looked at Lily awkwardly. "You always called me Marian, Your Highness. Why are you distant all of a sudden?"
"Sorry, Marian. I just need rest," she said, and Marian looked at Lily, more puzzled.
"Stop thanking them. You're scaring them," Liora said. "I don't think the princess is known for being polite. Every time you thank anyone, they look like they've seen a ghost."
Lily looked at Liora laughing at her, and since she had nothing to say, she just followed Marian to the bath chamber. Once again, she was shocked at the extravagance. The whole room was tiled, and there was a big bathtub at the centre, filled to the brim with hot water, which turned the whole room hazy with steam. She removed her dress and looked at her body. She was very pale, just like her brother. It looked like it was a signature look for the Selmour royal family. That's when she realised she hadn't seen her face yet.
"Go bring me a mirror," she asked a maid as she eased herself into the waiting bathtub. She sighed deeply as the warm water touched her skin.
The maid came back with a mirror, and Lily took it, staring at herself. Although the chamber was hazy, she could see herself clearly. She looked around the age of eighteen and had a small oval-shaped face with red freckles and green eyes. But what shocked her was her hair it was flaming red, just like her brother's she could now understand Liora's obvious confusion about her asking who her brother was. This vibrant, healthy girl she was seeing on the mirror was a world away from the blackened, bloodshot woman she had been hours before.
Marian handed two maids some soap and oils, then sat at the edge of the tub, instructing one to wash Lily's hair and the other to scrub her body and give her a massage. Lily breathed deeply and closed her eyes, drifting into a nap.