Lily felt a nudge and a small tap on her shoulder.
"Your Highness, wake up. You'll catch a cold if you stay in the water for too long," Marian's soft voice called to her.
"Princess," Lily repeated groggily, and the events of the evening rushed back into her memory. She was now Princess Lisbeth. She needed to get used to that as fast as possible.
She took Marian's hand, who helped her out of the tub. The maids dried her body and hair. As she walked to the chair, she was startled to see Liora sitting on top of the dressing mirror. She also needed to get used to the presence of a ghost.
"You look refreshed and sleepy at the same time," Liora said, laughing. "I need to talk to you alone. Can you excuse the maids and your ladies-in-waiting?"
Liora pointed at Marian on her right and Priscilla Harrington, her other lady-in-waiting. Priscilla was quieter and not as attentive as Marian.
Lily nodded and went to the bed, where several dresses were on display. She chose a maroon one that was flowing; it looked less complicated and lighter than the others. Everyone was surprised by her choice, but Lily simply handed it to Priscilla, who helped her put it on. She took a dry towel and wrapped it around her semi-dry hair.
"I want to have a nap before dinner. Can you all leave?" she said, then turned to Marian. "Come wake me up when the butler arrives."
"But your highness, you can't sleep with wet hair," Marian said.
"It's okay. I'm tired. You go," she said, and Marian left, closing the door behind her.
"Finally, you're alone," Liora said. "Now I can talk."
"Not that you weren't talking when people were here," Lily replied, making Liora laugh.
"You're right, but I need you to talk as well. Anyway, you're showing a lot of changes. The ladies-in-waiting and maids seem suspicious. I'll go around to learn how the princess used to act so you can mimic her properly," Liora said.
Lily nodded, sitting on the bed and resting her back against the bedhead.
"Did you notice Priscilla acting suspiciously?" Lily asked, needing to confirm the nagging feeling she'd had when looking at her.
"I noticed. She looks unsettled. Also, the fact that a healthy princess just dropped dead is very suspicious. I think there's something at play here," Liora said. "So you should be careful unless you want to die twice.
Lily nodded solemnly. The more power someone had, the greater the threat they faced. She needed to be cautious and aware of her surroundings.
"I'll go out and listen in on the maids and guards. Meanwhile, you can rest," Liora said, her form shimmering briefly before she dissolved through the heavy stone wall.
For the first time, Lily was left alone with her thoughts. She put out her hand, staring at it. She remembered how it had looked just before she died black and rotting. She clenched her fist.
If, by any chance, the Duke and Rigella didn't die of the plague, they would still pay for what they did to her. In fact, she now hoped they would survive. If she had known she'd get a second chance, she wouldn't have infected them at all.
"If they're lucky, the plague will kill them," she muttered. She took a pillow and rested her head, knowing they would soon wish it had.
"Thank you for your body, Princess," she murmured softly. "I will live well. I also promise to avenge you... and myself. I hope you're at peace, wherever you are," she slurred, drifting into a deep sleep.
Lily didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but she was woken again by Marian.
"Your Highness, the butler just came. He said dinner is ready," she said gently.
Lily sat up and stretched. She felt very refreshed. Maybe it was because she had finally come to terms with what had happened. She felt lighter somehow.
She slowly stood and took the towel off her head, letting her hair down. The long, straight strands were now curled. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked different than she had the first time she'd seen herself. Maybe it was because her hair had been straightened then.
She adjusted her dress.
"You're leaving like this?" Marian asked, surprised.
"Yes. Why?" Lily asked, turning to face her.
"Your Highness, you never leave the room without a full face of makeup. And you always wear tightly corseted dresses. You also hate when your hair looks natural like that," she added, pointing at Lily's damp, curling hair. "That's why I told you not to sleep with wet hair."
Lily looked at herself in the mirror again. She liked how she looked. Her hair looked fuller, and her cheeks had a natural blush. She looked young and vibrant totally different from how she looked in her previous life.
She had been considered one of the most beautiful women in Velmira, but she never had this kind of energy. Back then, her eyes had been lifeless. Now that she thought about it, she had looked like a walking corpse.
"Marian, it's dark out there. I don't want to dress up. This will do well enough," she said, heading for the door as her stomach rumbled. She was very hungry.