"Bwahahahahahahahaha!"
The sky above the Exelio Estate was heavy with clouds, blocking even the faintest hint of light. The wind swooshed over the trees, the branches and leaves danced, and thunder loudly roared across the sky as if giving everyone a warning.
The air smelled like rain and blood.
Inside the estate, hundreds of lifeless bodies were lying on the ground. The sound of swords clashing echoed through the halls, mixing with the cries of wounded people.
Flames flickered along the windows, painting the grand corridor of the once luxurious castle in red and black.
At the center of it all stood Lionel. The Young Duke of the estate. His armor was now dented, and his silver sword was dripping with blood. His breathing was ragged, while his body started trembling with exhaustion.
He could see his men around, falling to their deaths one after another.
He had once called this place home. Now, it was nothing but a mere grave.
"Lionel Silvestre Exelio!"
The voice came from the grand staircase. Lionel turned his head to the side, only to meet the cold and proud gaze of his cousin, Cassian Alexander Vaeloria.
He was the current emperor of the Vaeloria Empire.
Cassian walked down the steps slowly. Behind him, there were rows of royal guards following him around. All of them were holding onto their own swords, ready to attack once he said his word.
"You're already surrounded, Lionel," Cassian said calmly as the sides of his lips rose to a small smile.
"Surrender your sword. By the order of the crown, you are charged with treason."
"Treason? Are you high?" Lionel let out a bitter laugh.
"You plotted against me. You stole money from the empire's treasury. You fed secrets to our enemies. You tried to seduce my wife. What else would you call it?" Cassian's smirk didn't fade at all.
Lionel's grip tightened on his sword. "You know that those are all lies!"
"Enough!" Cassian snapped out loud. "Just admit it, Lionel. You've always wanted more than your place!"
Lightning flashed through the shattered windows just after saying those words. In that short burst of light, Lionel saw something in Cassian's eyes—hunger… and hatred.
A hatred he never understood.
"Cassian…" Lionel said quietly, almost in disbelief. "You planned all of this..."
"You should've stayed under my shadows, Lionel. Never for the world to know." Cassian tilted his head slightly. He raised his hand, and the guards behind him quickly rushed forward.
Lionel roared and met them head-on. Sword crashed against sword. The floor became covered with blood as he fought desperately to stay alive. He struck down soldier after soldier, but there were just too many.
A spear grazed his shoulder. A sword cut across his leg. Slowly, pain filled all his senses. However, he refused to fall without a fight.
It was not until Cassian drew his own blade.
Their swords met with a deafening clash. The two of them fought fiercely. Each swing of the sword they made was filled with anger, pride, and years of hidden contempt.
"You always thought you were better than me, don't you?" Cassian hissed out loud before forcing Lionel back.
"What can I do? I was indeed better than you," Lionel answered before blocking the next blow.
Cassian smiled darkly. "Not anymore."
He faked a step to the left, then drove his sword into Lionel's side.
"Ugh," Lionel gasped as he fell to one knee. His sword slipped from his hand while his eyes stared at the sword embedded in his chest.
Cassian leaned close to his face and whispered, "Remember this, Lionel. The kingdom will remember you as a traitor. And I'll make sure no one dares speak your name again."
Cassian let out a short laugh afterward that echoed across the burning estate. He straightened his back and wiped the blood from his sword with a cloth handed to him by one of his guards.
Then, before turning away, he glanced at Lionel for the last time.
"Tell me, Lionel," Cassian said, his smile widening. "Do you still remember the death of your father?"
Lionel completely froze. His breathing stopped for a moment.
"And your lowly mother, who was poisoned. Such a tragedy, wasn't it?"
Lionel's eyes widened.
"Poor Lionel. The loyal duke who never even knew that his beloved cousin was the one who planned it all along." Cassian grinned.
Something inside Lionel broke. His chest tightened as anger surged through him, hotter than the flames around them.
"Y-you…" his voice trembled. "You bastard!"
He tried to grab his sword, his hand shaking as he reached for it. His fingers brushed on the hilt, but his strength failed him. He just collapsed onto the cold floor again. With his sudden movement, his breathing became more shallow.
"Pft- You should see yourself right now," Cassian laughed out loud in disgust. "You look so desperate."
Lionel tried once more to push himself up, but his arm shook and gave out.
Cassian crouched down just in front of him. When he realized that Lionel was completely helpless now, his smirk widened.
"Do you want me to tell you one more secret?" he asked in a low and taunting voice.
"W-what secret…?" Lionel forced out a breath.
Cassian grinned, delighted by the fear showing in Lionel's eyes.
"You and I…" he whispered, "…share the same father."
"W-wh—" Lionel froze.
He wanted to say something more, but his mouth suddenly wouldn't open.
"Oh, you must want a clarification." Cassian stood up with a satisfied look on his face.
"Since you're dying, I'll tell you."
Lionel just looked at Cassian's face. His body was starting to get numb already from all the injuries he sustained.
"I hated you from the very day you were born."
"…"
As soon as he said that, Cassian turned his back.
"The show is done. End this," he ordered his guards. "Kill everyone left in this mansion. Leave nothing standing. Tomorrow, we will announce to the whole empire that the great Duke of Exelio has rebelled against the empire."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
With that, Cassian walked away and laughed in joy.
Lionel's vision blurred again. All he could hear now was the guards marching around and the screams of his remaining people in pain as they were killed.
Alone in the main hall of the estate, Lionel stared at the grand ceiling above him.
There was nothing left for him. He was already useless and on the verge of death but all of a sudden, something glowed from his body.
From his chest, a small blue light began to glow. It was his necklace, which was given to him by his mother.
Lionel's half-closed eyes widened slightly.
"W-what… i-is t-this?" he whispered weakly.
Just then, the blue light grew stronger, almost blinding. It flew in the air and suddenly a blue hourglass appeared in front of him.
Instinctively, his trembling hand reached toward it. When his hand touched it, the light suddenly surrounded his fingers, too.
Before he could even understand what was happening, the blue hourglass floated in the air. It began to turn slowly, causing the sand inside to fall.
However, Lionel's body became more heavy each passing second. His eyelids started to close, and his heartbeat slowed down after every breath.
And in his mind, he only had one thought.
He didn't want to die.
Not like this.
No… not here… not like this…
"I don't want to die like this… Let me return… to the past." His voice trembled as he spoke.
The hourglass turned again, and the light around it grew brighter as if it was listening to him.
"Yes… just like that hourglass," he muttered weakly, his eyes fixed on the glowing blue sand. "If I could go back… I'll change everything…"
The hourglass turned more after every word he let out.
"I won't be deceived again…" Lionel said with gritted teeth. "I'll save my father and mother… reclaim what is rightfully mine… and… and—"
Before he could finish, a blinding blue light swallowed everything.
Then—
"Lionel! Are you listening to what I'm saying?!"
Lionel's eyes snapped open.
The smell of burning buildings and blood was suddenly gone. Instead, he smelled fresh bread and roasted meat.
Huh?
Lionel blinked.
Am I dreaming?
He was now sitting at a long dining table. Across from him were his mother and his father, who had his forehead creased as he watched Lionel closely.
The two looked tall in his sight.
Lionel froze, his hands trembling on the table.
This… this couldn't be real.
"Lionel, your trainers have told me that you skipped classes again! What am I going to do with you, huh?" His father's voice boomed in anger.
Lionel's lips parted open while his heart pounded.
Did I go back to the past?
- - - - -
A/N: Hope you enjoy this new novel!