Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

I walked quickly to my room, everything felt so complicated, why would he want me here, just so he could kill me later. Did he have deeper plans, or was this just fun for him.

Tiana was quiet but I knew she was watching me, I knew she wanted to speak, to ask questions, but she was holding herself back.

The blue dress suddenly started feeling suffocating, I was barely in my room before I started taking it off.

I needed a bath, to cool my head, Tiana made an attempt to follow me to the bathroom but I stopped her. I did it everyday but no matter how many times I stopped her, she continued to do it.

Even after Tiana helped me out of my gown, her eyes kept drifting toward my face, worry written on her eyebrows.

She finally broke.
“My lady… what happened in there?”

I said nothing.

Tiana stepped closer. “My lady? You look pale. What did the king say? Did he scold you? Did he”

“It’s nothing, Tiana,” I muttered, turning away.

But she wasn’t having it.

“That is not true,” she insisted . “You left here calm, but now you look like someone crushed your heart. My lady, please… talk to me.”

I still said nothing.

“My lady,” she whispered even more urgently, “ Please tell me what happened in there.”

She wouldn’t stop unless I told her. Tiana was stubborn like that, she always had been, in both lives.

I slowly sat on the edge of the bed.

“Tiana… I died.”

She blinked. “You died?”

I turned facing her so she could see the sincerity in my eyes.

“I died Tiana, then I was reborn, I.. tears started running down my face, i knew she might not understand but I needed to tell someone, or else I night burst.

Tiana froze, looking at me with eyes I couldn't read. I didn't know if she believed me or thought I was crazy.

So I continued, “in my past life, I did everything right, so the king would love me, so the people in the palace would love me, but they all betrayed me”.

I couldn't stop the tears anymore, I had cried enough before, maybe because in my past life I didn't cry, not when I was accused of when I was put in the dungeon.

I was too shocked to cry then, I kept believing that it was all a sick joke and that they would let me go eventually.

“They all turned on me, soon the king will meet his mate. In my past life when he did, he neglected me, he was so cut up with her that he didn't see that it was a trap, his brother was trying to kill him and take over.

And the king of Moonshroud also wants to take over, I told him but he didn't believe me, they framed her death and blame me for it, they kill you for treason….they kill Abel and i was drawing an achiemt circle to save him but before I could finish Adrian killed me, but then i woke up here Tiana, it all so confusing.”

My voice trembled, but not from fear
from anger and pain.

Tiana’s eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth.

“My lady… this morning,” she whispered. “I felt something strange too.” Her voice lowered even more. “I woke up from a nightmare.I had died for treason and you were screaming in it, and then” she swallowed hard, “my head hurt so badly I thought I would faint.”

I looked up sharply. “You… felt that?”

She nodded. “It was like my mind was trying to tell me something, but it was locked away.”

Silence wrapped around us.

Then I hesitated before asking, “Tiana … why do you hate being here so much? Being a palace maid is considered an honor. Anyone would die for it.”

She shook my head slowly.

“ I don’t hate the work. I hate what this palace hides. The lies. The cruelty. People may love it but I don't, I never had the chance to choose my destiny because of my family name.”

I sighed. “I understand more than you think.”

“Tell me,” I said quietly. “Why do you hate it?”

Her fingers curled nervously. “Because this place is a cage. A golden cage, but a cage nonetheless. We’re expected to obey without question. Serve without rest. Be silent, even when we see injustice.”

Her voice cracked. “And when I tried to speak up for you in the past… they punished me.”

A sharp pain shot through my chest.
I remembered that part. I remembered her screams.

“Tiana…” My voice broke. “I am so sorry.”

She shook her head immediately. “No, my lady. Don’t apologize. I never once hated you.”

I looked up in surprise.

She gave a small, sad smile. “I hated the fact that you acted naive. That you trusted everyone. That you tried so hard to be a perfect Luna for people who didn’t deserve your kindness.”

A small, humorless laugh escaped her. “You weren’t stupid, my lady. Just… too pure for this place.”

My eyes stung, but I refused to let more tears out .

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For staying loyal to me… even in that life.”

Tiana stepped closer and took my hand.
“I will stay loyal in this one too.”

She guided me to lie down. “You must rest. Tomorrow we will speak more about your plans .”

As she pulled the blankets over me, she leaned close and whispered:

“My lady… I will help you get your revenge.”

My breath caught.

“Thank you, Tiana,” I whispered back. “This time… I won’t fall weak anymore.”

She nodded once, firmly, and slipped out the door.

And for the first time since returning to this world,
I did not feel alone.

But even after she left, I found it difficult to sleep

My mind went back to the King's words

“You should be grateful to him.”
“Adrian is the only reason you are here.”

I pressed a hand to my chest,

Grateful?

Adrian, the man who once whispered in my ear that I was dangerous.
Adrian, the one who watched me dragged away without lifting a finger.
Adrian, the one who sealed my fate in my first life.

Grateful?

I almost laughed. Almost.

But morning came too quickly.

The castle bell tolled twice — dawn.

A cold wind seeped into my chambers as Tiana rushed in, worry etched into her expression.

“My lady