image [https://i.imgur.com/BaRqkDp.png]
Blood pooled under Eris Hapsburg’s body. She gazed at the dagger embedded in her chest with glassy eyes. The figure above her was cloaked in the darkness of the room. Eris couldn’t see his face, but she was sure who he was.
“You finally killed me,” Eris spat with vitriol. “I guess this means you won, Count Armand Richelieu Concord.”
Eris felt nothing less than sheer hatred towards this man. She recalled their first duel when they were just 14 years old.
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Armand stood across from her with rapier in hand. The dawn Sun was rising to his right. They stood in a wide field of emerald grass with a stone castle in the background. Farms and fields of livestock covered the countryside. There was a smug smirk on Eris’ face.
“Today’s the day my house triumphs over yours! I will run my sword through your heart!” she said.
The boy saluted her with his weapon.
“When I send you to your ancestors, tell them that you fought well,” he stated.
Rage pulsed through Eris.
“You dare mock me?” she shouted.
“I’m merely being courteous,” Armand replied.
“Courteous? After all our houses have done to each other…there’s no room for courtesy between us!” Eris said.
She charged him with sword in hand. Their blades clashed together, making a scraping sound.
The two of them fought from dawn till dusk. They were covered in wounds at the end, but none of the blows were fatal. It was the law of the land that no duel could continue past Sunset. So, when the Sun sank below the horizon, Eris threw her sword into the ground in rage and stormed off.
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Back at the present, Eris’ glassy eyes followed her assailant’s back as he walked to the door.
“Don’t you have anything to say? No bragging, no last mocking salute, nothing?” she asked.
There was no response. That just infuriated Eris even more. She would have clenched her fists with rage, but her body was too weak.
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Another memory came to her. She and Armand were at a feast, each holding a glass of wine. They both had polite smiles.
“Duke Armand, I heard something happened to your trade caravan to Zhao,” Eris said.
A feeling of smug satisfaction filled her.
“They were attacked by bandits,” Armand stated.
“Oh, that’s such a shame. All the money and time you put into that expedition was all for nothing,” her smile turned mocking.
“It’s strange how you know about this when I only found out yesterday,” he said.
“News travels faster than you think, noble duke,” Eris chuckled.
She was enjoying every last moment of this.
“I will make you pay for this,” Armand leaned in and whispered.
“You are welcome to try, but I will crush you,” Eris whispered back.
“If anyone crushes me, it will be you. You’re the only person allowed to defeat me,” he said.
“Then I will make you beg for death,” she replied.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
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A bit of smug satisfaction came over Eris as the figure reached the door. She might have lost, but she didn’t go down without a fight.
“I hope you suffer a thousand humiliations for this, you sick bastard,” Eris said.
No response once more. Somehow, this was more humiliating than being killed by Armand. Everything started turning black, and another memory came to Eris.
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Armand sat on horseback with a lance in hand and pike block at his back. They guarded a narrow mountain pass, preventing any entry. The cliffs to their sides were too high for horses to have any chance of scaling. Arquebusiers had their weapons trained on Eris as she approached his line with a force of hussars, a form of light cavalry. The girl clutched a lance. She forced a smile on her face, trying to hide her fury.
“I see that you predicted my raiding path, COUNT Armand,” Eris said.
She made sure to emphasize the title.
“It isn’t prediction. I just trusted you,” Armand stated.
“Trusted me? Is that some kind of joke?” she scoffed.
“I trusted you to know the best path for invading my lands, and I trusted you to be competent enough to use it. My trust wasn’t misplaced,” he said.
“And now, you’ve blocked my hussars’ path. I have no chance against your pikes without heavy cavalry with pistols, you fucking piece of shit.”
“I trust that you’ll make the wise decision to retreat,” Armand said.
“I will, but only after you answer one question: why the fuck did you get His Majesty to abolish serfdom? Do you have any idea how much wealth I lost because of you? You lost so much because of it too! Do you hate me so much that you’d hurt yourself just to hurt me?” Eris shouted.
Her hands clenched on her lance and reins with pure rage.
“This has nothing to do with you. I led the anti-serfdom faction because serfdom is wrong,” he stated.
“You really are an idiot, aren’t you?”
“I can understand why you’d hate me for this, and we’re enemies besides. Let’s have another duel, this time on horseback,” Armand said.
“Today, you die. Hussars, don’t interfere!” Eris replied.
Armand cast a spell, and a third arm grew from his back. It grasped his sword as his main arms held his lance.
“Don’t interfere either!” he commanded his men.
Then, he and Eris charged each other.
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That memory left a bitter taste in Eris’ mouth. The woman couldn’t see anymore. She had no idea where the figure had gone. Eris closed her eyes.
“Armand, when we meet again, I will make you regret ever being my enemy,” Eris promised.
She felt hands grasp her head and tears drip onto her face. Sadness and resignation filled her.
“Who am I kidding?” she muttered. “With all the terrible things I’ve done, there’s no way I’m going to the same place you are. You might have been ruthless at times, but the only thing I ever cared about was power.”
Eris felt a sudden warmth. She could move once more. Upon opening her eyes, Eris saw that she stood before a great brass gate. Just standing close to it burned her. The noblewoman stepped forward with a deep breath. Then, everything faded.
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The next thing Eris knew, the sounds of sackbuts, trumpets, and recorders flowed into her ears. She was looking up at several people. One was a tall, blonde man with golden eyes and a regal bearing. Next to him was a woman with similar features. They were talking to a black-haired man with a grim countenance. Eris’ eyes widened, and tears burst from her eyes. She ran over and hugged the man’s leg.
“Father! What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be in Hell!” she said.
Confusion crossed the man’s face.
“Eris, what are you talking about?” he asked.
“I died and went to Hell, and now you’re here too,” Eris answered.
“Calm down,” the blonde woman knelt so her eyes met the girl’s. “You’re not dead, Eris.”
“I’m not, mother?”
“You’re not.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what’s gotten into you. I’d think this was a joke, but you’re not faking your distress,” her father said.
Eris then looked down. She realized she was much shorter than she was a few moments ago. The gears in her head turned fast. Her parents were alive, she was shorter than even her mother, and her clothes…
“I’m in the past,” she realized. “I somehow traveled back in time.”
“I apologize for my outburst. A bout of hysteria must have gotten to me,” Eris said.
“You’re too young to have hysteria. We’ll have to have a doctor take a look at you,” her mother stated.
“Can I go and sit down somewhere, then?” she asked.
“Of course, dear. You shouldn’t push yourself if you’re feeling bad.”
Eris walked over to a velvet couch and sat down. She looked around the room. Numerous nobles were present. Some were feasting at tables, others were dancing, and still others were talking with glasses of wine in their hands. The room was decorated with purple and red. Even the servants wore the finest clothes.
“This is…the…” Eris tried to recall what this event was.
“King Acrisius’ Grand Ara Ara Ball,” a boy with light brown hair sat next to her. “I wouldn’t get used to calling him His Majesty again. We both know he's going to die in a jousting accident two months from now.”
Eris looked him right in the eyes. There was great relief on his face.
“That’s right, I remember too, future Countess Hapsburg,” the boy said.
“That’s right. This is where we first met, Lord Concord,” she glared. “So, you remember too?”
“I do. I’m the one who sent us both back in time, after all,” Armand replied.
“What? Why? You just killed me, and then you reset everything?” Eris said.
“You’re mistaken about something, Eris. I didn’t kill you.”
“Then who did?”
“I don’t know,” Armand said. “I turned back time the moment I saw your corpse.”
Eris looked on in stunned silence.
"How did you do that?" she asked.
"A boon from Chronos. A 1-time ability to turn back time," Armand answered.
"Chronos? It's almost impossible for a human to get a favor from him, and Armand used it when I died? Why? Why would Armand of all people turn back time when he saw my corpse? There must be some reason for it. I can only think of one possible reason, but that can't be. It's impossible."
“When we were fighting, I really was trying to kill you, but I never truly wanted you dead,” he admitted.
“I can’t believe it. All this time, I hated him, and I thought he hated me, but all this time…” Eris thought. “My greatest enemy loved me!”