For the first time in years, the estate was filled with a joyous atmosphere. Servants ran here and there, doing chores with bright smiles on their faces, a stark contrast to the atmosphere just hours ago.
Of course. This was to be expected, the young lady of the duchy had just woken up from a coma. Everyone was filled with curiosity, especially the servants who knew of her from the mouths of the older servants.
However, the doors of the Rosille Chamber remained shut leading to more curiosity.
Behind the closed doors, Valerianne would open the window to insanity.
≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫
“For the past nine years, milady has been in a coma,” said Ella, jumping straight to the topic without delay.
Valerianne’s eyes widened with disbelief, her thoughts spiralling out of control:
‘Wait, what?! What in the world is she saying? There never has been a change in my past. Why now? Every life I lived has had a minor difference but the ones in this are too big.’
‘First, the missing teacup assumes its place, now I’m told I have been in a coma? Wait, if the teacup is present, it means that slag is still alive.’
‘That poxy died when I was 16, nine years before, meaning when I was 7? How ridiculous! She might as well say I’ve been a vegetable my whole life.’
‘Is this even real? How do I know if this is not just a silly dream?’
‘Valerianne, now is not the time to think of this, you need to get a grip on the current situation.’
But she was not able to control her thoughts. Adrenaline rushed through her veins, her breathing quickened, so did her heartbeat. Her pupils dilated, her vision blurred. She felt a sharp pain in her chest.
Valerianne shook off her thoughts and started to take deep breaths as she tried to calm her frantically beating heart. But all her efforts were wasted as her anxious heart did not listen to her.
Her breathing quickened, as thousands of thoughts flew across her mind
‘Okay let’s say I was in a coma. Then what of lifes’ I lived? Were they dreams?’
‘Is this the real world? And how do I know that?’
‘But the pain was real. I know it, I felt it.’
‘Did I really though?’
‘NO! Why are you doubting yourself, you felt the pain.’
‘But then why can’t I recall the pain?’
‘I should be able to recall the pain, right?’
‘Normally, people would be able to recall the pain, right?’
‘Then am I not normal?’
‘Or were they illusions? Yes, that should be it.’
‘I must have been hallucinating.’
‘But they were so realistic.’
‘Yes, Valerianne, they were real, you weren’t hallucinating.’
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‘It must be Ella who’s lying, Anastasia must’ve brought Ella to her side, Thomas too, I knew I shouldn't have trusted them.’ The pain in Valerianne’s chest turned into flames of fury, her eyes widened throwing daggers at Ella.
‘But, if they were real, then Ella must hate Gaisahn Duchy for what they did to her family. That must have changed in this life too along with the other things.’
‘What of Thomas then?’
‘Thomas’ family has been serving the Feyrer Duchy for generations. Is it even possible for him to betray us?’
‘Well, it is possible. An individual's decisions do not belong to his family. We can’t expect everyone to follow in their ancestor's footsteps.’
‘It is indeed a clever move, no one would suspect Thomas to betray us because of his family.’
‘Ella too, due to her “grudge” on the Gaisahn duchy, no one would expect her to be on their side.’ ‘Yes… Now I see a picture. Ella should have been my maid later, not now.’
‘Now that you give it a thought, isn’t it suspicious how a young lady of a duchy has had only one nanny take care of her since birth? In all those lives why was Ella, my only maid?’
‘Has there been any incidents that might have led me to have a coma?’
‘There was the incident where I met that man, But my parents weren’t with me back then.’
‘It is not making any sense.’
‘But for now, let’s listen to the nonsense Ella is spouting, maybe I can figure out what that wench is planning through Ella.’
Valerianne composed herself, “Ella, how did I fall into a coma? How old am I now?’
Ella was quick to respond, “milady, on the way back from the Flayrion Estate in the summer of the year 340, there had been a tragic accident. The carriage milady resided in hit a boulder that had rolled down from the Azuela Mountain. This accident took the lives of milady's parents, Duke Arthur and Duchess Lillian. milady luckily survived this accident and were found in the Lasliean Forest by the mages of the Draío Tower. milady has not woken up since. Currently, it is year 349 in the Keroidon Calendar and milady will turn 18 this winter.”
Valerianne’s lips started to quiver, her nose soured as she took in the information, “My parents...They’re… They’re dead?” she asked, staring at her palms as if they would provide her answers.
“I’m sorry, milady.” Ella bowed her head, hiding her suspicion filled eyes.
A lump formed in her throat. She began shivering uncontrollably. A lone tear trickled down Valerianne’s cheek.
‘No, no, no, this cannot be real, why are my parents dead? They should have lived until the rebellion! If this happened nine years ago then it cannot be Anastasia’s work.’
‘Why are there so many unmatched things in this life?’
‘My parents are dead, I was in a coma for the past 9 years. Sounds like a scenario that benefits the Queen.’
‘Hit a boulder? What rubbish!’
‘Those bastards, I will kill them, I will kill them all.’
‘Why is this happening to me? What sin did I commit for me to go through all this pain.’
‘No one deserves to live. I will end them.’
Just as Valerianne’s thoughts spiralled out of control, the door to the chamber burst open. Three figures hurried inside and stood near the bed.
A young man with blonde hair and distraught crystal blue eyes dressed as a nobleman led the trio. Xavier. He was alive.
Valerianne’s lips quivered, tears freely fell out of her eyes. She smiled through her tears, her eyes bent to crescent moons.
“Brother… “ She softly called out.
“It’s been a while, Rianne,” he said, smiling as well. After a short moment, he turned away wiping his tears with a handkerchief handed by the old man standing behind him, wearing the clothes of a butler.
‘Ah, Benjamin, I missed this old man,’ she thought fondly.
Benjamin with gentle green eyes wrinkled at the corners and hair that turned white with the test of time, was a man who had been serving the duchy for the past two generations. He was a trusted aide of Valerianne’s grandfather, Noderik von Feyrer. If there was anyone Valerianne could blindly trust, it was this man.
Valerianne’s eyes turned to the final figure that came in, a middle-aged lady wearing the garbs of a Head Maid.
Valerianne began grinding her jaw, ignoring the pain that came with it. Her nostrils flared, eyes burning with hatred.
‘You! You shouldn't be alive’
‘It is all your fault this life is like this. You should have died two years ago.’
That woman would change everything. Valerianne vowed, then and there to revert everything to how it should be. No matter what decisions she made for it.