Chapter 9: Echoes of the Past

“It was the Kingdom of Tellua, wasn’t it?”

Muttering to herself, she rose and began rummaging through the drawers of her dressing table.

In the bottom drawer of the dressing table, she discovered a notebook with a faded leather cover. She immediately opened it and rapidly flipped through the pages.

Her sky-blue eyes frantically scanned the notes, which were exactly as she remembered them, until they suddenly fixated on one spot, trembling rapidly.

Imperial Year 660. February 25. (Day Off)

11:00 AM: Tellua Kingdom delegation expected to visit. Assist if busy, even if off-duty.

It was unmistakably her own handwriting. Tracing the words on the page with her fingertips, she murmured blankly.

“I’ve returned…?”

She had no idea how, but it seemed she had returned six years into the past.

It was February 25th, Imperial Year 660. If her memory served, shortly after the Kingdom of Tellua’s delegation visited on this very day, a grand banquet would be held at the Imperial Palace to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations with the kingdom.

It was at that very banquet that she first met Alix.

While most noble ladies might have attended Imperial Palace banquets since Alix was the Crown Prince, she was different.

Having grown up as an outcast within the House Brienne, she certainly wouldn’t have had a debutante ball.

Unlike banquets hosted by other noble families, those held at the Imperial Palace restricted attendance for noble ladies who had not yet debuted, unless they were of imperial blood or children of high-ranking noble houses.

It was only after she came of age and was fortunate enough to be selected as a lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Palace that she could even have an informal debutante ceremony.

Consequently, that banquet was her very first opportunity to actually see imperial family members or high-ranking nobles in person.

Had she truly returned to the time before she met Alix? To a time before she was startled to discover the Emperor secretly following her on the night of the banquet?

Before her heart had fluttered at his ardent courtship, claiming love at first sight? Before she had become so intoxicated by a love she’d never known that she saw nothing else, utterly destroying herself?

GazIng blankly at her own smooth, well-kept hands, she slowly sank to the floor. If she had truly traveled back in time, what was she supposed to do?

Perhaps she should have rejoiced at escaping death and gaining a new beginning, yet it was impossible to simply accept.

The truth remained that she knew nothing about anything surrounding her.

Alix’s betrayal had been so agonizing that a sense of unease was the first thing to wash over her, warning her not to easily trust or accept anything that might unfold. Had she truly regressed to the past?

Perhaps falling in love with the Emperor, enduring the whispers of being his mistress, only to be ultimately betrayed and branded a witch—was it all just a dream?

Sitting with a complex expression, she hugged her knees and buried her face.

“It can’t all be a dream. A dream that vivid and that long simply couldn’t exist.”

The memories of six years were still vivid. Especially the final few days and the moment her life ended.

She shook her head, muttering to herself, but her doubts refused to completely vanish.

It seemed there were still things she needed to confirm before she could fully accept, even partially, the fact of her regression.

If she had indeed regressed, confirming it would be simple. She merely needed to observe if past events unfolded exactly as they had before.

With trembling fingers, she traced the notebook where the last memo was written, trying to recall the past events.

“What happened on this day? The Kingdom of Tellua… the delegation… Ah!”

A forgotten memory resurfaced. The delegation from the Kingdom of Tellua had visited not long after she became a lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Palace.

Feeling there was much to learn beyond attending to the Princess Consort, she had deliberately gone out to help with preparations to receive the delegation, even though it was her day off.

And once, she had found herself in an awkward predicament because of one impertinent individual among them.

A faint memory flickered of her fretting, unable to harshly refuse someone who had been pestering her, all while citing exchanges with the Empire.

She had believed that if she caused trouble or made a mistake so soon after becoming a lady-in-waiting, she might be dismissed.

Remembering that far, her heart quickened. Mariam had said the delegation would arrive soon, leaving no time for delay.

She neatly tied up her abundant, flowing pink hair and hastily rummaged through her wardrobe for a modest dress. It was time to confirm if the events of the past would unfold exactly as she remembered.

The Princess Consort’s Palace, usually so serene, buzzed with activity in preparation for its guests.

The delegation, which had arrived early that morning, was returning to their respective lodgings after being welcomed by Alix in the Central Palace, where the Emperor resided.

Among them, the Fourth Princess of the Kingdom of Tellua and her retinue, including a Duchess, were the very guests scheduled to visit the Princess Consort’s Palace.

As Selonia hurried to the Central Hall, Mariam, who had been busily giving instructions to the palace staff, spotted her.

“Looks like you’re no longer drowsy, are you?”

Mariam briefly scanned Selonia, who had quickly tidied herself up, her earlier disheveled appearance gone. A single eyebrow subtly rose.

Selonia offered an awkward smile and moved closer to Mariam.

In the past, she would have cowered, assuming Mariam’s distinctive way of speaking meant she was displeased with her.

But now, Selonia knew well how warm Mariam’s heart truly was, despite being hidden by her stern expression and cool demeanor.

“I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help.”

“The preparations are mostly complete. However, the Princess’s retinue will be arriving shortly, so it would be helpful if you could assist with guiding them.”

Perhaps surprised by Selonia’s uncharacteristic approachability, Mariam momentarily wore a flustered expression before speaking. Selonia swiftly nodded.

She had guided the Princess’s retinue in the past, just the same. It was a relief not to have to volunteer first.

“I’ll do that.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you. I must go to Her Highness.”

As soon as Mariam finished speaking, she hurried away. Selonia nodded reassuringly and immediately walked towards the main entrance.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before a carriage smoothly pulled to a stop in front of the palace. Selonia approached the two women disembarking from the carriage, offering a slight curtsy before rising.

“You must be weary from your long journey. Princess Seraphine, Duchess Belmonte.”

As she finished her greeting, the gazes of the two women immediately fixed on her. The eyes of the woman in a red dress that smoothly revealed her figure, draped with a cloak, swept over Selonia with a curious glint.

“Are you a lady-in-waiting to Her Highness, Princess Consort Camilla?”

“Yes, Princess Seraphine. I am Selonia of the House Brienne.”

“The Empire is vast, so it seems to have many beauties. Don’t you agree, Madame Belmonte?”

“…Princess.”

The middle-aged woman standing beside the smiling Princess called out to Princess Seraphine in a lowered voice, almost as if chiding her. Duchess Belmonte, draped in a dignified black lace cloak, then looked at Selonia and spoke.

“To behold it with my own eyes, the palace is even more beautiful than its reputation suggests. Thank you for your warm welcome.”

“I shall guide you to Her Highness.”

She recalled a similar conversation repeating itself in the past. Back then, Princess Seraphine had remarked that Selonia looked more like a princess than she did, leaving Selonia considerably flustered and stammering her words.

Fortunately, this time Selonia could parry the Princess’s playful jab with a smooth smile. As Selonia led the way, the two women ceased their conversation and followed.

They passed through the sun-drenched corridors of the Princess Consort’s Palace and entered the garden.

Selonia guided them towards a gazebo, warmed by the midday sun, where she spotted Camilla seated in the center and curtsied deeply.

“Your Highness. I have brought Princess Seraphine of the Kingdom of Tellua and Duchess Belmonte.”

“Welcome, Princess, Duchess.”

Princess Consort Camilla, with her low and gentle voice, was exactly as Selonia remembered her. With her jet-black hair elegantly swept up, Camilla appeared incredibly youthful and beautiful, defying her age beyond forty.

Camilla was the one who had chosen Selonia as a lady-in-waiting and brought her into the Imperial Palace.

In a way, this had led to her meeting Alix and being exploited, yet Camilla was also her benefactor, having allowed her to escape the hellish existence at the House Brienne.

For that, Selonia had always held a grateful heart.

Still, the question of why Camilla had chosen her—an illegitimate child of a count’s family who hadn’t even had a debutante ball—as a lady-in-waiting always lingered.

Feeling as if it had been a long time since she last saw her, Selonia almost found herself staring blankly at Camilla.

She managed to compose herself and stepped aside for the Princess and Duchess.

After watching the Princess and Duchess exchange greetings with the Princess Consort and take their seats, Selonia withdrew.

Her role was all but concluded, yet one crucial task still remained.