Chapter 6
As sunlight streamed through the windows, Aurora gazed out across the horizon, reflecting on the kingdom she had once known so well.
The Kingdom of Sylvaris was ruled by His Majesty, King Edward Sylvaris.
When Aurora had been only five years old and Crown Prince Lucian ten, the King had arranged their future engagement. The marriage had never been about love. It had been about power.
The Ambrose Duchy was the strongest of the Five Great Duchies, and securing their loyalty had strengthened the royal family's influence throughout the kingdom. Feelings, happiness, and personal choice had never entered the discussion. At least, not for the people involved.
Now, ten years later, Lucian was twenty, and Aurora would soon celebrate her sixteenth birthday.
As she considered the kingdom's political landscape, old memories resurfaced.
The first and most powerful territory was the Grand Emberforge Duchy, ruled by Duke Owen Ambrose and Duchess Eleanor Ambrose, her parents. A warmth settled in Aurora's chest.
Located in the north, the duchy stretched across vast mountain ranges rich with iron and gold deposits. The mines generated enormous wealth, though the rocky, mineral-rich soil made farming a constant challenge.
Her father often joked that the mountains were determined to make them rich and hungry at the same time.
Aurora smiled faintly at the memory.
The second great territory was Diamondstead Duchy in the south.
Ruled by Duke Warren Barrett and Duchess Isabel Barrett, the duchy was famous for its diamond mines and precious gemstones.
Their son, Charles Barrett, was twenty-one and already earning a reputation as a capable and ambitious nobleman.
Their daughter, Cecilia Barrett, was Aurora's age and would soon celebrate her coming-of-age party.
Cecilia, Aurora's smile widened. Sweet, dramatic, and incapable of keeping a secret for longer than five minutes. If someone told Cecilia not to gossip, she would practically explode from the pressure.
To the east stood Riverwatch Duchy. Ruled by Duke Alaric Alexander and Duchess Serena Alexander, their lands controlled the kingdom's busiest harbour. Merchants from distant shores arrived daily, filling the ports with goods, languages, and enough noise to give anyone a headache.
Their eldest son, Anton Alexander, was twenty years old, followed by Allen, seventeen, Arthur, fifteen, and their youngest, Selene, fourteen.
Aurora could still remember trying to distinguish Allen and Arthur during formal gatherings. The brothers had delighted in confusing everyone. She was certain they considered it a competitive sport.
The fourth territory was Hazelwood Duchy.
Ruled by Duke Paul Indigo and Duchess Savannah Indigo, Hazelwood possessed vast fertile lands and some of the kingdom's finest farmers.
Their fields supplied grain, livestock, and medicinal herbs to much of Sylvaris.
Their son, Isaac, was eighteen, while their daughter, Katherine, was fifteen.
Hazelwood had always been one of the most peaceful duchies. Which, Aurora knew from experience, often made people forget that peaceful did not mean weak.
Finally came the western territory known as the Vale of Shadows.
Unlike the other duchies, its greatest strength was not wealth but military power.
Ruled by Duke Michael Vale and Duchess Zevina Vale, their lands trained many of the kingdom's finest knights and soldiers.
Their eldest son, Brian Vale, was nineteen.
George Vale was fifteen, and their youngest child, Nivara Vale, was only ten.
Aurora remembered every one of them. The thought made her stomach tighten.
Because she also remembered what happened to many of them. Faces flashed through her mind. Funerals, battles, betrayals, tearful farewells, promises broken by fate. Her fingers tightened around the armrest of her chair.
Some would become allies. Some would become enemies.
And some would play crucial roles in the tragedies she had failed to prevent during her previous life.
A wave of anxiety washed over her. The future was no longer a mystery, that alone should have been comforting, instead, it was terrifying.
Knowing disaster was coming did not automatically mean she could stop it.
A single mistake could change everything. A faint smile crossed her lips, nonetheless.
At least this time she wasn't walking into the game blind, this time she had a map.
Even if half the roads on it were covered in dragons, assassins, and political disasters.
Her thoughts eventually drifted toward Lady Bella Palsen.
Immediately, Aurora sighed. Bella's story was a complicated one. She was the daughter of Lord Victor Palsen and his beloved mistress. Sadly, Bella's mother had died during childbirth eighteen years ago. Heartbroken, Lord Victor had never married.
Instead, Bella had been raised by her grandmother, Lady Victoria Palsen.
The older woman desperately wanted her son to settle down and spent years arranging introductions with eligible noblewomen.
Yet every engagement ended the same way.
The ladies would suddenly withdraw. No explanations, no scandals, no obvious reasons.
Just polite refusals and hasty departures.
The mystery had baffled noble society for years.
Only the women involved knew the truth and the cause was always the same.
A little girl with golden curls, innocent eyes, and the possessiveness of a territorial dragon guarding its treasure, Lady Bella Palsen.
Aurora laughed softly. As a child, Bella had been fiercely protective of her father's affection. Any woman who threatened to monopolize his attention quickly found herself facing an adorable nightmare, no insults, no threats.
Just endless interruptions, heartbreaking puppy eyes, surprise appearances, and enough guilt to make even the strongest noblewoman question her life choices. The results had been devastatingly effective. Many underestimated Bella because of her sweet appearance. That had always been a mistake.
Behind that angelic smile lurked a remarkably stubborn, frighteningly intelligent, and surprisingly dangerous young lady. Bella could wage psychological warfare while looking like she should be feeding ducks by a pond.
Aurora shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. Some people were born for politics. Others simply discovered their talents very early.
Leaning back in her chair, Aurora released a slow breath. For the first time since returning to the past, she felt genuine anticipation. The pieces were beginning to move.
The players were taking their positions. The game she had once lost was about to begin again. But this time, every smile, every alliance, and every betrayal felt different.
Because unlike before, Aurora knew where many of the pieces would fall.
And she intended to change the ending before history had the chance to repeat itself.
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