Chapter 9
His words dragged up memories I thought I’d buried-memories of another lifetime, of my son’s cold eyes and colder
voice.
To say I felt nothing would be a lie. I had carried him for ten months, after all. Birthed him in pain and raised him with love.
But his indifference hurt more than any betrayal Cedric ever inflicted.
He had been a frail child, always falling ill. I stayed up countless nights, holding him through his fevers, never leaving his side. He was wild at heart, mischievous, forever playing tricks on his tutors until none would stay.
So I learned with them-reading, writing, swordplay-then returned home and taught it all to him myself.
Day by day. Night by night.
And in the end, he became the realm’s most celebrated laureate. Bards sang of his triumph in every great hall.
But in his eyes, there was only ever Seraphina-his “beloved aunt.” Never me. Never the one who bled and broke for him.
A son who forgets the hand that raised him… is no son of mine.
I stopped walking and turned back toward Cedric. My voice was cool, composed-razor-sharp.
“Lord Cedric. You’re not the only one who remembers our past life.”
“I remember you forcing me to write my own dismissal letter. I remember my body left out in the cold, unburied and
unmourned.”
“And as for that son of yours? He grew up ungrateful, disloyal, and blind to truth. He was more curse than blessing.”
Cedric reeled as if I’d struck him.
“Elena… you remember?”
“Then… you never intended to marry me again?”
“But in our past life-you always helped Seraphina in secret. Why didn’t you ever say anything to me?”
I shook his hand off and stepped back, putting space between us.
“Because you told me once you wanted a quiet life. Peaceful. Simple.”
“I didn’t want to burden you with hard choices.”
“But the truth is-there were only two of us-me and Seraphina. If I didn’t act, the burden would’ve fallen to her.”
“I gave her credit. For you. For Father. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“But I was wrong. I misjudged everyone-and paid for it with my life.”
He dropped to his knees, crawling closer in desperation.
Chapter 9
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“No, Elena. You didn’t misjudge me. I’ve only ever loved you.”
“I just… I couldn’t stomach the thought of her fading into obscurity. That future felt too cruel.”
I scoffed softly, shaking my head.
“You didn’t love me. And you didn’t love her either.”
“You’re in love with the idea of the one you can’t have.”
“In the last life, it was Seraphina. In this one, it’s me.”
“If you truly want redemption, stop chasing ghosts.”
“Go live a quiet life with someone who suits you.”
But Cedric still wouldn’t give up.
“Elena! You’re brilliant, yes-but you’re still a woman. And women must marry, mustn’t they?”
“If you must wed, why not someone who knows you well? Someone like me?”
I didn’t look back. I only smiled to myself and said clearly, “Who said women must marry?”
“Today, I came to council not as a bride-but as an officer of the Crown, sworn to serve the realm and its people.”
“What man could offer me more than that?”
Yes. This was my purpose.
Let the world cling to its prejudice-that women were lesser, weaker, unworthy of power.
I would prove them all wrong.
I would show them that women were never the weaker sex.
I ignored Cedric’s pleas and stepped onto the royal carriage.
Along the way, people lined the streets to see me off-most of them women.
Their eyes followed me, burning with hope.
Hope that they too could one day be free. That they might rise beyond being mere shadows of men.
And in that moment, I made my vow.
I would not just be a court official-I would become the first and finest woman to hold the post.
The skies above the capital were a clear, blinding blue.
And the sunlight fell not just on the road ahead-but on the path carved for every woman who would one day follow.
I believed-truly believed-that our time was coming.
That one day, women would have their own dawn.
