Chapter 1: A Second Chance
The golden rays of dawn spilled through the velvet curtains, casting a soft glow across the spacious room. The scent of fresh roses wafted through the air, mingling with the crisp morning breeze. Tiara Everhart's emerald eyes fluttered open, her breath hitching as she took in the familiar surroundings.
Her gaze darted around the room-her childhood room. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with neatly arranged tomes of magic and history. The bed's canopy, adorned with embroidered flowers, draped over her like a protective cocoon. It was the same room she had grown up in before her life had crumbled into ruin.
Tiara shot up, her heart pounding. She stared at her hands-small, delicate, and free of the scars she had borne in her previous life. Panic surged through her. The last thing she remembered was the guillotine, the sharp chill of the blade, and the haunting laughter of the crowd.
"I... I'm alive?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
She stumbled out of bed, rushing to the mirror on the opposite wall. The reflection staring back at her was one she hadn't seen in years-a girl of no more than ten, with golden hair cascading in soft waves and wide, innocent eyes.
"This can't be real," she murmured, touching her face. The skin was smooth and unblemished, the face of a child untouched by betrayal and heartbreak.
A sharp knock at the door startled her.
"Tiara, darling, are you awake?" A warm, familiar voice called out.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Father?"
The door creaked open, and there he stood-Duke Everhart, her father. His kind eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. He was exactly as she remembered him before the world had taken him away.
"You'll miss breakfast if you keep lazing about," he teased, stepping into the room.
Tiara blinked, her emotions swirling. Her father, alive and well. Tears welled up in her eyes as she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him.
"Father!" she cried, her voice breaking.
The duke chuckled, though he seemed startled by her sudden embrace. "What's this, Tiara? Did you have a bad dream?"
She clung to him, her tears soaking into his coat. "No, it's not that. I'm just... I'm glad you're here."
Her father patted her back gently. "Of course I'm here, my darling. Where else would I be?"
Tiara pulled back, wiping her tears and smiling through the lingering ache in her chest. "I'll be down soon."
The duke nodded, his expression softening. "Take your time."
As the door closed behind him, Tiara turned back to the mirror, her hands trembling.
"I've been given another chance," she whispered. Her reflection stared back at her, no longer the naive girl who would give everything for love. "This time, I'll protect the ones I love. I won't let Alistair or Lilith ruin me again."
Her eyes hardened with determination.
"No one will control my destiny this time."
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Breakfast was a cheerful affair. Tiara sat at the long dining table, savoring the warmth of her father's presence and the lively chatter of her older brother, Cedric. The delicious aroma of baked bread and honey lingered in the air.
"You seem unusually quiet today, Tiara," Cedric said, raising an eyebrow. "Usually, you'd be pestering me about training with a sword."
Tiara blinked. "Sword training?"
Cedric grinned. "You've been begging Father to let you learn for weeks. Did you finally give up?"
A memory stirred in Tiara's mind. In her previous life, she had given up learning swordsmanship early on, believing it was unladylike. But now...
"No," she said firmly, surprising even herself. "I still want to learn."
Her father looked up from his newspaper, his brow arching. "Are you certain? It's not an easy path."
Tiara nodded. "I am."
Her brother smirked. "Well, if you're serious, I'll help you."
A small smile tugged at Tiara's lips. She would become strong-strong enough to protect herself, her family, and her future.
This time, she would be ready for whatever the world threw her way.
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