Chapter 7

I didn't understand. That day with the cup of tea and the unstained dress. I was sure my dress had been stained. Then why after a second later the tea cup had been sitting safely on the table? As if nothing had happened all along. That happened after the dizziness I felt.

I had a theory. The inspiration came from looking through the encyclopedia. (Yes I was reading it, albeit slowly.) Time control. What if Sebastian had time control power. Then everything made sense. He reversed time back to before the cup fell.

Why did I think it's Sebastian, but not myself? I experimented myself. I couldn't reverse time.

The most important thing was. My rebirth. I went back through time. At that time, Sebastian was sick for a few weeks. Anything a healer could not heal for few weeks? Repercussion from using power. A healer could only slow down and soothe a repercussion down.

My theory was that Sebastian had another hidden power. Everyone in the country knew Sebastian could control ice. But it was not uncommon to have two powers. Not everyone was as stupid as that Prince Lucien from our neighboring country. Everyone from his country and the next three knew about his powers. Thus his strengths and weaknesses. It was better to hide one, so that it could be one's hidden card.

Sebastian reversed time, that's why he acted differently. Why did he treat me so well? Perhaps he thought I was pitiful? The unloved Queen who was burned to death with her kingdom.

But why was my time reversed as well? Did he know? How could I prove my theory? If the Sebastian now was really that King Sebastian who had died with me, I did not have to remind him. I was sure he would do everything he could to save his kingdom. But if he was not... I needed to remind him. The first tragedy would be in three months time...

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I was not clever and would never be. I could not be tactful and slowly fish out information like heroine in novels. I chose to be direct.

Sebastian called in today with my books. Mother once again pushed us into the drawing room with a happy smile.

I thought it through. I would first give him my proposal on breaking off the engagement. While he was reading, I would ask him about it. With his attention divided, it's easier to talk to him. That's what I found out in the 2 years I stayed by his side.

He was reading the first page of my proposal, as soon as he is halfway through I set my plan to motion.

"Prince Sebastian, can you control time?"

After a moment of silence.

"I can."

So it's true. But... why did he answer so calmly? Did he know I know?

"So... are... you... are you..."

"I am."

He leaned toward me, his face an inch in front of me. He was staring at me with his ice-cold, emotionless eyes.

I tried to look away but was stopped by his hand under my chin. A smile appeared on his usual emotionless face. It was a smile that appeared when a cat caught a mouse. Or when a witch saw an innocent girl falling into her trap. It's the smile I had seen when I begged him to help me find out the murderer who murdered my entire family in my previous life. I started to tremble in fear.

"I have looked through the proposal, I refuse."

"Why. You know we won't end well. We are not suitable."

"I want you to be my queen," he whispered next to my ear.

"Please break off our engagement. We are not suitable. I am not a good Queen. People hated me. They said I brought bad luck. You don't even like me." I said as logically as possible, trying to control my derailing emotions.

Sebastian placed his hands on my shoulders and forced me to look at him.

"They won't. This time they won't. We know the enemy this time. Those things won't happen again."

I could not hold in my emotions anymore, the pressure now and the depression then. Everything exploded.

"You don't understand. It was horrible, I was lonely. I was all alone with no one to talk to. Everyone pointing fingers at me. And you didn't even help me when I begged you. I think I was going mad. Please. Break off our engagement."

Sebastian looked at me with this unreadable expression. He lifted his hand and gently wiped off tears that I didn't even notice are spilling out of my eyes.

"I agree to break off our engagement, but with a condition."

"What condition?"

"I have my plans and losing my fiancee now is not beneficial to my plans. I will break off the engagement after that."

"When will that be."

"Does that matter?"

"My family..."

"You don't have to worry about that."

Even though he was a cold-hearted and emotionless monster, I still trusted him unconsciously and unconditionally. Even when I hated him for not punishing the murderer, or when the whole kingdom turned into ashes. How pathetic.

Did I trust him this time? As pathetic as I was, of course I did.