Nightmare

"P-Please... stop," I whispered as he whipped my back. "It hurts... hurts..." I said as my last drop of tear rolled down my cheek. It hurts... My toenails have been torn off, and four of my fingers have been chopped off.

"Confess your sins and I'll end your life right now. You don't want to feel more pain, do you?" He said as he stood in front of me while I'm being whipped by one of his guards.

"I... I don't know what you're... talking about," I said, trying my best to complete my sentence. "Do it harder," he commanded the guard. I started trembling in fear as I heard those words. The sharp pain from the whip made me groan in pain.

This is too much. He wouldn't even listen to anything I say.

"Confess," he said briefly, waiting for me to say what he wants to hear. " I don't really... know..." I said as I kept being whipped on the back. He let out a loud laugh and walked toward me. "Krishiella Mortcombe, you're really testing my patience," he said and slapped my face.

It hurts. It really hurts.

"Your Majesty!"

It hurts... I don't want this. Vaughn... why are you doing this to me? It hurts...

"Your Majesty!"

"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" I screamed repeatedly. "Please... Please help me. It hurts so much..." I said as I held someone's arm, desperately crying for help. "Your Majesty, it's okay. No one can hurt you. We're here for you, you're safe here," Ellen said, trying to comfort me.

"Ellen..." I called her name as she wiped my tears. I'm... not being tortured right now, but the pain felt so real. "It was just a nightmare, Your Majesty. Nothing is going to happen to you," she said, reassuring me that everything is fine.

If only you knew what kind of hell I've been through, then you wouldn't be able to say something like that to me. But of course, since she does not know about that, I appreciate her efforts very much. "Yes... thank you..." I whispered softly.

This has been the thirteenth day since I was brought back here, and every night, I've always had a nightmare about Vaughn torturing me. It was a very horrible experience and I certainly do not want to remember it, but my dreams are always about it.

"We've called the Imperial Physician, Your Majesty. He will arrive in a few minutes. Please calm down first and try to relax a bit," Ellen said as she tucked me into my blanket. "Yes, thank you," I replied and closed my eyes tightly.

The memories of that horrifying night keep on flashing back in my mind and even show up in my dreams. It's scaring me... a lot.

The physician entered my chambers after a while and asked what caused me to panic for almost two weeks straight.

I couldn't give him any answer, because if I do, they would probably brand me as a crazy woman. No one would ever believe something like traveling back in time nor would they believe in reincarnation.

"Please do call for me again when you're finally willing to open up to me, Your Majesty," he said as he bowed to show his respect. "I will. Thank you," I said and smiled a little, to at least show him that I'm thankful for his presence.

He left my chambers together with the maids, leaving Ellen and me alone. "Your Majesty, please tell me if you want anything. We want you to feel better, so please do inform us," she said and smiled sweetly, but her worry can still be seen in her eyes.

Anything, huh? Around this time, a small celebration will be held in a town near the palace gates. I haven't been able to go outside of the palace frequently back then, so I'd like to try going to celebrations that are not as grand as the ones I usually attend.

"I would like to go outside later, would it be okay?" I said and smiled. "Of course, Your Majesty. I will inform the knights to accompany you later," Ellen replied.

"The knights?" I asked, confused. Why would I need them to accompany me? "Yes, Your Majesty. The knights will accompany you as per His Imperial Majesty's command," Ellen explained.

I would have understood it if she said that I will be accompanied by a 'knight' and not 'knights'. One would be more than enough, just like before. Whenever I went out, I was always accompanied by only a single knight, but now... there's more than one.

"I meant that I would go out alone or with a single knight just like before, though. What caused my Father to command the knights to accompany me?" I asked her.

I've been locking myself up in my room since my Father got better, so I don't really know what's going on outside. "Your knight, Sir Andrews, has been sent on a journey three days ago, Your Majesty. His Imperial Highness directly told the knights to accompany you wherever you go," she explained.

"Oh... Alright then. Thank you, Ellen," I said and smiled.

"Your Majesty, I will inform His Imperial Majesty about your wish. His Imperial Majesty would be very delighted to know that you want to have fun outside of the palace gates," Ellen said and smiled sweetly. "Yes, please do that, Ellen. I do not wish for my Father to worry about me needlessly," I said and smiled a little.

Maybe if I would be able to meet him tonight, I would be able to change my fate.

This is the only way I could meet him before he meets the woman he loves. This way, I would be able to avoid my death and the death of others. This way, I would be able to live longer and maybe… just maybe… even spend the rest of my life with the man I love the most —my fiancé, Emperor Vaughn Rosiello of the Rosiello Empire.