Awake

Bright morning light greeted Hestia's face as rays of warm sunshine entered from the huge windows in the vast room coming she was in. She slowly sat up, the excruciating pain she felt a moment ago from being burned alive was gone and a tranquil-like feeling entered her body.

Her eyes roamed on the opulent room she was in. To the intricate designs on the walls, the childish-pink tones on every piece of furniture, and the grandness of the whole room was so, so familiar to her.

She raised her arms to her face and saw a delicate and familiar small hand. With trembling fingers, rubbed at a red dot at the base of her thumb carefully, as if scared that all of this is just an illusion her mind conjured at the last moment of her death. She then pinched her hand with a bit of force. It hurt, it surprisingly hurt. It hurt so it's true.

She is back. She is finally back!

Hestia's vision swam as tide after tide of tear fell from her face. An onslaught of different emotions pressed heavily on her chest. Hestia cried, she cried without restraint that the maids who were quietly preparing for her morning bath were startled by her wails. In a panic, they dropped everything they are doing and exited the room. They didn't try to console her but ran out to go fetch the governess instead.

Hestia was left inside her room crying her heart out. No more pain, no more reincarnation, no more torment. It was all over. One hundred and fourteen lifetimes are finally over.

She was on her bed, hugging her knees and weeping when out of nowhere, a white butterfly with almost translucent wings danced before her eyes.

The little butterfly fluttered in front of her. Her eyes followed the little butterfly's move as it landed on her index finger. Its wings fanning soft and slow.

Hestia stared at it, mesmerized by its elegance and beauty. Soon, a cool and soothing sensation entered her body from where the little butterfly landed. A surge of familiar feeling entered her chest.

White, elegant, beautiful.

Goddess Dalhallel?

As soon as the thought registered on her mind, the butterfly fluttered its wings, flew, and exited her room from the gap of the door.

Hestia scrambled up, she didn't even remember wearing a shoe, didn't even care if someone saw her on her billowing nightdress, she ran out of the door and followed the little butterfly.

It fluttered towards the massive east wing hall of the Bellmore's mansion, flapping her beautiful wings with its every glide.

"Wait, Goddess!" Hestia ran after the butterfly not minding the dubious looks she got from the servants she passes by.

The butterfly flew into the grand entrance of the mansion. Hestia was just descending from the double staircase when the door on the main entrance opened revealing the people who she missed in all her lifetimes.

The butterfly passed by her until it disappeared from her sight. But its gentle whisper in her ear will forever be carved in her heart.

"The price is paid, your wish is now here, brave girl."

With wobbly knees, Hestia slowly descended the staircase, eyes glued on the four people on the grand entrance. A man and a woman in their prime with two young men, age eighteen and thirteen respectively, were being ushered by a dozen of footmen. Luggage after luggage were being brought inside from a long line of big carriages bearing the crest of the Bellmore dukedom.

Different emotions flit through the newcomers' eyes. The man smiling while tenderly holding the hand of the woman while the other two were struck-dumb by the splendor of the mansion. Their eyes moving to and fro taking in everything their eyes could touch but there is still too much to take in. this place is too much. everything is too much.

They were awed until apprehension entered the two young men's eyes. They shied away from the furniture afraid to knock one over and be demanded to pay and so they huddle over to their mother, the youngest couldn't contain his nervousness, he tightly grasped his mother's dress with a trembling hand.

Seeing the reaction of the children before him, a tinge of pity entered the man's face. These poor children, what would have happened to them if I didn't appear at that time?

Hestia took all of this in, their every move, every emotion that flicked past their face. Everything. Then her mind went to the original lifetime she had with them. Hestia didn't meet them at the grand entrance, she met her new mother and two brothers over a fine dinner after her father brought them home, announcing that he will be remarrying, that she will have a new mother and two brothers.

Seeing the two malnourished-looking kids and the meek-looking woman by her father's side made the past Hestia angry and resentful. She had shown no courtesy nor respect for the mother and her two children.

She insulted them, their appearance, their status, their etiquette over and over again until her father had enough of her tantrums and ordered the governess to keep her in her rooms for a week to think of her wrongdoings.

Being a young lady of nobility birth, she had many engagements with the other young ladies of the ton. These plans had been set a week prior and now Hestia had to miss them because she had to reflect on the things she did. This made Hestia hate the newcomers more and more.

She can't see past their wan features and unfit for any company appearance. She can't see the shame and despair in their eyes. those eyes that held so much vulnerability and pain.

She thought that they were blood-sucking lechers who ought to be driven away lest they besmirch the good name of the Bellmore's.

But Hestia is different now, she wouldn't let those past misgivings repeat themselves. If her past lives are not enough to atone for her sins then in this lifetime she will commit herself to the four people who she had wronged.

A thump of a fallen suitcase and a gasp from one of the footmen drew the attention of everyone. The young footman bowed his head in fear. "La-lady Hestia."

Seeing the state of undress their young lady is in, the footmen all lowered their heads, their cheeks coloring.

Four pairs of eyes look in her direction with varying reactions.

Duke Hugh Bellmore look up and saw her daughter dressed only in her nightgown. He was about to reprimand her when he saw tears welling in her eyes. His own eyes turned soft and he could only shake his head in defeat. Even though this child of his is willful, rebellious, and impulsive but towards this daughter of his, he could not bear to scold her for the littlest things.

This motherless child had gone through many difficulties after the passing of her mother. Their father and daughter relationship even suffered because of the death of his wife. Until now he knew Hestia still blame him for her mother's sudden death.

With a weary sigh, he took off his cloak and motioned for his daughter to come down the stairs. "Hestia, come here."

As if in a daze, Hestia at first walk slowly, her steps light with a bit of hesitance until her legs gained strength and propelled her forward towards her father who had missed dearly. "Daddy!"

Duke Hugh was astounded.

How many years had it been since he last heard those words from her daughter's mouth? He couldn't remember.

How many years had it been since her daughter hugged him? He couldn't remember.

Why does he feel like it was his daughter who had finally come back after a long time of being separated, even though he was the one who had left for only a week? He didn't know.

But his heart ached so much for missing her dearly. He held his crying daughter for a while and then draped his cloak on her shoulders.

"Why are you crying so much? I was only gone for a week." Duke Hugh softly asked the little monkey clinging to his side.

"Missed you." That was all Hestia said and rubbed her tear-stained face on her father's shirt.

Duke Hugh's eyes softened when he heard those words. He had left her a dozen times in the past, his work requiring him to visit faraway lands where he had to stay for several weeks and even months and in his every return, he would not forget to bring back souvenirs for his estranged daughter.

From expensive dresses, unique gems to magic tools from other countries, her daughter had it all. But presented with these rare items, the Duke would always be treated with indifference.

He has never been treated by such a warm welcome in the past. The Duke wasn't sure what caused this change in his daughter but he hopes that this disposition of hers will stay forever.