Chapter 2

Catherine grasped for air as if she were drowning. Her hands went to her neck, holding it like she can still feel the guillotine blade that cut her head from her shoulder. She repeatedly breathed deeply and heavily. It's yours. 

She closed her eyes and thought this was the afterlife. 

"So this is what they called afterlife." 

But it feels surreal yet it also feels real as if she travelled back to the past, everything feels familiar. The room, the scent and her bed feels like it's hers in the Grand Duke's manor. She opened her eyes once again and she toured her eyes across the room, she laughed with the thought that the afterlife has its own way of torturing the dead. 

"I had thought that the afterlife would be black pitch. A black dimension but…" she laughed again. 

But at least they are not here. 

That's what she thought but this isn't the afterlife because this is her second life but she's not aware or she just doesn't want to think that this is her second life. She doesn't want to admit that she's back from the manor, from the place that she thought it's her home but realizing at the end that this is indeed the hell disguised as home. 

While lying down, she heard a creak from her door as if someone's opening it, she became curious so she get up from lying down to see who was it or what made that sound but to her surprise, she saw a familiar face but there's something strange but she cannot figure out or maybe she doesn't want to admit the fact that her maid is much younger than she looks. 

"You're awake My Lady…" the maid said and went straight to the curtain to open it that gives light to her room. She's unable to speak to what she's seeing right now, the situation makes her speechless because everything feels familiar, the routine of her maid. 

The basin that has water on it for her to wash her face, her maids that start preparing the things she needed for the day. 

"What the hell is happening?" She whispers. 

Is this part of the afterlife? To repeat the things that the dead experience in her life? 

She thought. She cannot figure out what is happening. 

"My Lady, your father has arrived this morning." Her maid name Zein said that made her freak out. Her eyes widened because the statement shocked her. 

"What the hell are you talking about? Is this not the afterlife?" 

"My Lady…" Her Zein whispers and swallows. 

Catherine doesn't want to admit that she's back in the past because she doesn't want to experience again the pain she's been through but with everything's happening right now, she is somewhat convinced that she's back. 

"What is the date today Zein?" 

"September First of the year 1526." 

Magic exists in this world so it will not be surprising that someone turns back time and it so happens that the year that person chooses is this year which is the time she's not yet dead. 

"What bitter luck." She whispers because three years from now, she will face execution and two months from now, Fiona will eventually make her appearance to high society where she will accidentally meet Catherine's father. 

"Can I ask if you can cancel any appointments I have right now? I wish to rest." 

"Yes, Your Highness." The maid immediately stopped what they were doing when Zein, her most trusted maid, motioned her hands to them to leave the lady's room. 

The only good thing right now is that Zein is alive as she used to be. Her mind consoles her with mixed emotion, she cannot decide what to do nor what she can do to stop her execution from happening or whether to leave the situation as it is. 

She does not wish to know why Fiona said that she is the real daughter because she thought that knowing it will eventually do nothing since she knows that her father will never believe her. 

She removed the blanket on her feet, she moved her lower body to get out from the bed. She let her feet meet the ground to stand up and walk but when she tried, she fell down as if this was her first time walking. Then she realized that before the execution, she almost cannot feel her foot because of the beatings she received. 

She doesn't want to cry anymore but at that moment she cannot help but cry, her tears fell down from her eyes. She did not dare to hide that she cried – she cannot help but sob harder that she was heard outside. 

She had wished to turn back time but she wasn't expecting any of this, it made her numb. From the emotional trauma she had from the execution, she cannot feel any hope nor she believes that she can change the course of what will happen. 

It never crosses her mind that this is impossible even though magic does exist in the empires. 

She's not happy but rather she is suffering. 

"Characters in fantasy seem determined to change their fate and plans right ahead. That's weird. How can I plan my survival when my own family will be the one that…" 

No one entered her room because they all know how their Princess hates anyone seeing her cry. They have seen her cry before but they never heard her sob so now that they are hearing it, they cannot help but cry also. 

It makes their heart break into pieces. 

"Young Master," it is Zein who saw Lady Catherine's Second Brother, Clyden. He smiles as if saying he understands it but he did not leave but instead he stayed in front of her sister's room. 

"Prepare her favourite snack…" he commanded before leaving her sister's chamber when she did not hear anything from the inside anymore. He wanted to comfort her but he knows what or who he needs the most but that person will never look for her sister even if she fell ill or if she's hurt but she cannot blame her sister's desperation for their father's love since she lost her mother at a young age. Clyden is loved by their father so he cannot blame her sister for being desperate. 

"Did you say your goodbye to your sister?" His butler, it's the time that he needs to go back to academy, he wanted to say his goodbye but he dared not to disturb her sister. 

He shook his head as he put her sister's portrait on his bag. She is smiling in that picture and that was taken like three years ago when her mother was still alive but things went awry when Grand Duchess Candy passed away. 

"Young Master, Princess Catherine is here." He immediately turns his head to his door when he hears that shouts. He cannot hide his awe yet it made him happy, he instantly answered to let her in. 

"I will prepare snacks for Your Highness." He happily nodded his head to his butler. 

"Brother…" Catherine called him. 

"Sister," You can hear how happy he is that her sister is looking for him. It's like this is the first time his sister visits him. 

"You're going back to the academy?" She glances at his bag and turns her gaze back to his brother who cannot hide his smiles. He nodded to her. Her sister laughed a little when she noticed how childish her second brother became when she was around. 

He's still a kid. No matter how mature he looks when he is with others. 

"And you plan on going without even saying goodbye to your little sister?" 

Boys on this empire will attend academy at the age of thirteen but when a lady turn sixteen, they have the choice if they want to go at the academy or will just stay at home with their tutor and in her case, Catherine will chose to not attend the academy with the thought that her father will give her more attention. 

She still has two months until she reaches her sixteen birthdays to choose whether to stick to her decision in her first life. 

"I just thought that you will greet father first, you always do that."

"Right…" she whispered as if she doesn't want to admit that but that was the truth and this is her first time skipping that morning routine she had made it herself because she is desperate and longing for her father's love.