A promise to protect

Amelia's POV

The dim candlelight flickered against the cold stone walls, casting long, wavering shadows across the room. The silence was heavy, almost suffocating, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth.

Amelia sat curled in her chair, knees drawn to her chest, her fingers absently running through her loose hair as thoughts swirled in her mind.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the question that had been haunting her ever since she realized she had been sent back.

"Why would my overprotective father agree to marry me to Ceaser, even though he despised him?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of the words pressed heavily on her chest.

Duke Eiden Florian had always been her shield, a fortress of unwavering protection. As a child, she had clung to him, trusting that he would never let anyone hurt her.

And yet…

In her past life, he had willingly handed her over to Ceaser Romano.

The ruthless second prince feared across the kingdom.

A man with ice in his veins and blood on his hands.

Had her father known what would happen? Had he foreseen her suffering?

Or had there been something else—something she never saw?

Amelia bit her lip, her fingers clenching against the fabric of her gown.

She had spent so many years resenting her father for it. For making her marry a man who barely acknowledged her, for leaving her to suffer alone in a world where she never felt wanted.

But what if she had been wrong?

What if there had been more to it than she ever realized?

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

She straightened, quickly wiping the emotions from her face. "Come in," she called, her voice quieter than usual.

The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat.

Her mother.

Elory Florian.

She was just as Amelia remembered—graceful, poised, with an air of quiet strength that never wavered. Her long, golden hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her warm hazel eyes held the same gentle kindness that Amelia had missed for so long.

For a moment, she could do nothing but stare.

In her past life, this woman—her mother—had died far too soon.

A mysterious illness had taken her, a sickness no one had been able to cure. By the time they had discovered what it was, it had already been too late. She had slipped away before Amelia had even gotten the chance to say goodbye.

But now…

Here she was.

Alive.

Standing right in front of her.

The sheer wrongness of it sent Amelia's head spinning. She had grieved for years. Had blamed herself for not finding a cure sooner. Had cursed the heavens for taking her mother away when she needed her most.

And yet, here she was.

Tears burned behind Amelia's eyes, but she forced them down.

She couldn't cry.

Not now.

"Are you okay, my dear?" Elory's voice was soft, full of concern.

Amelia swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod. "Yes, I—" she hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know."

She didn't know how to describe the weight pressing on her chest, the overwhelming emotions swirling in her heart.

How could she?

How could she explain that she had already lost her mother once?

That she was terrified of losing her again?

Elory stepped closer, cupping Amelia's face in her hands.

The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down Amelia's spine, a painful reminder of just how much she had taken for granted before.

"You scared me back there," her mother murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Amelia let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes for a moment.

She didn't deserve this.

Not after the choices she had made in her past life.

She had hurt the people who had loved her.

She had betrayed the ones who had trusted her.

But this time…

This time, she would protect them.

"I'm sorry," Amelia whispered, leaning into her mother's touch.

Elory smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair behind Amelia's ear. Her fingers lingered for a moment, as if memorizing her daughter's face.

In her past life, those hands had grown frail, trembling with every movement. Her once-bright eyes had dulled with pain, her voice weakening until she could barely speak.

Amelia clenched her fists.

(Not this time.)

(This time, I won't let that happen. I swear, I'll protect you, Mother. No matter what it takes.)

Determination burned in her chest.

She wouldn't just stand by and watch her mother fade away again.

She wouldn't wait until it was too late.

She had to act now.

Before history repeated itself.

Without thinking, Amelia suddenly reached forward and grasped her mother's hands, holding them tightly.

Elory blinked in surprise, but didn't pull away.

"I love you, Mom," Amelia said, her voice steadier than before.

For a brief moment, her mother's eyes widened. Then, her expression softened even more, surprise flickering in her gaze before she smiled tenderly.

"I love you too, honey," she murmured, squeezing Amelia's hands in return.

The warmth of her mother's love wrapped around her like a shield, but Amelia's mind was already racing ahead.

She had another chance.

A second life.

And she would not waste it.

(I'll find your disease.)

(I'll find the cure.)

(And I'll save you.)

But she couldn't do it alone.

She would need help.

And there was only one person in this kingdom powerful enough to provide it.

Her future husband.

Ceaser Romano.

Amelia exhaled, her grip tightening on her mother's hands.

Would Ceaser help her?

Could she convince him?

In her past life, they had barely spoken. She had spent most of their marriage resenting him, confused by his indifference, hurt by his coldness.

But maybe… maybe that had been a mistake too.

What if she had never tried to understand him?

What if she had been so blinded by her own pain that she had never realized the truth?

This time, things would be different.

This time, she wouldn't be weak.

She wouldn't wait for someone else to save her.

She would fight.

For herself.

For her mother.

For the future she deserved.

A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.

(Wait for me, hubby… your wifey is on her way to make you mine.)