A soft breeze stirred as our caravan rolled onward, cutting through the pale mist of early morning. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting golden light over the horizon like a promise whispered to the earth. Hazy shafts of sunlight pierced through the towering pine trees that lined the road, their needles dusted with dew that shimmered like stardust.

  The scent of damp soil, pine, and the faint sweetness of spring blooms filled the air—a sharp contrast to the cold, clean wind brushing my face. I inhaled deeply, letting the crispness anchor me in the moment.

  This was our first stop before the ascent to Skyridge Mountain, and though the journey ahead was long and treacherous, for now… There was peace.

  I sat upright in the saddle, no longer slouched with indifference or wearied by disillusionment. My senses were awake, sharpened, aware. For the first time in years—perhaps lifetimes—I truly saw the world around me. The rhythm of hooves on dirt. The swaying branches overhead. The simple beauty of dawn breaking over familiar nds.

  And I was grateful.

  Grateful to feel the air fill my lungs again. Thankful that I had another chance to walk this path—not as the blind, arrogant fool I once was, but as someone who now understood the cost of time… and the value of every second gifted.

  Once, I might have overlooked such sensations. I never used to think much about the details, never bothered to question my path or the consequences that trailed behind it.

  But now...

  Now, everything feels different.

  This time, I intend to do things right. To recim what I lost—and correct what I failed to protect.

  I remember the moment I opened my eyes in this timeline with startling crity.

  Because I had died. Of that, I was certain.

  The poison had torn through me like fire ced with razors. I still recall the searing pain in my throat, the metallic tang of blood filling my mouth, the unbearable pressure in my chest as my body gave out, bleeding from every orifice.

  I had felt my life slipping away. I had accepted it.

  And yet, as the darkness closed in, I awoke.

  Choking. Gasping. As if I'd been dragged from the depths of a frozen ke. My lungs burned, my fingers cwed at my neck, and my entire body trembled in confusion and disbelief.

  Then I saw where I was.

  My old room. The one I used during my teenage years. Familiar, pristine—unchanged. It was like stepping into a memory.

  And when I turned toward the mirror… I saw a boy.

  My reflection.

  Younger. Healthier. Untouched by betrayal.

  For a long moment, I simply stared. As if the image would shift or melt away. But it didn’t. The youth in the gss stared back with wide, disbelieving eyes.

  Once the realization sank in, I rushed to my desk, tearing through drawers until I found what I needed—something that could anchor me to this new reality. My fingers brushed over the cover of an old notebook.

  Inside, in my handwriting:

  Friday Year 350, Prosperous Era — Five years before my execution.

  Five years before, the accusations were crafted like weapons.

  Five years before, loyalty was repaid with silence.

  Five years before the crown turned its back without hesitation.

  Knock. Knock.

  The knock jolted me out of my thoughts.

  “Your Highness, this lowly servant greets the Small Sun. May your light and glory continue to shine upon us,” came a voice from beyond the door.

  Before I could respond, the door creaked open. A middle-aged attendant stepped in, and her eyes widened the moment she saw me standing. Awake.

  “I-I apologize for entering without permission, Your Highness,” she stammered, bowing low.

  “It’s alright,” I replied, my voice quieter than usual.

  She looked surprised. In the past, waking me required effort—like pulling a child from his dreams. But that was then.

  I’ve been given a second chance.

  And I don’t intend to waste it.

  “Your Highness, if you will allow me, I shall help you prepare for the morning,” she asked politely, her voice steady and deferential.

  I gave her a simple nod.

  She moved toward the wardrobe with quiet efficiency. I watched her for a moment, my thoughts drifting. I remembered her—she had been the only one who attended to me during my youth. Back then, I hadn’t questioned it. I’d simply accepted it as normal.

  But now, it struck me as odd.

  Why only one attendant? Even for a lesser noble, it would be considered strange. For royalty, it was almost an insult.

  “Why is it just you here?” I asked, my tone calm but direct.

  She froze, visibly startled by the question. Her hands paused mid-motion, eyes wide with uncertainty.

  “T-the others are fulfilling their assigned duties elsewhere,” she said quickly. It was an excuse. A poor one. But still, she answered.

  I studied her carefully, and perhaps the weight of my gaze was too much—she dropped to her knees in a rush, bowing her head low.

  “Please forgive me, Your Highness,” she pleaded, voice trembling. “It was not my intention to deceive. I was simply instructed to come. I don’t know anything beyond that…”

  Her voice quivered, and I could see she was on the verge of tears.

  “It’s alright,” I said quietly. “If you don’t know, then you don’t know. You may rise.”

  She stood at once, grateful and relieved.

  “Go prepare my bath first,” I instructed, gesturing toward the washroom.

  She bowed and quickly made her way out.

  Once alone, I turned toward my desk. I needed something—anything, some sign of exactly where I was in the flow of my former life.

  I rummaged through the drawers until I came across a familiar pnner, flipping it open with urgency.

  Ah. Today was meant to be one of my scheduled swordsmanship sessions.

  A bitter smile tugged at the edge of my mouth.

  I never used to attend them. I always believed that, as royalty, I would never need to wield a bde. That someone would always be there to protect me.

  What a foolish thought.

  The boy I had once believed his status alone would shield him. Those titles made one untouchable. That loyalty was guaranteed.

  He was wrong.

  I had been protected, yes—but only until I wasn’t.

  This time, I would not wait to be rescued.

  This time, I will be ready.

  The soft knock of the attendant returning with word that my bath was drawn brought me back to the present. I bathed quickly, dressed, and emerged fully prepared before anyone had come to fetch me—already an anomaly in the routine they remembered of me.

  The servant looked visibly confused but didn’t dare comment.

  "Ready my training clothes," I said, drying my hair. She blinked. "Your Highness… pardon me, but—training?"

  I turned to her fully. “Yes. I’ll be attending today's swordsmanship session.”

  Her mouth opened slightly, as if to say something—but she quickly bowed her head. "At once, Your Highness."

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