23

Anthonette squinted her eyes glaring at the purple sky. She didn't notice it at first but now she felt she could see a tear in the sky.

She wondered if it was all part of her imagination just like Anthony, she was afraid to ask or confirm if the tear was actually real.

A maid came up to where she stood. "Your highness, it's late. Shall we return inside ?" Anthonette ignored the maid. This could be the third one in the last hour.

After discovering the non existence of her son, Anthonette had a huge argument with Eden.

She confronted him about his lies and wondered if he's actually telling the truth. His reply didn't help her feel better, it didn't explain how Anthony suddenly disappeared after hearing those voices in her head.

His story was always the same.

"I did it to make you happy." Anthonette felt nothing similar to Euphoria. Infact she was miserable and for the next 4 days she spend them outside the mansion.

She wanted fresh hair but didn't know what else to do after that.

"Your highness..." The maid called to her again. Anthonette slowly turned to her, her eyes were soulless. "Do you think I'm insane too ?" The maid stood there unable to answer Anthonette. "Be honest, it's not like I can harm you." Anthonette averted her gaze from the maid and back to the purple sky. With stars in the night sky it did look beautiful.

"From the rumors I concluded you were insane." The maid answered.

"What about now ?"

The maid wasn't sure if she could answer in the way she wanted to, either way she went ahead. "If anything, you would have been better off dead your highness."

Anthonette's eyes widened, the answer right in front of her eyes.

She had to die.

This could go two ways.

If she died she would regress back to when she was 21, before she drank the poison. It meant starting all over again but at least she could get out of this at least she would know if this was all real and if not it could go the other way.

If she died, she would finally be free from this world. She already beat her execution. The reason Anthonette was bound to die was because of the Emperor. He no longer had authority over Cordenia.

"That's it, how could I have been so foolish." Tears puddled around Anthonette's eyes."The answer was right in front of me." Anthonette muttered. The maid was worried about the Empress, she really pitied her. A sudden chill went down her spine the moment the Empress walked passed the maid.

"Your highness." The maid was worried for the Empress but at least she somehow convinced her to return to the mansion. She followed behind the Empress until they were inside the mansion.

The maid came to a stop watching Anthonette take her steps until she came to a stop. "Where do I go from here to the Balcony ?" The maid figured out this was a weird question but she didn't think much of it. She was convinced the Empress needed some hair, it would be better than leaving her outside.

"I'll take you there my highness." The maid proposed. If it made the Empress feel less out of mind, she wanted to help. The two of them made their way to the balcony in deadpan silence, again the voices began taking over her head.

"Aren't you a coward. Death is not the answer you fool."

"You escaped your execution how could you be so ungrateful."

"Do you really think that this would be the answers to your questions ?"

They went on and on berating her decision but Anthonette wouldn't budge if anything they encourage her to carry out her plan. She planned to jump of the Balcony and die. The Mansion was just 4 stories. It was enough to probably break her neck and die from loss of blood.

Even if she miraculously survived the jump, she will sought other ways to die, either by poison or using a knife. "It's the Empress." Anthonette raises her head to see the maid talking to a royal guard.

"Your highness..." He paid his respects to her with a bow. "I can't let you pass this part of the mansion is off limits." Anthonette didn't pay attention to his words so she walked past him, he quickly latched to her hand. Irritated, Anthonette faced the guard with a sneer.

"Let go." He refused tightening his grip. "I command you this instant." She tried yanking away from him but got pulled a bit closer to his face. She stared down at his almond colored eyes, they were familiar, she couldn't help but wonder. "What's your name ?" The stunned guard loosened his hold on her. "Damon.." she stared at him for an awfully long time, her palms found their way to his face, tears stream down her cheek, she didn't know why she felt sad for this person. It felt as if she had lost him.

"Your highness." The maid reached out to the maid but froze. "Damon take me to the Balcony." She thought since her tears were already set, she better not waste them.

"But your highness the Mansion has been infiltrated. I was given orders by the Emperor..." He paused when he felt like she was about to pass out on to him.

Her face was bend down, he couldn't see how miserable she looked at least that what she thought until she flicked her head back giving him a blank stare. "Then I'll just have to die in front of you." Anthonette found his way to his pouch and drew out his sword. She immediately tipped the end of it under her chin.

"Your highness." Damon and the maid panicked. "Please drop the weapon." Damon tried to see if negotiation was plausible.

"This was bound to happen, i need to start all over again."