Prologue

Thunderous clouds fill the surrounding rain with fear for many and amazement for some. The frivolous yells of pain of the common people were easily deafened by the climate, but in her heart they still screamed. As she brandished her rose saber, bloody be it's blade, the hearts of the countless deceased, either by her hand or by the consequences of her actions, haunted both her mind and heart.

From the start of her tyranny, ever little death that she caused would haunt her every night. Be it as a mere chill that froze the warmth of her bed, or vivid nightmares that would wake her in a mess of sweat and tears, it would haunt her every single night.

"I am doing nothing wrong." Her little voice muttered, hand trembling as she gazes towards her father, dirt over all his body, wearing rags unfit for his status. Even Anneliese did not know why she had to go release him, she had just returned from the battlefield, tired and victorious, with the head of a neighbouring kingdom's ruler and yet the first thing she thought about doing was visit her father.

Years ago when her tyranny had started, in front of the king her blade had been raised, her husband by her side, forcefully taking the throne. None had a chance of defending the king, not even the guardian beast was able to stop her, perishing, along with the king's status. Her father, Noctur van Aryalis became a prisoner that had to rotten until the very ends of his life, while her mother Marie van Aryalis had somehow escaped and supposedly whored herself on some brothel. Her family was in shambles, but that was for the greater good, or at least is what she always thought, but now seeing her father in misery has awoken something in her heart, enough to make a tear escape her azurite eyes.

"Why have you done this?" Noctur's words are tired, his lips have since long dried and his heart has thoroughly given up. Only sadness and despair remain in his faded eyes, his hope for Anne has been lost and only remains with a sliver of will to keep on living.

"How come you question it? Your ruling was faulty, it needed to be saved."

"Saved?" In her confused answer, hatred for her words emerged within him. Whether it was due to Anneliese being his daughter or because of the evil deeds she has done over the years, his heart lit in rage. "Because of you, famine took over our kingdom, slavery was reinstated when I had abolished it! You have done so much harm that this is no longer a kingdom we are stepping on, it's the playground of a foolish little girl playing house."

"Do not speak lies father! Yes, it was hard, but for the past year I was able to solve the hunger of my people and slavery is still prohibited to this day."

"And who has told you that, you idiot daughter?"

Hesitation grows in her, she should say proudly the name of her love, but instead her voice trembled. Her saber drops to the ground as if her hand was suddenly weak. With a tight grip she was able to feel her strength, but something seemed to be still lacking. "It was my husband."

Raising from his grave, Noctur extends his hands asking for something. She lovingly lost herself in his eyes, it was reassuring knowing that her father had a will once again, however, she was too blinded to see his real reason.

"Give me your weapon."

"Excuse me?"

"I may have lost hope, I may have lost everything... But I still have not lost my mind." One step forward, two more next until he is able to forcefully take her rose saber from the floor. The past king sighs as he mourns his current duty, speaking to his last of kin calmly. "Who do you think put me in that prison? I did not kill nor attempt anything, it was merely Andre Berian's, one of your husband's schemes."

Somehow, Anneliese van Aryalis was surprised. Somehow, she did not believe his words.

"Even if you hate him father, I will not accept your lies."

"Your mother escaped because he came to our cell and gave her an offer... Live the rest of her life in prostitution, or be killed and place the blame on me. It pained me, knowing how she would be exchanged by many men, but if that kept her alive, I would bear the guilt."

Such terrifying image did appear in her mind, but her love for her soulmate was stronger. "No, my Andre would not... He wouldn't!"

"He is not the husband nor the man you think he is." His sword trespasses her liver as if the bloody parts were made of butter, doing it with ease and swiftness, letting the blade rest on her impaled body. "Behind your back he made slavery legal again, even the women... From what I heard he made women public toys... Whoever attempts to rape or kidnap one, be it adult or child, will not be punished. I am sure you must have heard about it, or at least seen it."

The screams in her mind grow louder, the migraine stronger, but the truth slowly revealed itself. She could remember on a corner of the main street, the cry of a little girl not younger than thirteen asking for help, only to be distracted by her husband and leave the child in constant suffering.

"No... Andre would never..." amidst the blood gushing out from her body, craziness invaded her.

"He has controlled you all this time. Look at it yourself! Look at it!"

Upon his order, her sight is deviated towards the window, towards the outside world that contained the truth. Houses burned, people screamed and women were being raped in public by the guards. Standing in front of the disaster that had quickly formed, was her husband, former duke and current king Andre Berian enjoying the moment. For a sliver of a second he turns his body to her, looking at her dying self and just replying with a villainous smile that thoroughly enjoyed the situation. His gaze has returned to the death of many, and so did her mind.

Anneliese had finally understood the truth, or rather, was starting to understand it. "Why such a thing? All the sacrifices I have done, were all of them in the wrong? Was I so wicked and blind, that I followed and enjoyed his company?" were some of her last breaths.

"Instead of questioning his actions, you just followed him and did his evil actions, and all for what? To receive his love?!"

"I hope you forgive me... I hope you forgive my foolishness, father." Such void words couldn't change anything at this point, she knew it very well, much like how her father's rage could never be eased by such a weak apology.

"I shall never forgive you, you monster. You tyrant. You took away everything from me, now you shall pay the right price." His tears were clear, the regrets he had, the lives of the tyrant princess' brothers and of his people, they were all being avenged in this moment as his pure hatred for his daughter, that has existed since birth, is finally over.

I had never intended to do it. If only I had not met him and fallen for his grace— if only... Her mind vanishes until only black covers her surroundings. Her father's voice was so calm that it was terrifying for her, knowing his words and that truly, he will not mourn her death.

"If only I had a second chance." Her inner voice started producing sound like her pure and natural vocal cords should. "If only I could go back and amend this. Live as a princess, fall in love with another man, forget father and mother's love, something that they never had and never will give to me. Just be a normal princess, a good princess."

A strange light shone from below, bright and warm, calling out to her name. She remembered this voice that came with it, the only maid that showed her some love, the comfortable moments of her childhood.

"Marina..."

Upon sounding her personal maid's name, said light engulfs her body, proceeded by her everything.

======

Strange. I am neither cold nor empty, I can even feel my own body's weight. Right now I should be dying, entering hell and suffering for millennia, and yet it feels surprisingly warm. It's suffocating, even thinking provokes a headache.

A stinging pain keeps growing in my heart, not only because of Andre's betrayal since there is something else, something I know very well. Out of all my times I was bedridden, it was only once that I had such strong headaches, only once that my breath seemed like it could run out at any moment. My strongest fever, the Mana Corroding disease I once had when I was little.

It should be impossible for me to have it, for many reasons, but this feeling is not only similar, it is identical to the one in the past— I am feeling the exact same thing I was nineteen years ago. My wish was heard... Somehow, the gods have given me a second chance.

"Lady Anneliese, hang on for your life! The doctor should not take much to get here!"

This worried and comforting voice... I have returned, Marina.

I have returned to when I was but a child, to the Anneliese van Aryalis with eleven years of age.