A Second Chance

Soon a young girl's eyes were wide open from her deep slumber. Her long scarlet hair was spread out on the sheets.

Her wavy and thick locks being filled with cold sweat alongside her forehead and backside. A clear outcome of a bad dream.

'Huh? Did I perhaps have a realistic nightmare? Perhaps I'm reminiscing about an old memory of mine?'

Sitting up, the girl raised her arm and wiped away the sweat from her face then proceeded to wipe downwards.

From there, she combed through her scarlet tangled sweaty locks to appear less disheveled before the imperial maids arrived.

Shortly, the girl's lavender eyes began scanning around the bedroom.

Inanna believed her hazy eyesight would meet with a golden and luxurious bedroom inside the imperial palace, but they didn't.

Instead, what she saw was a familiar light-pink decorated bedroom. One that a young girl would have as a child.

Her body froze from the realization.

It was her old bedroom before the engagement with the crown prince.

'Why am I here? Shouldn't I be in hell rotting away for my sins?'

The girl being confused, landed her eyesight towards the orange sunrise outside the balcony glass doors.

Obviously, it was the early morning. A sign of a fresh new day to begin.

Seeing this, Inanna's eyes began to inspect her body and noticed a smaller frame rather than her mature figure from before.

In a speed of light, the girl sprinted out from the pink sheets and rushed towards a full body mirror next to a white dresser.

"How is this possible??"

The girl panicked, examining her features.

Her cheeks were slightly chubby and roundish. Her height reaching below half of the full body mirror along with her physique being small and thin.

What captivated her the most was the bright gleam in her eyes and glow on her skin. The dark eye bags, ghost mien, and bony structure no longer visible.

Exactly like it'd been before her family's tragedy. When she was genuinely happy.

Inanna was witnessing herself being a child again. No. A young girl who appeared to be around 10-12 years old. Soon to be a young lady in the aristocratic society.

Tears gradually slid down from her widened lavender orbs to her pinkish cheeks as the tears increased each second. Blurring her vision and focus.

'There's no way I'm... H-how??'

Suddenly, Inanna lost her balance because of the shock, which resourced to her landing on her tiny knees and crashing against the hard flooring.

Hearing a loud thump, a maid quickly opened the Young Miss's bedroom door and rushed towards the shaken girl.

"Young Miss, are you alright?!"

The maid spoke who panicked seeing the paled and crying Young Miss of the Duke Bessa Household.

A noble family with high status and well respected prestige. A rare sight to see the children of the household to show such a sorry state and keep an ideal image.

The most powerful and perfect noble household where they are known to hide their emotions extremely well even at a young age.

"N-nanny Lucy..? You're okay??"

"There's no need to worry. I'm here now, Young Lady. Did you perhaps have a bad nightmare? I'll ask Nina to get you a cup of tea to relax your body."

Lucy, the nanny, cooed the Young Lady of the house as she held her in between her arms. Instantly, the nanny rocked her body back and forth to help soothe the frightened girl along with a few back rubs.

With the comforting actions, Inanna snuggled further into the warm embrace of her nanny. Remembering the security she felt with the woman who stood by her family's side till the end.

The very woman who sang to her at night to help her fall asleep as a child. Making sure she tucked Inanna warmly in bed.

Keeping the beautiful young girl happy as they played in the gorgeous and large garden of the household, along with her two older siblings.

Memories Inanna cherished deeply.

"Lucy... promise me you'll do nothing that'll take your life away.. not even for the sake of the dukedom... please."

Inanna cried out in between broken words, not being able to contain the desperate plea in her childlike, soft voice.

It shattered her knowing what the future held for her nanny, Lucy. All because of Lucy's immense loyalty towards her family and stubbornness to leave the estate.

Inanna could still remember the exact details of the heartbreaking and terrifying image on Lucy's sacrifice. Her death.

Her sister, Judith, holding her in her frail shaking arms as she tried keeping both their cries hushed inside the golden dragon symboled carriage.

Silent from being heard and found by the hired assassins sent from their empire's neighboring enemy, the Magna Empire.

An empire that grew with an immense amount of power and wealth over the years of Inanna's devastation.

An event Inanna wanted to prevent no matter what or how. Of course, while keeping her loved ones safe from the chaos.

'This time, I must become a knight.'

Not seeing the usual calm and joyful Young Miss, Lucy replied to the frightened girl once she regained her senses from the shocking claim she heard come out her master's mouth.

However, maintaining to react unfazed by the conversation.

"Yes, Young Miss. I promise you I won't do anything reckless without your consent or will put the dukedom in danger."

"Lucy, there's no need for you to prove your loyalty to the family. I solely want you to promise you'll be out of danger. That is all."

Inanna cried.

"Yes, Young Miss. I promise."

Lucy smiled softly at the kind and caring words of the young girl. Realizing what the child meant and her worry for her safety.

'What a sweet noble child. I'm sure she'll become a beautiful and kind lady with many suitors in the near future.'

The maid thought as she gazed tenderly at the current calmed child in her arms—who was no longer frightened or worried.

"Lucy! What is with all the commotion outside of Inanna's bedroom?"

A mellow and masculine young male voice shouted outside the bedroom in worry.

'That voice...'

At the familiar young male's voice, more tears instantly built up on the corners of Inanna's doe-like eyes.

Many memories and emotions began overwhelming her chest to the point of wanting to rush out of the bedroom and tackle the young male on the floor with pure joy and relief.

Yet in reality, she merely laid on Lucy's arms and froze there in shock.

'... big brother.'