Chapter 31 - The New Year's Day Ball {part 2}

A loud explosion rang through my ears as I suddenly found myself lying on the floor… fire, debris, smoke all around the ballroom.

The metallic smell of blood and the smoke from the explosion, hung loudly in the air

"What is this?" I muttered under my breath with what little strength I Had. I hadn't expected this, I didn't expect to see myself die this way…

"God? — Are you finally being merciful to my soul?"

"All I ask is that this life will be my last…"

A small Sob of tears slightly Left my eyes as I kept muttering under my breath to myself

"God, please… I don't care how I die, just anything!"

"I don't want to live these lives ever again!"

"Just, please… let me die at last"

"I don't care how it's done"

I muttered Those very words, underneath my breath, as tear slightly leaving one of my eyes as it rolled down my cheek

"!"

I then suddenly felt a hand grab onto my own, strong? The strength was quite overwhelming… Could it be A guard?

"Your Highness?"

A man with piercing blue eyes said as he looked down at me, steadying myself as he gently held onto my arm.

"Your Highness?"

He asked again.

I just looked up at him, with a blank and distant Expression on my face as I tried to process the explosion that had happened. Why on this day? It made sense as there was a huge crowd of guests both prestigious and important… but for what reason.

The man then gently grabbed a hold of my hand a bit tighter As he Led me out of the ballroom and outside, past all the rubble and smoke that Was emulating throughout the place.

Screams?

Chaos?

Fear?

"..."

The man's voice slightly drowned in my ears as I heard the same harsh Ringing sound from when the explosion happened…

"Who are you?"

I muttered as I slightly glanced Up at the man who seemed to tower over me. I felt a sort of familiarity when I looked into his eyes… but I couldn't tell where I knew him from or if I even knew him at all.

for Once in this life? My own thoughts Were A mess, could I even call them my own if I have lived 50 times over and over again?

"It seems I don't know the guests enough"

I muttered again, my words clearly not making any sense as I saw him slightly raise an eyebrow as he glanced at Me.

"Your Highness? Please, sit down for a moment"

The Unidentified man said as He guided me over to a seating area in the garden that was away from the commotion of the ball.

"Your Highness?"

"Your bleeding quite a lot"

The man said, With more concern in his voice as I saw him pull out a handkerchief, as he Gently patted it against Where the gash was on my head. Something comforting about that? Was there?

I couldn't question my own thoughts, not when he Looked after me and cared for me with such tenderness that I Would have expected from Leonardo. I felt safe? I didn't feel on edge for once? I didn't feel Like I constantly wanted to start a fight or there was an endless mystery of problems….

"I can think for once?"

"Your Highness? Your muttering is quite concerning Me?"

"Are you sure your fine"

The man with golden hair and piercing blue eyes said as he stared into my soul, as he gently grabbed My hand in his as he rubbed it gently, something Lovers would do To each other.

"Yes! I'm sure I'm fine"

I say nonchalant as I Looked up into his eyes, I didn't want anyone to pity nor hold Any concern for me? I didn't feel like I deserved it.… not after how selfish I sometimes felt…

The Man then took off one of his gloves as he slightly inspected the wound on My head. I took a moment to Glance at his wrist and I saw The same small hourglass that I had on my wrist.

"What are you?"

"What is that?"

I questioned as my eyes darted to the inner part Of his wrist where the hourglass was. A small glint of interest simmered in the man's eyes as he turned his attention back to the wound.

"It's nothing, Your Highness? You should worry more for yourself. Than other people"

"Especially with a wound like this"

"A wound like what?"

"I am sure it isn't that bad?"

I questioned the man with A slight confused Expression on my face. Yes? I suppose in a way that my words weren't making sense and neither were my own actions… But now?

All I'm interested in is that hourglass on his Wrist as I have the same one… Is this Man like me? Is he?

"That glass?"

"What?"

"The Hourglass on your wrist?"

I stammered as I looked at the man, as I tightly grabbed ahold of his hand As I turned it over to face me.

"What is this?"

"I haven't seen one of these?"

"Is it a weird form of Marking?"

I questioned as I pointed slightly at the unknown Man's hand, I heard a slight low chuckle from underneath his breath as said some words in a calm but sinister tone… that told me not to pry into this anymore than I already am.

"Amalia…"

The man started saying as he looked at my face. I didn't recognize the name and I didn't know or understand why he was calling me that.

"Don't pry into such a business you don't know about?"

"It's not the most logical solution out of all things is it?"

I let out a light chuckle as I looked up at him, what was it that intrigued me about this man? Hah? I didn't even know anything about him apart from the fact he saved me from dying back there…out of what? A whim? There's something to his motives… a man wouldn't be so kind to another lady when she's married, it's not court etiquette!

"Hah?"

"My Lordship?"

"It may not be the most logical solution, but I am just a naturally curious person"

Now if you would please excuse me, I have to go see if my people are alright…

I stood up to leave, as I started walking away. Not bothering to thank the man as I thought It would have angered him more.

"What was that? Amalia? How brazen and Blunt that soul of yours always has been" The man muttered under his breath as he watched me walk away with admiration and guilt In his eyes.

*

*

*

The screaming and loud thrashing sounds of the palace, the fire that engulfed it? The chaos? I wouldn't say I was scared, I was more petrified, more Fearful of my own life.

"Leonardo!"

A pink haired girl called out, her movements cautious and quiet like a mouse as she searched throughout the ballroom … the concubine? Rosette Toussaint?

"Lady Rosette!"

"Your Highness! Have you seen The Crown Prince anywhere!"

Her voice cried out as she quickly clinged onto my dress, Her motions being quite harsh and hurtful but yet the genuine care in her eyes that I saw? Despite her expression, I saw the tears that threatened to trickle down her face in the corner of her eye as the small tear bag lightly sparkled like a diamond.

"No – I haven't seen him"

I sternly said as I looked here an ounce of care and guilt for her maybe?? She didn't come from a great and prestigious family yet I had…

And I felt A weird form of a bond between both of us.

"Rosette! Please calm down for a moment"

"I can't calm down!"

Rosette shouted, her voice full of frustration and anger. Who would dare to do such a thing on a joyous occasion! It didn't make sense! She needed the Crown Prince for her own survival! She needed him to restore her family… and she couldn't do that?

Not if the sole person she relied dearly on was dead!

"My baby!"

My eyes widened, as I slightly took my hand away from Rosette's arm… as I took a step back.

What did she Mean by 'her baby'... if I was right in thinking she was pregnant? She's a threat to my own position in the palace, No? I wasn't going to make any enemies Out of her… not again? Not when Leonardo already thinks we're romantic rivals.

"Ellie! Please!"

Rosette's please fell on deaf ears as I had quite a distant And confused expression on my face as I tried to figure it out.

"Hah"

I muttered under my breath as I gritted My teeth quite hard. Feeling the world spin quite fast around me.

Without even thinking about it, I heard another explosion as I saw the rubble fly everywhere in randomised patterns.

"..."

Darkness? Again?

If there's a God or some form of a deity out there?

"Please Take Mercy On my soul'

I muttered before I then eventually faded into the realm of the dark… It wasn't comforting. I hated this. I hated this constant epiphany of darkness.

The memories Of my last 50 lives and the pain of it all?

I hated it, I just really hoped that this would have been the last time I'm alive… I don't want to experience the constant cycle or torment and pain again.