Chapter 10: A Familiar Stranger

(Marcus's PoV)

The battle was over, but Marcus Aurelius found no rest in victory. He had won, yes, but the responsibilities afterward felt like an unrelenting wave crashing against him. His body ached with exhaustion, and his mind was weighed down by all that had to be done.

First, he ensured the healers tended to the wounded, making sure the men who had fought alongside him were taken care of. As he watched the healers work, his chest tightened with the weight of responsibility. These men had followed him into battle, trusted him, and now they lay injured because of it.

But even that wasn't the worst of it.

"How much food do we have left?" Marcus asked the quartermaster, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.

The older man hesitated, looking down at the ledgers with furrowed brows. "Not much, Your Grace. We have enough for a week, maybe a bit longer. But after that..."

Marcus's heart sank. He had won the battle, but winter loomed on the horizon. The northern blizzards would sweep in soon, and with food supplies already low, his people would face starvation. 

"We need to ration immediately," Marcus ordered. "Prioritize the wounded and the children. Send out hunting parties, but don't expect much in return. We'll need to stretch what we have as far as we can."

The quartermaster nodded and left to carry out the orders. Marcus stood alone in the courtyard, feeling the weight of the world press down on him. But through the chaos, one thought remained clear in his mind: his sister.

---

He hadn't seen her yet since arriving in this life. Despite the memories of Marcus Aurelius flowing through his mind, he couldn't recall her face. It was as though a part of his new life remained just out of reach. And now, after everything that had happened, the urge to see her became impossible to ignore.

As he walked through the dimly lit corridors of the ducal palace, his heart pounded in his chest. He stopped before her door, taking a deep breath. A strange feeling of dread washed over him—**what if he didn't recognize her?** What if there was no connection between them?

His hand hovered over the door handle, his breath unsteady. He knew he had to see her, no matter what. He couldn't turn back now. Slowly, he opened the door.

---

The moment he stepped inside, the world seemed to fall away.

A young girl stood by the window, her silhouette framed by the pale moonlight. When she turned to face him, his breath caught in his throat.

It was **Ellie**. The same face, the same eyes, the same way she held herself—it was his sister from his past life. Only her red hair and grey eyes marked her as different. But everything else was exactly as he remembered.

Marcus's chest tightened, his mind reeling. **This isn't possible**, he thought, his heart pounding in his ears.

"Ellie…" he whispered, the name slipping from his lips before he could stop it.

Her eyes widened in surprise at the name, but she didn't seem frightened. Instead, she tilted her head, studying him. "What did you call me?"

Marcus couldn't speak. His entire world had just shifted. The memories of his past life—the love he had for his sister, the pain of losing her—came rushing back all at once, overwhelming him.

Without thinking, he rushed forward, kneeling before her and pulling her into a tight embrace. He held her as if she might disappear, his emotions crashing over him like a tidal wave. Tears welled up in his eyes as he held her close, his heart aching with the bittersweetness of the moment.

"Ellie… Ellie, it's really you..." His voice cracked, and the tears fell freely, his body trembling with the intensity of his feelings.

The girl stiffened in his arms at first, clearly confused, but then slowly wrapped her arms around him in return, her small hands clutching at his tunic. "Marcus... why are you crying? What's wrong?"

The sound of her voice, the way she held him—it was Ellie. It was all so familiar. He couldn't explain it. How could he? How could he tell her she looked and sounded exactly like the sister he had lost in another life?

"I thought I'd lost you forever," Marcus choked out, his voice barely more than a whisper. "But you're here... you're really here."

She pulled back slightly, her wide eyes searching his face. "Marcus, what are you talking about? You've always had me."

Marcus couldn't explain. The grief, the relief, the overwhelming love he felt for her—it was too much. He pulled her back into his arms, hugging her even tighter, as if holding her like this could heal the wounds of his heart.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I just missed you so much. I'll protect you, Ellie. I won't let anything happen to you this time."

"Marcus…" she murmured, her voice soft. "I missed them too. Mother and Father… I miss them so much." Her voice wavered, and he felt her small body tremble in his arms as she began to cry.

Hearing her cry, Marcus felt his heart break all over again. This wasn't just about him. She had lost their parents too. She was just a child, trying to bear the weight of that grief. He had been so wrapped up in his own emotions, he hadn't realized how much she was hurting.

"I know, Ellie," he whispered, stroking her hair gently. "I know. I miss them too."

"I don't understand why they're gone," she sobbed into his chest. "Everything feels wrong without them. You've been so busy with the war… I didn't want to bother you, but I... I just want them back."

Her words tore at him. **How could she not feel abandoned?** He had been too consumed with battles and responsibilities to comfort her when she needed him most.

"I'm sorry," Marcus said, his voice thick with emotion. "I should've been here for you. But I'm here now, and I promise, I'll be here from now on. I'll never leave you alone again."

She clung to him tighter, her tears soaking into his tunic. "Promise?"

"I promise," he said, his voice steady, despite the storm of emotions raging inside him. "No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you."

As her sobs quieted, Marcus pulled back slightly, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "You've been so strong, Ellie. Stronger than I've been. But you don't have to carry all of this alone. We'll get through this together, alright?"

She nodded, sniffling as she looked up at him with watery eyes. "You really mean it?"

"I do," he said, giving her a small smile. "I'll always be here."

He tucked her into bed, pulling the blankets around her, and as she settled down, her hand reached out to hold his. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

"I'll be right here," he promised, sitting beside her as she drifted off to sleep, still holding his hand tightly.

As Marcus sat there in the quiet of the night, watching over her, he felt a strange peace settle over him. The pain of his past life hadn't faded, but for the first time, it didn't feel quite so unbearable. **Ellie was here**, and he wouldn't lose her again.

No matter what came next, he would protect her. This was his second chance, and he wouldn't let it slip through his fingers.

With that thought, Marcus let out a long breath, feeling more at ease than he had in days. As his sister slept beside him, he finally allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.