Second Chance

Cassio opened her eyes after her head had been severed by a royal soldier.

"....What the hell is this? I'm still alive?"

She slowly got up from her shabby mattress and walked towards the old mirror hanging on the wall. Cassio stared at herself in disbelief.

The face of the young woman stared back at her. Her long and thick black hair, scattered over her worn dress. The eyes shone brightly, revealing the light of hope and youth.

Obviously, this was a very foreign but familiar appearance in her memory.

"How on earth? Did I go back to eight years ago?" Cassio muttered in disbelief. She raised both her hands, seeing some faint scars as a result of work and training.

There were too many questions racing through her mind for her to speak.

Was this all a dream? But it's too real to be considered as a nightmare. Did I use magic to go back in time? No, no, I couldn't use any magic. Moreover, only certain people can use it.

But it was a truth that she went back to eight years ago before that terrible fate happened. Cassio can change everything she regrets for as long as she lives.

"Absolutely.... I can change my future!"

Cassio's body trembled with excitement. She thought of how she could escape from the cruel fate that bound her and determine her own destiny.

If she remembered correctly, it was two weeks before she was to be married off to Duke Eluned Clothilde Scamnder. That's why she had to hurry to leave this place.

Plus, the Imperial Cavalry would be held in one week's time. It was the perfect opportunity for her to leave this place and join the Imperial Cavalry.

The Imperial Cavalry was an organization established to maintain the peace of Nordiff, given its vulnerable location and history of civil strife. The strength of the cavalry was not something that other empires could underestimate. The members were strictly selected.

Becoming a member of the Cavalry was a formidable and challenging task. Furthermore, the role of women in the Nordiff Empire was limited and often disregarded.

Despite knowing the difficulties, Cassio was determined. Since childhood, her greatest desire had been to become a swordmaster of the Imperial Cavalry. Unfortunately, her dream was crushed by her own father.

This time, she wouldn't let anyone stand in the way of her dream.

As Cassio made her plans, the creaking door of her old room swung open. Two women in elaborate gowns and heavy makeup entered, their faces filled with disdain and disgust.

They are Cassio's half-sisters. Wearing a green dress is Aleccia Yyarniam Marquesse, her eldest sister. The one in red dress is her second sister, Othello Aloysius Marquesse.

They are identical twins with matching appearances and personalities - all bad. Hence, at the age of 21, they remained unmarried, well past the age considered appropriate for noblewomen. The reason is that there's no man who wants to marry them.

It's evident in how they treated Cassio daily, mocking her as if it were part of their daily schedule.

"Our Sleeping Beauty has finally awakened from her long sleep," sneered Alecia, fanning herself with a lace fan, which only revealed her large eyes.

Othello waved her fan dramatically and sauntered around Cassio arrogantly. "Look at your shabby appearance. Are you even a human? No woman, not even a servant, looks like you."

Normally, Cassio would ignore her step-sisters' taunts and let their words wash over her until they grew tired and left. But this is the first and last meeting she would have with them since returning to the past. She wouldn't let them go so easily.

"Is that so? I had no idea how to present myself properly. Could you teach me how to be as stunning as you both? Your appearances are truly captivating and impressive, making it impossible for other women or even servants to emulate you two."

The two women widened their eyes. Their cheeks, painted with thick rouge, turned as red as tomatoes in anger. However, before they could retaliate, the sound of the palace bell echoed throughout the palace.

Aleccia and Othello swallowed their insults and quickly left after spitting out a threatening sentence, "Watch out, you little bitch!"

Cassio only gave them a fleeting glance before heading to the small window that was in her room, gazing into the distance.

The ringing bell just now was a signal for all members of the palace and citizens to pay homage to the Emperor of Nordiff. They would bow for one minute toward the north, where the Nordiff Imperial Palace was located.

In hindsight, once Cassio reached her teenage years, she had stopped participating in the strange tradition that had been going on for about a decade. Her mind had begun to realize that the Emperor was someone who was obsessed with respect that he created such ridiculous regulations, making her completely uninterested in honoring someone like that.

Cassio closed her eyes as the wind gently brushed her cheeks through the open window.

Besides, the rule of the current Nordiff Emperor wouldn't last long before being succeeded by his son, the young ruler who would lead the empire to its glory.

Speaking of the Empire, Cassio remembered that she needed to start getting ready. The Imperial Cavalry were held at the Nordiff military base, close to the Imperial Palace. The reason for the proximity of the location was to ensure immediate security in case of any bad things.

Fortunately, she had returned before informing Duke Marquesse of her intention to join the Imperial Cavalry. This way, she could escape without anyone knowing where she would go.

Cassio had already calculated the timing. She will leave tonight and arrive in the imperial capital within two days. That meant she still had five days to prepare before the Imperial Cavalry selection began.

A satisfied smile played on Cassio's lips, making her look sharper than ever.

"Cassio, clean the garden right now!"

Her smile immediately faded as a commanding voice echoed outside her room. Cassio rolled her eyes and sighed. It seemed like before leaving this place, she had to do her routine tasks first.

In this palace, she was also referred to as a servant. Although not explicitly stated, anyone who saw her treatment could easily guess.

Meanwhile, in public, the Duke Marquesse was very adept at covering it up. He would treat Cassio as his beloved daughter, presenting the image of a good father.

The same went for her stepmother, Duchess Marquesse. In the eyes of the public, Cassio was considered the biological daughter of Duchess Marquesse. Her sudden appearance at the age of three was explained as due to her illness, which required her to be entrusted to her uncle for treatment.

A story so intriguing that it made Cassio want to laugh every time she remembered it. She even wondered how the public could be fooled for years without discovering the truth.