The Reincarnation

Drowning…

My chest tightened with each passing second as I was gradually drowning, and my consciousness began to fade as I battled to breathe. As I submerged lower, it appeared that the water was getting even more ominous, and I realized that each second that passed meant that my life was ebbing away. I desperately looked for something to hold onto, but my attempts were in vain, as I kept falling deeper and deeper into the ocean. As I came to terms with the fact that there was no way for me to avoid death's icy grip, which was enveloping me slowly, fear and panic began to overtake my thoughts. I spotted a flicker of light ahead in the darkness, and with renewed power, I frantically swam towards it just as I felt all hope slip away from me. I gasped for breath.

"Princess Aurelia!" someone frantically shouted as I suddenly felt an arm wrap around my waist, pulling me up, out of the water, and into the air.

I coughed up what felt like gallons of water, and through my bleary eyes, I could barely make out the figure of someone holding me close in his arms.

"Aurelia! Are you okay?" He asked worriedly as I coughed and tried to focus my eyes.

I averted my gaze to my side to see who it was; it was my brother, First Prince Ansfrid Nox Odinkhar. Fear was written all over his face, and I smiled weakly, trying to assure him that I was okay, but my attempt to ease his worry seemed to have failed, as he continued to look at me with distress in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself, and using all of the strength I had left in me, I managed to say with a hoarse voice, "I'm alright." Immediately upon hearing my response, Ansfrid nodded his head as he hugged me tightly and said, "I thought I was going to lose you."

Just then a series of loud voices came echoing down the hallway, and I broke free from Ansfrid's embrace to look and there they were my family, standing in front of me with anxious looks on their faces.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Her mother, Empress Twyla Odinkhar, asked in a trembling voice.

Tears started to form in my eyes as I smiled weakly and nodded my head. A man stepped forward and wrapped her in a white towel as he carried her up; it was her father, Emperor Asbjorn Odinkhar. He gently wiped away the tears from my eyes, kissed me on the forehead, and led me toward the castle.

As we walked, I looked up in awe at the beauty of the castle and felt a sense of admiration for the surroundings. It has been 7 years since I awoke in this strange world. I had spent 7 years under the loving care of my family, the royal family of Odinkhar, learning all that I could about the world and the customs of my newfound home.

Staring at the mirror, I could not help but marvel at how much I had grown and changed in those seven years. I closed my eyes as I reminisced about the day that I had arrived in this peculiar world. It felt like a lifetime ago, yet the memories were still vivid in my mind. The last thing that I can remember is that I was slowly drowning in the ocean, fighting for my last breath as I sank deeper into the bottom.

"Aurelia?" I heard someone call out to me as I opened my eyes.

A pair of jewel-like, rainbow-colored eyes was staring deeply into mine. "Who are you?" I tried to ask, but only a baby's coo came out of my mouth. "Who's Aurelia? My name is Kiho", I cooed. I paused for a moment and raised my hands. "A baby's hand?" I thought to myself.

Panic was starting to develop as I tried to stand up, but to no avail, I could not stand. I looked around, trying to find something that could help me. Nothing seemed to be within reach, and I felt increasingly helpless. For a moment, the reality started to sink in as I came to the realization that I had died and been reborn into another world. I was now in a strange place, unable to move, and I had no idea what to do next. Because of the frustration and fear that I felt, I began to sob. Tears streamed down my face, as I felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the situation. I had no choice but to accept that this was my reality, and I had to find a way to make the best of it.

As I continued to mourn about my current situation, a gentle voice called out to me, "Aurelia, why are you crying, dear?"

A golden-haired woman with rainbow-colored jewel-like eyes asked me. I stopped crying as I looked at the woman. "Whoa, she's so beautiful."

The woman carried me out of the crib and hummed a song to calm me down. "What's wrong, my love? Why were you crying?"

The woman soothingly asked me. I looked at her and studied her face; she looked like a celestial being that fell from the heavens. Her beauty is indescribable, radiating an aura of grace and kindness. I cannot help but admire her beauty. I was so mesmerized by her that I could not take my eyes off her. She seemed to have a special power that captivated me.

The woman smiled at me warmly as she wiped away my tears and said, "Oh, daughter, how lovely you are." I gawked at her in confusion. "Daughter?" I asked myself, "Did she just call me daughter?"

With widened eyes, I stared at the woman in bewilderment. The woman warmly smiled at me and said," Princess Aurelia Astraea Odinkhar, you are the loveliest baby in the Kingdom of Lummox."

I could not believe what I was hearing. Was she saying that I was a princess? My mind raced as I tried to make sense of the situation. I looked around and saw that I was in a grand room with gold decorations and luxurious furniture. It all felt like a dream.

"Princess Aurelia Astraea Odinkhar, the name seems familiar," I thought to myself. "Wait a minute, wasn't she the protagonist of the novel that I was reading before? The one who dies because of martyrdom?" Princess of the Stars is the title of the novel that I have read before. My sense of panic rises as I realize that I have reincarnated as the very same character.

"No," I whisper to myself. "This can't be happening."

I feel a sense of dread overwhelm me as I remember the story. I was a powerful princess who was sentenced to death because a friend who was also in love with my knight betrayed me. The thought of reliving that horror fills me with fear. Then I begin to wonder if I can change the course of my story. Maybe I can prevent what happened to the character in the novel.

I had always been a fan of the "Princess of the Stars" series, even in my past life. "Aurelia is supposed to be a brave and intelligent princess," I thought to myself. "But the way the author has portrayed her, she's becoming too dependent on others and not taking charge of her own destiny."

From what I still remember of the story, Princess Aurelia had always been known for her powerful and strong image as a princess saint. Her kingdom, full of faithful and loyal subjects, looked up to her as their guiding light. With her pure heart and selfless service, she had won the hearts of many around her.

However, her trust would soon be put to the test as she was betrayed by her closest friend Elvina, who was deeply in love with Aurelia's romantic interest, Duke Artaxiad. Aurelia was unaware of Elvina's feelings, and so she introduced Artaxiad to her friend, thinking nothing of it.

As time passed, Elvina's love for Artaxiad turned into a dangerous obsession. She began to spread rumours about Aurelia, which led to a faction forming against the royal family. The Archduke, a powerful and cunning man, saw this as an opportunity to seize power and arranged a coup d'état against the royal family.

Elvina and Aurelia's knight, Elix, joined forces with the archduke's faction and plotted to bring down the entire family. Aurelia, who was entirely unaware of their treachery, was sentenced to death on false accusations, while her parents and siblings were assassinated.

How could anyone betray his or her best friend in such a callous way? Kiho's heart ached for the princess, whose life had been so unfairly cut short by the very people she trusted the most.

I felt a wave of anger wash over me. How could Elvina have turned on Aurelia like that after all, they had been through together? In addition, why did Elix go along with it? I could not help but feel disgusted by their actions. Princess Aurelia had been so trusting and innocent, and it had ultimately led to her downfall.

My heart sank as I recounted the tragic love story of Princess Aurelia and Duke Artaxiad. I felt disbelief and sadness as I remembered that Elvina, Aurelia's best friend, had been the one behind their tragic love story. The thought of it made me feel sick to my stomach. How could someone who was supposed to be a friend do something so cruel and heartless?

I could not help but feel a profound sense of sorrow for Aurelia and Artaxiad, whose love had been torn apart by Elvina's machinations. The thought of them being forced apart, and then sentenced to death for treason was almost too much to bear.

I could not imagine how Aurelia must have felt, watching the love of her life being taken from her and knowing that she was powerless to stop it. In addition, to make matters worse, her own best friend had been the one responsible for her suffering.

However, even more than that, I felt a renewed sense of anger towards Elvina, and the sense of betrayal that she had inflicted upon Aurelia. She knew that she would never be able to forgive someone who could do such a thing to another person, to someone as kind and noble as Princess Aurelia, especially now that I have been reincarnated as Princess Aurelia.

I could not bear the thought of Princess Aurelia and Duke Artaxiad's tragic love story ending in such a horrible way. "I had to do something to change the course of events so that no one would have to suffer the way they did," I whispered to myself.

With a heavy heart, I try to remember all the details that I have read from the story to recall the truth behind Elvina and Elix's betrayal of Princess Aurelia, piecing together a timeline of events. "I need to realize who's the main culprit behind the tragedy, the one who's been manipulating the events all along, so that I can save myself and the Duke from our tragic fates"

Thinking once again about my current situation, I could not help but cry and be frustrated. Why was I even reincarnated in the first place if I was just about to die again? Again, a stream of tears fell from my eyes. I can feel the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders as I realize that everything I do from now on could change the course of history. However, it is a responsibility that I am willing to bear so that I can live.

As I sit up in my crib, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, feeling the energy surge through my body. When I open my eyes again, I feel ready for whatever comes next. I am determined to use my powers to make a difference, to change the course of my story, and to prevent the betrayal that led to my character's death. First, I must learn how to walk and get through this toddler stage.

I get up from my crib and try to walk, taking a few shaky steps. I fall over briefly but then quickly manage to stand up straight. "I can do this," I say to myself, repeating the words several times over. "I am now Princess Aurelia, the golden star princess of the Odinkhar Empire, and I will not let anything happen to me or those I care for."

As I was about to take a step again, I tumbled down and fell flat on my face. "Ugh!" I shrieked, and that is when a girl came in. "Your Highness, what exactly are you doing?" she asked as she carried me. I sat in my crib, cooing and gurgling with wonder. My nanny, a kind and gentlewoman named Maria, was tending to my needs. I remember her from the story; she was one of the people who claimed that Aurelia did nothing and was innocent, but Maria was killed when she tried to help Aurelia escape the night before her punishment.

I smiled and reached out her little arms towards Maria, who picked me up and began to cradle me gently. As Maria spoke, I giggled and kicked my feet happily, enjoying the sound of my nanny's voice.

"I brought you some breakfast, sweetie," Maria said, offering me a bottle. "You must be hungry."

I eagerly grasped the bottle and began to suckle, looking up at my nanny with contentment. Maria watched me with affection, feeling grateful for the opportunity to care for such a precious child.

After I had finished my breakfast, Maria changed my diaper and dressed me in a soft, pink onesie. She then took me outside to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

I looked around with wide eyes, taking in the sights and sounds of the garden. Maria gently swung me back and forth on a nearby swing, humming a lullaby to calm me.

"You're so lucky, little one," Maria said softly. "One day, you will be a great queen, and everyone will adore you."

I smiled and snuggled against my nanny's chest, feeling safe and loved in her embrace. Maria held me close, savouring the precious moments she had with me, and whispered a prayer for my well-being and happiness. "I will protect you, Maria; I will definitely change the course of this story!" I cooed at her.

With that, she places me in a crib and covers me with a soft blanket. As she leaves the room, I stare up at the ceiling, still trying to wrap my head around everything that has happened. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: my new life is going to be filled with magic and adventure.

Emperor Asbjorn was sitting on his throne, poring over some important documents, when he heard a familiar sound coming from the nursery down the hall. It was the sound of his baby daughter, Princess Aurelia, giggling and cooing with joy.

Unable to resist her adorable laughter, the Emperor put down his work and made his way to the nursery, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hello, my little princess!" he exclaimed, peering into her crib. "What's got you all giggly today?"

Aurelia beamed up at him with her bright blue eyes, wriggling and kicking her feet in excitement.

Asbjorn leaned over to pick her up, but as he did so, he felt a warm, wet sensation spreading down his shirt.

"Oh no, Aurelia!" he exclaimed, holding her at arm's length. "Did you just...?"

Sure enough, Aurelia had just wet herself, leaving a sizable puddle on her father's clothes.

Asbjorn let out a groan, trying to hold back his laughter. "Honestly, Aurelia," he said with mock disapproval. "You couldn't have waited until Maria changed your diaper? Your timing needs some work, my dear."

Aurelia giggled again, seemingly unaware of the mess she had made. Asbjorn shook his head in amusement, taking her to the changing table to clean her up.

"Well, I suppose it's a good thing I love you so much," he said, grinning down at his daughter. "Otherwise, you might be in trouble for ruining my clothes!"

With a chuckle, he finished changing Aurelia's diaper and held her close, taking in the sweet scent of baby powder and feeling grateful for the joy that she brought into his life.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Lexus asked, looking at my father in confusion.

My father grinned, bouncing me up and down. "Playing with my daughter, what does it look like?" he replied, chuckling a little.

"But you have an important meeting to attend, sire," Lexus protested.

My father shrugged. "Oh well, Aurelia needs her Daddy time too, don't you, sweetie?" He cooed to me, tickling my tummy.

I giggled, and my father laughed with me. Lexus started to shake his head, clearly annoyed.

"Sire, with all due respect, you should really attend to your duties," Lexus insisted.

My father rolled his eyes, standing up and holding me in his arms. "Fine, fine, I'll go. But first, let me just give baby Aurelia here a little kiss," he said, leaning in and kissing me on the forehead.

"And now I can go and be a responsible Emperor," he continued, walking out of the room with a grin.

Lexus shook his head, muttering something under his breath, but I just continued to gurgle happily, enjoying the attention from my playful father.

Years passed and now, I am 3 years old. I wake up with a sense of urgency. As I venture into the world beyond, I am overwhelmed by the sights and sounds around me. Everything is so new and exciting, and I cannot wait to explore more. However, before I can do that, I need to learn more about the people who matter most to me: my family.

I toddle down the hallway, struggling to keep my balance as I go. Nevertheless, I am determined, and soon I find myself in front of a large door. I push it open and find myself in a grand room that I later learn is called the Throne Room.

As soon as I enter, I am greeted by my father, Emperor Asbjorn. He is sitting on his throne, looking every inch like the powerful ruler that he is. However, as soon as he sees me, he rises from his seat and comes over to me.

"Ah, my little princess," he says, scooping me up in his arms. "How are you this morning?"

I giggle and kick my feet, feeling happy to be in his embrace. Emperor Asbjorn is a tall man with a stern expression, but I can sense the love in his arms.

We talk for a while longer, and I learn more about him and the empire that he rules. He tells me about the battles he has fought and the enemies he has defeated, and I can sense the pride he feels for his achievements.

After a while, we are joined by my mother, Empress Twyla. She is as beautiful as ever, with striking features that I cannot help but stare at. She comes over to me and kisses me on the forehead.

"Did you sleep well, my little star?" she asks her voice tender and loving.

I nodded my head, feeling happy that she was here with me. We talk for a while longer, and I learn more about her and the role she plays in the empire. She is the guiding force behind my father's decisions, the one who helps him make the tough choices that keep our people safe.

As we sit together, I notice two figures standing in the corner of the room. They are my older brothers, First Prince Ansfrid and Second Prince Aelfhere.

They come over to us and say hello, and I can sense the love and admiration they feel for me. I learn that Ansfrid is the heir to the throne, and that Aelfhere is a skilled apprentice knight who has already fought in many battles.

Despite their differences, they both share a strong bond with me. They talk to me and play with me, making me laugh and enjoying my company. I feel happy and safe in their embrace.

As the day goes on, I learn more about my family and the role they play in the empire. I am proud to be a part of it, and I cannot wait to see what else we can achieve together.

I love playing with my brothers, Prince Ansfrid and Prince Aelfhere. They are both so kind and loving toward me, always making me laugh and smile. Today, we are in the palace gardens, enjoying the bright sunshine and fresh air.

Aelfhere is chasing me around, pretending to be a fearsome monster. I giggle and run away from him, feeling like a princess on an adventure. He finally catches up with me and picks me up, tickling my belly and making me laugh.

"Gotcha!" he says, grinning from ear to ear.

The sound of his laughter is infectious, and I cannot help but join in. We sit down on the grass, and Aelfhere starts to tell me about the battles he has fought and the foes he is defeated.

I listen intently, fascinated by his stories of bravery and honour. Ansfrid joins us soon after, sitting down on the grass next to me.

"What are you talking about?" he asks, grinning at me.

"Aelfhere's brave battles," I reply, still giggling from the tickling.

Ansfrid rolls his eyes, but his lips twitch with amusement. "I bet he's just telling tall tales, as usual."

Aelfhere grins and nudges Ansfrid. "Hey, I'll have you know that my stories are all true. Right, little sis?"

I nodded, feeling happy to be included in their banter. I can feel the love and teasing that they share with one another, and it makes me feel loved and secure. As I was gazing at the cherry blossoms swaying in the wind, a sudden memory flooded into my mind. It was a memory from my past life, when I had lived in Japan as a young girl.

I saw myself running through the streets of Kyoto, laughing and playing with my childhood friends. I saw myself admiring the colourful kimonos and intricate paper lanterns that adorned the city. I heard the sound of the taiko drums and the gentle melodies of traditional instruments.

"Hey, Aurelia, do you want to see something cool?" Ansfrid asked, calling my attention, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Suddenly, he pulls something small from his pocket and holds it up to me. It is a small, round object that sparkles in the sunlight.

I nodded, curious to see what he had in store. Ansfrid whispers something to Aelfhere, and then they both jump up and start running away from me.

I start to toddle after them, but they are too fast. I can hear their laughter echoing across the gardens, and I feel a twinge of disappointment.

Just then, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I turn around and see my mother smiling down at me.

"Are you having fun with your brothers, my little star?"

I nodded, feeling happy to be out here in the sunshine with them. Empress Twyla chuckles and takes me by the hand, leading me back toward the palace.

As I walk back inside, I feel a sense of contentment washes over me. My family is the most important thing to me, and I am grateful for every moment I get to spend with them.

As I snuggled up in my crib that night, I could feel the love and warmth of my family surrounding me. They love me for who I am, and they will always be there for me, no matter what comes my way. I feel like the luckiest princess in the world.