Chapter 15

Cassandra Annabel Albuquerque, that was who she was. A name that had once felt like a burden, now resonated with an unexpected sense of tranquility. Her mind, which had been filled with guilt, confusion, and pain, had completely vanished as she came to accept everything that had happened. It was as if a heavy fog had lifted, revealing a clear path forward.

She looked down at the water's surface she was standing on, and her eyes widened in surprise as her appearance transformed back to that of Cassandra, but now she seemed to be at least ten years old. Yet, unlike when she first woke up to this unfamiliar visage, she felt an overwhelming sense of peace enveloping her. The turmoil that once clouded her thoughts was replaced by a serene acceptance of her journey.

But amid this newfound clarity, there was still something left that hadn't been fully explained to her. Questions lingered in her mind like shadows at dusk, whispering of secrets yet to be uncovered.

I understand everything now; however, why was it that I was able dreams about this world's future?" The child came to ask, her brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to make sense of the swirling visions that filled her dreams.

"It's an ability born from those of the Winter House." The Empress, Sophia, began to explain, her gaze drifting off to the horizon, as if searching for answers among the distant. "No one knows when it first began, but the members of our bloodline have had the ability of foresight for generations. Some say it was even before we accepted the Emperor's Dragon Blood and Blessing, a gift intertwined with our lineage. Others claim it came afterward, but the truth remains elusive; no one really knows for sure."

She turned her attention back to the child, whose name was Annabel, no she had embraced her true identity as Cassandra. "However," Sophia continued, her voice softening, "it varies between individuals. Some are only able to glimpse the future a limited number of times, while others might only catch fleeting flashes of images that may not make sense at all. It's a gift, yes, but it can also be a burden, especially when the visions are unclear or foreboding." The weight of her words hung between them, as the young girl absorbed the gravity of her unique heritage.

"So you're saying that even though I was in a different body I was still able to use this ability?" Cassandra came to ask, as that was what she could understand upon listening.

"Yes, but the fact that you were able to see such things so clearly hasn't happen since the First Head of the Winter House after receiving the Dragon's Blood and Blessing." As this was said by the Empress appeared proud as she spoke of this fact.

"But it was a future where I never existed." Those words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their implication.

"I am aware." Empress Sophia's spirit had been watching over Cassandra, especially in the other world where she once lived as Annabel. She was able to see and read the books that were written by her. "I believe the future you saw was one that would happen if you never awaken." The girl noticed the melancholic expression that washed over the Empress' face as she spoke, a reflection of the burden of knowledge she carried. "The Heir search was most likely not due to your father reaching the end of his life, but rather a conscious decision on his part to bring it to a close."

What?" Hearing this had come as a complete shock to Cassandra.

"Despite what many people believe, your father is not perfect." Well, she believed that too, because she had seen him go all crazy daddy when she did anything even slightly out of line. "When I was young and met him for the first time, that night I had my very first dream where I married him. As my father was the captain of the Imperial Guard, I would often visit the palace as a child, and after that dream, I would always go searching for his majesty." Just remembering this caused the woman to chuckle like a young girl in love, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "Needless to say, he brushed me off whenever I proposed to him. People thought that once a grew up I would stop. But even when I did, it still continued for a very long time until one day he accepted me with a red face. It was the most adorable thing, a moment forever etched in my heart."

Cassandra stood there with a blank expression, as the empress, her mother, was gushing over these cherished memories. The warmth in her mother's voice felt almost tangible, wrapping around Cassandra like a comforting blanket, even as she processed the impact of what she had just heard. Now that she had begun to reconnect with her life as Cassandra, many of her memories surfaced with vivid clarity, each one a reminder of her mother repeating this story over and over again with the very same affectionate expression.

After that, whenever I got hurt, he would lose it, even if it was just a small paper cut. And when I refused to talk to him, he looked like it was the end of the world." The girl was starting to understand now, piecing together the fragments of their shared past.

"So what you're saying is that because you were gone and I never opened my eyes, he lost the will to live?" This had been the conclusion that Cassandra had come to after listening intently to Empress Sophia's troubled recounting of events.

Her words pierced through the silence, evoking a heavy sense of urgency and despair that hung in the air like a thick fog. The realization that her very existence was tied to such a grim fate sent shivers down her spine. Unlike before, when she had first woken up in this world, she now felt a tumultuous surge of emotions—fear, hope, and an unwavering determination to change the course of their intertwined destinies for the better.

"That's right," Empress Sophia replied, her expression grim as she met Cassandra's gaze. The weight of their shared burden pressed down on them, but amidst the darkness, a flicker of resolve sparked within Cassandra. She understood that they could no longer afford to dwell in the shadows of the past; it was time to reclaim their lives and rewrite their story, one that would not be defined by loss, but rather by strength and resilience.

"I won't let what happened in my dreams come true!" The child had declared this with passionate determination, and as she looked up at the Empress, a hint of embarrassment crept over her. The Empress returned the child's gaze with a warm smile, a gesture that usually brought comfort. However, that moment of connection was abruptly interrupted when a powerful gust of wind surged into the room, swirling around the child and wrapping itself around her tiny frame like an ethereal cloak. "What is this?!"

"It appears our time is up." the Empress replied calmly, her voice steady and reassuring. Unlike Cassandra, who was bewildered by the sudden turn of events, the Empress seemed to embrace the unfolding situation with grace. Cassandra's heart raced as she began to comprehend the gravity of the moment.

"Wait!" Cassandra called out to the Empress, her voice strained as she stretched out her arm, desperate to hold onto something real in the midst of the chaos. "I still have so much to ask! So much to say!"

"I'm sure you do, my dear. However, it's time for you to return to your father." Sophia spoke softly, her eyes filled with a mixture of compassion and sorrow. Her smile, though warm, felt like a bittersweet farewell.

"No! Mother!" Those were the last words that escaped Cassandra's lips, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes, glistening like tiny stars. In an instant, she vanished, leaving the Empress standing alone in the swirling wind, feeling an emptiness that echoed through her very soul.

"Oh, how I missed being called that." The Empress whispered to the empty space where her child had been. Tears rolled down her cheeks, mingling joy as she smiled at the memory of being called 'Mother' once again, a title she had longed to hear for what felt like an eternity. But of course, those tears of joy were bittersweet, for they were intertwined with the deep sadness of parting once more.

The sound of birds singing softly in the background filled the room with a gentle melody, while the sun shone brightly through a window, casting warm rays that reflected off the long silver hair of Emperor Maximus, which flowed like silk. He was seated on a sturdy chair beside a bed, his presence both regal and comforting. His hands were tenderly clutching a small hand that belonged to the child lying in the bed. The atmosphere was serene, yet charged with a sense of anxious hope. Suddenly, he heard a faint voice, "Da… ddy…?" His heart raced, and his eyes shot open to see that Cassandra's delicate eyes were now wide open, gazing intently into his golden eyes that matched her own.

Tears began to roll down the man's rugged cheeks, glistening like precious jewels in the sunlight streaming through the window. "Welcome back, Princess," he spoke softly, his voice barely above a whisper, as he smiled gratefully upon her awakening. It was a moment filled with profound relief and unspoken love, as the weight of worry lifted from his heart. He leaned closer, his expression joy, as he cherished the sight of his beloved daughter, hadn't left him.