It was raining when Lady Seraphina Vale died.
Cold droplets fell from the grey sky as she stood on the gallows. Her hands were bound. Her lovely red gown was tattered and soiled. Her once-perfect hair was now a knotted mess. Despite that, she stood tall. Proud, even in chains tied around her ankles and hands.
Below her, a crowd had massed. Nobles, servants, commoners — all gazing at the former "villainess" of the empire. Some were whispering. Others were laughing. No one was weeping.
Standing at the front of the crowd was Duke Leon Thorne, in his dark uniform. His expression and eyes were cold. He did not flinch a little as his wife was scorned by the crowd.
Seraphina's lips curled into a sour smile. The man she saved. The one she once trusted. The one who deceived her.
As the executioner moved forward and started reciting the charges of her offenses
"Lady Seraphina Vale, you are guilty of treason, conspiracy, poisoning, attempted murder, and seduction."
Seraphina chuckled. Seeing her chuckle, someone hurled a foul apple. It struck the wooden platform and splattered close to her foot.
The executioner asked. "Any last words?"
Seraphina gazed out, looking at Leon. Before getting executed, she said, I regret saving you. . I should have left you to die on the battlefield."
The duke didn't bat an eye. It looked as if his Heart was as cold as Frost.
As the time passed, Seraphina closed her eyes and said. "Go ahead."
The rope tied her neck, and the floor fell away, and all went dark in the eyes of Seraphina.
Seraphina thought she was going down into darkness, but suddenly she awoke.
seeing her arms with no rope. No blood. No hurt.
She sat up abruptly, panting.
Plush silk sheets enveloped her. A familiar room. Her room. Her same old bed. The curtains remained red. The vanity is still overflowing with perfumes. She rolled her head cautiously, not trusting it as if it were a dream.
She knew this was her room in the Vale estate. Her eyes were full of tears.
The door slammed open.
"Lady Seraphina!" her maid, Lia, rushed in, fear on her face.
She asked, "My Lady, are you all right? I heard you scream!"
Seraphina clutched her wrist. "What day is it?"
Lila blinked. "The fifth of Duskmonth, milady."
Seraphina stood shocked.
The fifth of Duskmonth…
That was months ago, before the war. Before she encountered the second prince. Before the betrayal. Before she rescued Duke Leon from death on the field of battle.
She was back. Saying somehow, she went back to the past — before her fall.
Seraphina released Lia's wrist and walked towards the mirror. Her reflection reflected a younger version of herself. Her eyes sparkled again. No dark rings under her eyes. No prison marks. No bruises or anything at all.
"I got another chance," she whispered.
In her previous life, she had attempted to alter her destiny by accumulating power and wealth. Rescuing the wrong man. Only to get Lies, betrayal. And getting executed.
She vowed that not this time.
This time, she would not be a savior. She would not be a pawn. She would not be used.
And most of all…
She would not save the duke from the battlefield.
Let the empire weep its "hero." Seraphina had more important things to do — such as live a life with freedom, and this time by her own accord.
And perhaps, just perhaps… exact a little bit of revenge in the meantime