I
Lucius's pov:
The room was filled with the sound of my coughing and my wife's weeping as she sat on the floor, leaning against the bedside where I lay.
How long had it been since I fell ill? How much longer would it take for me to recover? No, would I ever recover at all? I didn't know, and to be honest, I didn't care much about it. We are all supposed to die one day, and I didn't fear death. But the thought of what my wife would do after I'm gone...
It scared me. Weakly, I spoke, "My queen, please, no more tears. Think about our unborn child."
"How could I not?" my wife, Isabella, replied amidst her tears. "Your health is worsening every day. You have to get better, at least for our child."
"Honey, I apologize. Truly, I am deeply sorry," I said weakly, reaching my hand to her cheek to wipe away her tears. "You are our country's treasure, a woman of many talents. And what am I making you do?"
Then my gaze shifted to the man standing in the corner of the room, by the door. "My apologies to you as well, Robert. I couldn't be the great king I promised you all I would be."
"Don't speak as if you're about to die! You have to live, for our baby's sake!" Isabella shouted. "And what do you know? I consider myself lucky to be your wife!"
"My Lord, please refrain from speaking such falsehoods," Robert, who had been silent until then, replied. "If it weren't for King Lucius, I doubt I would have even lived to become the honorable knight I am today."
I sighed. Though grateful for their words, I couldn't bring myself to reply. I knew all too well that I didn't deserve these praises.
"Robert, take the queen to her room. I wish to get some sleep," I finally said. But it was a lie. How long had it been since I had slept well? I didn't want to sleep, nor could I find any peace when I did.
Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was the cruel actions of my past. Although I had never believed in karma, divine punishment, or fate, I sometimes wondered if I had become this way because of my past actions.
"But I would—" Isabella began.
"Honey, I need some rest. Robert?" I interrupted Isabella.
"Yes, my king," Robert bowed before escorting Isabella away.
***
Feeling thirsty, I sat up and reached for the lamp on the table beside my bed to turn on the light. As I groped for the jug to pour some water, I found it empty.
"Robert?" I called out, knowing he was always outside the door at night. But there was no response.
With a sigh, I braced myself to stand up, using the table for support. Since he wasn't here, I would have to go downstairs and fetch water myself.
After drinking some water and on my way back to my room, I heard murmuring coming from Isabella's room. Curiosity overcame me, leading me toward her room.
The door was partially open, and as I was about to enter, I caught sight of Isabella sitting on Robert's lap. My hand trembled. Was I dreaming? Perhaps I misunderstood something...
"It can't be real. I'll confront them tomorrow," I muttered to myself, turning away.
"My lady, you're quite mischievous, aren't you? The way you fooled that fool," I heard Robert's voice.
Isabella giggled, "Well, I wasn't entirely lying. I am grateful to be his wife. If I hadn't become his wife, how could I make you the king of this empire? How could I secure our child's future?"
"Well said," Robert agreed. "How long until the poison completely takes over his body?"
"Hmm..." Isabella pondered. "Why? Can't wait to be officially called my husband?"
"My lady, don't tease!" Robert replied, frustrated.
As I listened, my head spun, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. I couldn't hear anything else, just a ringing in my ears, until the glass in my hand fell and shattered on the floor, jolting me back to reality.
Isabella and Robert rushed out and found me.
"Honey?! What are you doing here?" Isabella asked, concern etched on her face, while Robert chuckled, as if realizing I'd overheard everything. Their disheveled appearance and a lipstick mark on Robert's clothing told a harsh truth that I couldn't deny.
"Isabella... Why is he coming out of your room?" I asked calmly, hoping for an explanation that would dispel my suspicions.
But instead of providing an excuse, she evaded the question and said, "Let me get you back to bed. You shouldn't be walking. Where did all the servants go?" She moved toward me.
"No... don't come near me..." I replied, stepping back, unaware that behind me was a staircase. I fell.
The next thing I knew, warm liquid trickled down my head, and I lacked the energy to move. I could barely see, but I knew the figures before me were Isabella and Robert.
"It took this fool too long to figure out our affair, only to end up shortening his own life," Robert remarked.
"Come on, don't be like that. Didn't he do us a favor by ending it sooner?" Isabella chuckled.
"So, what do we do now?" Robert inquired.
"Let's leave him here. The servants can find him in the morning. Let's pick up where we left off," Isabella suggested, shrugging off the situation.
As everything faded to black, I felt a sense of relief, no more sound, no more pain, just nothingness. Perhaps this is the end of my suffering.
Yet, as I faced death, something felt amiss. I couldn't recall a single accomplishment I was proud of. Shame washed over me as I reflected on my life.
I had dreams and aspirations in my youth, so what went wrong? How did I become this person I never wanted to be?
A cruel, foolish monster was all I seemed to be in this lifetime.
Could I have chosen differently if given another chance?
Another chance….
Ah, that sounds lovely, but alas, the world doesn't work that way.
.
…
…..
....
...…..
"Hey Brian! Do you think he's dead?" a little girl's voice queried.
"No, I don't think so... dead people don't breathe, after all," replied another.
"Really? And how do you know he's breathing? As the older one, you should only speak facts!"
"I'm not lying! I mean, look! His nose hole is getting bigger and smaller every second!" the boy replied, growing anxious.
"Dude! That doesn't prove he's actually breathing. Do you think I'm stupid?" she retorted. "Let me show you how to prove it!"
"Wait, wait, don't do it! He'll get angry!"
So noisy, I thought...
I opened my eyes and felt fingers in my nostrils. The girl who owned these hands panicked.
"Um... good morning, I guess?" she offered nervously.
Gwen...?
"Whoa!!! Gwen!! Quickly, get your fingers out of Older brother's nose!!!" Brian exclaimed.
"Gah! Ah, right!" Gwen quickly withdrew her hand.
Brian too...?
Is this a side effect of my brain showing me a peaceful memory before shutting down completely?
But I wouldn't call this memory peaceful.
Gwendolyn looked younger than I last saw her, and Brian... he looked just as he did in my memory.
They both stood a few steps away, trembling. I attempted to rise, but pain shot through my leg. I glanced down to find it completely wrapped in bandages.
"Um, older brother! The doctor said not to let you walk for a while!" Brian's voice trembled with panic.
I couldn't deny that I missed them.
"Come here..." I beckoned, knowing I couldn't approach them.
They cautiously approached, confusion evident on their faces.
I reached out, pulling their cheeks with each hand, and smiled at them. "It feels so real."
Brian's face paled further, while Gwen regarded me as if I'd lost my mind.
"Lucius..." Gwendolyn's eyes sparkled with emotion. She's always been quite cute. Brian, too, looked adorable in his trembling; he reminded me of a rabbit. Still pulling their cheeks, I smiled at them. "Yes, sister?"
"Did you hit your head when you fell?" she asked, causing my smile to falter.
"No wonder he looks scarier than before," Brian whispered to Gwendolyn.
Their words made me pinch their cheeks even harder.
"Ouch!!!" they both yelped in pain.
"Gwendolyn, where are your manners as a princess? And Brian, you do realize I can still hear you, right?" I scolded them with a smile.
"Forgive us," they cried, and I released them.
After that, all of my siblings, who are Sophia, Damon, and Xavier, along with their mothers, came to check on me. The only people missing were Father and Lilith.
Doctor Heino also visited me, anxious about my condition. According to Gwen and Brian, I had been unconscious for five straight days.
The day ended with visitors coming and going, while I lay in bed. It was a familiar routine. However, something felt different. I glanced at my small hand, then turned to look at the window beside my bed. In the reflection, I saw my younger self staring back at me.
I touched my face, bewildered.
What happened? I clearly remember dying... so why am I here?
Moreover, this place didn't seem like a mere brain's hallucination before shutting down. It felt too real for that. So, what had actually happened?
Could it be time travel? Does such magic exist? How was I sent back? My magical abilities were unrelated to time manipulation...
Gwen is the only one I can think of who might have the power to send me back, but she's no longer alive... How could she have done it?
Isabella and Robert were the only ones with me at the end, but they had no such powers. Even if they did, why would they use them on me when they wanted me dead?
I'll need to research this further tomorrow morning.
If I truly have been given a second chance, it means someone wants me to change the future, as I've always wished, right?
If this is indeed my second chance, I can't let it go to waste. This time I need to change the future for the better.
Perhaps because I'm in a younger body now, my energy isn't as high as it used to be. Before I knew it, I had already fallen asleep. For the first time in a while, I slept peacefully, without nightmares or discomfort.