One of the Soldiers said
"Your father, the General, will be furious if he finds out you wandered again," one said gently.
The General?
Elara's heart pounded she felt confused.
She looked down at her reflection in a nearby pond — the girl looked almost just like her with the same blue eyes —but it wasn't her.
The locket still rested around her neck, gleaming faintly.
Before She could say something she felt weak and she fainted.
The soldiers caught Elara just before she hit the ground.
"Lady Elara!" one of them shouted, panic lacing his voice. "She's fainted again—call the physician, now!"
They carried her back with the help of female maids they took her in the large estate — a grand fortress built of pale stone and carved dragon statues, banners fluttering high above. The scent of steel and incense filled the air. Servants rushed aside, whispering as they passed.
"The young miss… again?"
"She's been so weak since birth."
"Poor child, the General dotes on her, but fate seems cruel."
Their words blurred into the haze of her fading consciousness.
When Elara awoke again, the room was filled with low voices. She lay on a large bed, sunlight shining across the marble floor. Her vision cleared slowly — and she saw a man standing near her bedside, tall and proud, armor gleaming like molten bronze.
Her father.
The General.
His eyes softened as he saw her move..
"You're awake, Elara. Thank the heavens. The healer said your condition worsened again."
Beside him stood a woman in elegant robes — her stepmother. Her smile was calm, too calm, like a mask that never cracked.
"Poor dear," the woman said sweetly. "You frightened us all. The court healers tried every spell, but none could find the source of your weakness."
Elara blinked, heart tightening.
Of course They couldn't detect the poison if she wouldn't have been in this body even ,she would have had difficulties to detect this kind of poison.
She could feel it in her veins moving towards her heart.
The locket on her chest warmed faintly, as if acknowledging the truth.
The General turned to the healer beside him.
"Are you certain? She is fine right?Is there something wrong with her?"
The old healer shook his head, confused. ", my lord. Her energy flow is… strange, but stable. She had always been weak since childhood It is as though her body fights something unseen we can only try to nourish her and she shouldn't walk too much ."
Elara's fingers curled beneath the blanket.
The second wife's gaze flickered — a moment of irritation, quickly hidden behind feigned concern.
"Maybe it's simply her fragile constitution," she said gently. "She's never been strong, poor thing."
Elara met her eyes — a quiet, steady look.
Something within her stirred, not just the remnants of pain, but a promise.
You took advantage of a weak girl once.
But I am not her.
The General sighed. "Enough. Elara will rest for now. I'll call for a spiritual master to examine her inner energy tomorrow."
He gently touched her head as if trying to comfort her
" You should rest for now you look pale we can talk later."
As everyone left, the room grew quiet again.
Elara turned toward the window, where the setting sun painted the sky in crimson and gold.
This world was vast — filled with power, politics, and hidden blades wrapped in silk.
Her new body carried secrets she barely understood, and a poison no healer could trace.
The locket pulsed once more against her heart, making it feel warm near her .