— Sir, the young lady requests your presence. The ceremony is about to begin.
Always respectful, Orestes bowed before leaving, closing the door of my office behind him.
Outside, the rain promised misery and discomfort for my next hour.
I sighed and closed the territory's finance ledger. Soon the head butler (and everyone in my territory) would start calling me Your Grace.
Duke Lucian Vane.
Finally, my father decided to stop interfering with my life...
Too bad it took thirty long years of my life for him to do me the favor of dying.
As expected, the ground was pure mud.
Without needing orders, the servants had already stepped forward to place the waterproof cloak over my shoulders and the black silk umbrella with an ivory handle over my head.
We walked along the stone path to the iron gate that marked my destination.
— Brother. — Lady Evelyn, my younger sister, greeted me as soon as I arrived at the family's private cemetery.
— Sister. — I nodded slightly and took my place beside her as the deacon awaiting me began the funeral rites.
The territory's nobles were all present, with a single notable exception.
— I don't see Baron Rosenheart.
— And I fear you won't see him unless you go visit him. — She leaned in slightly and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper — His health has deteriorated... I don't know if he'll make it past this year.
I looked around, my face impassive. I would have to think of suitable retaliation. Nothing too rigorous, I need to maintain the goodwill of my new vassals.
— His daughter, on the other hand, has already arrived. As agreed, she will remain under our care until the wedding.
I couldn't help but notice the provocative tone in Evelyn's voice. I looked at her and saw her staring at me, undoubtedly looking for signs of the irritation she knew I felt.
— Have them accommodate her in the West Wing. I do not wish to deal with this final act of charity from our dear father. — I replied, looking at the ebony coffin holding the late Duke Fabian Vane. — Later I will think about how to annul the insanity that is this engagement.
Evelyn looked at me and smiled.
— Remember the reasons, brother. Despite being only a baron, Lord Rosenheart still owns the most productive diamond mines in the empire. Not to mention being a close friend of the emperor...
While Evelyn listed the advantages of my engagement to a woman of such low nobility, my gaze wandered. I saw the coffin, now closed, disappear as it was lowered seven feet under the earth.
— Remember, our own mines have seen a constant drop in productivity... 3 percent in the last week alone.
— This is not the place to discuss that, Evelyn.
— Of course, pardon me, Your Grace. — She didn't even bother to hide her frivolous smile. — But remember that our father is dead. It would be prudent for you to consider what I said, for the vultures are already circling...
The ceremony advanced, and I finally became aware of a timid presence. It was a dark-skinned woman, small and fragile.
She wore black clothes without adornments. On her head, a veil covered her eyes, leaving only her curly hair pinned with a silver clip visible. My fiancée, Livia Roseheart.
She was a problem. As much as marrying her might bring advantages, I didn't know if I would be able to overlook the insult to my dignity that taking someone of such low status as a wife would be...
My thoughts were interrupted when the last shovel of dirt was thrown onto my father's grave. One after another, the guests made their way to me and my sister, offering their false condolences.
Everything went well until the last guest's turn. Until her turn.
Livia lifted her veil, and our eyes met.
A cheap Café.
A terribly pink dress.
At first, memories came as vague impressions and a slight headache.
I looked at her, saw her blue eyes widen with fear.
A strange metal carriage without horses.
A strange room smelling of ink and paper.
Pain, now accompanied by an uncomfortable nausea.
— What are you?... — I put my hands to my head. I looked at Livia, with anger. I wanted to understand what was happening, was it an attack? Did she dare attack me with witchcraft?
— Brother, what's wrong?
I didn't answer; I turned and left. I walked at a pace that was almost a run. I heard the desperate servants behind me. Murmurs.
More pain.
More nausea.
A woman's hand holding a pen over a sheet of paper.
Bright lights.
I stopped caring about dignity and nobility and started to run. Damn woman! If this really is her doing, I will ensure she never sees the light of day again. I know which dungeon cell will be best...
Publication day.
Autograph session.
Hana.
Sato.
Hana.
Han...
Pain. Excruciating pain. Somehow I managed to reach my room. The door is closed, but I don't remember closing it.
I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize myself.
"Lucian Vane. You're going to love hating him!"
Who said that?
"Right, but shouldn't he be the love interest, or one of them at least?"
"Exactly! They will all be awful, but he is the worst of all."
I didn't have time to think. Instinctively, I grabbed the flower vase and, after throwing the decorative flowers out, emptied the contents of my stomach into it.
Pain.
Pain.
Pain.
Hana.
Memories. A whole lifetime of memories.
The pain passed; I looked at the mirror again.
Ryuuji. Me. Or rather, my past life.
I was still Lucian Vane, but I was also Ryuuji. Those memories didn't erase everything I lived until then, but they gave me clarity, a new perspective.
Those memories from the past, above all, showed me my future. I would do to Livia exactly what I promised while in agony from the awakening.
Normally I wouldn't care about the image of my hand in a steel grip on her fragile wrist. I wouldn't care about her desperate protests and her miserable look of fear. Now, such an image gave me...
Repulsion for myself.
Compassion for her.
— Shit...