Death was her only salvation. She was going to die, she knew it. Her eyes lost their glow long ago. Her disheveled hair covered her bruises which the ragged fabric failed to do.
When did it all go wrong? Why is she still alive? If only she could have stopped it all, stopped her brother, stopped her father, stopped her whole family from getting slaughtered. Can she even call them her family, being the wife of the man who murdered them?
"Kill her"
"Traitor"
"Murderer"
None of the words from the Nobles reached her ears. All she wanted was to hear the royal edict.
The throne room once again fell silent as the newly crowned Emperor Austyn Demaron made his entrance. Taking his seat, the blonde Emperor's gaze locked onto her. His fist clenched, eyes blood shot. The desire to adorn the women kneeling before him with fresh blood pumping out through her neck as he behead her. He couldn't wait any longer.
Soon the royal edict was proclaimed.
"For plotting and assisting the murder of Duke Igor Marlen and his family, Aerith Demaron, you are sentenced to death"
Once again the throne room grew noisy. Some cheering, some whispering, only to add more surprise as the Emperor himself made his way towards her. He inched closer, now confronting her. Her gaze did not waver, still fixed on the floor. All she wanted was for this to get over soon, to be killed, to leave this world for better.
He kneeled down to her level, as his hands grabbed her long black disheveled hairlocks to make her face him.
"Hope the torture was satisfactory Aerith. Now it's time to die for the lives your husband took", he whispered.
Straightening up, he held out his hand, as the knight passed his sword to the Emperor.
"I'm sorry father, brother, Fiona, Ken. I'll join you all soon"
The steel blade rose, final slash, blood dripping, room silent, and a devilish smirk on the executioner's face.
…
"Lady Aerith, please wake up"
Startled by the sudden touch, Aerith shot upright with ragged gasps.
"I'm sorry Lady Aerith, didn't mean to scare you. It was already late, so I thought of waking you up myself", the maid tried to comfort the young girl who's still breathing heavily, clearly scared from the touch.
"What .. where am I? Dead? Heaven? Clara" she cried.
Clara was already worried about waking her up, and now the young Lady is in tears? She had no idea how to calm her down.
"Lady, shall I get you some water? You need to get ready soon. You will be visiting the Royal Palace along with your family today"
"Royal Palace? Clara, what's happening?"
"Uhm .. Emperor Kyren sent an invitation for the Marlen family to visit the Palace today. Lady Aerith, did you forget it? Are you unwell?"
Aerith still couldn't believe what's happening around her. Is she alive? Or her final memories playing before she's dead? Or is she in heaven?
"What about my brother? Where is he?"
"Young master Leon is currently in the garden with Lady Fiona"
"Aunt Aerii" screamed a little boy as he climbed in the bed, jumping in excitement.
"KENNNN!!!", she hugged him tight as she burst into tears once again.
"Uhm Lady, you are crying again. Is something bothering you? Shall I call Lord Leon?"
"No Clara, I'm just … just had a bad dream"
She wasn't crying in pain, but in happiness. It didn't take any longer to realise that she's been given another chance, another lifetime, to hold her Ken, to hold her family, to never let them go, to make it all right.
"Aunt Aeri, what's wrong? Don't you want to see my uncles?" little Ken asked, brow furrowing to see his cheerful aunt suddenly sobbing.
"No baby, it's nothing. I'm happy to see you" she replied, attacking the young lord with kisses. His giggles filled the room.
…
"And it's done Lady Aerith"
"Thanks Clara. How do I look?" Aerith asked her personal maid with a wide smile.
"Beautiful" exclaimed Clara, pleased to see her Lady back to her cheerful form. "I will inform the Lord that you are ready to leave my Lady", with that said, she left the room. Being alone, Aerith was once again consumed with thoughts, her death, her family's massacre. The one who killed her, Austyn Demaron. The one who killed her family, Lucas Demaron, her soon to be husband.
With the information she gathered, today matched the day when she first met Lucas. Infact, it was his plan to invite Duke Marlen's family. The Emperor agreed to his invitation as just another request for the young Prince to meet their little sister Fiona after a very long time. Even the Brothers are not aware of what the country will turn into in the near future.
She was even more worried to face them. To face death itself. But this time, she will change the fate. She will not let her family be killed by that tyrant. She will protect them, by any means.
'Last time I married him as per my father's request. It didn't end well. Should I marry him and fix him myself? Is that even possible?' The thought itself was enough to make her puke. To marry the man who murdered her family? How can she even think about such an idea of fixing him. Can he even be fixed? No, he was a pure Devil himself. There's no redemption arc for him.
"Aunt Aeriii"
Hearing the child's excited voice, Aerith was brought back from her thoughts. Fiona was already inside the room, plopped on the bed, with little Ken adjusting his neatly combed hair. "What are you thinking about? Is something bothering you?" Fiona asked worried.
"No, nothing. I guess I put some weight. This dress is choking me haha" she laughed trying her best to change the conversation.
"I heard you cried earlier. If there's -"
"I'm alright Fiona, please don't worry" she said, placing her hands on Fiona's shoulders, "Oh my! How did my brother let you leave the room with the dress still neatly on" she teased with a wink only to get hit by her sister in law.