Chapter 3
1363 Words
(Esmeray POV)
"Hello Lady Esmeray"
"You know who I am?"
"Of course, I know. You are too famous to ignore."
I couldn’t see his face clearly since the light was dim, but his eyes were definitely bright.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"I am sorry, but this is not a proper way to greet a lady."
"I am not so good with crowds and I didn't want to miss your 18th birthday"
The man stood up and took a few steps toward me. I stiffened as he reached for my hands, wanting to complete the gesture with a kiss.
I looked at him debating. Giving my hand to a stranger is not something safe.
"Come on, lady. I am not going to do anything to you. I just want to wish you a happy birthday"
I don't know what got into my head, but I raised my hand. I could hear a chuckle coming from him.
He raised my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. His lips lingered there for a few seconds as he took a deep unsteady breath.
For some reason, my heart was beating faster.
"Happy birthday," he said, standing back straight. He reached out, fishing for something in his pocket. "Your birthday gift"
He handed me my presence, leaning in, "I brought it, especially for you. Wear it well and proudly"
"Lady? Lady Esmeray? Are you there?" a voice came as my head snapped at the closed door.
"Co-coming" I stuttered before looking back, but to my surprise, he was gone.
Just like that.
I looked around but he was nowhere to be found.
"Lady?" this time the maid opened the door. "Lady, you are late to cut your cake! Your father is looking for you"
She didn't even give me a second as she grabbed onto my hand before dragging me away.
I couldn’t even grab the gift that accidentally fell from my hands.
~***~
A huge birthday cake was brought into the hall. It was four stories high and was decorated with an icing of the sun and the moon representing me and my sister.
My sister was standing right next to me staring at the cake with an excited expression while I looked at it with a dreaded expression.
The cake... It was exactly the same as before. Was it really a nightmare? The more I compare, the more I confirm that the events happening are exactly the same.
But... but meeting that man on the balcony was something new.
"Hey? Hey!" someone nudged me and I looked at my sister. She looked at me confused, extending her hand. "Let's cut the cake."
A tradition me and my sister always followed was how both of us would cut the cake together with a single knife.
Right now it was something I was dreading. But it was not like I had no other choice.
As I grabbed onto the knife I was sharing with my sister, I was thinking about something else.
Was it really a nightmare? What if... What if I...
"Wait!" my father suddenly announced, interrupting my thought. "Before we cut the cake. I have one more special announcement."
My whole body stiffened at what he said.
I stared at my father as I felt fear build inside me. If what is going to happen, is what I think will happen, then there is no doubt about it.
"May I announce the arrival of a special guest who, in the future, will be an important part of our family!" he raised his hand to the podium as the banquet was filled with a sudden surprise tune by the band.
"Please welcome Sir Ethan Pierre Ascorter, the next commander in chief of the crown prince and the heir to the Ascorter family!" the page announced.
I felt my heart drop. My face paled as I stared at the man who bowed in front of the whole crowd. Everyone stared at him with surprise and happiness, while all I felt was fear.
He walked down the steps and bowed his head to both me and my sister. He kissed my sister's hand first, wishing her before turning to me.
It was then that I realized the truth behind everything. There was no doubt about it. It was not a nightmare or anything else.
I had truly come back in time.
Was it because I desperately begged the moon goddess that I was given a second chance? To avenge my death? To avenge my parents? To make them suffer?
"My beautiful Ezzy" he called, gently taking my hand. "During the 2 years on the battlefield, there wasn't a day I missed you. I am honored and deeply happy to be able to reach in time for your 18th birthday."
The exact same words as before.
When I first heard it, I was beyond happy. I smiled like an over excited girl, showing off how lucky I am to have him as my lover. But now.... Now I am disgusted.
Disgusted, knowing every single thing was nothing more than an act.
I couldn't help but look at my sister.
She was smiling wide, but how did I not notice the anger in her eyes? She didn't look so pleased by all this.
"Ezzy? Are you OK?" Ethan asked as I looked at him with wide eyes. My head was still trying to process everything.
"Looks like she is still in shock from seeing her lover in front of her" someone from the crowd shouted, which made everyone laugh.
"She is truly lucky to have such a wonderful lover."
Lucky my ass.
If anything, I wanted to run away.
Elinor and I were born in the evening, with me exactly at 7:28 and my sister at 7:31. When the clock hit the exact time, everyone started to shout happy birthday.
Suddenly, there was a strong smell that lingered in the air.
A smell that was sweet and for some reason alluring.
"What's that smell?" I asked as Ethan frowned.
"What smell?"
I looked around the room hoping to find out what it was.
"Hey Ezzy, I need to tell you something", Ethan suddenly announced, making me turn to him. I stared at the man in front of me with wide eyes.
I knew what he was going to do and it was the last thing I wanted.
"Really. What is that smell? It's so..." I paused, inhaling deeply. "So good."
I looked at Ethan, who had a frown on his face.
"Please excuse me, Sir Ethan," I said, bowing my head and walking past him. He could only turn and look at me with a confused face.
In all honesty, I could have stayed. The smell was indeed alluring and I wanted to find out what it was, but still, like I said, I could have stayed.
But I didn't.
I knew what his plan was.
He was going to propose to me in front of everyone. A romantic scene every girl dreams of. Something I would have wished for if it was the old me.
But I am not the old me. I am no longer that naive girl who would fall for his schemes.
No, I will never accept his proposal. But rejecting him in front of everyone will cause a lot of problems. It might even go as far as tainting the reputation of a family. So I had to avoid it at all costs.
I didn't have an aim, but I stopped on the balcony where the smell was the strongest.
My eyes landed on the gift lying on the ground. I picked it up and smelled it.
Surely, the box had the smell, but it was not just concentrated on the box. Looking around once, I decided to open it.
It was a dark blue velvet box.
Inside it was a beautiful necklace crafted beautifully with a gem in the middle.
Sapphire stone?
No.... something about it made me feel it was much more than just a mere sapphire. My eyes fell on the note that was stuck in the corner of the box.
'Wear it well and proudly'
- Writer
