The Rightful Queen

Chapter 12 – Second Chance

Laura frowned as she quietly opened the door of her room. She moved slowly, feeling the hardness of the wall on her left.

Is this real? What’s going on? Isn’t she dead? The questions swirled inside her head.

“Laura!” The housekeeper yelled her name again and she bit her lip. Her expression darkened. She’s still a noble, even if her uncle’s family is treating her like a maid. If she has any power, she would scold this servant. How dare she call her by name? Without honorifics?

But of course, since her uncle and his family are treating her this way, the servants treated her like she’s one of them. It’s not as if she can go and complain about it to her uncle. They won’t do anything about it. It’s more likely that she’s the one who’s going to be scolded.

Shaking her head, she made her way to the kitchens. The most important thing right now is to learn what’s going on. Why is she back? And when is this?

She wondered if the housekeeper or the other maids would think she’s odd if she suddenly asks for today’s date.

She assessed herself. She doesn’t feel anything different. She doesn’t feel tired. In fact, she feels well-rested. She checked her body and didn’t see any wound or marks.

“Are you a turtle? Why are you so slow? Get a move on and start chopping.” The head chef barked his orders.

“We’re short on bread. Get them after you chop all these vegetables.”

“Alright.” Laura didn’t say much and simply did her job. She feels as if it’s been a long time since she held a knife.

Though she would sometimes help her maids to cook, they usually try to keep her out of the kitchen. There’s not much to do with just four of them in residence and it would not be appropriate to have her working while some of them don’t.

Now, how to ask what day it is?

Laura isn’t the only person who returned to the past.

Samuel was startled awake by the rattling of the carriage. They’re on a rough road and the shaking woke him up from his sleep. Except… he wasn’t sleeping, was he? He was sure he felt immense pain from a sword strike and multiple stabs. He died, didn’t he?

What shocked him even more is his father, King Harold, sitting across him.

The man raised an eyebrow at him.

“Didn’t get enough sleep last night?”

“Yeah…” Samuel could only reply in the affirmative. His mind is hazy. What is going on? His father died over a year ago, didn’t he? Wait, that doesn’t seem to matter when he himself died, right? If he’s alive right now, why can’t his father be?

What kind of sorcery is this? He felt anxious inside and he began to sweat profusely. He couldn’t immediately understand the situation he’s in.

“Do you feel unwell?” His father’s concerned voice reached him as he tried not to succumb to panic.

“Yes. Just… I need water.”

The king’s assistant, seated on a corner, quickly rummaged through their bags and produced a water container. He handed it to the prince with a bow.

Samuel reached for it and drank enough to quench his thirst. He untied his cloak and accepted the towel given to him. He wiped his face and neck with it. His heart is still beating fast and the panic remained on the edge, threatening to come out any moment.

He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

“Are you worried about meeting the Seer? You need not worry. They don’t exactly have special abilities, other than seeing the future.” King Harold couldn’t understand his anxiety so he assumed this is what’s causing it.

Samuel froze at what his father said. Worried about meeting the Seer? Is that where they’re going right now? He couldn’t ask certain questions, as it might arouse suspicions. Where are they? Where are they going? Are they really meeting the Seer? What date is it?

If they’re meeting the Seer, then… has he gone back in time? He remembers thinking that if he could go back, he would definitely be wiser in his decisions.

“I’m fine, father.” He assured the king and smiled before closing his eyes.

“I’ll just take a nap.” He probably needs rest. His mind is all over the place, repeating scenes from the months or years he was king. The problems and the failures. It was all too much. He was useless as a ruler and he really doesn’t want a repeat of that. He would do better this time, if this was a second chance.

The carriage slowed and eventually stopped after a few minutes.

“We have arrived, your majesty.” A knight announced outside. Several accompanied them on horseback.

“Let’s go.” His father declared and Samuel followed.

As they made their way towards the door, it opened and a tall woman in a black cloak appeared to greet them.

“You have sought me again, my lord. Please, come in.”

“It’s you.” The king paused as he recognized her.

Samuel took a deep breath at witnessing this scene. Yes, this is exactly how their meeting with the Seer began.

“Do you still want my head, your highness?” The woman pulled back her hood and smiled at her visitors.

Since Samuel already met her before, he’s no longer curious about this. He already knew what happened.

“Did you order her execution?” The prince asked, and he was surprised by it. It seemed as if he had no control over himself in that moment. The words just tumbled out of his mouth. He asked, even though he already knew the answer. It was a highly bizarre experience.

“Let us go in. No one is to come inside unless I say so, is that clear?” The king left instructions and the prince followed after him.

The king took a deep breath upon entering the threshold on her home.

“Please, have a seat. I have waited for this day to come, you know.” She went to the kitchen to fetch some mugs and a pitcher.

“Forgive me as I have no food to offer you.”

“You saw us coming and you didn’t prepare anything?” The prince asked and he’s still in shock. These are the same words he said before, exactly as they were. If things are like this, then how can he change his future? Is everything bound to be a repeat of his demise? He hoped not.

“With how your father treated me before, you should be thankful I’m even offering you something to drink.” The Seer looked at him strangely.

Back then and now, Samuel could hear a hint of contempt in her voice. He turned to the king and asked, “Father?”

The king took a deep breath before speaking and looking directly at the woman. “I apologize for how I reacted. I was grieving and acted irrationally. I am glad you survived.”

The woman smirked. “Yes, you are glad. Because you need me to see your son’s future this time, no? What if it turns out to be grim? Would you punish me for it? I only see the future for what it is and I have nothing to do with it.”

She glanced at the prince and squinted her eyes at him. It is most curious to her.

Samuel listened intently to their exchange. His father mentioned grieving. That only happened when his mother, the Queen, died in childbirth. Along with the princess.

“You asked her about mother’s future?” As soon as the question left his mouth, he tried to open it again and say something else. But he was unable to. Is this a nightmare, then?

“Your mother was already ill when she became pregnant. I merely saw that both the child and the queen would perish. Your father seemed to think that I cursed them and blamed me for the outcome. My hands are free of blood, my lord. If you cannot bear to hear ill tidings, you shouldn’t bother asking what the future holds.”

The woman sat on a wooden bench, opposite his father.

“Do you still want to ask me what his future is?” She challenged.

Samuel exchanged a glance with his father. After a minute or so, his father made his decision.

“I might not live long and I want to know how well he’ll do after I leave this world.”

“Father, don’t say things like that. You will recover.” Samuel said this before and he still feels the same. If his father knew how much he messed up the kingdom, he would probably disown him. He needed him to guide him properly.

The king only spared him a glance before ordering the seer, “Tell us.”

The woman turned her eyes towards Samuel and she squinted again. “Most curious, indeed.”

 “What’s curious?” Samuel turned to her.

“Tell me, prince. Is this the first time we’re seeing each other?”

Samuel’s eyes widened. Yes, she asked this. Back then, he doesn’t know why she asked such a thing when it’s clear they were meeting for the first time.

Here, he finally experienced a change from his past. He didn’t say yes to her question.

His lips were closed in a thin line. Is he supposed to tell her this is their second meeting? But then, it would make his father curious.

Maybe he didn’t need to answer, seeing his expression the Seer smiled knowingly.