A HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE

Chapter1

The golden city of Veloria sparkled like a gem beneath the stars. Lanterns lit up the streets, music filled the air, and all the nobles gathered inside the Davenport mansion.

Christian Davenport, the wealthiest man in Veloria, hosted the banquet. However, tonight was not about him; it was all about his only daughter, Nova.

To everyone present, she was known as the Jewel of Veloria. She wore a silver gown decorated with pearls, her long black hair cascading in waves, and her fair cheeks had a hint of pink. As she entered the ballroom, everyone turned to look at her.

Yet when Nova gazed at her reflection in the tall mirror by the wall, she did not see a jewel. Instead, she saw a body she disliked. Her waist felt soft, her arms were fuller than she preferred, and her round face never seemed to match the "perfect beauty" that people often whispered about.

If only they knew how I truly felt inside this dress, she thought as she tugged at the silk that pressed against her stomach.

The violins played louder while couples danced across the marble floor. Then Damian, her childhood friend, pushed through the crowd. He bowed to her and extended his hand.

“Lady Nova,” he said smoothly, “will you do me the honor of dancing?”

Nova's lips pressed together tightly. She understood why Damian wanted to dance with her. His family was influential but not nearly as powerful as hers. If she married him, he would gain unimaginable wealth and status.

“I’m not interested,” she replied softly.

Damian leaned closer while keeping his polite smile intact. “People are watching,” he whispered. “Do you want to embarrass us both?”

Nova's chest tightened as she noticed that many eyes were already on her. Her father always emphasized how important appearances were.

With hesitation, she placed her hand in his. They stepped onto the dance floor together. Damian's hand rested gently on her waist as he led her through the steps. Nova felt awkward; her gown was heavy, and her movements were stiff. She hadn’t danced with anyone since her father when she was younger and felt more carefree.

“See?” Damian whispered. “It’s not that hard.” Nova looked away, feeling like it wasn’t genuine or real.

Just before they spun again, a hand tugged at her sleeve. “Nova!” It was Enid, her closest friend. Her blonde curls bounced with excitement, and her green eyes sparkled. She held something small in her hands. “I need to show you something,” Enid said urgently.

Nova quickly pulled away from Damian. “We’ll finish later,” she told him, leaving him looking confused on the dance floor.

Outside the crowd, Nova spotted her maid. “Where is my father? He should be here by now.” The maid bowed slightly and replied, “Master Christian left with his brother earlier this evening, my lady. He will return soon.”

Nova frowned; her father usually stayed close to her at banquets, which made her uneasy. “Leave me,” she said firmly. “I want to be with Enid.” The maid bowed again and took a step back.

Enid smiled as she pulled Nova into a quieter spot. She revealed what she had been holding: a small bronze clock with cracked glass and an aged surface. Instead of numbers, its face had E, W, N, S marked like a compass. At the bottom was a faintly carved date from over a hundred years ago.

Nova raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Enid, this looks… ancient! Where did you find it?” Enid bit her lip nervously, cheeks turning pink. “Promise you won’t laugh?”

Nova crossed her arms and asked, “What did you do this time?” Enid glanced around before leaning closer to share her secret. “I was… with one of the guards.”

Nova's jaw dropped. “With a guard? You can’t mean…”

“Yes,” Enid quickly replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I had been drinking. He came to my door to deliver a message from my father. But instead of letting him leave… I pulled him inside.”

Nova covered her mouth in shock. “Enid!”

Enid laughed nervously. “He kissed me, Nova. And I didn’t push him away. I wanted to see how it felt. His hands were rough, and his lips were warm. He asked if it was my first time. I said yes, and he didn’t hesitate. He took me right then and there.”

Nova’s face turned bright red. “Enid, stop! You can’t just say these things out loud what if someone hears them?”

Enid leaned in closer, whispering like they were sharing a secret. “It was crazy! I didn’t think I would like it, but I did more than I should have. His strength and the way he held me made me feel like my body wasn’t even mine anymore. And Nova… he was huge. I could hardly believe it.”

“Enid!” Nova hissed, pulling on her arm. “You’re so shameless!”

Her friend just laughed and shook her head. “Oh, Nova. You’ll get it one day. You’ve been so careful and proper about everything still a virgin, aren’t you?”

Nova’s cheeks burned even more. “That’s not your business.”

Enid smirked knowingly. “One day you’ll see that giving yourself to someone isn’t the end of the world; sometimes, it’s just the beginning. It made me feel alive.”

Nova shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. She hated that part of her felt curious about this conversation, and she hated even more that Enid was right she had never experienced anything with men beyond polite dances she had to endure.

“Let’s just talk about the clock,” Nova muttered.

Enid chuckled quietly, gripping the bronze item in her hand. "Alright, Alright. I stumbled upon it after... well, after the guard departed. It was in the storage area near the servants’ quarters. Isn’t it peculiar? A clock resembling a compass, dated a hundred years ago?"

Nova examined it, flipping it over in her fingers. The metal felt unexpectedly cold beneath her touch.