The Scoundrel's Tribute

Snapped

Rene

I threw my dress into the fireplace I had in my room as soon as I got out of it. My whole skin itched and I wanted to get rid of the feeling immediately. I didn't even wait for Magda to come, I prepared my own bath. While the water ran into the bathtub I watched it sitting on the floor and leaning on the edge of the tub. The cold ceramic surface cooled my face a bit. It was a complete life ago when I last had to do this for myself. In my second life, I haven't got a maid at all, also, all that existence was to make Dmitry even more miserable than he was before. When I died back than and got reborn again. I could start with a blank page, we were even. Once the tub was filled I got in and started frantically scrubbing my skin, getting rid of the blood and the scent of death. I don't know how long I've been in the bathtub, but when I got out my fingers were already wrinkled. I got into a bathing robe and started drying my hair when I heard some noise from my room. "Ugh... Please don't be another attacker. There's a limit of bullshit I can take per day."

- Magda, is that you? - I asked but no one answered. I grabbed one of the scrubbing sticks and took a deep breath. I swung the improvised weapon but stopped my attack mid air.

- Duke? Little Lady?! - Dina's eyes widened at me and Dmitry looked at least as shocked as his daughter. Dina whispered.

- Surprise... - I chuckled.

- Congratulations Little Lady, you surprised me! - I said and threw the stick down, sitting on my bed and trying to calm my racing heart.

- Are you okay? - Dina asked walking to me after Dmitry put her down. I've nodded and reached to caress her hair, but I pulled my hand back looking at Dmitry.

- Yes, thank you for asking. How do you feel Little Lady? - she seemed confused.

- I'm okay, we just wanted to check on you. I'll have dinner in daddy's room and sleep with him today! - she said happily but there was some uncertainty in her voice.

- That sounds like a fun idea! - I said and tried to sound as cheerful as possible despite being on the verge of falling asleep from exhaustion. Dina's eyes sparkled and she jumped a bit excitedly. I saw some doubt in Dmitry's eyes but Dina was unstoppable.

- Right! Do you want to join us?! - I immediately woke up and looked at Dmitry for help. He just watched us with his arms crossed on his wide chest and I couldn't figure his feelings out. But I opted for the safe route this time.

- That's very kind of you and thank you for the invitation Little Lady, but to be honest, I already promised to Magda to have a dinner with her. She is actually away to grab me some food. Maybe another day, okay? - Dina looked a little disappointed but nodded. She hugged me out of nowhere and said.

- Thank you for protecting me today!-I smiled and couldn't stop myself from gently caressing her little head.

- I'll always protect the Little Lady until she is big enough to protect herself! - she released me and extended her pinky.

- Promise? - I interlocked my pinky with hers and smiled.

- It's a promise. Have fun with the Duke, Little Lady and sleep thigh!

- Thanks... But Lady Rene.

- Yes Little Lady?

- Why don't you call me Dina?

- I guess it's because of habit, but I'll try to change it if that's what you want. Just be patient with me.

- Okay! - she giggled and rushed out of the room.

- Daddy! Aren't you coming?! - she shouted and I totally forgot that the Duke was there. I blushed realizing that my robe was pretty revealing if it opened a bit more and I cleared my throat.

- Duke. - I bowed and covered my chest with my hands.

- Thank you Lady Rene.-he said and left without another word. That's it that was the last drop in the glass. I collapsed onto the floor and tried to keep awake. I heard Magda calling my name but I gave up. I fall asleep. I knew I was dreaming but it felt so real. The scent of the burning wood mixed with the unmistakable smell of burning human flesh. The heat that surrounded me. This was my third life, when I tried really hard to win both Dmitry and Dinara over, but I failed. Dina died and Dmitry put the blame on me. At that life, I wasn't the culprit, neither in my first one. In the first life I just took advantage of the mourning Dmitry and cast a spell on him to make him sleep with me. I got what I wanted and get pregnant with his child. But from that moment on, Dmitry hated me even more than ever before. He didn't want to feel his child kicking and he avoided me during the whole pregnancy. In the meantime he started drinking and lost lots of weight along with his sanity. I gave birth alone, but my child, my precious little boy, couldn't make it to the next day. That was when Dmitry first appeared. He looked at me holding the baby in tears and said.

- This is the karma. You took mine from me, God took yours from you. Eye for an eye, slut. - he left me there and I screamed in pain. For the next day, I got high fever and followed my baby boy, or at least I thought I did. But when I woke up, I was at our wedding and I thought all that happened was just a horrible dream. However, when everything repeated the same way as for the first time, I've decided to crush Dmitry and go to hell if needed. I wanted to hurt him as badly as he hurt me in my first life. So I harassed, hurt and destroyed slowly the one person her cherished the most and when Dina died, Dmitry killed me immediately after he found the poison I put into Dina's favorite toy, that her mother made for her. I died with a smile on my face and knowing that I took my revenge. Nonetheless, when I opened my eyes the next time, I was in the garden with Dina and she spilled her tea on me. At that life I shouted at her because I hated the thought of seeing her again. But I slowly got closer to her and to Dmitry as well, we weren't in love, but could somehow coexist. Dina liked me as a sister, but she ended up dying again, this time, I had nothing to do with her death. Despite my intentions, Victor found out that I possessed magical powers and I got burned as a witch. In this life, I had no resentment, no anger, just felt sad for Dmitry who became a close friend and ally for me. I hated to see him shattered because I saw myself in his eyes, when he betrayed me. So I swore, if I get another chance, I'll prevent Dina's death by all means. Even if that means that I won't get another chance for a happy life. In my dream Dmitry walked to me, drank as hell and got into my bed. He tried to kiss me, but I pushed him away. He got angry and threw the bottle against the wall. When he raised his hand to hit me, was when I woke up. I was covered in cold sweat and saw a pair of familiar eyes in the other side of the room. I blinked a few times and the vision disappeared.

- My Lady! Are you alright?! You passed out before I could bring you dinner and you had been screaming in your dreams. - Magda said. I held her hand and nodded still hyperventilating.

- Yeah, just a nightmare. Could you please open the windows a bit?

- Of course! - She jumped up and opened the windows, then Magda handed me a cup.

- It's still a bit warm, you haven't had dinner My Lady, please at least drink some tea to calm down.

- Thanks! - I did as she said and soon I could fall asleep again, this time, I was left alone by my past and guiltily consciousness. "You did good, Rene."