Even After Death

Chapter2

The world was getting depleted of magical powers with each passing time. People who had magical mana in their system were getting fewer every year.

But despite the crisis, one kingdom still stood firm.

The Kingdom of Etherion.

King Alexander Amaris ruled the Kingdom of Etherion. Although few people had mana on their side, it was not a problem for the kingdom.

It was because they heavily relied on magical items and weapons. They dug up magical stones in unexplored lands and turned them into weapons and items for their benefit.

It was why, four years ago, the kingdom of Etherion went to war against another empire because of a land conflict. Each of them wanted to expand their territories and dig up the newly discovered land.

Marcus Frances, the knight commander serving under King Alexander Amaris, spearheaded the Etherion Knights. The battle that transpired between the two monarchies was regarded as the last great war of the century.

The war had taken so many lives.

Despite the hardship and difficulty, the Etherion knights came back victorious. With them were additional lands for the kingdom.

After that war, the Kingdom of Etherion became a force to reckon with.

However, aside from expanding their territories and possible new magical stones, the knights were carrying a piece of bad news with them.

The Knight Commander had died. He was killed in action while protecting his wounded subordinates.

Marcus Frances died as a war hero, and to honor his contribution to the kingdom, King Alexander appointed his only daughter as the crown princess.

At nineteen, Katarina Frances became the crown princess and would marry the king’s son. She would become the queen once the heir apparent took over the throne.

The news made big headlines nationwide as the people showed their delight at the king’s ruling.

It was like a love story from a fairytale — a crown prince marrying the daughter of a war hero.

It also made Katarina very thrilled. After all, she liked the prince from the very start.

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As soon as Katarina opened her eyes, she quickly held her neck as if desperately pulling something from it.

Coughing hard, she realized she was not on the execution platform. Instead, she was in her royal chamber when she was still the crown princess.

Moreover, to her great surprise, she saw Agnes rushing to her with a worried countenance.

“What happened to you, My Princess? Are you all right?”

With her widened gazes, she touched Agnes’ face as she whispered, “I died, right? Is this the recap of life you see when you are about to depart for the afterlife?”

Agnes’ face wrinkled at first, then she smiled. “How could you die with just a fever, My Princess?”

“Fever?”

The older woman gently held both of her arms. “Yes. You got a fever when you learned of the King’s passing.”

“The King’s passing? What do you mean? Henri died?”

Agnes looked at her in perplexity. “Huh? Prince Henri is not the king, My Princess. He is still the heir apparent until his enthronement.”

Katarina’s already narrowed eyes got smaller upon hearing Agnes’ phrases.

Henri was still the heir apparent, and the older woman kept calling her princess.

Significantly, she could swear to the heavens above that she died and watched Agnes’ demise. They were both hanged in front of the people.

Something was wrong.

Katarina quickly stood up and went in front of the mirror. Upon seeing her own reflection, she instantly slapped herself so hard.

“I am dreaming. This could not be real. The Gods must have let me peek into my past life so I could peacefully arrive in the afterlife, right?”

But no matter how hard and many times she slapped herself, she would not wake up or die.

Agnes also stood up from the bed and then approached her. She gazed at Katarina through the mirror and rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.

“It must have been so hard for you now that King Alexander died. He was like a father to you.”

Hearing what the older woman said, one question started lurking at the back of Katarina’s mind.

Did she go back in the past?

Then she thought back to the day the former King died. It was three years ago from the time of her execution.

At that time, Katarina got sick and slept for two days after learning of the King’s demise. She was close to him because his father was the king’s knight commander.

She also recalled Henri returning from an expedition three days after the king’s death.

“The Crown Prince will return from the expedition tomorrow, won’t he?” Katarina suddenly blurted out.

Agnes, still gently rubbing her back, responded, “Yes. Why, My Princess?”

And that was when Katarina realized that she had really gone back to the past — the time of King Alexander’s death.

Thinking back, her life in the kingdom changed negatively from that day on.

Tears started to stream down her reddened cheeks as she tightly hugged Agnes. “I am not dreaming or hallucinating, right? Tell me you are real.”

On the other hand, Agnes, still oblivious to what was happening to her, responded, “You are wide awake, and I am real.”

Biting her lips, she looked at her attendant with moistened eyes. That woman in front of her was the one who took care of her when her mother died due to childbirth.

Agnes was with her all her life.

“I am so sorry. I- I thought I had lost you forever,” Katarina sobbed.

The older woman brushed up her hair and wiped her tears. “What do you mean you lost me, My Princess? I will never leave you.”

Katarina’s chest painfully throbbed, remembering how they were hanged in front of the crowd. She had lost Agnes once and would not want to experience it all over again.

Then she recalled the last words she heard before she died.

“It was such a shame that you became a casualty in the games of power. This would not have happened had you declined to be the queen. Now, rest in eternity, Your Majesty.”

Those were the words straight out of the Chief Minister’s mouth. She heard it clearly. She remembered it vividly.

And lastly, Henri himself said, “Making you the queen is the biggest mistake this Kingdom has ever made.”

Everything would not have happened had she declined to be the Queen. She would not have to die and be humiliated in front of the entire nation if she was not the Queen.

At that time, a thought came to Katarina’s mind. She was still unconvinced of returning to the past because no magical power or item could do that, but if that were a chance given to her by the Gods themselves, she would not waste it.

Katarina looked at Agnes and firmly took her hand. “I- I need to run away, Agnes.”

Agnes then stared at her in confusion. “What do you mean you need to run away, My Princess? Where are you going?”

“Far away,” she answered back while her hands were shaking.

“I am afraid you cannot do that, Princess. Prince Henri will be back tomorrow, and you need to be here for your enthronement.”

Katarina’s gut trembled as she answered, “I do not want to be the Queen.”

Taken aback by what she had just said, Agnes exclaimed, “What did you just say, My Princess?”