Reborn As His Biggest Regret1

4 Untitled Episode

The Man In The Shadows

1193 words

The entire ballroom was divided in chaos

"Protect Lady Luna" someone in the crowd screamed. "Seal every entrance, make sure no one escapes, find the culprit" The king shouted

The melody that filled the entire place disappeared instantly

King Alaric rose from his throne, his voice cutting the entire place like thunder: "No one leaves this place until the culprit is found"

Immediately the great doors were shut. The sound echoed through Selene's chest like the closing of a coffin. Her breathing became unsteady, not because of the present, but because of the fact that she had lived this moment before

The fear, the whispers, the suspicious eyes looking at her. In her previous life, they did not need evidence, they only needed a sacrificial lamb, and she was the one accused

Selene searched the entire crowd, then she froze. Adrian, where was he? Only moments ago, he was standing beside Lady Luna and knocked the poisoned wine from her hand

Now he was nowhere to be found, as if he never existed

"Lady Selene" a voice said, interrupting her thoughts, It was Captain Rowan

Captain Rowan stood before her with four guards behind him, his expression was respectful, but his eyes were not

"You shouted before anyone else realized the wine was poisoned," he said. The room became quiet, a noblewoman frowned

"Now that you mention it" she said. "How did she know?" the woman said. The whispers started quietly and gradually became louder

Selene felt her heart hurt so bad. Not again, history is about to repeat itself again. The same accusation, the same hatred, different words, same results

Captain Rowan stepped closer. "For the safety of the royal family, I must ask you to accompany us" he said

Her fingers trembled. Those words were the exact words in her previous life, those words had been the beginning of her nightmare, the guards moved forward.

"No" a very deep voice cut through the crowd. it was Prince Brandon, his expression was calm, but his eyes carried a determination Selene had never seen before. He came in between her and Captain Rowan

"No one is taking Lady Selene," he said. Captain Rowan bowed slightly

"Your Highness, protocol requires..." he said as Brandon interrupted him. "Protocol requires evidence," Brandon interrupted. The entire room fell silent. "You have none" he said

Captain Rowan's expression changed. "But she knew the wine was poisoned before anyone else" he said

Brandon looked towards lady luna. "So did the person who saved her," he said. "The man who knocked the wine away, find him!" he said with a loud voice

"but you will not accuse an innocent woman because you lack answers" He said

King Alaric watched silently before giving a small nod. "Prince Brandon is right" King Alaric said

"Okay, Prince..." Rowan lowered his head. "As you command, your majesty" he said. The guards stepped away and he exited the hall

Selene remained still. Brandon had just protected her, this was something he never did in her previous life. Their eyes met, for a moment, she saw something she had never expected to see, concern. "Are you hurt?" he asked softly, looking at her closely

The question stuck deeper to her, because she would have waited years to hear those words, she wanted him to care, she wanted him to choose her, but now it was too late

"You don't get to ask me that" she said, as confusion appeared on Brandon's face

"What do you mean?" Brandon asked in confusion, and at that moment, Selene almost told him

She almost told him about the execution, about her last moments, about the pain of watching him do nothing, but just then she stopped herself, the truth was hers alone

" I finally opened my eyes," she replied. Brandon frowned. "To what?" he asked. She looked into his eyes

"To the people I trusted" she said, then she saw a pain flash across his expression, real pain but Selene turned away immediately, she was afraid she would remember the memories of the man she once loved

Selene quietly returned to the place where Andrea had stood. The shattered crystal pieces still covered the marble floor, she looked carefully. There was nothing, no footprints, no evidence, no sign that Adrian had been there

She turned to leave then something caught her attention. A small silver object hidden beneath the broken glass, and a chess piece, it was a king

Selene picked it up, the craftsmanship was ancient, unlike anything inside the palace

She turned it over and on it were words carved beneath the base, written: "The first move has already been played"

Her hands shook. A memory immediately flashed into her head. She was eight years old again, sitting beneath the great oak tree with her father.

A chess board rested between them, she knocked over the king and she looked worried, but her father looked at her and smiled.

"Never fear the king little star" he said as he placed the piece back. "The strongest piece isn't the king" he said then pointed at the queen. "It is the one who protects everything, the queen" he replied

The memory disappeared. Selene touched her chest. "Father, why now? Why this chess piece?" she said in her mind. Why did it feel like it has always been waiting for her?

Something fell from beneath the glass, and it was a strip of dark blue silk. She picked it up and immediately her blood turned cold

It was an embroidery piece. It looked familiar, she knew it. This pattern belonged to the Ashford household, her adoptive family

"No!" she said as her fingers shook. How come? It can't be

Lady Evelyn had raised her, protected her, celebrated her birthday with her no matter how little she had, held her when she cried. She took her as her own daughter after her patients died, there was no way she could be involved

"Or perhaps" a voice echoed through the corridor as Selene turned. Andrea? but there was no one there, only darkness. His voice became louder.

"You are searching for the wrong enemy," he said. "Where are you?" Selene asked, looking around, there was complete silence "The hardest truth is not discovering who your enemies are" the voice said and then became quiet for a while. "It's accepting, when they are the people you love"

Selene gripped, tightened around the chess piece she was holding. "What does that mean?" she asked

Again, there was no answer for a long time, then his voice whispered : "So many years searching outside your home" he said taking a deep breath. "Only to discover the enemy was inside" he said.

A cold chill ran through her spine. Selene looked down at the silk in her hand.

"No," she said, her voice trembling. "My mother would never...." but she couldn't finish because something deep inside, a small seed of doubt had taken root

And for the first time since returning from death, Selene feared something more terrifying than dying

She feared that the person she trusted most might be the one who would destroy her

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