Chapter 272: Apologies!

It pained so much as if I was dying. My heartbeat turned slower, and soon my eyes closed. 

I stood up with a start. My breaths were shallow and fast. My whole body was covered with sweat. My eyes were still hazy. I rubbed them and blinked a few times to get my vision clear. I looked around and I was not in the dark hut anymore. I was back in the palace but something was not right

The room was not like it was when I left, which was the way I had designed it in my later years.

"Your highness, your highness" I heard the urgent sound and I turned to see Lina running towards me.

My eyes widened as I looked at it. There was no more a young and chirping girl, but a middle aged fearful woman. I almost ran and walked towards the silver mirror

My once beautiful black hair has grey hair now and my face that was glowing with youth till a few hours ago had turned aged again.

Was I back in time? No!! Why?! I stood there thunderstruck. I could not believe that it happened to me.

"Your highness, this is not the time to pay heed to and praise beauty. There is an emergency." she said in a trembling voice and i closed my eyes.

I didn't need her to tell me what had happened, I could never forget this fateful day. This was the day I was dragged to prison. And this was the day since Cassius disappeared.

"Your highness, the assassins you have hired to kill the lord are caught and they have accepted that it was you who have paid them. The knights could be here any moment. It is better that you run from here." she pleaded and i looked at her.

She was still thinking about me while all the other maids were long gone heating the news of my imprisonment.

"Why don't you run first.'' I said and then I took off the necklace and all the other jewels of my body and gave it to her. Then I walked towards the closet and took out my pouch of gold coins.

"Here, take this and run away. Never return to this town, settle down in a far away place as a lower noble where no one knows you. You still have 4 hours before the knights come '' I ordered the dumbfounded girl, yet she did not move.

"Lina, this is an emergency, did you forget that. You do not have time to waste. Go now '' I said, pushing her and only then did she come back to her senses.

"How can I leave you alone here, your highness? How can I take your jewels? But if you want to run away I can come with you to serve you." she said, shaking her head and I felt like crying.

I did what I always wanted to do. I moved and hugged her. She turned stiff in my arms but I did not care. I wanted to show her how much she meant to me.

"Lina, take it as my last instruction. Go and leave this town. Settle down in another village. Go, ``I said, pushing her out of the room again. If i could not change my destiny at least i gave to change hers.

She continued to look at me when I closed the door on her face. I leaned on the door and closed my eyes.

Why was I here again? Why did that lady send me back? How in the world would I avoid the catastrophe again?!

I heard footsteps and then the sound fading and opened the door again. As expected Lina was not there but all the jewels and gold were on the dorr.

"Dumb girl" these things would be taken away in a while, wouldnt it be better if she would be the one to use them.

I let the things rot there while I walked to the chamber of Cassius.

"I want to meet his highness" i said to Ian, it had been days since i last saw him.

But the man that was standing in front of me was not Ian, who looked at me with care and affection as a son but the one who was filled with hatred towards me.

"His highness is not here, your highness. He has gone out of town due to some emergency. He would not be able to meet you." he replied coldly and then did not spare me another glance.

I nodded, I expected this to happen. Yet a part of me had hoped that I could convince him.

"Ian, I want to apologise for all the times I have humiliated you and insulted you. I am trutly regretful for that. I promise i will mend my ways and improve myself in the future.'' In the end my tone turned wet again.

Why have I been a cry baby after returning back!

He looked at me confused as if he was trying to discern my thoughts. But I just moved and hugged him like I would have hugged James if I would have a chance to meet him before death.

"Your sister is very apologetic to you, brother." I whispered to the stiff man.

When I left his arms, he was still standing there frozen. I wanted to talk further but my head started spinning. As if hammers are hitting my head. The pain became unbearable and I held my head from both sides.

"Your highness, are you okay? Your highness?'' I could hear Ian calling me. But soon his voice turned distant.

"It is time for you to take your tea, your highness. You have missed your tea therefore you are feeling tired. It will rejuvenate you and your mind. You will feel much better" said a maid I didn't know about.

I looked at the tea and it was the same sage tea, wiltshires gifted me in the past.

"I am fine, i do not need it"