I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 61

(I Will Protect You This Time)

It's dark… Cold… 

I am lonely… Afraid… Sad… Furious...

Why? 

Their hatred…

[ 

Mathias: "You f*king Monster!"

Rubena: "You Wh*re!"

]

Their Curses…

[ 

"Kill her!"

"Kill that, witch!"

]

Their Cruelty…

[

"Scream! Scream More!"

"D*mn it! Why aren't you screaming?"

"Throw stones at that witch!"

]

What did I ever do to deserve all that? 

I was your daughter too! 

There's so much I can endure. I am a human too! Just like everyone else!

So Why? Why did I have to suffer so much? Why did the people I love so much die?

I hate them… I want to kill them…

I didn't do anything wrong! I never hurt anyone! So why me? Why? Why did they all kill me?

But… Was it really not my fault? Because of me, they died. No! More like, they were murdered. 

"Why~?"

I screamed… Screamed my heart out in the endless void of Darkness. 

"Are you angry?"

An angelic voice filled with warmth and kindness spoke out of nowhere. 

"Yes!"

"Do you want revenge?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure that's what you truly want?"

"Yes… But…"

But…

You…

The one who gave up your own life to save this wretched me...

Forgive me!

Sob*

I am sorry! Sob*

I couldn't save you! I couldn't save anyone I love! 

You had to die because of me...

Both You… 

And her…

I am…

I am so pathetic…

If...

If I had one more chance…

Just one…

I won't let you die.

"But?"

"..."

"What is it that you truly want, child?"

"I… want to Protect. I want to protect the people I love. I don't want to be useless anymore. I am tired of not being able to do anything…Sob* So please! Just one more… Give me one more chance…"

"I see."

Then a bright light glowed, pushing off the darkness.

I am lying on a soft fluffy thing. I can smell the sweet scent of Roses. 

It's peaceful. I don't want to open my eyes. I am afraid to open my eyes. What if I go back to the nightmare... 

"Bella…"

"Isabella…"

A warm voice is calling my name.

"Oh, my dear Bell. Open your eyes, child. It's okay. It's okay. Everything is alright now."

Such a reassuring voice…

I slowly opened my eyes.

And the first thing that came to my sight was… A beautiful woman with purple hair… And eyes just like mine.

I am lying under the shade of a huge tree with white leaves while putting my head on her lap. And she is gently caressing my head.

"You woke up, dear."

The woman said with a warm smile. 

I had never seen her before. But.. Why does she feel so familiar?

"You have grown so much… My sweet little girl… Your father would have been so happy to see you… "

My father? What is she talking about?

"He was so eager to see you… He always wanted a daughter… You look just like him."

"Like My father? Eager to see me? Hah!"

I scoffed while covering my face with one arm.

"Oh my! My dear is angry."

The woman said with a chuckle.

"Who are you?"

Why are you talking to me as if you know everything about me?

"Oh my! You are so angry that you can't recognise your mother?"

"Mo-Mother?"

MY mother?!

"Oh, dear. Don't cry, Isabella."

I am crying?

"There. There. You have gone through a lot, haven't you?"

She said while patting my head.

Sob* Sob*

"Mother!"

I burst into tears while hugging her.

"My sweet child. It's okay. Everything is okay now."

After crying for a while my mind calmed down. 

"You have gone through a lot, my child. And that is what will make you truly strong. Now. Get up. Remember, …. …. …."

"What? What did you say, Mother? I can't hear you. Mother!"

And whoosh~

I am standing in the middle of a beautiful blue rose field.

And Infront of me, a person is standing. His body and face are covered with a beautiful white cloak. His presence itself was majestic and calming.

"So child, have you decided what you want?"

His heavenly voice was the same voice I heard in the dark space.

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"I want to be strong enough to be able to protect the people I love. And I will be cruel to the people who hurt me or the people I love."

"Good. You already are strong enough, the …. …. …."

Again something I can't hear.

"Now! Wake Up."

The person said while kissing my forehead.

*

*

*

"Wake up!"

Gasp*

I opened my eyes in surprise.

Huff* Huff*

I touched my neck.

My head! It's attached to my body.

My hand… There are no cuts! It's perfectly fine.

What is this? Where am I?

The ceiling… N-No way! It's my room at the Loire Royal Palace.

"D*mn it! Why do I always have to wake you up? And why are you acting so surprised?"

This voice…

I jumped up from bed.

Anne? 

"You!"

"What is it? Why are you screaming at me?"

I want to kill her.

No. Calm down, Isabella.

I hurriedly got down from the bed and looked around. The bookshelf, the table, the bed… Everything was just like before I left for Fellmirr.

The mirror… I have to look in the mirror.

I hurriedly ran in front of the mirror.

My face… It's perfectly fine… 

No way! Did I return to the past?!

"Hey! Are you avoiding me?"

"You-"

I looked at Anne while frowning.

Now that I think about it, how blind was I? How can a loyal person behave this way? 

"Are you frowning at me?"

Anne said with a look of disapproval.

Hah! Although I want to kill her right now. But it will be an easy death. Not like this. I won't kill you here.

"You-"

"Did you just call me, 'YOU'?! My Lady, it's Anne."

"Is that so?"

I slowly walked towards her. 

Then-

Slap*

I slapped Anne's cheek with every ounce of my strength.

"You- How-"

Anne looked at me with explosive eyes.

Then Slap*

I slapped her again.

"How da-"

Slap*

"How dare you talk to me that way? Did you forget who your master is? How dare a commoner like you!"

Anne looked at me with confused eyes.

I again slapped her then said,

"You still are looking at me in the eyes. Look at your feet while talking."

"Yes."

Anne hurriedly looked down.

"My Lady. Do I have to remind you to call me that too?"

"N-No, My Lady."

"Good. Now go bring WARM water for me to wash my face."

"Y-Yes."

Anne said while bowing and running outside.

Phew~

That was necessary.

Ouch*

My hand… It's bruised. Must be because I slapped her too hard.

Nevermind though. I feel a little better now that I have slapped her.

Anyways, I have really come back to the past…

"This time for sure, I will never let my family use me. And I will protect you this time... Leonus!"

I clenched my fist and vowed.

*

*

*

After a while, Anne entered Isabella's room with a bowl of water then put that on the table.

"My Lady, the water is ready."

"Hmm."

Saying that Isabella walked near the table then put her fingers to test the water.

"Hah!"

Isabella scoffed. 

"She won't learn her lesson so easily. The water… It's too hot."

"You! Come here."

Isabella said while frowning at Anne.

"Yes. My Lady."

Anne walked towards her with a smile.

As soon as Anne stopped in front of Isabella, Isabella took her hand and put it in the hot water.

"Aagh!"

"Oh my? Why are you screaming?"

"It's- It's burning! My hands!"

"Is that so? But didn't you bring this water for me to wash my FACE? So how can your HAND burn?"

Isabella asked while tilting my head.

"I- I am sorry, My Lady. I made a mistake."

"A mistake?"

Isabella asked with a cold tone.

"I-I… I apologize."

"I don't need a maid who doesn't even know can't even do such a simple job. You are fired. And I will make sure you don't get another job."

"I- I am sorry, My Lady. Please forgive me. I won't do it again."

Anne said while begging on my feet.

"Why should I? I don't need a worthless maid."

"Please! Please! I will starve to death! You can't do that to me, My Lad-"

"I can. And I don't care if you die."

Anne flinched at Isabella's cold voice.

"Pl-Please! I will work nicely from now on!"

"I will just hire another maid who will work better than you."

"..."

"Get out."

"Give me another chance. Just one. I will prove my worth to you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"And how is that?"

"I will inform you of everything the Second Princess does."

"Oh my? How? How can a maid like you?"

"I am… Actually, the second Princess tortured me to work for her! She asked me to inform everything you do to her. It was also her who ordered me to give you cold water every day."

"And you agreed so easily?"

"N-No! At first, I refused. How can I betray, My Lady?!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes. But then she started beating me up. Then even threatened to harm my family. So I had to agree with her. Please forgive me, My Lady."

"Hmm… Poor you. I am sorry that I wronged you. Get up, Anne."

"M-My Lady!"

Anne said with a cheerful voice.

"So I hope you will behave knowing your place from now on. Okay?"

Isabella said with a bloody tone.

"I mean, you have to act like you still work for Rubena. You know if you don't she will beat you again, right? I don't want Anne to be hurt because of me."

"Y-Yes. My Lady."

"Now Go. And BRING ME THE PERFECT WATER TO WASH MY FACE."

"Yes."

Anne gulped her saliva.. Then bowed and left Isabella's room.