___

Eldest soon returned to her child-like appearance as soon as the skies started getting dark. It was still early in the afternoon, but the weather says that it might rage a storm.

Even the stalls are in a hurry to close, except for stores with buildings. The other people roaming around is probably on their way to go home or seek shelter.

"It's been a nice day today." I commented, sighing in relief as I managed to relieve my stress. "I know I already said this, but thank you anyway."

"Anytime." Eldest replied shortly as she snapped her fingers, teleporting us back to my garden. She gave me the book that she's been holding into and so I accepted it. "Read that and don't be suspicious. Whitey might even use that against you."

I nodded my head, suddenly remembering all my problems in the simple mention of whitey, which is my brother Klydeur. "Got it."

My clothes returned to how it was earlier and so did hers, before she waved a hand to leave. "I'll get going then."

Waving back, I walked back towards the palace and searched for Jamie. She must have been worried, and I'm not even sure if Eldest told them beforehand!

Walking through the hallway, it suddenly felt a little strange. My ears perked up when I heard fireworks, however, it was briefly cut short as if it never occured. Also, why is it gloomy? I'm aware the weather seems bad and the skies are dark, but why does it make me feel anxious?

It's as if I stepped foot in a different place, the area feels chilly, giving me goosebumps all of a sudden.

There weren't a single knight stationed at their respective places, and not a single sight of maids are seen in the hallway either. Should I search for Eldest to ask? But we already parted ways, and I'm not sure if she's still here.

Clenching the book tightly, I decided to ignore the anxiety I'm feeling. I admit, I'm nervous. I wonder what's wrong today, is there an occassion?

My footsteps were light, yet they somehow echoed around the hallway. "Should I go to my room?" I contemplated with myself, deciding it is best not to yell out for attention. Something eerie is giving me a warning that I shouldn't be casually prancing around this place.

Then I recalled something important.

Right, I still have my guardian, don't I?

Taking deep breaths, I chanted the unfamiliar words I memorized as a way to summon my guardian. The Empress herself was the one who taught us how, fortunately I remembered. It took me a few moments before I felt my energy drained.

"Awoooooo!" My guardian, a wolf, soon appeared before me with a few fog around him like a dramatic effect entrance. The wolf floated for a moment before it stepped down on the floor, bowing down to me for a moment before looking up to me, his blue cyan eyes stared at my silver orbs.

My enery may be drained, but I suppose it is worth it.

"Can you tell what's wrong today? Is something going on?" I questioned straight to the point, and the wolf blinked at me. I'm sure they said a guardian is helpful as a support and protection, but I want to try if they have proper knowledge, too.

Can we even connect with each others? Like talk to each others? What language then?

Master

I almost had a heart attack when I heard a voice in my head. At one moment I thought I've gone crazy, but then the wolf himself growled as he put a paw on my shoulder.

Calm down, master

"Okay." I had no idea why I replied such a simple comment but still, I'm surprised that my guardian and I can probably have a conversation through telepathy. "First, where's Jamie?"

At the Empress' palace, that I am certain of, master

What? Why is she there? No matter how I look at it, this is suspicious. Jamie is a maid from my palace and she never got to work as a maid in the main palace, where the Empress currently resides. If so, is she just giving her daily report to Aureus?

"And her activity?"

I frowned. I guess I should find out for myself. Walking towards the main palace, I hurried my steps as the wolf followed behind me.

"Master, I believe you should retire to your room for today."

"And why is that?"

I continued on when I heard no response. I'm sure something is wrong, judging from the atmosphere and the wolf's persuasion to stop me from going. But if I always run away, how will I be able to face these problems?

It's not like I'm impulsive right now. I wouldn't be walking around casually here without being prepared. I know a thing or two about defensive magic, so ofcourse, I will be fine.

As soon as I reached the Empress' palace, I recognized one person who seems to be heading straight to the throne room. He looks like he aged a bit. Why is that?

"Is that Archduke Shaman?"

Certainly, Master

I followed behind him, not sure if he can tell that someone is tailing behind him, which is me. As soon as he stopped infront of the door, it opened and he entered fully. I hurried my way towards the throne room.

Before it can close, I was able to check what was happening inside. The Empress whose usually seated on the throne is gone, and there replaced her is a certain guy wearing an official attire for an Emperor, with an epaullette and a red fur coat.

In his hand held a golden crown and on the other held a sword soaked in blood. Infront him, is where a familiar maid kneeled before him, with the knights pointing their swords at her. Other maids lying down the floor are either still half-alive or already a cold corpse.

"Jamie Williams, I arrest you for attempting to assasinate the Empress, my mother, alongside the other incompetent maids." The white haired young adult spoke, his silver orbs loomed down at her trembling figure.

She lowered her head. "Y-your highness, please believe me! I did not do it!"

"And you try to make me believe a servant from her lies?" He scoffed, brows furrowed. "As expected of my brother's nanny. Like master, like servant." Glancing to the Archduke who entered, he gestured to him. "You may take the case and execute her if necessary."

The Archduke Shaman bowed down to him. "As you wish, your highness."

The door then fully closed, and I lost sight of whatever happened next inside. I can only hear screaming and sobbing, mostly from Jamie who pleads that she is not guilty.

"A premonition, or a different timeline?"

I directed the question to my guardian as I remained composed. There is no way that Klydeur already usurped the throne and become a young adult all of a sudden. This must be a premonition, and if not, then there must be another sorcery for this.

I admit, if I had no idea about the premonitions, I'll freak out and get confused at this situation. But since the day I reincarnated here, I'm slowly getting used to quick adaptation.

"Look what do we have here." A familiar voice echoed in my head, the wolf beside me instinctively placed himself infront to protect me. Glancing at the person who walked closer to me, I widened my eyes.

Her golden eyes scanned me from head to toe, her golden blonde hair tied in a bun. She's wearing a black dress, and a white fur coat. "I believe I saw you a few years ago. Why are you here again?"

"E-Eldest?" Now this shooked me to the core. She looks exactly like the adult version Eldest showed me earlier, but this must be a different person. She have this wisdom of maturity befitting her appearance.

She then grimaced. " is long dead, so if they saw you, they'll try to kill you too." Glancing at my guardian, she rolled her eyes. "What an incompetent wolf you are. You only had one job."

None of this concerns you, other world deity."

My guardian's response suddenly piqued my curiousity, until I was able to pick up and fit the puzzle pieces together. The events today, Klydeur suddenly an adult, Jamie accused of assassinating the Empress, a different Eldest, and the mention of Clydeur being dead.

"All this time, they weren't just premonitions?" I questioned, my expressioned darkened.

The other Eldest crossed her arms. "I want to deny it, but there is truth to what you said."

"Then, that day, when you visited me as a child and you first found out about me..."

"You lied to me." She responded nonchalantly. "You said you returned from time, but who would have thought you were a different person. I had no choice but to send you back to wake up to your real world."

Oh, so she didn't believe it, but acted like she did anyways.

I scoffed at her. "Then, why am I here again?"

"I didn't expect you'd get laid in a trap." The other Eldest replied, eyes narrowed as she held her chin in thought. "In this world, there is no bitch named Ashley Florida. She's stuck as a hostage in a different empire."

What? Is she saying that the Ashley I know is the cause of this sudden jump to a different dimension?

"It is just as you thought. She seems to be planning of disposing you so your brother could be the only heir to the throne." And it seems she knows how to read my mind too. She grinned, shrugging. "Not my fault, your thoughts were leaking out, kid."

Kneeling down before me, I stared back at her menacing stare. "You and Clydeur have the same fate. However, it is you who can change it. You have the power to change your life by gaining more knowledge of the future events from this world."

Before she can reach out her hand to me, my guardian immediately clawed her arm with a growl. She retreated her arm, a surprised expression evident in her face. "Dafuq?"

"Excuse me?" I blinked at her sudden swearing. "Why are you swearing at me all of a sudden? Is something wrong?"

"Tell that to your untamed wolf, son of a bitch." She grimaced, rubbing her bleeding arm with claw marks. With a few stroke of her fingers, the wound instantly faded as if it wasn't clawed in the first place. Such a fast regeneration and healing power, obviously since she is a deity.

Huh, both Eldest have the guts to talk back to a prince. Maybe because they're a deity. Also, my guardian only did his job of protecting me, even if it's against another world deity.

The other Eldest stood up, and we both glanced at the door to the throne room when it suddenly creaked open. I forgot that the yelling and sobbing already died down, which made me feel nervous for this world's Jamie.

Before the door even opened fully, Eldest placed her hand on my head, ruffling it as I looked up to her. She smirked. "Go back and wake up again. I'll show you something interesting next time we meet."

A blinding light flashed once again to my eyes without warning, before the surrounding area around me suddenly brightened. Still standing in the same place and part of the Empress' palace, but it seems I returned to my world.

I heard the footsteps of the knights as they suddenly rushed towards me, with the Archduke Shaman who looks just as young as I first met him during the hunting event.

Indeed, I'm now back to my world.

"Your highness!" The Archduke reached out to me, the knights stopped behind him. "We've been searching for you everywhere! Where have you been?" He glanced towards my guardian, which made him more confused. "Did something happen, prince?"

"I just went out for a bit." I replied shortly, still curious as to why they approached me. "Is there something wrong going on?"

His emerald eyes scanned me for a moment before dramatically sighing. "Your highness, it seems you lost track of time when you went out for a bit? It's been three days—"

My eyes widened, not knowing who to blame. The Eldest who came with me to the capital city or the Eldest from the other world who sent me back so late?! I wouldn't have been in this situation if none of them occured.

"It seems so." Looking around, I gave a look towards my wolf, telepathically asking him a question. "What did just really happen?"

That simple response is enough for me to understand. I'm certain I only spent a few minutes roaming around the palace of the other world I just got in, but it suddenly tooks days, 3 even, in this world.

"There were rumors saying that you died and now the 2nd prince is about to be the official heir to the throne." Archduke Shaman informed, which made me blink my eyes. "It may have sounded exaggerated, but other people always likes gossips such as this. We shall erase the rumors quickly and investigate who spread such news."

I sighed in disbelief. "See to it that you inform me who spread the rumors, Archduke. I have an idea or two about who it is, but I won't be telling unless you find out first."

"I shall do as you say, your highness."

The knights escorted me towards my palace, with the others escorting the Archduke. Shouldn't I go to the Empress' place while I'm still here in her palace?

Halting from my tracks, I stopped the knights behind me. "I need to see her majesty first."

They all bowed down to me with no objection nor hesitation. I retraced my steps and went towards the place where I am certain the Empress is in. The knight whom I saw once at the hunting event before took notice of me. He was the one who offered his sword to Aureus when she beheaded the Count.

"Your highness, the crown prince Clydeur, is present." He announced as he opened the door, not daring to ask anything from my sudden dissappearance and now reappeared like magic.

Three days, huh? I'm sure I have to stomach the Empress' scolding. Even Jamie must be worried, but I wonder if Eldest took notice of what happened to me?

Did Ashley really sent me to the other dimension? How? I never knew she can do that kind of magic aside from her flame ability.

As soon as I entered, I bowed down to greet Aureus. "Greetings to the moon of the Empire, may time make haste to the Vermillion Empire." Straightening my posture, I quickly apologized.

"Pardon me—"

I almost stumbled down when somebody engulfed me into a tight hug, it surprised me so much that it didn't sink in my mind. "Empress? I mean, mama?"

"Where did you wander off into?" She questioned, facing me as she held both my shoulders. I observed her expression, her narrowed eyes stared at me, forehead creased. It seems she's worried but her expression is telling me that she's trying to hide that fact away.

I smiled. "Just somewhere. I'm sorry, mama."

"Haaa." She sighed, before standing up with a straight posture. Craning her neck left to right, she went back to her desk. That left me standing there awkwardly. I wonder if I made the Empress upset? What should I do? I can't possibly tell her that Ashley sent me to a different world or else chaos will pursue.

"I've inquired Eldest about your whereabouts, but not even she had the knowledge of your dissappearance." The Empress spoke slowly, sitting down to her chair as she tapped her fingers on the desk.

Huh, so when we parted ways, she really didn't know I dissappeared? That's weird, but then again, even if she's a deity, nobody is perfect enough to know anything.

Considering Ashley's involvement like what the other Eldest told me, it seems the Florida Princess is trying to assasinate me, isn't she?

If that is so, she must be really desperate to have Klydeur replace me as an official heir to the throne. Did Klydeur tell her to do it? Or did she do it on her own? And what will she benefit if she helps my brother to usurp the throne?

I want to believe that there's still a chance for Klydeur to be better. If he ends up as my real enemy, then the same fate awaits me like the other world Clydeur did. But since the other world Eldest informed me about having the chance to change my fate, it gives me a little ray of hope.

It's like having the chance to rewrite my destiny. Fate and destiny may sound the same, but fate is simply set in stone. A predetermined fate. But a destiny can be rewritten and determined with my choices and actions.

Also, is it possible to think that the original Clydeur of this world had his soul sent somewhere else? I don't understand why me of all people became him. And I'm sure there more dimensions with different Clydeurs, one world having one dead Clydeur.

I think I'll know the answer later—

Suddenly, I remembered something. Very important. I panicked when I felt no object in my grasp.

The book! Where is it?!

___

I forgot to update yesterday, so here it is! Anyways, I might not be able to update next week since I'm running out of drafts, and tomorrow is also the continuation of our online classes ༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽

That's all for now. Excuse the wrong spellings or grammars. Might be late but still, Happy New Year! Enjoy reading and thank you!

-☕