Bernice’s POV
I couldn’t gauge how much ti had passed since I had been confined in this place. I hadn’t had a morsel of food or a drop of water, yet sohow, I clung to life. It was a perplexing predicant. A strange voice had been speaking to , sharing countless tales and revelations, but I had grown weary of it. More recently, another woman had been brought into this confinent, sharing the sa confinent as , but I no longer heard her voice.
She ntioned an enchanted circle called Centuria Enigma, sothing entirely foreign to . Despite my skepticism, I had to admit that she was speaking the truth. It was undeniable because even the Lunar god, who used to visit at will, had been conspicuously absent for an extended period.
"Bernice, want to witness sothing intriguing?" the voice piped up again, evidently intending to exasperate further.
"No, I’m not interested in your foolish antics. Just release !" I cried out, my voice echoing in the confines.
"No, you must watch, that’s why I’m here. You fought so fiercely to survive for the love of your life. You yearned to survive to reveal to him the truth about his parents’ demise. Well, let enlighten you about his current situation. I’m certain you won’t be disappointed," the voice taunted, and a blinding screen materialized before . It had been a considerable while since I had been exposed to such intense light.
I cautiously attempted to open my eyes, and to my astonishnt, I saw Alex, clearly agitated, pacing back and forth, leaving bewildered about what was unfolding.
"What’s going on? What did you do?" I asked, my voice laden with panic.
"See for yourself, Bernice. You’ll realize I’m not the one responsible," the voice responded with a sinister smile, and my gaze once again fixed on the screen. It displayed Alex conversing with a knight in a fit of rage.
"Have you procured the doctor?" he bellowed, gripping a knight’s collar, and the knight replied in hushed tones, "NO."
"Then what are you good for?" he roared and stord into a room. It appeared to be a palace of so sort. I couldn’t fathom precisely what had occurred with the crown prince of the emperor, but it was evident that sothing had gone awry. As he entered the room, I saw Vix, peacefully asleep in a bed, and my eyes widened. I bit my trembling lips, a profound sense of despair washing over . I had been incessantly declaring since the mont I was brought here that Alex would co for , my husband would find , and yet now, it appeared as if I had been trapped in a delusion, one that was shattering before my eyes.
"Princess, the doctor will be here soon. Don’t worry," he reassured her, caressing her palm against his cheek. My heart constricted so painfully that I nearly crumpled to my knees.
"So, is this the reason I’ve been kept imprisoned for so long? Because no one even notices that I’m missing? So, my suspicions were always accurate," I mumbled, my voice laced with betrayal and sorrow.
"That is not where it ends, Bernice. There is more to see," the voice continued while the screen displayed the heart-wrenching scenes. It unfolded, showing how tenderly the Duke cared for Vix. He fed her dicine and held her hair back as she drank water.
"Duke, you shouldn’t trouble yourself so much for . You have many other responsibilities," I heard Vix saying.
"No, Princess! It has always been my duty. I am appointed to care for you for the rest of my life, and I intend to fulfill that," he replied with a small, affectionate smile. My fists clenched tightly, and my nails dug into my skin, yet I felt no pain except for the agony of witnessing these scenes.
"You are the princess I must protect," he declared, and I picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at the screen. To my shock, the stone passed right through the screen, and the strange voice laughed mockingly at my futile attempt.
"Ha ha ha ha!!!!!! It’s quite amusing to see you like this, Bernice," he taunted.
"I never thought I’d witness this side of you," he added.
"Stop laughing at !!!!" I growled in frustration, my anger escalating.
My fury grew with every passing mont.
"Why? Didn’t you want to survive for the Duke? Yet, see how he has betrayed you. Such a pitiful Duchess, Bernice!" the voice jeered, making feel utterly desolate.
"Now let reveal to you what a monster he is," he said, and the screen played another harrowing scene.
It depicted the Duke wielding his sword and rcilessly attacking innocent children and won, turning the surroundings into nothing but a pool of blood. He truly was a monster. I had failed to see the truth.
"Did you see? Did you see, Bernice? How ruthless he is. He spared not even the children," the voice taunted, and the screen disappeared. I was plunged into a traumatic state, the likes of which I had never experienced, not even when I had faced death and returned.
Now, I no longer wished to leave this place. I didn’t want to confront him. I simply wanted to be alone and find happiness. I had endured enough sorrow and suffering. I just wanted to live.
Tears stread down my face, and I erupted into tears. My sobs seed unending. My heart ached. I wasn’t certain if my cries reached the outside world or if the other woman could hear , but I couldn’t stop. Everything had beco overwhelmingly difficult. The world appeared cruel and selfish, making feel like a mockery.
Ahhh, my head throbbed, and unfamiliar mories flooded my mind, like those I had seen in dreams.
"How could you do this to , Duke? How? How could you be so heartless? I am your legally wedded wife. We are still married, and we haven’t divorced. How could you betray like this?" I heard the other cry out in my mory, and our scenes began to intertwine, rging both past and present into a tumultuous mix of emotions.
"How could you do this, Duke, when I’m still trying to co to terms with your marriage to the princess? Didn’t you say, ’How could I just casually agree to let you marry for the second ti?’ Then what will you say this ti? How could you just casually sleep with the princess when we haven’t once shared a bed?" Her heart broke, and so did mine. The last sentence sounded painfully accurate. We hadn’t shared a bed once. We hadn’t touched each other once. But now, everything was different for .
"Didn’t your mother, the great Duchess, claim that I couldn’t give her an heir? That’s why you needed to marry for the second ti. Have you ever once inford your mother that we haven’t been together, that we haven’t embraced each other in our entire ten-year marriage?" My heart ached for my other self.
"Stop this!!!!! I can’t bear this!!!!" I scread loudly, feeling as if my head might explode.
"So unfortunate that you chose to be with him," the voice said with a hint of sadness.
I was left all alone. My only hope had vanished now. I didn’t want anyone to find here. I had no desire for anyone to co and search for because I felt like I had disappeared. I had no desire to leave this place.
I mumbled again.
"Duchess, how does it feel to live your life one after another?" a different voice whispered to . I was getting used to these voices, although I didn’t understand their origin or purpose.
"One after another? What do you an?" I asked.
"Duchess Bernice Balliol Agnes, this is the third life you are living in this mortal world. This is your third life here," the voice stated, and I couldn’t help but be shocked.
"W-what?" I stuttered.
"Yes, you are living the third life in this place. And I’m deeply sorry, but in not a single life have you found happiness," the voice told with sincerity, not mockery.
"Third life? No, it can’t be possible. I have only lived two lives, and this is my second life. My previous life ended prematurely, so this one will be the sa. You must be mistaken in your calculations," I argued.
"No, Duchess, I’m telling you the truth. The dreams are nothing but your first life with the Duke."
"Try to connect the dots. These are your lives. And you have not succeeded once in this mortal realm. Do you think this is how you will reclaim your heavenly realm throne? Get up, Bernice!!!! Reclaim your throne," the voice declared before vanishing, leaving even more bewildered.
What did she an by my third life?
What did she an by needing to succeed in this mortal realm to return to the heavenly realm?
Throne?
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