Arien? The new King of Svenja is Arien?

'The husband of my sister is my previous fiancé?'

Something rips into my chest. My vision becomes blurry as wet spots appear on the paved road.

Every noise becomes unbearable. I can only seem to perceive the subtle noise of tears hitting the stone.

A strange energy travels in my leg. My throat tightens, and I can't breathe, oppressed by the crowd.

'I need to go away. Far away.'

Before I know it, the wind ruffles into my hair as my little feet rattle the sand. I don't know where I am going; running away won't do anything, but I don't care. For now, this is the only thing I can do.

Forcing my mind to numb the pain of a broken heart, I focus on the dunes surrounding me. But suddenly, my feet are caught up in a hole, and I roll down the slope.

'Why? Why?'

I spit the sand out of my mouth and wipe my lips. I let myself sink into the ground as I put my arms around my legs.

'You love me.'

So why? Why did he marry my sister?

I thought that I would never cry again, but tears flow down like an endless river.

'I lost everyone.'

The only string that held me to my previous life had been cut mercilessly by Loreiley.

Rage twists my stomach as my nails dig into the burning sand.

"Wasn't taking away my brother, my family, my life, and my pride enough? You also had to take my love away?" I sob.

"RAVEN! WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU..."

The voice of Marianna trails off when she discovers my pitiful state. I don't even care to lift my face from my arms. I want to stay in the darkness forever.

A warm hand grabs my arm. A slow but quite firm grip.

"I need you to talk to me, Raven. I can't help you if you don't let me."

"Why?"

My voice is low and broken. I am tired. I am tired of living when I am broken, and no one can see this. Where I can't talk about this.

"Why would you care about me!? Why would anyone care about me!?"

My voice echoes in the surrounding dunes.

"Why would you ask that? You are my dau..."

"This means NOTHING! Bloodline means NOTHING! You are just going to abandon me like they did."

"Why are you asking that Raven what happened?"

I look at her with burning rage, tears streaming from my eyes.

"Why would you care about me! Just because I am your daughter doesn't mean I am worthy of your love."

Marianna's eyes widen, but she stays silent as she contemplates the cracks in my child mask. For the first time, she hears what I truly think.

"Why? Just why?" I cry.

"Raven," she starts carefully, "I don't know what you are talking about, but I know you are in pain. It tears my heart to see you like this while I am powerless. You don't even know what pain it causes me to not be able to help you. But I love you. Because you are my daughter. Because you are brilliant, beautiful, intelligent, and caring! Because when you smile, it is like a day of sunshine has appeared in the room," tears are rolling down her cheeks as she speaks.

I look at her behind the tears. In the end, it is the same answer.

"What if I wasn't your daughter? What if I was a simple stranger crossing the road? Would you even spare a glance at me? Would you even talk to me?"

Marianna stays silent, not knowing how to answer my question.

"The only reason you care about me is that I am your blood, and that doesn't even guarantee that this love will continue."

My voice is harsh, but my heart is shivering. I would love to dive into my new life, respond to their love, and laugh without worrying constantly about the nature of their affection, but the wounds that the past inflicted on me still burn and linger like a bite.

Marianna gets up and stretches out her hand. I stare at her with incomprehension.

"Raven, what you said may be in some part true, but you are wrong. I cannot prove it to you by words because it won't be enough for you. Instead, I will show you my sincerity with actions."

My eyes widen in surprise at her unexpected response. I thought she was going to abandon me or scream at me.

I look at her fingers, scarred, sprinkled with burns and bruises. But the urge to grab them catches me as I reach for her hand. She squeezes my hand gently before taking me in her arms.

"Let's go home, Raven."

Some years later...

"Let's take a break," says Frederick, seeing my red and sweaty face.

As soon as he says those words, I fall into the cold sand. The moon is high in the sky, but I am still up training. The area is inhabited by several mercenaries, but discretion is always welcomed.

Even if I am tired, I know very well that I went far beyond the point of exhaustion of an average person. The body of a child has given way to a healthy, strong body marked by the rude climate of Esmeray and the roughness of my training.

I look at the scar on my hand. Oseye once trained me before being forbidden to do so after he accidentally injured me. Trying to touch him with the tip of my blade, his dagger went completely through my flesh. I tried to protest in his favor; it was partly my fault after all, but he stopped me.

"It's my fault for hurting you. I will fight against you when you are strong enough."

'Am I strong enough now?' I ask myself, touching my arm.

I wince, feeling the aches of my muscles and the bruises slowly forming themselves.

"I don't feel like I am progressing," I grunt, tightening my grip around my weapon.

Frederick laughs as he gently puts away his weapon: a simple sword. Even with this simple weapon, I never grazed him, let alone touched him. I wonder how he fights with his scepter.

"If you want to master the double sword, then you need to train two times more," he replies gently.

He sits next to me and hands me a wet towel.

"Thank you, Dad," I say, forcing myself to not stutter.

Seeing his genuine smile, I swallow my hesitance. It is still unfamiliar to me to name those persons with titles that once belonged to others. But after the amount of effort they provide in order to raise their particular daughter, this is the bare minimum I should do in response.

I brush the blade with my bare finger, recalling the moment when I chose this weapon.

"Are you sure, Raven?"

Frederick's face is full of confusion mixed with surprise. Even I still don't understand why I naturally pointed out the sword. My whole childhood has been filled with the dread of swords. Only a glance at them makes me break into cold sweats. Maybe this is why I chose it.

"I am sure," I respond calmly, looking at my double reflection.

For a moment, I swear I can see the face of a delicate Lady with snow-gold hair next to a small girl with wild red hair.

"I shall master the double sword."

'Along with my fear.'

The sky slowly turns crimson as the stars fade in the bliss of dawn. Frederick ruffles my hair with affection.

"It's morning now," I comment, admiring the hot color palette.

It was a day I had always awaited in my previous life, but I didn't live long enough to experience it.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, Raven."

'Happy birthday, Aideen.'