I was suddenly jolted into the unconscious. I was overwhelmed. My body started to clam up and became sweaty and I felt the sweat drip down my neck. My pupils started to move as all the memories started flas.h.i.+ng wildly in my head. Every sorrow I was put through, every heart break I went through, every tear I shed in agony, every minute I longed for everything to get better. Every single detail flashed making my heart clench inside my chest and head throb with pain inflicted by my memories.

I was still engulfed in the darkness. My eyes won't open even though I tried. I don't want to see or go through all that again. The memories were now going backwards and I couldn't get a hang on what was going on. I can slowly feel the surroundings with my senses. The birds chirping, the soft warm wind flowing through,the cool breeze brus.h.i.+ng my skin softly,the folds of the silk sheets on my bed, the smell of fresh morning as my memory set on a final picture. I was smiling while I stood at the top of the grand staircase of the royal palace.

My eyes snapped open. My eyes were blurry from the tears.I quickly touched my face which was wet both from sweat and tears. I tried to clear my vision by blinking and was able to make out the ceiling of my room. I scrunched up my face in confusion. Wasn't I dead? How am I in my room now? Have I become a spirit? Who would wander for a long time? My head started to throb again with all my thoughts. Just then something seem to click inside my head.

I looked around my room and found the mirror. I threw off the covers and scrambled off hurriedly towards the mirror, tripping twice in the process. I gasped loudly while cupping my mouth with both of my hands. My eyes welled up with new tears as I saw myself in the mirror. It was true then. It was all true. I was indeed dead. And I was indeed given a second chance. I couldn't take my eyes off the mirror as the tears kept running down my cheeks. I was not sad. I was happy. Very happy.

"Princess?" I heard a sweet voice call. I snapped my head in the direction almost getting a whiplash. Tears doesn't seem to stop. They were like an endless stream flowing down. After all, they had to flow. I kept locked for too long. At least now, I should open up all my emotions and feel them. I let out small sob and my maid and best friend, s.h.i.+rley, hurriedly came over to me.

I didnt say a thing, just grabbed her tightly in my embrace and continued to sob. She was my savior. She saved my life. I never got to thank her or be grateful to her for all that she has done for me in her lifetime. She was 6 years older than me and sacrificed her childhood to cure my loneliness. She played and did all the things I needed without any complaints. Even though, I was adamant and arrogant on some things, she always tended to me.

She was an older sister I never had. She patted my head and traced comforting circles on my back to ease my tension. She seemed confused on why I was acting like this. Who would tell? how was it like to feel when u got your life back....The past should be buried with me. I can't let my loved ones get worried about me.I can't be a burden to them at least now. I pulled back from the tight hug, letting her breath and looked up at her. Her eyes wide, filled with horror.

"Princess Aeins.h.i.+a, why are you crying like this. You look terrible. What would young master, your father and the Emperor say if they saw you like this? I shall be beheaded." she rambled out and I just looked at her.

"I will live. You are alive." With that I hugged her again and she seemed confused by my words. My eyes widen as I realized something. My brother. My father. They are here. I should meet them. I need to see my father. Till death came to him, he only seeked for my life to be saved.

I thought he didn't like me back then since, he was always strict to me. But, now I understood. Losing my mother had a great impact on him. She is the love of his life. Since then he closed off himself, never showing any feelings for others. But in truth, he loved me more than my brother, more than his loyalty, more than his name, more than himself that he was willing to give off himself.

I didnt think about anything and made a mad dash, out of my room. I pushed my room door open harshly aand it made loud bang as it hit the walls.

"Princess wait, you need to change your night clothes", s.h.i.+rley yelled from my backside. But I dont have the time to look through all these petty details.I should meet them. I need to see them with mu own eyes.

The sound of the running footsteps and shout of s.h.i.+rley alerted the guards around and they came running to see the cause of all the commotion. They were running towards me but stopped and moved out of my way as I raced down the hallway in my simple robes, that I wore at nights. I came to the dining area and saw no one but servants. This palace had too many servants everywhere. I didnt notice it until now.

Back then I either stayed in my room or at library training with my lessons of work of the empress. So I never really got a chance to look after my own household.I raced down in the direction of the ministry rooms, also receiving some curious and suspicious stares from the servants and some officials, who were coming in for the discussions held by the Royal Emperor for kingdom matters. I didn't pay any heed at all to them.

I didn't even payed a glance at them thinking let them think anything they want to. I loved my brother and father but, never really expressed them. I understood the value of giving grat.i.tude. I felt my heart pierce as I thought about the gruesome death my only left family had when I was accused of the treason. They were always by my side. Always loved me. They know they could die in the process of saving me. They embraced the painful death and injustice which was bound to the people who were with a.s.sociated me.

I barged into the study room while panting heavily from all the exercise I had done today. I saw my brother getting up with a worried face and approached me with long strides. "Little sis, what's wrong?" he asked while cupping my cheeks and looking more concerned as he saw I was a total mess. I couldn't speak anything.