Player 0.4 [You have died.] [Reset in progress.]

Before the Kobar Empire began its expansion, the Daylan Dynasty had been the continent's largest and most feared country. They had expanded into the behemoth that they were in just two generations, first under King Lothair Daylan and then again under his daughter, Queen Yadana Daylan. I didn't recall much of my history lessons, but I knew enough that it was a bloodbath.

Queen Yadana Daylan was in her mid-sixties by this point in time and, luckily for the rest of the continent, had grown into a ruler that was more focused on advancing her country from within and building trading relations with others rather than continuing to conquer smaller countries.

However, just because her priorities changed, it didn't change her tendency towards violence.

Everyone knew what she did just a month ago to the Soslan Islands after her eldest son was poisoned and died while on vacation there. In the original timeline, years from now, it would be revealed that he was poisoned by the second oldest son, who was hoping to take the throne for himself. However, that didn't change how the furious Queen Yadana Daylan torched the popular tourist destination, such that not a single palm tree remained standing.

"It won't be a disaster as long as we find him," the second guard told the other. "Quickly, let your unit in on what's going on. He has to be somewhere around here."

The two whispering guards rushed away, presumably searching for the missing Daylan prince. Meanwhile, I found a couch against one of the walls to collapse on.

I brushed my hands through my hair, forgetting the various embellishments that Remlend had put in. I dropped my hands in frustration after untangling whatever it was that he had put in.

Damn it. There wasn't any missing Daylan royalty in the original timeline.

My eyes scanned the busy ballroom, with all these guests none the wiser about the storm brewing on the horizon. The guests were a flurry of plastered smiles and fake laughter, dressed in an attempt to one-up each other.

And Micah wants to be part of this world? He'll be King if he marries Princess Evelyn.

My eyes moved over towards my brother and Princess Evelyn, surrounded by all the pompous and back-stabbing nobles and other wealthy guests. Micah caught eye of me and smiled, putting up his champagne flute as a toast.

I sighed.

Well, if this Daylan prince isn't found alive and well, Micah might not have a kingdom and all its superficial problems to deal with anyhow. Damn it.

"Peeeeeep!"

Luca!!!!

A ball of yellow fuzz launched towards me.

I had never seen a baby chick fly so fast and furiously before.

Thank goodness you are back! Why didn't you find me earlier??

I stared in bewilderment at Leona, who had collapsed on my shoulder.

"Did you not eat yet or something?" I asked.

I didn't think I was gone that long.

I looked back up towards Micah, who was now making his way over.

Perhaps he was crowded with people and didn't get a chance to feed her any food? That was highly plausible.

"I'll get you something to eat," I whispered and stood up from the couch.

Leona tensed up suddenly as Micah met us at the buffet table.

"That bird of yours just launched itself off my shoulder when it saw you," Micah commented and smiled at Leona. "It's a rather unusual bird."

He catches on quickly. Well, I was planning to tell him who, or rather, what Leona was soon.

"She is rather unique." I nodded my head. "Actually—"

"Peep!"

Luca! Don't tell your brother that I'm a phoenix.

I paused and bit my lip. I looked at Leona and blinked my eyes, hoping she'd figure out I was asking why.

Micah was the most intelligent person that I knew. If anyone knew what happened to other phoenixes and how to best help Leona, I trusted Micah to have all the answers.

Or anyone! Don't tell anyone!

Luckily Leona seemed to pick up on my question.

It's too dangerous. I've realized it after much thought, but if I'm the only phoenix in known existence, it'd be dangerous not only for me but for you and your whole family if word got out.

That's a good point. I already have the issue of a Daylan prince having gone missing. Rumors about a phoenix in my possession would only increase my headaches. And, at the end of the day, it was her secret.

"Luca?" Micah smiled. "You were mid-sentence."

"Ah, I meant to say that her name is Leona." I picked up a blue macaroon and gave it to her to bite.

"Mmmm, is that so? I do recall you mentioning her name earlier." Micah gazed at her. "What a peculiar bird. She likes macaroons?"

"Yes, she is peculiar." I laughed awkwardly.

Lying to my brother was never my strong suit and something I intensely disliked doing. However, the omission of information, especially if it meant Leona's and my family's safety, wasn't really lying. And I was already omitting that I was on my seventh life and in the midst of playing some bizarre game.

"Micah, dear." Princess Evelyn appeared and tucked her arm into Micah's. "I know we've both been busy in conversations, but this is still a ball. And as the crown princess, I need to dance the first dance of the night."

"Very well, let us go." Micah nodded his head towards me and walked Princess Evelyn to the center of the ballroom. The surrounding guests moved to the sides to allow the first dance to begin.

The orchestra sounded, starting a tune for the couple to dance to.

Whispering behind opened lace fans and ringed hands sounded from the crowd of people near me. They seemed unaware of my presence. That, or they simply didn't care. Their bright smiling faces gave one story, and their offensive words had another.

"She's going to have her first dance with the Frey boy, of all people?"

"Forget the first dance; she's been linked arm-in-arm with him all night."

"He's quite pleasing on the eyes, but she's a princess. She has to hold herself to a higher level. He's beneath her. Especially given his family's background—riddled with so many rumors!"

"This is why I say the second princess is far wiser."

Luca, are humans here all this scary? That woman other there was acting really nice to your brother earlier, but now she's saying all of that.

Leona turned her small head towards me.

"Yes," I whispered. "They are."

I felt my fists clench.

I hadn't stayed for the rest of the ball in the previous round, so I had missed out on the disgusting conversations surrounding the ballroom.

However, I was all too familiar with the two-faced social life of the Western citizens of the capital. They all looked down their noses at the dirty lives those on the Eastern side lived, but they never seemed to look in the mirror and realize that they were just as terrible, if not worse.

I wasn't looking forward to the gossip surrounding Micah when the engagement was going to be announced at the end of the night.

I frowned.

A thought occurred to me that sent a shiver down my spine.

What if they were poisoned to prevent the engagement from going through? Perhaps it wasn't about the scroll as much as it was merely about preventing their union?

[ Intelligence : +1 ]

[ Intelligence : 39 ]

Tsk.

I stared at the blue screen that seemed to confirm my suspicions.

I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on again.

This was just the engagement day, but it signified their path towards eventual marriage. Who knows what trickery and violence will be brought about against Micah and Princess Evelyn until then?

Damn it. How many more assassination attempts will I have to prevent?

"Peep!"

I'm going to eat more. These pastries are delicious!

Leona hopped off my shoulder and onto the buffet table.

I didn't understand how her tiny little body could handle fitting in more food. But then again, that wasn't her actual form either, so what did I know?

I turned to look at Micah and Princess Evelyn gliding through the middle of the ballroom. They were a flurry of glittering white, both moving as if they were professional dancers in a previous lifetime.

Maybe I should convince Micah to not marry her? Yes. That would help prevent more assassination attempts on his head. And that will solve my problem of being the Frey Merchant Guild's heir.

The orchestra thundered the music dramatically to an end, but the brief silence was quickly overtaken by loud applause.

Micah and Princess Evelyn completed their twirling dance but remained standing in the middle of the floor. They continued to gaze into each other's eyes, seemingly forgetting the rest of the world was still there.

I sighed and smiled.

Ah, I guess it is what it is.

I clapped alongside the rest of the crowd.

Despite how horrible the gossiping men and women were and how difficult the path that Micah had chosen for himself, I decided to support them by seeing how they were looking at each other.

Micah deserves to be happy with the one he loves, even if it's an uphill battle. Besides, his younger brother is a regressor. I'm sure I can ensure their happiness. I can spare a life or two or ten.

 

***

 

Knock. Knock.

"You can enter!" I called out. I was already awake because of the large window letting sunshine pour into my bedroom.

"Good morning, young master Luca." Denise entered with the usual tray of items.

"Peep!"

Why are you so loud in the morning? Let me sleep.

My eyes glanced at Leona, who had nested herself as a fuzzy ball of yellow fluff atop one of the silk pillows on my enormous bed.

I'm going back to sleep. Don't wake me.

Leona grabbed hold of my blanket and topped it over herself.

I glanced quickly at Denise, afraid she had caught this impossibility, but she was busy setting down my washbasin and tea.

"Denise, please whisper. My bird is still sleeping," I said.

Denise blinked her eyes. "Very well," she whispered back.

"Also, I should be having a visitor come by today. Her name is Kathy, and she has pink hair. Can you please inform me as soon as she arrives?" I picked up the cup of tea. "She's going to take a look at Jasper."

"That is great to know; I will inform you when she does." Denise nodded. "And will you be coming down to breakfast?"

"Yes, but no need to help me dress," I replied. "You can go for now."

I stared down at the murky-colored tea. An unpleasant scent of overripe fruit seemed to waft from it.

Why did I even bother picking it up? I should know better by now that Denise can't make decent tea.

"Very well, young master Luca." Denise bowed and left the room.

With her gone, I quickly dumped the clouded tea into my potted plant.

"System, in the original timeline, was there an incident with a Daylan prince disappearing around this time while within the Adovorian Kingdom?"

I needed to figure out the timeline and if the concerns were legitimate or if the missing guy was simply found and was an issue I never knew about.

[ Hello, Luca. That's a negative. There was never any incident where a Daylan prince disappeared during this period of time. ]

"Damn it, so does that mean I did change something?"

I rubbed my temples.

[ That is a silly question. You have changed many things. ]

I glared at the blue screen.

"That was a rhetorical question more than anything," I grumbled.

"Peep?"

Who are you talking to?

Leona was wide awake and staring at me with her bright golden eyes from atop her pillow. I didn't even hear her toss off the blanket.

I don't see anyone else.

She fluttered over beside me and looked around again. Confirming that there was no one, she stared back up at me.

Luca. Tell me. Who or what were you talking to? And don't lie. I know something or someone was here.

 

AlekAundra

Some people give money or a toaster for someone's wedding.

Luca's gift is however many regressions it takes to give Micah and Princess Evelyn their happy marriage.

(︶︹︺)