Evelyn saw it unfold before her very eyes.
*Close your eyes. It will only hurt for a little bit.*
It was a scene from a nightmare.
*I know... I know.*
She was dying. Her heart, her veins, everything inside her was burning. And she could feel it. She was moments away from losing herself.
*Don't worry. This isn't the end.*
So she trusted him. Alex. The one she loved more than life itself.
*When you wake up, this will all have been just a bad dream, Eve.*
And then...
Pain in her chest.
Staring at Alex who looked back with a determined gaze, even while he held her heart in his hands, still dripping with blood.
The confusion she felt. The hope she felt. The desperation she felt.
But...
Evelyn woke up with a gasp, clutching her hand to her chest.
As she did, her hands wrapped around the amethyst necklace that Alex had given her.
The soft warmth spread throughout her body, calming her down.
But even so...
"That... was not a dream."
Evelyn could feel it.
Nightmares were not new to Evelyn. Neither were vivid dreams.
But this was a memory, not a dream. A recollection of time that had passed, but somehow spun back.
Evelyn let out a helpless laugh, pieces clicking into place. "Alex..."
How many times?
How many times had he tried and failed to save her?
How many times had he spun time back to try and find a new way?
How many times had he thought this time, surely this time, would work, only to fail?
Just like now?
Tears ran down Evelyn's cheeks against her will. But she couldn't help it.
Because it made sense.
All of it made sense.
The way Alex knew her.
The way Alex so quickly improved.
The way Alex always seemed to have another trick prepared, even though no one saw him preparing it.
All of that, it was a result of time.
Time, and attempts lost.
Again, and again, and again, and...
"My love..." Evelyn whispered, cradling her hands over her heart. "...How many times have you seen me die?"
Evelyn didn't know. She didn't want to know.
But the look Alex gave her before her death. The determination, regret, resolve...
It wasn't a decision taken lightly.
It was one that had to have been long considered. A choice paired down after countless others failed.
"...No. Enough."
Evelyn whispered in the dark room and then sat up.
This time, for some reason, Evelyn remembered. And so, this time, she would-
"...Mommy?"
Evelyn froze.
A voice. Female. Young, no more than a toddler's.
"...Why are you crying?"
Evelyn slowly turned her head to the side.
There hadn't been anyone there... or so she thought. Evelyn had thought she was alone. It was her bed in the dorms, after all. And while she didn't know what time it was, it was still dark out.
Because of that, Evelyn couldn't see very well. So to make sure she wasn't seeing things, Evelyn reached over to the bedside lamp and turned it on.
And then Evelyn saw her.
A young girl, no older than five years old, hugging a pillow and staring right back at Evelyn. Short hair, the exact same hue of golden as Evelyn's. Her right eye, the same shade of silver as Evelyn's. But her left, a pure emerald hue. Like a mix between Evelyn's and Alex's.
[image]
Evelyn blinked, processing what she was seeing. And then after a few seconds, she realized that she wasn't hallucinating. There really WAS a young girl in bed with her. A cute, innocent looking girl who was unmistakably HERS.
"...Mommy?" The young girl reached out with her small hand and brushed away Evelyn's tears. "Don't cry. I'll make it better, kay?"
"Y-You...?"
The young girl snuggled up closer to Evelyn and then wrapped her small arms around Evelyn's waist, resting her head on Evelyn's side. "Mm... better? Mommy, don't cry. It's okay."
Evelyn's breath hitched.
...She didn't know what was going on.
She didn't know if she was hallucinating.
She didn't know if this was just her mind pulling up every fantasy and wish she had before she passed away.
But...
Evelyn let out a trembling smile and held the young girl closer. "...Of course, dear. Mommy..."
The word was still strange on her tongue.
But peering down at the young girl who looked so much like her, Evelyn found it natural to continue.
"...Mommy is doing fine now. Did I wake you?"
"Mm..." The young girl nodded and then let out a small yawn. "It's okay... I'll make Mommy feel better... Sleepy time?"
"...Yes, dear." Evelyn slowly laid back down in her bed, gently maneuvering the young girl into her arms. "...Let us sleep. Just for a bit."
It was dark out. The night sky was clear through the bedside window. And with everything that had occurred, Evelyn was certain this was a dream.
Even so...
Evelyn hugged the girl close and murmured, "Mommy loves you. So, so, so very much."
...If this was a dream. If this was the world granting her a vision of what could have been, then she would treat it like the miracle it was.
The young girl smiled and nuzzled against Evelyn's chest. "Love you too, Mommy. Night..." After saying those words with a sleepy tone, the young girl drifted off to sleep.
Evelyn's eyes teared and she gently kissed the young girl's forehead. "Good night, dear." After that, she reached over and turned off the bedside lamp.
...A dream.
This had to be that.
But if it was...
Evelyn was grateful that she could see it. What the child of herself and Alex woudl look like.
And so, holding the young girl close to her chest, Evelyn closed her eyes, letting whatever fate held in store take its course.
===
The night passed. The starry sky lit up, replaced by soft golden hues. The moon, swapped by the warm sun.
And when Evelyn opened her eyes, she realized she was still cradling the young girl who looked like she could be Evelyn's child with Alex.
...And then Evelyn realized it wasn't a dream.
The young girl really was here.
Evelyn was really alive.
...And, from the display on the bedside alarm clock, it was December 7th.
Two weeks before the Winter Solstice Ball.
Meaning she had class.
Meaning she had to explain this mystery young girl who was very clearly her child. Who called her 'Mommy.'
Meaning she had to figure out who this mystery daughter of hers was before anyone else saw them together.
Meaning that everything, her entire world, could come collapsing down around her if-
A soft yawn. The young girl shifting a bit as she roused. And then, looking up with sleepy eyes, the young girl smiled and said, "Morning, Mommy."
'Oh. Oh no.'
Evelyn's world came to a halt.
No. Not a halt.
In that moment, nothing else mattered.
Not Alex, not the fact that her life might end in a couple weeks, not the nightmarish memory she had of her own life coming to an end.
Instead, her entire world narrowed down to the beautiful young girl in her arms, calling her Mommy.
"Mommy?"
"...Yes, dear?"
"...I'm hungry. Can we get food?"
'Ah.'
"Of course, dear."
'...I cannot be a princess anymore. Can I?'
The imperial princess, the future empress... She could not value one life over the Empire. She should not value one heir over another either.
But...
"Yay~" The young girl smiled and hugged Evelyn with her small, but warm arms. "I love you, Mommy."
...It was impossible.
Evelyn hugged the young girl back and gently kissed the young girl's forehead. "I love you too, daughter."
A claim. One that Evelyn still didn't know was true.
After all, the young girl might look like her. And Evelyn might see some traces of Alex in the young girl's face.
But Evelyn definitely did not give birth to her. And... Evelyn was certain she was still a... A pure maiden.
But...
The young girl giggled and then blearily rubbed her eyes. "Bath time?"
"...Yes, dear. Let's give you a bath and wash your face, shall we?"
...As if it was completely natural, Evelyn hugged the young girl and got out of bed, carrying her to the bathroom.