Breaking Elowen

Chapter One [Elowen]

Pain shot through my head, causing me to wince. I didn't even need to turn my head to the right to feel Imogen's concerned gaze resting on me, her face clearly showing her worry.

"I'm fine," I muttered as I continued typing my 3000-word essay.

I heard her click her tongue in annoyance. I tried to fight her hands off as she tried to take my laptop away but she was quicker than me. "I already said I'm fine." I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I need to get this done."

"You can finish it later when that headache is gone. That's like the 5th time this week already!" She exclaimed, hiding my laptop away.

She grabbed the bottle of medicine her grandma taught her to make and handed it over to me. "Now be a good girl and drink this."

I grimaced but complied anyway. "This is disgusting," I coughed. "I don't think it works anyway. It just makes me puke. I think your grandma is a bit quack."

"How dare you?" She scoffed. "It does work! After puking your headache is gone, isn't it?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Yeah, I guess."

"Grandmama would roll in her grave if she hears you say her medicines don't work. Our family never had to go to a pharmacy or hospital whenever we were sick because her medicines always worked! Maybe we should start a family business..." I heard her drone about her grandma like she always does whenever I doubt the medicines she gave me. She knows I'm just joking but she still talks about how her grandma is a "miracle worker".

Her scolding often reminds me of Sylvaine, my twin in my past life. She was always the one to take care of me whenever I was sick. After our mother passed, she looked after me and cared for me more than our father. And I always had her back. Whenever someone tried to do something malicious against her, I dealt with them. It didn't matter to me that it cost me my reputation in high society. Although my father and brother favored her more than me, I didn't care. I had Sylvaine and that's all I wanted.

Until I lost her.

I've always wanted to tell Imogen about my past life. But I remember when I first told Mom about it and she just laughed, saying I would make a great author one day. Because of that, I started to wonder if I'm the only one who remembers my past life. Did other people live other lives before they died too? If they did, why can't they remember it? Why can I still remember mine?

As much as I adored my sister, I wanted to be rid of the disturbing memories of our shared past. Every flashback seemed like reopening a deep wound. I wish I could just forget.

Suddenly I felt a burning sensation on my chest. Was it always like this whenever I drank that medicine?

I started to cough uncontrollably. "Piper? Do you want to throw up?" Imogen asked, looking at me with concern. "Let me help you to the bathroom."

I shook my head, trying to clear my throat. But instead, the coughs came harder, each one a jagged blade of pain through my chest and head. I stumbled, the world spinning around me, and fell to the ground, clutching my chest as the agony intensified.

Through the haze of pain, I heard Imogen scream. Her footsteps pounded against the ground as she ran toward me, her voice rising in panic. "Piper! Blood!" she yelped, dropping to her knees beside me and holding me close. Her hands trembled as she cradled me, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.

Blood?

I felt something warm dripping down my chin, I instinctively wiped it off and looked at my hands. 

Blood. Too much blood. 

I looked at Imogen with tears rolling down my cheeks. "It hurts..." I cried before coughing up more blood. She reached out for her phone to call somebody, her hand was shaking violently as she waited for somebody to pick up. She stroked my hair in an attempt to comfort me but I couldn't even feel her holding me.

It hurts so much. My chest feels like it's being cut open with a rusty knife. My head feels like it's being split up into two. I couldn't even think. I only felt pain.

Am I going to die?

"Piper, stay with me!" Imogen cried, hastily wiping away the tears and blood off my face. "Help is on the way. Please, stay with me."

I breaks my heart whenever I see her cry. I wanted to comfort her despite the pain that was consuming me but I could barely move my hands.

People barging into the room was the last thing I saw before I slipped into darkness.

"Elowen Talia Langford," Rowan thundered through the front doors as he barged into the manor. "What have you done this time?!"

I rolled my eyes in exasperation and placed the book I was reading on the table. I could only imagine that she hurried to her father to recount the incident involving "the raging bitch of the Langston Ducal."

"What are you talking about, brother?" I asked, feigning innocence.

I could feel his hatred towards me as soon as we locked eyes.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." He gritted his teeth, storming over towards me. "Consider yourself lucky this time because Father won't be home for 2 more months. But as soon as he comes back, he will hear of this and you will be facing the consequences of your brazenness."

"Shame,"  I pouted, mocking him. "You don't have authority over me." 

He snarled, "You are a disgrace to this family!"

Sylvaine scurried between us. "Both of you, quit it."

"You could single-handedly ruin all of us with your recklessness!" He shouted, ignoring Sylvaine's warning. "I always knew you were stupid, but it didn't occur to me you'd be insane enough to point a dagger towards the daughter of Marquis Beaumont!"

Sylvaine gasped and turned towards me. "Is this true, El?"

"I was protecting Sylvaine. That sly wench started rumors about our sister! I don't wait for disaster to strike – I cut the problem from its roots before it can bear fruit."

"Don't you dare drag our sister's name into this!" He pointed at me.

"I did it to protect her!"

"Rowan, don't!" I was caught off guard as I saw Sylvaine desperately holding Rowan back, his fists clenched in anger. The sound of Sylvaine's sobs seemed to pierce through Rowan's rage, and his hostile glare softened. Without a word, he pulled Sylvaine into a tight embrace, offering comfort as he murmured, "I'm sorry, Syl," while gently stroking her hair.

"You both know I hate seeing you fight," she sniffled.

I sighed in defeat, "I'm sorry."

"Your apology isn't enough." Rowan snapped.

"It wasn't directed to you." I scoffed as I walked away from them.

As I made my way to my room, I couldn't help but steal a backward glance at them. Their smiles were radiant, and the sound of their laughter echoed in the corridor. My heart felt a pang of bittersweet emotion as I watched Rowan tenderly pat Sylvaine's head, a gesture filled with care and affection. Just now, he was determined to attack me like a rabid animal, but when it came to Sylvaine, it was like he couldn't even hurt a fly.

"You're my brother too..." I whispered, resuming in my tracks.

Whatever. I've grown accustomed to the situation. He's just like Father and the rest of the ton. They all regard me with the same disdain as if I don't belong. However, I've learned not to let it bother me, as long as Sylvaine is spared from enduring the same judgmental looks.

[Author's Note

Hello! This story is heavily inspired by some of the historical manhwas I've read. I have a lot prepared for this story, so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

I don't own any of the photos above. It's just a vision board of our female lead :>

-hateful_honey<3]