**
"Maximilian?"
I blink at her silently. She just called my name. By my name. Instead of feeling repulsed and detested by that sound I instead can't feel anything anymore. All I can see is her.
My breath stops for a moment again. Just like back i...
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Elizabeth returned that night to her mansion, it's been long since she's been here as the lady of this house. And not as the Empress in the future. Her brothers are still her brothers and not her subjects. Her room is still her room, just as she remembered it. It feels as if it was just yesterday that she was living here, and then grew up. But it's been years since that happened.
Her father was coming out of the drawing room with two other men behind him, he still bore that annoyed expression he uses to greet Elizabeth. "Are you just now coming back from the Crown Prince's banquet? Did he pay attention to you? Did you catch his attention?" Father asks, gesturing his two guests to leave as he wants a private moment with his daughter. "No father, he didn't pay attention to me. As you know he danced with that Ludovika girl this time too." It was something the both of them knew well, that the crown prince might just be in love with Ludovika, but her father couldn't care less for Maximilian's feelings. He only wants his daughter to be the Empress. Father, clenches his fists, gritting his teeth.
"How come you can't do anything to catch his attention?! Why are you like this?! I asked you one simple thing and you can't do that either! No child of mine in this house shall be incompetent like you are. You are a girl too." He emphasizes. He sighs, pressing a hand to his forehead and walking away from there. Elizabeth didn't even have a chance to speak anymore. Of course she couldn't get the attention of the Crown prince without looking like a desperate fool. The wounds from the past resurface as she's faced with this familiar scene again. She forgot how unforgiving her father was. He was the most ruthless man in this empire.
He treated his kids like his assets or weapons for power. Johannes couldn't handle it anymore and ran away when he became an adult. He was never seen after that, Albrecht became the head of the house instead, Elizabeth became the Empress and everything happened according to her fathers plan. Except for in Johannes's case. Johannes was deeply in love with Ludovika to be marrying someone else, and he would never marry anyone even if it cost him his life. The head of the house had to marry and have heirs, but since Johannes didn't want to he ran away.
Elizabeth had arrived at her room, reminiscing through all her memories of the past, remembering everything that happened from day to day, maybe even minute to minute. It had started raining outside just shortly after she arrived at her house. Good thing it wasn't before, or she would be soaking wet. Opening her door to her room was like a fever dream, just a dream. But this was her reality until whenever she can leave this place. It was slightly happy to be back here. She remembers it so clearly, it's like one of her memories came to life again. Exactly as she remembered.
Her drawer that consisted of all the stuff she's kept over the years. These are things that she holds dear to her heart, like the first shows she's ever worn as a child. The drawings she made as a child and many more. But when there's a sudden knock coming from the window, she shuts the drawer and walks towards the window to see what's out there.
She was wary, taking slow steps towards the window, when another loud bang is heard. "Lady Elizabeth." A dark voice speaks, Elizabeth knew exactly who it belonged to. She looked out the window, to see The Crown Prince standing outside of her window on the ledge. He seemed to be holding onto dear life as he hangs there. Elizabeth quickly opened the window and looked down at the dangling prince. His arm strength must be incredible for him to only hold on with one arm. Does he do calisthenics? "Your Majesty! What are you doing here? What do you need?" It was also pouring and raining, what the hell was he doing here?
