Reborn as the only princess of Cene Kingdom

Chapter 12: Stella Luna's Dream & War

Stella Luna awoke with a start, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she scrambled to make sense of her surroundings. The darkness was oppressive, a thick and suffocating blanket that seemed to press in on her from all sides. Panic clawed at her chest as she tried to call out, her voice barely a whisper in the void. "Hello? Somebody, please!" she cried, her voice trembling with fear.

Suddenly, a chilling laughter echoed around her, a sound so malevolent that it sent shivers down her spine. Rough hands seized her from behind, dragging her down into the abyss of darkness. She could feel the rough texture of the ground beneath her, her cries for help swallowed by the impenetrable blackness. The terror was all-consuming, her mind racing with images of her past, of being bullied and thrown into dark places where she could not escape.

"Mom! Dad! Brother! Help me!" she screamed, her voice breaking as the darkness seemed to engulf her completely.

Then, without warning, the darkness swallowed her whole.

When Stella's eyes fluttered open, she found herself back in her bed, her body drenched in sweat, her hands flailing as if to grasp at some unseen hope. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, her mind still trapped in the remnants of the nightmare. She took a moment to collect herself, her body shaking as she tried to steady her breathing.

The nightmare had dredged up painful memories of her past life, where she had been subjected to cruelty and ridicule. Even in her new life, she could not escape the shadows of her old fears. She missed her mother, Queen Elara, more than she could express. The pain of her absence was a constant ache in her heart.

Stella had responsibilities in the Royal Duties Kingdom, a realm she was bound to by duty, though her heart longed for the Cene Empire. She rose from her bed and walked to the veranda, the cool night air a sharp contrast to the warmth of her room. The full moon hung in the sky, casting a silvery light that danced across the landscape, a reminder of the goddess Cenia who watched over her.

She closed her eyes and began her prayer, seeking solace from the goddess who had guided her through the past decade. The moon's gentle glow seemed to infuse her with a calm energy, and she felt the flow of mana around her, a connection to the divine presence that Cenia embodied.

As she finished her prayer, Stella opened her eyes to find Duke Luther standing on the veranda of the adjacent room, his presence a surprising and unwelcome distraction. She had not noticed his room was so close.

"Duke?" she asked, her voice a mixture of surprise and apprehension.

"Why are you awake, my princess?" he inquired, his tone polite but distant. He avoided meeting her gaze as she moved closer.

Stella could not help but notice the duke's appearance, his white hair shimmering in the moonlight, giving him an almost ethereal quality. She had heard many women speak of their admiration for him, and she could understand why. He was undeniably handsome, his every movement exuding a quiet strength. She shook her head, pushing away thoughts she found perplexing and distracting. "I just had a nightmare," she replied.

"Princess, you should sleep now. It's already midnight," the duke said, still avoiding eye contact.

Stella's curiosity was piqued. "Why are you not looking at me? Did I displease the duke?"

The duke's face remained averted. "No, Princess, it's just—"

"It's just what?" she prodded, trying to coax a response from him.

"My princess, it's better if you see for yourself," he said cryptically.

Confused but intrigued, Stella turned her gaze to the mirror in the window. Her reflection showed her disheveled golden curls and the thin, revealing nightdress she wore. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she realized how exposed she must look. The duke had seen her in this state!