Anastasia's Pov
I was harshly jerked forward by the strings that were binding my arms and legs making me fall on the floor, I knew this was the end when the executioner came forward with a rope in his hand. I wasn't even given a decent fast death sentence, the cruel emperor wanted me to die painfully as he wanted the executioner to choke me to death.
How I wish I could do the same with him! The love I had for this man for so many years started ripping out of my heart like a slow poison, it hurt, killed, and pained me slowly yet it freed me from something I wasn't sure I was a slave of. I spent a full year with him doing everything to win his heart but today I realized.
You can't win someone who has made up his mind for someone else.
I felt tears pricking my eyes when I remembered that particular guy who never judged me, cared about me, and told me how beautiful I was even with the ugly scar over my face. Now I understood how it feels when the one you want decided to be with someone else.
Marshal Darius Solano. The only remaining man alive from Solano's last generation. His brother, as in our previous emperor died right after a week of our marriage because of some incurable disease and instantly my husband Emperor Archer Solano took his seat.
Marshal Darius never fought or even try to rebel for the throne, he was the youngest among the family and the most capable and powerful that his father made him the marshal. He had the army wrapped around his little finger, not even a single thing could happen in his army without his permission. His advice and say had always been important to Archer as he loved and adored his uncle for his high intellect.
Remembering the man who confessed to me 7 years ago hurt me, I always disliked him as I blamed him for this scar and also for liking me when I was a mere kid. I was 15 years old when he confessed his feelings for me while he was a grown-up man who wanted to end my engagement with the emperor.
Darius was 25 years old at that time when he confessed to me saying that he wanted to marry me, he was a young handsome man who could have any girl at his feet if he wanted but I was too blindly in love with Archer that I not only refused him but also insulted him saying that I don't love him and never will.
I always blamed him for this scar and to save him I got it but today I realized he was the only man who actually had real feelings for me not only that but I don't deserve him especially when the rope was wrapped around my neck. The pressure came.
I wish I had a chance to live to make them pay who did me wrong!
I wished for the last time as I knew the next destination I will have would be grave. I really wish I was given a chance to make those bastards pay for what they did to me.
I coughed, choked, and painfully I was driven to take a last breath but before shutting my eyes and senses out I did hear the roar of Marshal's right-hand man.
"STOP!" And feeling my heart freezing I died.
Flashback Ended
Opening my teary eyes I smiled remembering I was reborn. How is this possible? I looked at my face and then again at the place, this was insane! How can I be reborn and have no scar over my face? Was it a sign from God?
I wish I had a chance to live to make them pay who did me wrong!
That wish! Damned wish! Then realization drawn into me I was really given another chance to make those monsters pay for what they did to me. An evil smile sprung on my lips, I might have died but God indeed gave me a chance to live again. He changed my destiny, my fate, and also my death only to fulfill the last wish I had.
I was given a chance to change my fate and this time I wouldn't be the same fool!
But the question how did I end up here? I remember I was executed, and from that old woman's words, I have been sentenced to serve here for five years which means I am 26 right now! Damn I aged, I looked at my appearance and realized I haven't changed much physically but by appearance, I indeed have changed.
The scar was nowhere, the short hair I used to have were now waist long, my face looked less paler than before, and my eyes. They had turned deeper and darker. Having deep green eyes I was always admired for my eyes but after I got the scar people started bullying me saying that I don't deserve such beautiful eyes after that, my eyes always held sorrow making them less attractive but now I could see the reflection of old Anastasia. But a mature and better version of her.
Taking a seat on the bed I closed my eyes remembering how my fate changed, how my death was changed. And then the pieces of memory started flooding in my mind. Nothing happened after the day I was accused of cheating.
No executioner, no death sentence, no locking or chaining me in the basement jail. Instead, I was dragged out and the old emperor gave me a five years old sentence in the kingdom jail. I was stripped out of my status, my parents disowned me and I was said to be a maid of the emperor after my five years sentence.
Opening my eyes I frowned, I touched my neck still feeling that rope against my neck, I looked in the mirror and my eyes widened, there was a thin reddish line around my neck. It showed how my neck cracked and I died but it was like God had healed my neck and gave me another life to live.
Now I was sure, I was indeed reborn.
Caressing the last memory that my lovely ex-husband and beautiful snake sister gave me I smiled gratefully. You snatched my peace, my honor, my dignity, and my respect from me, I promise you.
I will snatch your everything, including your life!
Finally changing my clothes I walked out finding the same old lady who woke me up standing there, she rolled her eyes the moment she sighted me, grabbed a bucket and mop she thrust it in my hand making me sigh.
To be honest, I knew how to cook, but except that I had no idea of what to do, I never cleaned but if I have been doing this for the last four years then I must have known how to do it. With a determined face, I started cleaning the hallway and damn I was so good at this! Smiling proudly at my work I walked to the old lady.
"I am done!" She frowned at me.
"So soon," she whispered before watching the whole place and then finally sighing in defeat. Can't this old geezer see I did what she wants me? What's her problem?
"Fine, go and help in the kitchen." I went to the kitchen and found some prisoners already working.
I was about to go near the vegetables to cut them when I felt a tight grip over my elbow making me turn my head to the intruder only to find an unfamiliar face staring at me with a blank gaze.
"Did you pack your bags?" I frowned hearing her. Suddenly I remembered my clothes being stuffed in a small passenger bag, maybe I did pack last night. I nodded still looking at her with a frown. Why did I have to pack my shit? Is everything alright?
"Good, tomorrow you will be sent to the castle." Before she could go I held her wrist making her glare at me but I ignored it. If she thought she could scare me then it's a pity.
"But why? I mean I haven't completed my punishment yet right?" The woman jerked my hand away before sighing.
"You were given relief, you are doing good here, doing your chores and obeying the instructors that's why we have reduced your sentence and the officers here decided to free you six months earlier. But didn't I tell you this two days ago, you forgot already?" She looked frustrated thinking that I didn't give heed to her words but the truth was I didn't remember anything.
Whatever happened these four years and six months that I served in this jail I remember not even a single day except for today which is weird. I know I was reborn but I should have the memories of those years after all this is still my body. I looked at the woman before nodding my head.
"I apologize, when I will be leaving?" The woman finally looked at me with serious expressions surpassing her irritation.
"Tomorrow at noon, also you will be a maid there, the rest of the things will be informed to you by the head maid of the castle." With that, she left the place making me frown.
The sentence didn't make any sense, I was a wife of the emperor and accused of cheating, how could I be just given a punishment to serve and the fact that they were releasing me so soon only to take me back it just didn't make sense. The way these people were looking at me I feel like I was never an empress.
After a while, I was offered a meal and I took it to the corner, after a few minutes I sensed a presence and found a young girl who looked similar to my age staring at me with a smile. She looked like she knew me and was happy to see me.
"Are you excited we will be heading to the castle tomorrow?" I stared at her in shock. How can she expect me, a divorced empress to be happy to go back to my ex-husband on whom I was accused of cheating? Is she crazy?
"What happened?" She asked taking a spoonful of rice as she stared at me with a frown.
"Why would I be excited? You do know what I was accused of is extremely serious?" The girl chuckled shaking her head.
"You're still on it, it wasn't your fault just forget it. You told me you were wrongly accused plus the emperor liked you just that he had no say in his old emperor's orders." I stared at the girl like she has lost her mind. What the hell was she spouting?
"Can you brief what I told you?" She glanced at me.
"I mean maybe I left something," I said trying to sound confident and she chuckled nodding her head.
"You didn't tell me everything but your story was popular so I knew. You were the fiance of the emperor's cousin who wanted to marry someone else and that woman was the emperor's soon-to-be wife Elena, your big sister. The man you were engaged to accuse you of cheating on your sister's saying but as there was no strong proof so the marshal and king decided to sentence you to five years. Because your parents disowned you and chose your sister you were ordered to be a maid in the castle after your release for at least three years until you will be wedded." I was shaken would be an understatement, I was petrified and confused as hell.
Wait a damn second my whole life just changed in a span of a second, I wasn't married to the emperor, and the story was a bit familiar to my previous life but it was a lot different. I looked at her who was trying to read my expressions.
"That cousin, I mean m-my ex-fiance?" She sighed.
"It says that he committed suicide because the woman he loved didn't reciprocate his love and from what you told me it seems like he killed himself after your sister got married." I stared at her gulping down.
"To whom?" Now she looked suspicious but I didn't care I needed answers my whole damn life had been changed!
"To the young emperor, just a year ago he got married to her when the old emperor died." I sucked on my breath when the vivid memories hit me.
I had no scar means I never saved Marshal, it means he would never remember me. He might don't even know me anymore. Elena was still a snake sister who played a game to set me up, my parents still choose to believe her over me. That bastard my ex-husband didn't know me anymore. That cousin, my so-called fiance was a new member of my life. What in the actual fuck!
I rubbed my face in annoyance but then something hit me and a small smile appeared on my face. Emperor always loved pretty women, my face was clear now, and I don't feel shy to say I look extremely pretty just needed a little glow-up. I actually look better than Elena now.
Seems like fate actually played a complicated yet interesting game. You wanted everything from me, my lovely sister, now I will make you have a taste of your own medicine. And my lovely ex asshole you wanted a pretty face as your woman right? I will be that pretty face who will make you live an ugly life ahead.
And my dear Marshal Darius, you might have forgotten me, but I will always remember you.
You're the only Solano who was not on my hit list but a wanted one.
___________________________________
Stay tuned for the next.