~{DEBORAH'S POV}~
*
"The king has returned!"
I stirred in my sleep but refused to open my eyes until I felt a firm nudge and it forced me to open my eyes to my lady in waiting.
She was overjoyed and couldn't conceal her happiness.
"My Queen, the king has returned!" She repeated again and I blinked at her in confusion before slowly looking around and I found my other ladies in waiting looking at me in excitement.
The king has returned?
Returned from where exactly?
My mind was a bit muddled as she helped me to my feet while happily saying, "You've been waiting all your life for this moment and now he's here, you should dress up in the finest attire and go to him," she advised but I frowned when I had a déjà vu feeling.
Something wasn't right and deep down I knew it. This was totally wrong.
And when she guided me to my dressing room to change into something more befitting and welcoming, I frowned at my reflection in the mirror.
Something wasn't right, especially with what I wore. I knew I've worn this dress before, it was very jarring but my brain felt like it was still in the process of rebooting.
"Quick, my Queen, you can't keep him waiting and it will be wrong not to be the first to welcome him," the other lady in waiting advised but I didn't pay attention to her words, rather I was trying to understand everything.
When I was escorted out of my room and into the bustling hallway with servants all around, I frowned all the more because it screamed DÉJÀ VU!
My steps faltered and I paused and so did my ladies in waiting. They frowned at me and one of them couldn't help but ask.
"Are you alright, my queen?"
But instead of answering her question, I asked another.
"Where is the king coming from?"
My question came as a shock to them and for a moment they didn't reply until they saw how serious I was.
"From a long battle, my queen," the one who had woken me up from my beauty sleep answered.
"A battle?" I repeated and she nodded.
"When did he leave?" I asked another question because something felt odd.
They gave me the same puzzled look but still answered.
"Two months ago, my queen."
My creased brows smoothened as realization finally dawned on me and it felt like a dam got opened as memories flooded into my mind. I gasped as my eyes went wide in disbelief.
No, this can't be! I nearly voiced that out but didn't.
How? How was I back to this scene when I have lived it?
Something wasn't right.
And when I thought deeply, it finally occurred to me what wasn't right.
I had died
A cool feeling washed over me as my eyes locked onto my lady in waiting who had a worried look.
"Are you alright my queen?" She worriedly asked but I didn't respond.
I was too shaken to respond.
Too shaken to move.
Too shaken to even process everything.
Too shaken to recall what I found when I went to meet the king who was my husband.
"My Queen?" The other lady in waiting carefully called out to me.
I had three ladies in waiting and the senior went by the name Dally, followed by the second who was, Peace, and the third, Rachel.
Without saying a word to either of them, I rushed back to my room and entered before banging and bolting the doors behind me.
I had to think. I had to get myself together and understand what was going on.
How was I alive?
I knew I died!
I saw death ready to take my soul so how was I alive?
And not just that but how was I back to the day my husband returned from his two months long war?
And how is it that I remember living this life?
Questions ran through my mind but I had no answer to them. Not a single one.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!"
"MY QUEEN PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!"
"MY QUEEN!"
I heard my ladies in waiting calling out to me as they banged the door but I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to pay attention to them.
Why was I alive?
I wanted to be alive but why was I alive and back to the life I hated? Why?
And speaking of the King's return, something else came to mind and a shiver ran down my spine.
He wouldn't come empty-handed. I knew it because I had lived this life and I had seen it. He came back with a strange woman and even claimed to love her dearly.
My heart shuddered at that painful memory and my blood boiled in anger when I recalled everything I went through in that woman's hands. The torture, the pain, the humiliation!
With a change of mind, I unlocked the doors and stepped out only for my ladies in waiting to stumble forward with their eyes wide open in surprise.
"Are you alright, my queen?" Dally asked and I nodded before rushing past her.
"Let's go!" I hurriedly shouted as my pace increased.
I needed to see it for myself if history was repeating itself and if he really brought that lady to our home. If he did then I will NEVER forgive him and I will make sure to give him a piece of what I went through.
As I hurried to the throne room where he should be, my heart thrummed when I recalled him boldly announcing his victory in the battle as well as his news of taking a new wife.
I quickly shook my head to get rid of the thought but as I neared the room and the royal guards saw me, they instantly made way for me and the moment I rushed into the grand room, my eyes immediately zeroed on him and when I looked to his side, my steps faltered as I came to a halt.
There she was. The vile lady!
Not only did this confirm my fear but it also let me know that this was actually happening. I was reliving my life all over again…