Page 1
Her eyes opened slowly…
Clear blue eyes, resembling frozen amber under a cold light.
She was an infant girl, with soft white hair and a gentle face that did not yet know fear.
She sat quietly inside an ornate rocking chair, its color fading between white and sky blue, swaying slowly as if time itself were soothing her.
And in that moment…
The darkness opened.
A mysterious person appeared, wearing a deep black cloak, with no visible features.
He approached with silent steps…
Then lifted the child into his arms and disappeared as if he had never existed.
In another place…
A young woman with blond hair tinged with gold was searching in madness.
"No… no… where is she?!"
She fell to her knees and collapsed in tears, her hands trembling as she weakly struck the ground.
The sound of her crying tore through the silence… but the child did not return.
Four years later…
Under an open sky, among green trees,
a small girl with white hair was running and laughing after a brown squirrel, her steps light and her laughter pure.
"Hah! Wait!"
The squirrel leapt away, and the girl stopped, panting slightly.
Suddenly, a firm yet warm voice called out:
"Heeey… Elysiiiaaaa!"
The girl stopped and turned toward the source of the voice.
There stood a man about twenty-five years old, with noble features, sharp eyes filled with concern.
This child is…
Elysia Azur,
four years old.
And the man calling her is…
Arsian Azur.
Her father.
Page 2
Elysia ran with small, clumsy steps, her white hair trailing behind her like a strand of pale light.
She stopped in front of the man and lifted her head, looking at him with clear blue eyes.
"Dad… the squirrel was fast!"
Arsian Azur smiled faintly and knelt to be at her level.
He reached out and gently patted her head.
"I told you, don't run too far away from me."
Elysia nodded quickly, then laughed—a child's laugh that knew nothing of fear…
Nor of the world that was searching for her.
Arsian stood up and looked around cautiously.
The forest was too quiet.
For four years now…
He had not trusted silence.
He clenched his fist without Elysia noticing,
as an old memory returned to gnaw at his chest.
"Come on, we're late."
He said it in a calm tone that hid deep worry.
He took her small hand, and they walked together along a dirt path leading to a simple wooden house, far from any city or noble emblem.
A house that did not resemble the Azur family's mansion.
Nor the life of nobility.
But… it was safe.
Elysia sat on the steps of the house, watching her father open the door.
Then she suddenly turned and asked in an innocent voice:
"Dad… why don't we have servants like in the stories?"
Arsian paused for a second.
Then he smiled.
"Because we live a real life, not a story."
But inside…
He knew the truth was far more than that.
In a distant place…
Inside a towering palace,
the Emperor slowly opened his eyes.
"She's still alive…"
He said it in a low voice,
then smiled a cold smile.
"The daughter of the noble knight has not disappeared from this world."
Page 3
The next morning…
Arsian was gathering pieces of wood at the edge of the forest, his hands moving automatically while his mind remained as alert as ever.
But suddenly—
He stopped.
He slowly raised his head and looked around.
The forest…
Was too quiet.
No birds.
No insects.
Not even the sound of wind.
He whispered in a low voice, his eyes narrowing:
"…What is this silence?"
In an instant, he threw the firewood aside and rushed toward the house.
He stopped abruptly.
In front of his wooden house…
There were horses.
Trained horses, adorned with black saddles bearing a familiar insignia.
Arsian's gaze changed immediately.
No longer the gaze of a father…
But that of a knight ready for anything.
He gripped his axe and cautiously approached the door.
And the moment he raised his hand—
A cold sword was placed against his neck.
He froze.
Then he looked to the side.
His eyes widened.
That face…
He knew it.
Time dragged him years back—
To training grounds,
To battles,
To a man who had stood by his side through every hardship.
"…James?"
He said it in a low voice, hardly believing it.
The man looked at him with hard eyes, yet within them lay the shadow of old sorrow.
"Why…?"
Arsian asked hoarsely.
"Why, James?"
James tightened his grip on the sword slightly, then said:
"This is an order from the Emperor."
He continued in a steady voice:
"And I am tasked with carrying it out."
Arsian swallowed and asked quickly:
"Where is my daughter?"
James answered after a moment of silence:
"She's fine."
"She's with the knight accompanying me."
Then he gestured with his hand, and the door was opened.
Shortly before that…
Inside the house,
Elysia was standing alone.
She looked at her small hands and whispered inwardly:
It has been four years since I returned to this body…
And as I believe… I will die on my seventeenth birthday.
She frowned slightly.
But… why can't I remember the reason?
My memories are weak…
I remember everything before that day…
Except the moment of my death itself.
She clenched her fist.
Until then… I have to survive.
Suddenly—
A knock on the door.
Elysia turned quickly and said innocently:
"Dad?"
She stepped forward and opened the door.
But…
It wasn't her father.
There were two armed men, wearing black cloaks, their features harsh.
They stared at her.
One of them said coldly:
"Blue eyes…"
The other said:
"Exactly as the Emperor said."
Then he added:
"She is Arsian's daughter… from the Azur family."
Elysia stepped back.
Her gaze filled with fear… and confusion.
And in that moment—
She understood.
The danger…
Had arrived.
Page 4
Inside the house,
Elysia stepped back once more, her heart pounding rapidly.
She looked at the two armed men, then at their hands…
This was not just the fear of a child,
But the fear of someone who knew what was coming.
"Where is my father?"
She asked in a low voice, trying to keep it steady.
The two men exchanged a quick glance.
One of them said:
"He'll come soon."
Then added in a cold tone:
"Don't be afraid, the Emperor wants you alive."
Elysia's body tensed.
So… nothing had changed.
They were still looking for me.
She lowered her head slightly, as if she had surrendered,
But her mind was working fast.
Outside—
Arsian entered the house slowly, the sword still close to his neck.
He quickly looked inside…
And saw her.
Elysia…
Standing there, unharmed.
He exhaled, but his anger ignited.
"James."
He said it in a low, dangerous tone.
"You know I won't hand her over."
James clenched his fist, his eyes averting for a moment.
"And you know… this path has no end."
At that moment,
Elysia raised her head.
She looked at her father…
Then at the two men.
And suddenly said, in a childish, innocent voice:
"Uncle… are you my dad's friend?"
One of the men froze.
Even James…
His eyes widened slightly.
Elysia took a small step forward, her hand trembling on purpose.
"My dad told me…"
She paused, then continued:
"Bad people don't knock on doors."
A heavy silence fell.
Inside her,
Elysia was thinking:
In my previous life…
I didn't speak.
I didn't resist.
And here… I will change everything.
She raised her blue eyes with a steadiness that did not suit her age.
And in that moment—
Arsian felt something was wrong.
Something…
Had begun to move.
Page 5
One of the men approached slowly.
He had green hair and clear green eyes, his features less harsh than his companion's.
He bent slightly before Elysia and said in a calm voice:
"Don't be afraid… yes, I am your uncle. Your father's friend."
Then he gently lifted her into his arms.
Elysia's body stiffened for a moment,
Then… relaxed.
She rested her head on his shoulder, as if she believed his words.
But inside,
She was more alert than ever.
James raised his gaze to Arsian and stepped closer.
Then whispered in his ear in a low, sharp voice:
"If you do anything… the child will be frightened."
He continued without looking at him:
"Follow us calmly."
Arsian's jaw tightened,
But he did not move.
Moments later,
A black carriage was brought.
Everyone boarded it,
And Elysia sat inside while James sat beside her.
She looked at him with her blue eyes and asked innocently:
"Where are we going?"
James hesitated for a moment,
Then said in a voice he tried to make warm:
"Didn't you want a palace and servants… like in fairy tales?"
Her eyes widened.
"We're going to our palace."
He added:
"Say goodbye… to our old home."
Elysia's eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
She leaned toward the carriage window and stuck out her small head.
She saw the wooden house…
That place that had been her entire world.
It slowly drifted away,
Disappearing among the trees.
She raised her small hand and waved.
"Goodbye…"
But inside,
She said something else:
This time…
I won't be the victim.