Then she wakes up. Everything was bright white and blurry; her body felt heavy yet moveable. She was so moveable as if she wasn't held down by anyone or anything. It felt like a soft, big blanket was over her. Her eyes readjusted to see a black-wooded top of a canopy. Despite the throbbing pain in her head, the inner carving seems so familiar to her. She blinked her eyes a couple of times as the carvings became clear to her; they were the carvings of her bed of thirteen years. It's hard to forget them when every time Cinder awakes from a nightmare and stares at the top to pass the night. However, getting herself to fall asleep in the first place was a feat.

Suddenly, a cold, wet rug slashed her forehead. Her eyes turned towards the direction the carpet came from to see a brown hair and green-eyed maid smiling sweetly toward her. "My, your fever has gone down so much. I nearly thought we were going to lose you. Luckily, we didn't. Unfortunately, that luck came from medicine from the doctor your father hired," the maid spoke.

"Mary...?" Cinder whispered. She almost didn't recognize the voice she was speaking.

"What is it, darling?" Mary responded. Another older maid came behind the titular Mary to peer Cinder. Her short black hair and simple brown eyes stabbed Cinder even more in the heart.

"Olivia?" Her voice becomes louder. Her skin felt unrealistically free and soft as her hands rubbed her wrists. The ropes around her hands were no longer there, stretching every spick of her skin; nevertheless, it felt sickening when she slapped her hands to check for cuts; there was nothing but the heat from her cheeks. She repeatedly slaps her cheeks. Where's the blood!? Where are the cuts?! Where's everything!?

"C-My lord!" Olivia cried out, grabbing Cinder's hand from slapping herself, "What is going on with you!?” Cinder looked deeply into the pleading eyes of Olivia. Those pleading eyes, those loving, pleading eyes. The other maids in the background stop conversing about the war as Mary orders them to grab the medicine quickly for Cinder. The battle was going sour as Emperor Axel had landed a hit on any protesting citizens who wanted Heavan to surrender. As she slowly calms down, Cinder recognizes the protests started a year before they employed young knights in the war.

The year before Father sent me- Cinder ripped her hands away from Olivia and jumped out the bed. She nearly stumbled as she raced towards her standing mirror despite the room spinning. Olivia and Mary called out for her to stop this madness, but she couldn't! She needs to know as she stands haggardly in front of the mirror. Cinder feels both comfort and discomfort looking at her young self. Black, short curly hair that hangs over her ears. Her face was pale, with a small scar over her right eyebrow. Darken blue eyes that look with wonder yet nauseous. No more of the red, plum lipstick she wears. No more of the breasts she slowly gains during her transition. She was back in the lean muscular body she used to hate seeing every day, the body she would kill to change. Her old body gave her joy for the first time in her life. Her eyes wiled up into tears as she cried out. I'm back! Someone answers my prayers, and I'm back!

Mary and Olivia rush over to Cinder. They both grabbed her arms to move her over to the bed; Mary lectures Cinder from going against the doctor's order as Olivia helped Cinder onto the bed. She then shifted the blanket over Cinder once again as the doctor ordered. "My, what had gotten into you to cry like this?" Olivia softly asked. Cinder gazes up at the two women that she longed to see. Mary, the younger one of the two, was a charming but slightly overbearing woman. She was always gossiping and fussing over the news. Mary was Cinder's dresser, who often tried to dress her up for everything. It got even worse when Cinder realized she was a girl. Olivia, the older one, was a stricter woman. She was a loving yet tough person on Cinder about her health, grades, manners, and social skills. Her black hair and brown eyes often made her blend into the background, but her personality made up for it.

"I'm s-sorry. I don't know what came over me," Cinder responded, choking back tears of happiness, "I-i felt overwhelmed perhaps..." But, of course, it wasn't a lie, as her body was still trembling from the fact she was back in the past. But how would she tell them? That she was beheaded by a bunch of bandits that came after her father since being friends with Lord Thorax would always be his downfall? No, that's sounds even crazy to her, and she the one that somehow came back here. To question her father's choices had always been a secret rebellion between her, Mary, and Olivia; however, she couldn't do it in such a room full of other maids that already thought her mad after the display she just put. She needs to first analyze everything that happened with a clear head.

Once everything had calmed down, Cinder took her medicine that tasted like deluded bitter tea. The medication was for the same sickness that had killed her mother before her, including the symptoms her body, unfortunately, recognizes. However, Cinder's value was still enough for her father to care for her health. As she drinks her medication, she sees the room empty of the other attending maids by Olivia's orders. She then spots a woman that makes the bitter tea taste even shitter. A woman that made her life hell after she came back from the war. The woman was younger and more innocent looking. Compared to her later dyed red hair, her white-pink hair tells it all. She was the reason her father even knew that Cinder was transgender. That cheating traitor.

"That pink maid is new, right?" Cinder spat out.

Mary turned to Cinder, shocked by her question, "My lady," the phrase only mutters in private to avoid her father's supervision, "You don't remember the new girl who been delivering the snacks at your sword lessons?"

Ah, that's how she probably figured out I was being called Cinder and told father about it. Clyde sometimes forgets to call me Felix in front of others. Cinder sips another of her medicine. "Hard to remember her when she's forgettable," Cinder said as she held back the venom in her voice.

Mary chimed in, "Isn't she?! Do you think a girl with such a beautiful hair color would try to stand out? All she has ever been doing is hurrying up her duties to get away back into the maids' corridors. Along with that, she does nothing but ology Clyde during your guys less-"

"Mary, that is enough of your gossiping," Olivia scolded, "And Lady Cinder, that girl had done nothing but worked here. So, there is no reason to speak venom about that poor girl." Cinder sighed and muttered an apology while Mary pouted. Yet, Olivia was right since that girl didn't betray Cinder until she returned from the war. Olivia sighed and came over to Cinder to lovingly rubbed her head. Cinder choked back tears she felt from the comforting gesture she missed so much. "You still need rest from fighting that sickness. So don't waste your strength on venom, my lady," Olivia said sweetly.

Cinder nodded and put on a smile as she wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry...I hope my behavior didn't ruin my chances of a nice chocolate cake," Cinder said cutely.

"Of course not!" Mary stands up excitedly, "I been dying for something sweet myself. Besides, treating yourself when you're sick would be best. I'll tell the cook to start."

"I'll be the one to tell the Cook to make stew before the Lady eats sweet as she is sick," Olivia chimed in.

"Must you always bring down the mood!"

"Must you always try to fatten our lady?"

Mary huffed, "I'm trying to make her feel better."

"Oh, start moving."

Mary and Olivia continued to bicker as they left the room. Cinder giggled before her smile faded. She got up to move to the desk in her room. She pulled out a hidden diary that Mary and Olivia don't even know about, and she began reading the latest written entry. Her suspicions were correct; this was the peaceful time before her father sent her off to war. However, things have changed now; she is more competent and braver. She had a taste of freedom once, and by God, she will have it all.

To be contuine...