“Ugh…”

I lifted my heavy head and slowly sat up. I held my hand up to my forehead in an attempt to alleviate the nauseating headache I was having. 

It was painful, but I slowly turned my head around to look for water to quench my thirst. To my delight, there was a pitcher and a glass on the bedside table. I gingerly picked it up and filled the glass, to which I then drank quickly in large gulps. 

It was then when I placed it down that I accidentally dropped it, which forced me to watch as it fell down with a loud thud on the carpet. With frustration filling me, I could only frown while forcing myself to get off the bed, attempting to pick it up.

However, I froze half-way when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. It was only then as well that I realized that my hand looked different from how I remembered it. 

“Huh…?”

Forgetting about being sick, I ran towards the mirror and stared at my face in utter disbelief. 

Looking in the mirror, I was met with a beautiful child, completely different from what I remembered. The face in my memories, which I was only able to see in the dirty water's reflection of me, was ugly, and disgusting. 

After several years of abuse, it was, without a doubt, disfigured and ugly—to the point I was sure that if a child saw it, they would cry in fright and run away.

Not to mention that nasty seal, a carving that littered my skin. But now? Nothing of that is here! 

The girl reflected in the mirror is young, maybe she is around eleven or twelve in age. She had pale skin, but despite that, her skin was smooth and clean, no scars, no bruises, and no seal! 

Possessing raven hair coupled with amethyst irises, this girl was truly beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful girl in the whole world. 

“So… This is what Louis looked like…”

I forgot… 

It was the first thought that came to my mind right after I recovered from the shock.

I raised my hand and I touched the mirror. 

It has been so long, that I couldn’t even remember the face of my own twin. But what I do remember was that we looked exactly alike, except for the colors of our hair. 

So I’d stare at the mirror whenever I missed him.

I was supposed to always be able to remember him because of that… 

However, as the witch’s torture would get worse and worse with every passing day, I no longer resembled the brother from my memories, and his image gradually faded from my mind. 

And Leo never saved me from it. Not even once.

I felt a quench in my heart, and then, I remembered. 

“Louis…right, Louis!”

If it’s at this time, he should still be alive—

I could see him again!

So, without a second wasted, I ran out of my room more desperate than ever, even in my attempts to escape my prison, I never looked so desperate. 

***

Archduchess Aleister was a woman of great elegance and beauty. People knew her as rather outgoing and kind, yet never once shed the noble charisma she possesses, making her the center of attention at every gathering. 

However, although her beauty and personality was to be desired, she was also the center of malicious rumors. One of the main criticisms the people thought of her, was that her hair was black. 

In the Holy Empire of Erlain, most of the people’s hair was light in color due to the high concentration of Ether. The head of the Papacy, the Imperial Family, and the members of the House of Aleister all have white hair due to the fact that they are most exposed to the divine. 

As such, a woman whose hair was black rather than white, and the Archduke’s wife, no less, was a cause of concern. Not to mention she appeared suddenly in high society, with no one knowing the origin of her birth. 

They believed she was a girl from a poor family that lived in the outskirts of the Holy empire, or from a small kingdom far away. Or that she’s one of those hateful Mages who dared to reject the Goddess’s grace and decided to pave a path for themselves. Or perhaps she was a child of a demon who seduced the noble Archduke with her beauty.

 The third was one of the more popular speculations. 

Even worse, on the day of the Holy Birth, not one, but two children were born. The other of which had black hair. It brought horror to those who saw it. 

What could it have possibly meant? 

In the eyes of those who saw, the child looked ominous. It gives them a creeping feeling as if that child shouldn't have been born. 

Perhaps it was due to desperation or blind fate, the midwife brandished a knife which caused the death of the Archduchess who, as mother, desperately protected her newborn children. 

When the Archduke arrived home, it was already far too late.

***

My precious brother died at the age of twelve, killed by vicious assassins. It was a memory that haunted me for years, but I couldn't dare to forget.

Our rooms were only next door to each other, but it felt very far, and I had run a long way before I finally reached it. My hands were shaking as I took a deep breath, my breathing was ragged and my head was pounding intensely. Nevertheless, I gathered strength in my hands and turned the knob, and pushed the door open.

-Bang!

"...Cena?"

Louis was there standing by the bed. He looked as if he just woke up, as his clothes and hair were messy. On his face were confusion, shock, sorrow, and relief, all at the same time. 

My mind was hazy, so as soon as I saw him, I ran towards Louis, and hugged him.

Numerous emotions clouded my mind at that moment. But all that I felt was the warmth that I lost so early, and incredibly missed. My heart stung, and my eyes turned watery. But I suppressed my tears and spoke with a trembling voice.

"Louis, I'm sorry."

It was the words I repeated over and over in my head like some sort of prayer after I lost him.

I felt that I had too many things to apologize about. Our mother’s death, our loneliness, the sadness we felt…

Louis and I weren't able to make up after a big fight until the day he died. It was something that I deeply regretted, but can't do anything about, as it was too late.

That's why…

That's why even if this is only a dream, or a mere hallucination my mind created.

I wanted to say it.

I wanted to say I'm sorry, for being a weak and stupid sister, for saying that I hated him, even though I really didn't.

And….

"I love you."

Even if this is only a dream… I wanted him to know. 

I beamed as I looked at him, laughing as if it was the happiest moment of my life. 

 "Louis, I love you so much. I love you more than anyone else in the world!"

Louis's beautiful purple eyes were staring straight at me. He opened his mouth.

"Cena…did you have a bad dream?"

"I'm having a very wonderful one."

It's the truth. There couldn't have been a better dream than the one I'm having now. 

"I'm happy that I got to see you once again."

There was nothing more that could better describe how I felt in that moment.

If only I could never wake up again.

I would gladly pay any price for it.