Lily opened the door and stepped out of the carriage. A pale, muscular hand reached in to help her out. She accepted it and stepped down from the carriage, finding herself face to face with a young man with flaming red hair and pale skin.

"How was your day, my dearest? I heard you fainted twice. Is everything okay?" he asked his voice gentle, and his concern was visible on his face.

Lily, who had no memory of the princess's past, hesitated. She turned to glance at Liora, who had floated out of the carriage behind her and was now circling the man curiously.

"He's very handsome," Liora whispered, spinning above him her hands clasped together. "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not an expert on the Selmour royal family. I'm a ghost, not a witch. But he's clearly your brother."

Lily blinked mouthing. "Brother? Why?".

You will know later, Liora said, grinning.

"Lily," the man said, his voice dripping with concern. "Are you feeling unwell? Should get you a physician. He asked

"No, I'm fine, Brother," she replied quickly. "I was just tired."

"Are you sure? We can postpone the journey if needed."

"Yes, I'm sure there is no need to postpone the journey," she said firmly reassuring him.

"All right. Lady Reymond, please escort my sister to her room," he instructed, handing her over to a blonde woman who asked her a question in the carriage standing behind her.

Lily looked around and gasped. There were more than fifty carriages and a sea of guards, all lined up. She couldn't see the end of them.

"The princess is beloved in the Selmour Empire. She's the only daughter of the Selmour emperor," Liora whispered beside her. Noticing Lily's surprise "You didn't know that she asked? What did you live in, a cave? Even I, a ghost, know of that."

Lily rolled her eyes and didn't respond. She followed Lady Reymond quietly.

"Are you all right, Your Highness?" Marian asked as they walked toward the towering gates of the villa.

"Yes. Let's go," Lily replied.

The big gate, which had golden letters inscribed above it, read "Imperial Villa." A line of guards bowed as a man who looked like a butler approached.

"Welcome, Your Highness," he said with a deep bow. "We have been waiting for you. Please allow me to show you to your chambers."

"Please lead the way," Lily said, glancing behind her.

She looked back where her brother stood and saw him speaking to another man. He looked at her, and she met his gaze. He met her gaze and mouthed, "Go. I'll join you later." She nodded and stepped inside.

"You know who that is?" Liora whispered beside her.

Lily shook her head.

"That's the Archduke of Velmira. Isn't he very handsome," Liora said with a mischievous grin.
"The Archduke of Velmira?" Lily whispered, her smile dropping, as a flicker of recognition passed through her eyes. "He looks so different." She added.

"Oh? You know him?" Liora asked how? from when? she added, buzzing around her.
"Not really," Lily replied. "Why is he here?" she whispered, looking around, trying to avoid the servants noticing her talking to herself.

"I heard the emperor sent him to welcome you at the Velmira border," Liora whispered.
Lily's lips curled into a slow smile as she remembered him. Despite not seeing him recently, she knew him before her mother died; they were close friends at one point.

"You look good when you smile," Liora said. Lily blushed at the unexpected compliment "Duchess, is that a blush I see?" she added, pointing at Lily's cheeks, giggling Ooh, I should call you princess now she said.

Lily chose to ignore her. She was still overwhelmed by everything that had happened. In a single day, she experienced death, was reborn, saw a ghost, and now stood surrounded by strangers about to live a life that was not hers.

The butler opened the gate to the big room. Lily entered and gasped at the sight. Everything about the villa screamed extravagance. Even as a duchess, she had never seen such a room. The room was massive, the walls and floor tiled, and a large chandelier with candles hung from the ceiling.
"That is your chamber, Your Highness. Everything is ready in your room," the butler said, "Everything is prepared. Please come for dinner once you have finished refreshing," he said, stepping aside to let her enter the room.

"Many thanks," Lily said, stepping in, missing the look of shock on everyone's faces, but Liora didn't miss it. She smiled, floating after Lily.

Lily threw herself on the couch next to the big bed. Marian came forward.
"Your Highness. Let me help you to the bathing chambers," she said, offering her hand to Lily. Despite her exhaustion, Lily took her hand as the other lady-in-waiting helped open Lily's corset. Lily gasped, breathing deeply once the corset was united as the air rushed to her lungs.

"What do they get by torturing themselves?" Liora said, shaking her head.

Lily looked at her, confused as to what she was talking about.

"Don't mind me," Liora said when she noticed the confused look on Lily's face. "It's the feminist in me talking," she added, pointing at the corset, further confusing Lily.

"You have been absent-minded the whole of this afternoon, Your Highness. Is everything okay?" Marian said. "Are you still feeling unwell?" she asked.

Lily took her eyes from Liora and faced Marian. "I'm okay, Lady Reymond."
Marian looked at Lily awkwardly. "You always called me Marian, Your Highness. Why are you distant all of a sudden?"

"Sorry, Marian. I just need rest," she said, and Marian looked at Lily, more surprised.
"Stop thanking them. You're scaring them," Liora said. "I don't think the princess is known for being polite. Every time you thank anyone, they look like they've seen a ghost."

Lily looked at Liora, laughing at her, and just followed Marian to the bath chamber. Once again, she was shocked at the extravagance. The whole room was tiled, and there was a big bathtub at the centre, filled to the brim with hot water, which turned the whole room hazy with steam.
 She slipped her out of her undergarment and looked at her body. She was very pale, just like her brother. It looked like it was a common look for the Selmour royal family. That's when she realised she hadn't seen her face yet.

"Go bring me a mirror," she asked a maid as she eased herself into the waiting bathtub. Once her skin touched the water, she sighed deeply in relief.

The maid she sent came back with a mirror, handing it to Lily, who took it. She gasped once she saw her reflection. Although the chamber was hazy, she could see herself clearly. She looked around the age of eighteen and had a small oval-shaped face with red freckles and green eyes. But what shocked her was her hair, it was flaming red, just like her brother's. She could now understand Liora's obvious "you will know later" comment earlier about her asking who her brother was.

The reflection staring back at her was that of this vibrant, healthy girl who was a world apart from the sickly woman she had been hours before.

Marian handed two maids some soap and oils, then sat at the edge of the tub, instructing one to wash Lily's hair and the other to scrub her body as she gave her a massage. Lily breathed deeply and closed her eyes, drifting into a comfortable nap.