To return to Oliveira Manor, Sofia rode with the Duke and Duchess in their carriage. 

“You were lovely at the ball, Lady Monica.” the Duchess compliments.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“I saw you danced with Sir Alves.” the Duke abruptly comments.

“...Yes. He somehow seemed to be aware of my accident. I guess you are not as resourceful at keeping things under wraps as you thought." Sofia mocks.

“WHAT!”

“Oh, y-your Grace, Lady Monica, might just be a bit frustrated from the lack of her memories”. Duchess Alicia chimes in, trying to pacify the situation, "Don't take her tone too hard.” 

Miguel sighs, “Since you don't even remember this, I will tell you. Your carriage was passing through Alves County when the accident happened, so they were involved in your rescue.”

“W-what? I was found there?” Sofia asks perplexed, why did she appear at the same County her Aunt disappeared at, of all places?

“Yes, in the middle of the woods unconscious.” Duke Miguel answers. 

“And Sir Tiago personally helped in the search?”

“He did.” Miguel adjusts his spectacles, “Though he wasn't the one who found you, one of my knights did.”

“I see.”

“Whait, did you let Sir Tiago learn of your amnesia?” the Duke asks.

“Well, he noticed that I didn't recognize him, but I told him I just forgot him in particular.” 

“Ugh, you are such a handful.” Miguel massages his temple. 

Silence befell the carriage as the three passengers stop conversing. Now in the quiet, Sofia thoughts shifted to Prince Rafael and Lady Ana. Even though the Prince was still engaged with Monica, he was already in a courtship with Lady Ana. Would that mean the conception of Gabriel was inevitable? If so, Sofia maintaining the wedding with the Prince would only lower Gabriel status to the illegible child of a mistress. Perhaps to prevent his existence it would require the death of either Lady Ana or Prince Rafael. That was a path Sofia was reluctant to pursue, after all, the last time she went the murder route resulted in her execution. Well, maybe just lowering him to a bastard would be enough to quench my grudge.

“By the way, about the wedding, I believe it is about time a date is set.” Says Sofia

“I see. I suppose your amnesia has its perks.” the Duke comments. “You used to be adamant about winning the Prince`s heart first before going through with the wedding.”

“Well, we have to do it before Prince Rafael inherits the Crown.” Sofia was worried that if they waited too long, Rafael might just marry Lady Ana instead, especially if she got pregnant.

“Very well, I will contact the King to have it settled.” Miguel says.

“Oh, how wonderful, Lady Monica!” Duchess Alicia cheers.

“Will you help me choose a wedding dress, your Grace?” Sofia puts on a smile for the Duchess.

“Yes! I would love to! You will be the most beautiful bride!”

*

With the date for the wedding set, Sofia was now having her dress fitted. As it was promised, she was joined by Duchess Alicia. Sofia was standing as the tailor did the adjustments, she looked at Alicia, sitting at the sofa watching everything with an excited demeanor. How wonderful it was to have her mother by her side this time, even if she didn`t know Sofia`s real identity. 

The tailor stepped back to look at her work, Sofia turned from one side to the other, admiring herself in the mirror. There was a secret to this wedding dress only she knew. Sofia had the dress made to be identical to one from her time, the one she wore when she wed Prince Gabriel. This was not to be Monica`s wedding dress but Sofia`s. It was a little treat for herself, after all, it was exhausting pretending to be someone else.

“How do you like it, my Lady?” the tailor asks.

“It is perfect. You are quite precise with your work.” Sofia compliments the tailor. She turns to the Duchess, “How do I look?”

“Oh, you look breathtaking!” Alicia replied, clapping her hands smiling. Sofia then proceeds to take various poses to show off the dress to the Duchess. 

“Monica, what are you doing?” Alicia giggles.

“Come, join me.” Sofia pulls the Duchess from the sofa, towards the front of the mirror with her. The two noble ladies then have fun striking poses in front of the mirror. Watching their reflections, Sofia sighs internally, if only she took more after Alicia, she resembled too much the Duke. 

Sofia is pulled from her thoughts by the Duchess vomiting over her. What is happening? Sofia looks around, the tailor is mortified at the sight. She looks at the tea set by the couch, was the tea poisoned? Sofia turns back towards Alicia, she grabs the Duchess by the shoulders, “H-how are you feeling? Did the tea taste weird?” If it was poisoned she needed to figure out what the poison was. Sofia could feel her heart at her throat. Was she about to lose her mother? That couldn't be, the only good thing about time traveling to the past was that she got to meet her mother, she wasn't ready to let go!

“N-no, the tea was fine.” Alicia manages to answer, “I think it was from moving around so much. I have been feeling somewhat nauseous since morning.” She looks at Sofia`s face, “Oh, you are so pale! It was quite a shock, right? I`m sorry from worrying you, but I`m fine. Here, let's take a seat on the sofa.”

“I-it wasn't poison?” Sofia asks, taking a seat.

“No! It was only nausea. Oh dear, poison?” Alicia looks at Sofia, “OH NO! Your dress! What have I done! I`m sorry, Monica!” Alicia starts fretting over Sofia.

“Who cares about this! A replacement can be made! Are you sure you are well? Your nausea worries me.” Sofia frets over Alicia.

“I`m fine. But I puked all over you! I`m so sorry.” the Duchess starts to weep, “Now you are going to come to hate me again! And you have all the right, I ruined your wedding!”

“No! How could I hate you? Who cares about this sham marriage anyway! Something could be seriously wrong with your health! We need a physician!” Sofia also starts to ball her eyes out, “You are not dying on me! You hear?”

“Oh no! What if you are right? I could be actually dying! B-but I wanted to attend your wedding!”

Sofia sniffles, “And I wanted you to be there!”

The attendants of House Oliveira eventually manage to take the two noble ladies back to the manor. Once there, the house doctor is called to examine the Duchess.

*

Another day, when the two ladies were drinking tea, Duchess Alicia shared the Doctor`s results with Sofia, “I`m with child!” she says excitedly.

At the news, Sofia drops her tea cup, spilling its contents over the tea table. She shifts her gaze to Alicia`s belly, in this moment another Sofia was growing in there, how surreal was that?

“M-Monica?” 

“Oh, Ahem, congratulations Alicia.” Sofia shakes herself off her stupor.

“I`m so happy! I`m going to be a mom!” the Duchess beams.

“Y-yes.” Sofia goes into a cold sweat, is it going to go the same as it did before? Is Duchess Alicia going to die due to childbirth?

“And you are going to be an aunt!” Alicia claps, “Aunt Monica! It has a nice ring to it, does it not?”

“Yes.” Sofia was now picturing holding the baby version of herself. How is the life of this other Sofia going to unfold? Is she destined to also marry Prince Gabriel? But, with herself, adult Sofia pretending to be Monica, marrying Rafael in the stead of Lady Ana there was not going to be a Prince Gabriel. At this point a thought occurred to Sofia. What if, much like the real Monica, she too was destined to surfer some terrible event which prevented her from marrying Rafael. She pictured the baby Sofia, there wasn't much she could do for their mother, but at least she would do everything she could to prevent this new Sofia from going through the same suffering she experienced in her time. Sofia looked at Alicia, who was drinking her tea happily, she was determined to enjoy every moment she had left with her mother. 

*

Due to the Duchess's insistence, a party was being held at Oliveira Manor in celebration of the pregnancy. Currently the Oliveiras were engaged in conversation with Marquess Garcia and Lady Ana.

“Oh how wonderful, I`m going to be a grandpa!” the Marquess wiped his wet eyes with his handkerchief. He was a plump man and his wavy blond hair had been balding for the last decade. Last time, at the Prince`s birthday ball, Sofia was too preoccupied to take much notice of him, but now,  looking at Marquess Garcia, Sofia noticed that his eyes, much like Alicia`s, were full of life. His face carried the warmth of someone who loved his family. It was a sight Sofia was unfamiliar with, at her time the Marquess had secluded himself alongside his wife in their territory following Alicia`s death. This was only the second time she had ever seen the Marquess.

“Congratulations, Duchess.” Lady Ana says with her cold brown eyes.

“T-thank you, Sister.” Alicia responded. She, as always, seemed uneasy when facing her younger sister.

“And, Lady Monica, your wedding is coming up, you must be happy.” Lady Ana commented glaring at Sofia.

“Yes, I`m looking forward to joining the royal family.” Sofia grins back. Lady Ana smiles in irritation at the reply.

“Anouncing Prince Rafael!” a servant shouts as the Prince makes his entrance.

“Hello, everyone. And congratulations Duchess, Duke.” Prince Rafael says as all bow to him.

“Thank you, your Highness.” Miguel responds

“Hi, Monica.” the prince turns to Sofia, with his irritating fox-like face.

 “Greetings, your highness.” Sofia curtsy again.

“...” the Prince goes silent, as if waiting for something.

“Marquess Garcia, there was some business I would like to discuss with you so…” Duke Miguel says.

“Business? Oh! Uhum, yes. Your highness if you would excuse us.” the Marquess turns to his daughters. “Why don't the two of you catch up? You must be missing each other now that Alicia is married.”

“Y-yes Father.” Alicia responds uneasy.

“Ugh, Very well Father.” Lady Ana sighs. With a nod from the Prince the four of them give the engaged couple space to converse. Lady Ana glances back at Prince Rafael whose gaze followed her.

After watching Lady Ana for a moment, the Prince glances at Sofia, almost as if to gauge her reaction. Disappointly, his fiancee was distracted getting a drink from a servant who was passing by. 

“So, we haven't seen each other since my birthday." Prince Rafael grins provocatively, “wonderful time that was, wouldn't you say?”

Sofia scoffs. “I`m sure Lady Ana would agree with you.”

“Oh, but I heard you had fun dancing with Sir Tiago. Trying to make me jealous?”

“Ha, please.” Sofia sips her drink.

“What? What am I to think when you, not only, shifts from your usual clinginess, but also dance with another man?”

“I could have fallen for someone other than you, haven't you considered that?” Sofia shrugs, taking another sip of her drink. There was no point in provoking the Prince, but Sofia felt annoyed at his attitude and assumptions.

Prince Rafael chuckles, running his hand on his hair, “Got to say, Monica, this act you got on is quite adorable.” He looks back at Sofia and is shocked, she was spitting blood. Sofia drops her empty glass, shattering on the floor. She stumbles and Prince Rafael, in his daze, fails to hold her, Sofia falls to the ground unconscious at the Prince`s feet.