1 A strange dream

– Sophia... – A voice whispers in her ears.

Opening her eyes, Celine is faced with a completely white and empty place .

Do you know who I am? – the voice asks.

Celine immediately turns in the direction of the voice, finding nothing, narrowing her eyes as she surveys her surroundings. There was only one sound that sounded uncontrollably, and that was her heart.

Suddenly, it's like someone is watching her, a hand appears on her shoulder, and her body freezes at the touch, Celine can only stare at nothing in front of her.

The person behind her didn't seem to notice her discomfort, or probably didn't care. Celine enjoys this person approaching and finally speaking close to her ear.

– My dear... – Celine felt shivers running through her body, she was paralyzed, but she couldn't help shivering, the figure noticed it and smiled when asking – Don't you recognize me?

Hearing no response, the warm expression on his face was suddenly replaced by an incomparable coldness. Releasing Celine's shoulder, the figure backed up a few steps.

The young woman finally freed, turned around, only to be faced with a handsome man with long silver hair, white robes. His expression scared the young woman quite a bit, with a look of disgust he narrowed his eyes, which they looked, unlike anything Celine had ever seen or heard about.

The man approached Celine, but she couldn't back down.

Feeling an odd sensation coming from her chest, Celine looked down and saw a large amount of blood oozing from her chest, where the man's hand had been placed piercing her.

She heard – Since you don't recognize me anymore, I don't have to keep your life.

The man's voice was sad while on his face that cold expression remained.

Celine couldn't breathe, and in agony, she clung to the man, who again changed his expression to disgust and withdrew his completely bloody hand from her chest, instead of fingers, that thing had long claws, Celine's vision darkened soon after looking again into the man's eyes, who was still wearing a disgusted expression. Thus, Celine fell into complete darkness.

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Opening her eyes suddenly and breathing heavily, Celine sat up, putting her hand on her chest, feeling her heart beating rapidly.

Startled, she fixed her gaze on where she was, it was still her bedroom and no longer a strange room, through the transparent curtain she looked around, letting out a sigh of relief when she realized she was alone.

Lifting the curtain she climbed down from her bed, walking to the window as she looked in every corner, just to make sure, she opened the long curtain. Her face was bathed in daylight, from there she could see a large garden, and beyond that, there were huge greenhouses, they were the plantations of the northern kingdom, a place that spends almost the whole year completely covered with snow.

Opening the window she breathed in the fresh air from outside, the day was clear and the snow glistened in the sunlight, keeping the window open Celine went to her desk, opening the drawer and taking out a small notebook, she opened it and started writing...

But what to write, what was she afraid of a few moments ago?

Placing her hand again on her chest, Celine closed her eyes, she still felt something strange, and trying her hardest to remember what she dreamed of, something suddenly popped into her mind, which made her eyes instantly widen... eyes...

Celine stared at the paper, her pen staining the sheet, a single word written on that page.

Staring at the word, she completed it: 'Snake Eyes'

Returning her gaze to the inkblot between the words, Celine had the courage to close her eyes and try to remember again, but this time, it was all gone, her mind was blank.

Just then a knock sounded, making Celine almost jump out of her chair, and in a careless moment, she smeared the page again. Taking a handkerchief to help dry the stain, she heard a voice coming from outside the room, it was the servants who came to help her in the morning.

Closing the notebook with a thud she threw it into the drawer, closing it then, and in a calm voice, she asked them to come inside.

The door opened and a small group of people entered. They moved quickly, pacing back and forth inside the room, folding the covers and choosing clothes.

A servant approached and asked Celine which outfit she preferred, Celine just waved her hand and said:

– The same as always – And being guided by the maid, Celine went to a small side room of her bedroom, where she washed her face and got dressed with the help of the servants.

Going to another small wing, breakfast was served.

Due to the dream, Celine ate slowly, insisting on remembering what she had dreamed, while the servants patiently waited for their Lady to finish her breakfast.

Her personal servant was staring at her, noticing something unusual with her highness's mood today she raised a hand, and with a signal she sent all the other servants out, it was at this exact moment that Celine finally spoke:

– Suna, when we don't clearly remember a dream, but the feeling it left still afflicts us... what should we do? – She asked looking at the servant.

Suna smiled and replied – If you don't remember the dream it's because it's not so relevant that your mind keeps it in your subconscious.

Celine stared at her a little before going back to her breakfast, putting a piece of cake in her mouth, she thought with a confused expression: 'But it was strong enough to leave this strange feeling I feel in my chest, how can't be relevant?'

Suddenly, a letter was placed beside her plate, Celine looked at Suna who still had a kind expression on her face, with a suspicious look she opened the letter, looking quickly at the signature on the right corner of the sheet: 'Lord Aillard'

Squeezing the sheet a little between her fingers, she read it quickly.

'I won't be able to see you go, Isleen will explain to you what you need to know for this trip'

Forming a thin line with her lips, she tucked the letter into the envelope and handed it back to Suna, turning her attention to her breakfast.

...