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Tense silence remained in the library as the princess paced left and right, unconsciously nibbling her thumbnail: a habit she ought to break. Theta watched silently as the royale in front of him became more and more agitated. As the confused elder merely stared in apprehension, Andromeda drowned out the outer world. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. She wondered why she was being pampered in this life. Why every servant whisper behind her back saying she had changed so drastically. She believed that as a princess she would have some authority or dignity.

Who knew that the princess she was reborn as was a fool? A fool that dies a very very pitiful death.

Andromeda heard her nail give away with a small crack. Didn't matter. There are more important matters to deal with. She was given this chance to live again, she was going to do so whether this body was destined to die or not. Andromeda whipped around to Theta – who flinched at the speed of the motion, frightened that she might've broken her neck – eyes wide and determined.

"Theta, bring me all your history books."

After four series of books and five hours of reading, Andromeda finally put down the annoyingly high-quality paged book. Four series and five hours to realize and confirm that she was in a very popular myth that was circulating in her previous world: we, humans, descended from stars. Theta had left the room about an hour into her reading session, hoping he would bring her some peace. Andromeda was alone in the large library for now. She quickly picked up a quill, ink, and parchment beginning to write as much of the myth as she can remember.

According to the myth, humans used to be heirs of Heaven and made of pure star shards giving us unique abilities that helped us to take care of our world. But, a foolish princess brought destruction as she aided Hell from coming onto Earth by opening up the gates in the name of love. It was a stupid myth that Emai scoffed off during her graduate philosophy course. A myth which was now her reality. A reality she wants to get out of.

Andromeda placed her quill down on the coffee table gently, sitting back to look at the list she had made. There were many things missing from the myth. Of course, that was a given since it was a myth verbally passed down like a bedtime story; there were more logistics that govern the laws of this reality that she hasn't grasped yet. For example, how does one open the Gates of Hell? What are the abilities Andromeda or anyone else has? What does it mean to 'take care of the world'? Who did Andromeda love? All that was mentioned was a 'dark star'. Nothing more. It was obvious that this was a metaphorical saying of someone with ugly intentions but there were no physical clues to who this person was. Stupid myths.

Andromeda was certain about one thing: she must not get married.

"Sarin, Betel."

"Yes, my lady?" The library doors opened to two maidens, one with a bun of hair as golden as lion's skin and skin baked like tanned marble and another with shining orange braids and pale skin with a red glow. Andromeda stood, collecting her list into her arms, facing to address her closest ladies in waiting: two more people who knew of her situation and yet have sworn loyalty.

"Prepare me for a visit to Mother and Father."

It had taken a while but Andromeda was finally able to leave the clutches of Sarin and Betel's fussing to head towards the throne room. A hood rested gently on her head, covering her violet bundles of hair, gently tucked in. A golden outlined gown ran down her figure gracefully opening up from waist and below, not too fluffed out but a streamline. The fronts of her gown were tied with a silver lace in a criss-crossed hatching and her feet were fitted with black heels. Her eyes were covered with a white nylon blindfold, allowing her to see but no one else to see her eyes.

"Your eyes must not be flashed around so lightly."

That was what Sarin had told her. Apparently, the royals themselves do not know their family's jeweled eye color: they had to wear eye patches during joint dinners and tea times. Only each royal's personnel in waiting and the Royal Mentor, Theta knew the colors of their jeweled eyes. Andromeda slowed to a halt as she came closer to the knights guarding the throne room. They were at least twice her small frame but she did not falter.

"Announce my arrival to Mother and Father." Andromeda spoke calmly, standing tall. The knights looked at each other with concern – guess the rumors about her mental stability had spread that far. With a short exchange of whispers, the knight on the left entered the room. The lack of response caused a twitch under her skin, foot beginning to tap from impatience, every time her heel hit the floor a clack echoed striking a chord with the remaining knight. He had heard the princess had changed but this was just terrifying. When the door finally opened, the clacks stopped, the knight letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Andromeda did not even pass a glance at the knight before entering through the hall and giving a soft bow that screamed the epitome of grace.

"The Light of Celestia greets the Sun and Moon of the Empire."

"MY BABY!" A booming voice cracked her stoic expression as Andromeda wasn't even prepared for a large body colliding with hers trapping her in a tight embrace. The small princess choked. "I MISSED YOU MY CHILD!"

"Hello, Father." Andromeda croaked out softly patting the now sobbing and nuzzling Emperor in her embrace. His dark indigo violet hair sparkled with stardust contrasting his soft pale skin. Like herself, his skin bleed into the night sky from his elbows and down to the tip of his fingers and a white nylon covered his eyes. His large shoulders spoke volumes in the physical strength the Emperor possessed while the soft touches of his calloused hands on her face was only telling of how much he cared for his precious child.

"Hun, you're breaking her spine." A soft voice entered the cacophony of sobs and coddling. Andromeda was released from her father's embrace to meet her mother. She immediately knew where she got her bright green eye and slim frame. A slender woman with bright emerald eyes and earth brown locks that seemed to float in air as if in water approached her with a gentle smile. A slender came up to Andromeda's face as the woman's thumb rubbed her cheek right under the blindfold.

"I'm glad you have recovered… I feared that the next time I would be able to see my daughter would be at the steps of death…" Tears glistened in her beautiful mother's eyes and Andromeda could literally hear her father begin to sniffle. A stab in her gut twisted and churned. She realized that these parents must've been scared during her attempts at escapade from this reality and throughout her lifetime of illness. She had endangered their precious daughter that they so loved for her selfish wish.

That.. that was unfair to them…

Andromeda gently bit her lip as she pulled her own tears back from falling. The slight tremor that shook her small frame failed to go unnoticed by the figure this body called Mother. The gentle empress embraced her warmly with a soothing hush and hum.

"Oh.. my baby… I'm sorry for being such a bad parent to you during that time… We should've been there… to take care of you… not traveling the Empire for some pointless alliance.. Mommy is sorry… We love you so much…"

The soft reassurance struck a core; not only herself but to the owner of this body. Guess memories still stay with the physical body. A soft familiar warmth swarmed inside contradicting the stabbing of the guilt. She was hogging these good parents' love… They didn't love her – Emai; they were not her parents. Her parents left the world before she had turned 16. These people loved and adored Andromeda, their precious child who was no longer in existence. The current Andromeda let tears fall, sobbing quietly into "her mother's" shoulders. She was being selfish. Andromeda now doesn't deserve to take this love no matter how much she longed for it. It was not hers to take.. But, these good people deserved their daughter's love, one they would've missed out on due to god's cruel trick to switch souls. So even if it's selfish of her, she would like to enjoy this a little longer…

"I missed you too, Ma and Pa!"