As I admired the rare flowers I'd planted in the garden, teacup in hand, I nearly spilled its contents when I heard one of the maids scream.
"Madam! Madam! Master has returned!" the maid shouted, filling me with joy. The one I'd been waiting for had come back. Finally, my children would meet their father.
"Please call Dana and Josh. Tell them to dress nicely," I instructed, unable to stop smiling.
"As you wish, Madam."
"Wait, don't tell them the news yet. I want them to be surprised," I said with a smile, unable to resist running to my room to change into my favorite outfit: a green gown embroidered with peonies and scattered small emerald stones.
Outside the house, my two children were waiting by the carriage, seemingly playing around again.
"Mommy, hurry up!"
"Mom, are we going to buy my new gown?" Dana asked.
I smiled and squeezed their cheeks. "We have an important person to greet. Let's go?"
They nodded and got into the carriage. During the ride, they were full of questions and teasing, which I let pass without comment because I wanted to see their expressions when they saw their father.
I stared out the window, gazing at the tower of the empire's city. Our mansion was outside the city, at my request when we married, because I wanted to stay away from the city's chaos, especially the royalty.
"Mommy, Yaya said we're going to see Daddy?" Josh said, making me wonder because I'd instructed them not to tell the children.
I brushed it off and nodded. "Yes. I was going to surprise you, but you already know. Mommy's sad now," I said, and Dana hugged me.
"Mommy, it's okay. We haven't seen Daddy in person, so it's still a surprise," Dana said with a smile, and I hugged her back.
"My good child."
When we reached the gate, we were stopped by the royal guards.
"General of the Holy Knights?" the guard asked, and I nodded.
"Yes, I'm his wife. Gracias Matilladious Riverlilies, this is my identification card," I introduced myself and tried to hand him my card, but he brushed it aside and laughed.
"Wife? Are you joking? Madam, your props are quite elaborate—the carriage has the General's insignia—but I don't need to verify the card because General Mathias doesn't have a wife. You should just go back, because if you don't, we'll be forced to imprison you for fraud!" he said rudely, and the people around us started whispering, making us look foolish.
"No wife? Although we got married outside the city, our marriage is definitely recorded. Please verify my card so you know I'm not lying," I said calmly, but they didn't believe me. He took my card and threw it in my face.
"Get out before I change my mind and drag you away!" the guard shouted.
My son Josh suddenly got out of the carriage and released a small fireball from his hand, weak but enough to set the guard's clothes on fire. "Don't hurt my mommy!" he shouted.
"I'm getting annoyed with frauds like you!" the guard shouted and released a giant axe from his hand.
"Josh!" I shouted as he aimed it at my son. I ran to block him and created a water barrier, but it was broken due to its power, and the aura of fire flowed through, hitting me.
"Josh, are you okay?" I immediately checked for any wounds; thankfully, there were none.
"Kid, if you're going to do fire magic, make sure it's as big as my mana!"
"What's all this commotion?" A woman's voice spoke from behind us, so I turned around and saw a familiar face.
"Greetings, Crown Princess," the guards greeted, and we bowed as well.
"Princess, there's this woman pretending to be the Great General's wife, so we just wanted to send her away..." Before he could finish, a water blade suddenly emerged from Samantha's hand and attacked the guard.
"Looks like another incompetent guard got promoted," she said, and as I lifted my head, our eyes met.
"Gracia, it's been a while," she said hesitantly. I tried to smile and greet her back.
"It's strange, you're known as a Great Female Mage of the empire, but why are you struggling with a simple barrier? Did something happen?" she asked, but she hesitated to approach me.
We were awkward, but I tried to answer her question and held my son's head. "Maybe I've just gotten comfortable with my life, so I forgot how to wield magic," I said with a smile, but it was a lie.
The truth was, I'd violated the rules of magic. I'd performed forbidden magic, which is why my own mana rejected me, but no matter the result, I didn't regret it.
"Everyone, she's truly the Great General's wife. If I hear any more complaints about bias and failure to verify the identification card, you'll know the consequences," she warned before leaving.
As we passed through the gate, Josh couldn't help but ask me who helped us.
"She's my best friend, but because we haven't seen each other in years, we've become estranged," I explained before my gaze was drawn to the busy streets of the city.
Being away from the city for so long, I barely recognized the structures or the fashion trends. When we reached near the palace, we pulled over the carriage and got out to greet Mathias. The street was filled with spell displays and people admiring my husband. I waved when we made eye contact.
"Gracia!!" he shouted and quickly dismounted his horse, running towards me.
"Welcome back," I greeted with a smile before hugging him.
"Mister? Are you my dad?" Dana asked, making Mathias look at me in disbelief.
"T-They are...?" he asked, unable to finish his sentence. He hugged them both, barely able to contain his joy.
Finally, my wait was over. I could consider the chaos over, my family complete, and ready to live happily ever after.
My happy ending with my daughter and son...
"Move aside! Get out!" The people parted, and from the crowd emerged a woman with messy hair and clothes, her makeup almost dissolved by tears.
"Miss? Are you okay? What happened?" I asked, calming her down.
"I'll kill him! I'll kill them!" she shouted hysterically and attacked me, choking me.
"Stop her!" Mathias shouted and pulled me away from the woman. A moment later, a man came forward and introduced himself as her husband.
If I'm not mistaken, the woman causing trouble was always with the Empress before, and I heard she married the Marquis. Our story is no different; like me, she chose love over power and authority, but it seems our outcomes are different.
"I apologize; my wife was involved in an accident and suffered temporary amnesia," he said and tried to pull the Marquisess away, but she resisted and pulled out a dagger.
"You! I'll kill you!" she shouted and attacked her husband. Mathias quickly grabbed her and took the dagger away.
"Marquisess, you should calm down first," Mathias said, and I was about to approach, but it felt like a strong earthquake for a second. I don't know if I was just dizzy, because I was the only one who felt it. I looked at my husband, who was still holding the Marquisess, and I was a little blurry-eyed, as if there was a strange light surrounding them, so I blinked.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the surroundings frozen, a little blurry, like I was in another dimension where time had stopped. A moment later, the Marquisess lit up and moved. I didn't move and just watched her. In a flash, a screen appeared in front of her.
"I actually reborn?" she asked, which surprised me and almost blew my cover.
"I won't waste this second life I have; I'll change my life and save the empire. I'll avenge what they did!" she shouted angrily, and just a few seconds later, time resumed. It felt like I was just dreaming, and I hesitated whether to believe my dream or not.
The Marquisess suddenly calmed down and gave us a courtesy as an apology for the chaos she caused, calmly and elegantly leaving.
"What happened?" everyone was confused, including me.
"Gracia, are you okay?" Mathias asked, making me forget my thoughts and nod.
"General of the Holy Knights, Mathias Riverlilies, the Emperor and Empress are waiting for you for the celebration," the royal servant called. I was about to step into the palace when I suddenly stopped and almost broke out in a cold sweat.
The mysterious screen that appeared in front of the Marquisess was now in front of me.
"System?" I read.