Different ‘Timelines’

The next morning, snow was still falling. It clung in soft patches along the ledges of the Academy’s windows. I sat at the edge of my bed, staring out the window as each snowflake trickled down. My chest still felt like someone had tied a thread tightly around my heart. Historia’s words had lingered in my mind. Every syllable sinking deeper no matter how much I tell myself to ignore them. Timelines, Estel being doomed. The way she said it, calm and certain, made it feel like a curse already written into the marrow of this world. Or perhaps, it was just my wishful thinking trying to avoid the inevitable. That Estel would once again fall into the clutches of death.

I hadn’t told anyone yet. Especially not Estel. But God, how I wish I could just tell him to his face that he needs to avoid Historia. She would only bring him to his ruin. But… If I dared, he would only deny it again, or worse, begin to think of me the way Historia wanted him to. Desperate. Obsessive. He only has eyes for her. And, even though Rosaria has always been there with him, quietly… she never made a big enough impact to make him fall for her. Not in ‘His Amour’ of course. He was too miserable even when she proved her loyalty.

The contrast between Estel and Edward was blurring so much. I didn't want him to meet the same fate. Not the same way. I already lost him twice before. I can't have it a third time. Because if I see it in person this time… I might actually break…If he saw me unravel now, he would only stay away from me… and meet his doom with Historia…

I heard knocking against my student apartment door, and it snapped me back. A familiar voice called, bright and impatient. “Rosaria! Are you going to stay in there all morning? We’re freezing our toes off out here!”

I stood quickly, smoothing down my uniform before pulling the door open. Sylvia and Amanda stood bundled in scarves, both grinning despite their pink noses. They always looked so alive, so unshaken. Even in this world. My chest ached just looking at them.

“We brought fresh bread from the kitchen,” Amanda said, holding up a paper bag that smelled like cinnamon and butter. “But if you keep us waiting any longer, I might eat both of them before you get a bite~”

I smiled, the heaviness lifting just slightly, grabbing the bag of goodies. “I’d like to see you try Amanda.”

We walked together down the ivory halls, our boots clicking against the polished floor as we headed to one of the common rooms to relax. Students passed us with curious looks. Some whispering, others simply staring as though I had turned into something entirely new, which… a bit too late for that… The old Rosaria has been long gone now since I inhabited her body. Though, with Sylvia and Amanda at my side, I don’t feel like the timid shadow that let all those I hold dear will slip by anymore.

We ended up in the common lounge where the tall windows with pointed tops let in the faint morning light. The three of us sat on one of the cushy couches, and placed the bag on the coffee table. Sylvia unwrapped her scarf and leaned across the table, her silver-blue eyes sharp as she stole a bread from the bag. “So…. What happened?”

I blinked, freezing as I was about to grab my own bread. “What do you mean?”

“You look like you have not slept all night,” she said bluntly, tapping under her eye. “And don’t say it’s nothing. Those bags under your eyes say otherwise.”

Sylvia tilted her head, her worry written across her face. “We’re just worried you might shut yourself in again like last time… you know.. Before we came here.”

My throat tightened. For a moment, I thought about lying. About brushing it off and letting them believe it was just exhaustion from having to be Rosaria. But their eyes stayed on me, patient and unwavering. The same way they had been back home when I tried to hide my panic during exams or when life felt too heavy. They wouldn’t leave me alone to wallow in my misery.

I drew in a breath. “Historia came to my apartment last night.”

That was enough to make their expressions darken. Amanda sat up straighter. “What did she do?”

I swallowed hard, my fingers twisting in my lap. “She told me I was acting like… or I guess.. Rosaria had regained my memories from another timeline. She accused me of trying to take Estel away from her. She even said he was doomed no matter what happens or what anyone does. Then… she tried to use her power on me. The one she had in both books. The Saintess’s ability.”

Sylvia’s lips parted, her voice sharp. “She already used it?”

I nodded, my voice low. “Yeah... She tried to erase what she told me. But it didn’t work for some reason. I pretended it did though just to not raise suspicions, but its odd it didn’t work.”

Amanda’s face twisted, half in fear and half in anger. “That is insane. In ‘His Amour,’ she only used it when Estel started to suspect her cheating. And in ‘Historia’s Ever After,’ it was only during the final act to save the kingdom. Why would she be using it now?”

“Not to mention it didn’t work on Rose… I wonder if it’s because our souls are from a different world?” Sylvia said.

“That’s what terrifies me,” I whispered. Nothing justifies it not working. And to think she used her time powers on me. She’s acting a lot earlier than she did in either book.”

Sylvia leaned closer, her voice hushed but urgent. “And she called them timelines? Rose, that means she knows. Not just about one book. She knows they both happened. Though.. It’s interesting that she sees them as timelines…”

The weight of her words made my stomach twist. “Yeah.. To her, they’re timelines. But to us, they’re different books. And if that is true… if she knows how both stories go… then what does that mean for us being here? What book are we in… or for that matter, what new ‘timeline’ are we in… And why this one?”

Amanda rubbed her temples, her expression tight. “If she is aware of both, then maybe the one we’re in is a new one? Is she rewriting them? God, Rose… what if that is what this whole thing is? A warped third timeline?”

Sylvia’s hands clenched on the table, her voice dropping into something steady. “Whatever it is, we need to be careful. Historia already has some suspicions on you being the Rosaria from ‘His Amour’. That much is clear. If she is acting this early, it means she is afraid of what the previous Rosaria was able to accomplish… Since she died shortly before Darren did... Maybe she's afraid of losing Estel since that means the other timeline might be repeating… Or maybe losing control of the timeline.”

I felt tears sting at the corners of my eyes, but I forced them back. “I just don’t understand. I only want to save Estel. But if she knows the truth of these timelines, then she will not stop until she twists everything back in her favor. But what does have to do with Estel always having to die? It's just not fair!”

Amanda reached across the table, squeezing my hand tight. “Then we’ll just fight smarter. We find a way to save Estel without her knowing. We won’t let her corner you. If she thinks she can use her Saintess tricks to erase things just to have her way, then we’ll just have find a way to not make her the Heroine of this world.”

Sylvia gave a small nod, her voice gentler now. “And remember… you’re not alone anymore. You have us. No matter what she does, we will face her together.”

My throat closed around a laugh that cracked into something closer to a sob. “God… you two have no idea how much I needed to hear that.”

Amanda’s grin returned, soft but stubborn. “Then let’s make sure she knows she can’t scare you. She can think in terms of timelines all she wants. We’re writing our own now, one where Estel lives.”

I nodded my head. We were going to make Estel live long. He deserved a happy end. And if Historia is cold enough to make him suffer a third time, then It would be up to me… up to us to help him avoid such a painful death…