Chapter 4:

Chapter 4

I Died Once, but He Loved me twice

Several months later, the royal palace of Valoria was filled with nobles.

It was one of the few occasions when nearly every influential family in the kingdom gathered beneath the same roof.

The palace's grand hall had been transformed for the evening. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the marble floors, musicians played softly from the balcony above, and servants moved between the countless nobles carrying trays of wine and delicate refreshments.

Dukes, Counts, Viscounts, Barons, and their children.

Everyone who mattered in Valoria seemed to be there.

Tonight's gathering had been called by the royal family to celebrate the beginning of the new social season.

For the younger nobles, it was an opportunity to make connections.

For their parents, it was an opportunity to negotiate alliances.

And for unmarried sons and daughters... It was practically a marketplace for marriage.

Whispers traveled through the ballroom.

But another family was receiving just as much attention.

"The Ravelles are here."

Heads turned toward the entrance.

Duke Alistair Ravelle entered first.

His presence immediately drew greetings from several nobles.

Behind him came his daughter.

Elowen Ravelle. She was seventeen now.

And she had changed considerably since the last time many of the nobles had seen her.

She walked beside her father with calm confidence, dressed elegantly but without excessive decoration.

Unlike many young ladies who entered a ballroom looking nervous about being judged, Elowen seemed completely comfortable.

Whispers began almost immediately.

"Is that Lady Elowen?"

"She has grown so much."

"She's almost ready for her debut, isn't she?"

"I heard she has been assisting Duke Alistair with the Ravelle businesses."

"At seventeen?"

"Apparently, the Duke trusts her judgment."

Another voice joined the conversation.

"I also heard she has her own training estate."

"A young lady with knights?"

The whispers grew louder.

Elowen heard some of them.

She simply ignored them.

Her father leaned slightly toward her.

"Are you nervous?"

"About what?"

Alistair smiled.

"Your first major royal gathering in quite some time."

Elowen glanced around the ballroom. "No."

Her answer was immediate. Alistair chuckled.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

They continued forward.

She had remembered the timeline correctly.

Nathaniel wasn't here.

He was away at the northern border.

Lord Nathaniel Ashbourne had been sent with the Ashbourne forces months ago before she reborn.

He had been there for two years.

And he return weeks before her debut.

Elowen almost felt relieved.

She wasn't ready to see him yet.

Not when she still remembered the man he would become.

They continued deeper into the ballroom.

Several nobles approached Duke Alistair almost immediately, eager to discuss trade, investments, and various matters involving the Ravelle family.

Elowen listened quietly.

She had learned enough from her first life to recognize which conversations mattered.

"Lady Elowen."

She turned.

A young noblewoman smiled politely.

"It's been years since I've seen you."

Elowen returned the greeting.

They exchanged a few pleasantries before the conversation inevitably shifted.

"You really are different from what I remember."

Elowen smiled faintly.

That's because you remember the old me.

Before she could respond, a sudden announcement echoed through the ballroom.

"The royal family!"

Every conversation immediately ceased.

The nobles turned toward the grand staircase.

The King and Queen descended first, followed by several members of the royal family.

And among them was the oldest prince.

Elowen's gaze settled on him.

She recognized him from memory.

He was watching the ballroom with a bored expression, clearly unimpressed by the endless parade of noble families.

As King Leopold and Queen Adelaide settled into their seats, the nobles began approaching the royal dais one family after another.

The prince stood a short distance behind them.

The moment they settled, the music faded.

One by one, the nobles stepped forward to offer their greetings.

"Baron Ravencourt."

"Countess of Montie."

"Lord and Lady Vale."

Each family approached, bowed deeply, and offered their respects before returning to their places.

Until finally, the Ravelles approached.

The prince's bored gaze moved toward them.

They stopped several paces before the royal dais and bowed.

"Your Majesty."

King Leopold regarded them with a warm expression.

"Duke Alistair. It is good to see you again."

"It is an honor, Your Majesty."

The King nodded before glancing behind him, seemingly expecting someone else.

"Where is the Duchess?"

Alistair's expression softened.

"My wife is unfortunately not feeling well, Your Majesty. She sends her deepest apologies for being unable to attend."

"I see."

King Leopold nodded sympathetically.

"Give her my regards. I hope she recovers quickly."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The King then looked toward the young woman standing beside Alistair.

His expression changed.

He studied her for a moment, as though searching through an old memory.

"And..."

His gaze settled on Elowen.

"Is this the young Lady Ravelle?"

Elowen lifted her eyes.

Alistair smiled proudly. "Yes, Your Majesty. This is my daughter, Elowen Ravelle."

The King leaned slightly forward.

"My goodness."

There was genuine surprise in his voice.

"She has grown."

Elowen curtsied gracefully.

"It is an honor to meet Your Majesty."

King Leopold smiled.

"I remember seeing you when you were much younger. You were quite small then."

Elowen smiled politely.

"I apologize for not remaining small, Your Majesty."

A few nearby nobles quietly laughed.

Even King Leopold seemed amused.

"Indeed. I suppose I cannot command a young lady to stop growing."

Queen Adelaide, who had been quietly observing, smiled.

"She has your father's wit."

Alistair laughed. "I fear she has more of it than I do."

Elowen glanced at her father.

"Father."

The King laughed again.

"Come closer, Lady Elowen. Let me have a proper look at you."

Elowen obeyed and stepped forward.

King Leopold studied her with growing interest.

"You are seventeen now, aren't you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then your debut cannot be far away."

Elowen's smile remained composed.

"No, Your Majesty."

The King nodded thoughtfully.

"Then Valoria will soon have another young lady to watch."

Elowen couldn't help wondering how different those words sounded from the first time she had heard them.

In her first life, her debut had been the beginning of everything she had eventually lost.

This time, however...

she intended for it to be the beginning of something entirely different.

King Leopold turned toward Alistair again.

"You must be proud."

Alistair's expression softened as he looked at his daughter.

"Very much so, Your Majesty."

Elowen lowered her gaze for a moment.

For all the changes she had made, there was still something strangely comforting about hearing her father say that.

Then, from somewhere behind the royal family, she felt someone's eyes watching her.

Elowen glanced up.

The prince was standing nearby.

Their eyes met for only a brief moment.

No particular interest in his expression.

Just a passing glance before his attention shifted elsewhere, as though she were nothing more than another noble among the many gathered in the palace.

King Leopold noticed his son's distant expression and called him over.

"Laurent."

The young prince turned toward his father.

"Come here."

Laurent stepped forward from where he had been standing behind the royal family. As the future Crown Prince of Valoria, he carried himself with the quiet confidence expected of someone who would one day sit upon the throne.

He approached the royal dais and stopped before Duke Alistair and Elowen.

King Leopold gestured toward him.

"Laurent, you remember Duke Ravelle."

Laurent gave a respectful nod. "Of course, Father."

The King then turned his attention toward Elowen.

"And this must be Lady Elowen Ravelle."

Laurent's eyes moved toward her.

He looked at her for a moment.

Nothing more.

There was no particular interest in his expression, nor any hint that the young lady before him had caught his attention.

She was simply another noble daughter attending the royal gathering.

Laurent gave a formal nod.