The Soul Reborn: From Silence to Sovereignty Chapter 76

Chapter 76: The Calm Before Her Arrival

At my request, Livia and Elowen were placed in the same ward, making it easier for me to visit them both.

After everything they had endured, the least I could do was provide them with a comfortable, luxurious place to recover. Keeping them together also ensured they had someone to talk to when I wasn’t there.

Livia’s injuries, thankfully, weren’t life-threatening. Deep cuts, yes... as long as proper care was given, she would be alright. All she needed was time.

Elowen, on the other hand, had taken a hard blow to the head. She was still drifting in and out of consciousness. The healer said she would recover. Given how close she was to the blast, it was a miracle she had not suffered worse.

I visit them every day and stay for hours, sometimes twice.

Every time, I’d end up at Livia’s bedside, hugging her.

Clinging to her like the grounding anchor she’s always been for me.

"Thank you," I whispered, repeating it because she truly had saved my life. "Without you, I might not be here."

Livia didn’t resist. Her whole body went limp in my embrace, her uninjured hand gently rubbing my back. She always let me hold her like this without complaint, her affection for me unmistakably clear.

“It’s my job,” she said, almost too calmly. “You don’t have to keep thanking me.”

But I shook my head and pulled back, looking her straight in the eyes with a fire that hadn’t burned out since the moment I saw her bleeding.

“No, Livia. It’s not your job. You love me, don’t you?”

Her expression flickered at my words, subtle, unsure, but not of denial. It was something else.

So I grinned, wiping the corner of my eye as I teased her.

“You’re like the sister I never had. That’s how I view you. So I don’t permit you ever dying on me, understand?”

I tapped her nose lightly and then leaned back, reaching out to cradle her good hand in mine.

“That’s an order.”

She didn’t argue, just gave me a wry smile. I used to chase that look from her, and it never failed to make me feel a little proud when I earned it.

“Yes, my Archduchess, as you command.” Livia murmured with obvious affection in her voice.

Her warmth still lingered in my hands when I heard a soft voice behind me.

“What happened?”

I turned.

Elowen had finally woken up, her eyes half-lidded as her head shifted against the pillow. Her voice was soft and uncertain, the fragile tone of someone who had nearly been erased from this world.

I immediately left Livia’s side and sat on the edge of Elowen’s bed, brushing a few strands of hair from her forehead.

“You’re awake,” I whispered, the words more for myself than for her. “Thank god you survived.” She had been warming up to us lately, and I found myself growing fond of her as well. I wanted her to stay by my side for as long as fate would allow.

Her brows furrowed slowly. “There was… a blast…”

I nodded. “There was an explosion in the hall that created a breach. Three people disguised as staff came through the opening—two maids and a chef, all with blades.”

She looked at me with a stunned expression.

I couldn’t help but press my hand into hers, trying to give any support I could after waking up from such an ordeal.

“They came for me, Elowen. I was their target; luckily Livia threw herself in the way and took the hit for me.”

I heard Livia snort lightly from behind me. “It was just a scratch.”

A sigh escaped my mouth when I heard Livia’s words, but I didn’t turn to acknowledge it.

“My guards arrived just in time and dealt with them. But you… were closest when it exploded. It threw you back against the opposite wall, and you hit your head. You’ve been out for two days.”

Elowen’s eyes widened and one of her hands covered her mouth, “Two… days?”

I nodded. “I’m so sorry,” I said softly. “This happened because you were too close to me. Because I trust you enough to bring you into my world, and that nearly got you killed.”

She stared at me for a long while, blinking through the fog, and then, slowly… she shook her head.

“No,” she said, her voice raspy. “Don’t say that, please.”

Her hand tightened around mine.

“I wanted to be close to you. That was my choice, and even now… it still is.”

My throat clenched at that. I couldn’t hold it back anymore.

The exhaustion and relief flooded over me, and the fear I might lose her was quickly washed away.

So I leaned forward and wrapped my arms tightly around Elowen.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” I whispered into her hair, closing my eyes. “You really scared me… you know.”

She didn’t respond, but her body began to tremble as warm tears soaked through the fabric of my dress. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around my back and leaned in, letting the weight of her emotions spill free.

“Well…” I added, leaning back with a smirk, “since you insist on staying in the chaos that is my life, I won’t stop you.”

Elowen blinked, half-laughing despite the bandage around her head.

“I meant what I said,” she murmured. “Even now… I want to stand beside you.”

My hand brushed across her cheek as I smiled warmly at the girl who had truly found her way into my heart. I could only hope she'd hold onto that resolve, because the road ahead would not be easy.

“Then I’ll give you the same privilege I gave Livia.”

Her eyes widened.

“If you ever need something to wear, just raid my closet. Honestly, I don’t even wear half of those dresses anyway. Might as well let someone brave enough to stay near me enjoy them.”

From across the room, Livia gave an amused little snort. “Careful, Elowen, she might start calling you sister too.”

I shot her a glance. “I only have room for one terrifying older sister who throws herself in front of knives.”

Livia just raised an eyebrow. “Am I that irreplaceable?”

"You are!" I raised my voice just enough to make sure she understood. The smirk that followed was all the confirmation I needed.

I turned back to Elowen, who looked at both of us with obvious envy.

“You guys have a wonderful relationship.” She commented as she looked between us.

I couldn’t help but stare at Livia, who kept my gaze. Then we both smiled and laughed.

I turned back to Elowen with a smirk. “I kiss Livia on the cheek whenever I want because I love her like a sister and because her reactions never fail to amuse me.” My smile widened. “Would you like the same treatment?”

Elowen quickly broke our connection and leaned back a bit. “No… I’m not ready for something like that.”

“Now you see, Livia, this is the kind of expression you show as well; it’s truly entertaining.” I couldn’t help but laugh as Elowen and Livia looked at each other, sighing together. “What? It’s not like I’m doing anything bad.”

A few days later, the three of us were on a stage. I was seated, with the other two at my sides. Livia stood to my right, her bandages clean and fresh. Elowen was on my left, her hair neatly tied, still a little pale but steady and resolute.

Noah stood center stage, cape draped over one shoulder, sword strapped to his back, but he wouldn't use it today.

He only needed his voice to move the North that was now in front of him in great numbers for another address. We wouldn’t miss our chance to gain more sympathy from the people and make the South look even worse.

Although there was always a chance one of our nobles was behind this, what could we do without any definitive evidence?

"They sent assassins," he said, his voice carrying over the massive crowd that filled the inner courtyard and spilled down the castle steps. "Not soldiers or warriors, but cowards disguised as maids and cooks who slithered their way in."

The crowd rumbled with anger.

“Who did they target?” he continued. “Not a military commander, a soldier, or even I, who leads this newly founded nation. They went after three women.”

A loud roar came from the audience, who shouted louder with indignation.

Noah raised an arm.

"One of them was my heart," he said, his voice cracking ever so slightly. "But this wasn’t just an attack on my wife. It was an attack on her vision, on everything she’s built until now."

He looked back at me briefly, and I smiled. After he showed a grin, he turned back to the people.

"They fear her because she makes people want to be better, to strive for something greater than their current position. It’s a path that has never been taken in this world and one that will probably change the very structure of everything as we know it, if successful.”

I smiled proudly at Noah, knowing all of my casual talk with him about how to sway the people was on full display right now.

“We will get stronger and rise up even higher than our enemies. When the south, or anyone for that matter, attempts to cross into our lands, we will not bow.”

His voice roared as the banners of the North flapped in the air behind him.

“Will we cower?” Noah yelled.

“NO!” The crowd erupted.

“Will we surrender?!”

Every single person in the audience all shouted in unison, “NEVER!”

“Will we crush them?!” He was truly showing what kind of leader he was this day.

“YES!!!”

The cheers thundered through the air, rattling the walls, shaking the earth beneath our feet.

I sat upright, spine straight, watching the man in front of me command the North with the presence of a true leader. He was the one I admired, the one I loved with all my heart.

An army of minds and hearts now rallied behind him, a sight that filled me with pride.

That night, I sat curled up in a warm blanket on the balcony with Noah. The two of us nestled close together on the cushiony bench we set up to watch the stars.

The sky above was clear, thousands of stars gleaming in the darkness. I wasn’t thinking about war or how to improve education, but the beauty of nature.

As we sat with his arm around me and my face nestled into the crook of his shoulder, everything felt right. Sometimes we even drifted off like that, though it probably wasn’t the safest place to sleep.

“Tell me more about your old world,” Noah said quietly, his arm draped around my shoulders.

I smiled, tilting my head towards him.

"Computers," I said wistfully. "That's what I miss the most. Just small boxes that could do almost anything—write, read, learn, play games, and store memories. The internet connected them all, an invisible thread linking every screen together. It was like carrying the entire world in your pocket."

He blinked. “That sounds like a magical artifact.”

"I guess it was," I said with a soft laugh. "But trying to explain what it actually was feels like describing color to a blind man. I never really understood how it worked. Wires, satellites, maybe even tiny internet gremlins. Who knows?"

Noah raised an eyebrow, “Gremlins?”

“Shut up,” I snorted. “I told you, it’s complicated.”

We both laughed. It felt… perfect. Like a stolen moment from the world. Little did I know just how much my life was about to change in a very big way.

My body suddenly shifted, and I tensed.

A strange pressure built deep in my belly, then released all at once as a sudden warmth spread unmistakably down my legs.

“Oh… shit!” I exclaimed as I’m sure both my mouth and eyes widened.

Noah immediately sat up at my sudden outburst. “What’s wrong?”

I blinked, completely frozen for a few seconds as he looked at me in worry.

Then I grabbed his arm like my life depended on it.

“NOAH!”

He jumped. “What? What’s wrong?!”

“Call the doctor! Now! I think… no, I know… My water just broke!”

His eyes went wide. Then he was gone in a flash, already shouting for help before he even reached the bedroom door.

I just sat there, wide-eyed and breathless under the stars.

It’s finally happening… She’s coming.