Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 247

Chapter 247: A New Direction (11)

The morning sun filtered gently through the golden curtains of the palace, painting soft patterns on the floor as Ahcehera stirred from her restless sleep. The nightmare from the previous night had left a weight in her chest, a lingering sense of dread she could not shake off.

Her body still trembled at the memory of the creatures, their hollow eyes, their haunting voices that called her name with malicious intent. But when she opened her eyes and saw the peaceful face of Liliana curled beside her, the storm in her heart began to ease. With a sigh, Ahcehera brushed a few strands of hair away from her daughter’s cheek and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Liliana stirred slightly but didn’t wake, her fingers curling around her mother’s wrist in a half-asleep reflex. For a long while, Ahcehera simply watched her, this child who wasn’t born from her womb but had become the brightest light in her life. No matter how much was taken from her, her powers, her memories, her sense of identity, Liliana reminded her that she was still alive, still needed, still loved.

Later that morning, after breakfast with Queen Tereza and King Dan, Ahcehera decided to spend the day outside the palace walls with Liliana. The thought of training, of council meetings and diplomatic discussions, was exhausting. She didn’t want to face another day of pretending she was okay.

What she needed was air, sunlight, breeze, and the comforting presence of her daughter. Hand in hand, they walked through the garden, passing rows of blooming suncrystals and floating willow lilies, until they reached the outer edge where the enchanted forest began. The guards followed at a distance, well aware of their protective duties but also instructed not to hover too close.

Liliana seemed unusually quiet as they strolled through the woods, her eyes scanning the trees and her ears twitching at every rustle. At one point, she stopped and knelt beside a bush where a small fox with injured paws lay trembling. Ahcehera reached out to pull her back, worried the animal might panic, but Liliana waved her off gently and spoke, not in human words, but in a soft, melodic sound.

It wasn’t a language Ahcehera understood, but the effect was clear. The fox calmed instantly. Its breathing slowed, and the frightened glaze in its eyes disappeared as it looked directly at Liliana with a strange awareness. Ahcehera’s brows furrowed as she watched her daughter cup the fox’s paw. A faint glow shimmered between her fingers, and within seconds, the small creature stood up, nuzzled Liliana’s cheek, and ran off deeper into the woods.

“Liliana,” Ahcehera began softly, kneeling beside her. “What was that?”

The girl looked up at her mother, her amber eyes wide and a little hesitant. “I didn’t mean to hide it from you, Mama. I thought it was just something all kids could do. Since I was small, the animals have always understood me. They told me stories. They told me secrets.” Her fingers fidgeted in her lap. “I thought maybe it was normal…”

Ahcehera’s heart swelled, not with worry, but awe. She reached out and held Liliana’s hands. “My little sunshine, it’s not normal, but it’s not bad either. You’re gifted. Do you know how many people would dream of having a bond like that with the natural world? That’s a rare and beautiful power.”

Liliana brightened at the praise, though a shadow of concern still hovered in her voice. “Then… do you think it’s okay that I can talk to birds and insects too? They told me about the old willow tree near the lake. They say it’s been lonely since the war. They say the forest remembers everything.”

Ahcehera blinked, surprised. That kind of communication, across all animal species, was unheard of even among magicians and celestial races. But she nodded. “I believe you. And I think… I think you have something truly special inside you, Liliana. Something even I can’t understand yet.”

The two spent the next hours exploring more of the forest. Liliana demonstrated her abilities by calling birds to perch on her arms, coaxing deer to eat berries from her palm, and even calming a restless drake with only her gaze. Ahcehera watched every moment, pride welling up inside her.

The loss of her powers had made her feel like less of a warrior, less of a protector, but now, watching her daughter’s natural ability to soothe, communicate, and heal, she realized that strength came in many forms. Maybe she no longer needed to wield swords or summon magic to leave a mark on the world. Maybe her daughter would carry the legacy of peace in a way no one else could.

Later in the afternoon, they returned to the palace, both smelling faintly of moss and sunlight. Queen Tereza was waiting for them in the lounge, and Liliana ran to her grandmother with a bright smile and stories about animals that told jokes and a rabbit who claimed he had once raced a unicorn.

Ahcehera excused herself quietly and retreated to her chambers, the day’s events swirling in her mind like a slow-moving tide. She stood on her balcony, looking at the fading sun. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel afraid of the dark. Not when her daughter held the light.

But her peace was not to last. A red sparrow landed on the railing near her hand, head tilted, watching her with strange intent. Ahcehera frowned. She recognized the bird, it was Liliana’s. And if the bird had come to her and not Liliana, it meant something serious. The bird chirped once, twice, and then closed its eyes.

A memory spell was released, and Ahcehera saw a flash. Riezekiel was alone, battling cloaked assassins with violet blades, his body glowing with dark energy, and his face etched with pain and exhaustion. Then the vision ended.

Ahcehera clenched the railing, her thoughts in turmoil. She had promised herself she wouldn’t go near Riezekiel again. She had buried the feelings, erased the attachments, and chosen a new life. But this wasn’t about emotions. It was about life and death. She couldn’t pretend he didn’t exist. Not when he was fighting alone.

She turned to re-enter the room, but Liliana was already standing there. “You saw it too, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice steady.

Ahcehera nodded. “He’s in danger.”

“I know,” Liliana whispered. “But he’s also not telling the truth. He’s hiding something, Mama.”

Ahcehera knelt beside her daughter and looked into her eyes. “Then we’ll find the truth. Together.”

Liliana’s small hand reached for hers, and the two stood side by side, not as mother and child, but as the rising force of something greater. Light and instinct, wisdom and innocence, past and future, ready to take the next step toward a fate neither of them could yet see.