The Price Is Your Everything

Nellis Truede woke up from her sleep, crying.

The dark prison cell, which had reeked of rotting wounds, was nowhere to be found. The small room was filled with the scent of geranium, and the bed, although not plush, was clean.

There was no one in the room. Instead, there was a familiar, old-fashioned dresser and basket, which had been forgotten for a long time.

The simple, rustic dresser and basket, which had been made by her father, decorated the walls of the house. Even the old rocking chair, where her mother used to sit, was there.

Was this a dream? Or was it heaven?

If it was heaven, it couldn't be more perfect. Nellis got out of bed and put on her slippers.

She walked around the room, taking in the familiar sights and smells.

And then she realized that her body was smaller than she remembered, and she looked at her arms and legs.

It wasn't the body of a woman in her thirties. It was much thinner and smaller, but full of energy. Just like a young girl before she went to school.

"Liz?"

Just then, the door opened, and a woman's voice called out. It was the voice she had longed to hear. Nellis rushed to the owner of the voice, shouting.

"Mom!"

"Aga, why are you crying?"

Her mother, who had entered the room, wiping her hands on her apron, looked at Nellis's tear-stained face with wide eyes.

Her mother, who was younger than she remembered. Every summer vacation, her mother looked a little older. Thinking about it now, Nellis realized that her mother must have been receiving death threats while Nellis was at school.

Threats to hand over her daughter, the owner of the Purple Eye.

Nellis's heart ached, and she felt sorry. Her mother had struggled so much to raise her alone, and it wasn't right that she had met such an end.

Nellis hugged her mother tightly, afraid that this illusion would disappear, and her mother hugged her back, comforting her with a warm, familiar scent.

It was too vivid to be a dream, but was it reality? What about the prison? Valentine? Where were the dirty traitors?

Nellis looked up at her mother and asked.

"Is this heaven?"

Her mother burst out laughing. And with affection, she kissed Nellis's forehead and asked with gentle eyes.

"Does our home feel like heaven to you? Don't you want to go to school?"

That was the answer. Yes, it must have been a nightmare. Such a terrible thing couldn't have happened. Nellis hugged her mother again and sobbed.

Her mother was taken aback and hugged Nellis tightly.

"I'm worried about sending you far away, too. Our Aga, you've only lived with Mom, and now you're going to a place with noble people."

...But was it really a nightmare?

She had definitely heard those words before. In the same voice and tone. Nellis shuddered.

She could vividly recall the despair, anger, and pain she had felt just before she died.

She could also recall everything that had happened before that, as if it had happened just yesterday.

She had never had a dream like that before. Then...

She had come back. For some unknown reason.

Listening to her mother's words, Nellis realized that she was now twelve years old, the age when all noble children in the Empire of Visto had to attend the Noble Academy. Nellis's fist, clutching her mother's skirt, turned white.

She would have to leave for that place soon.

The place where her first nightmare had begun, the Academy.

"Mom."

Nellis looked up at her mother. Her mother's expression turned gloomy at her daughter's cautious and sad face.

At least at this point, the mother and daughter had never faced each other with such sad faces. Nellis had a bright and cheerful personality as a child, which was similar to her mother's.

"Why are you like this, Aga?" her mother asked.

Why didn't she understand back then? Her mother must have been sad and lonely, sending her only family member far away.

But despite the humiliation, her mother had borrowed money from distant relatives to pay for Nellis's tuition and sent her to school. Even though the family had disowned her, saying she should cut ties with them if she was going to marry a low-ranking knight.

It was because her mother believed that school would help Nellis's life.

"Yes," Nellis said.

Yes, she had to go to the Academy. But this time, she wouldn't let those detestable people have their way.

"Yes, our Aga," her mother replied.

"I love you. I'll do well and come back."

Her mother's face, which had been sad, brightened up with a smile.

As her mother's bright silver hair shone in the sunlight, Nellis suddenly thought of another person with the same silver hair.

Nellusion Elantria.

For a moment, hatred flashed across Nellis's face. Her mother was taken aback by her daughter's expression.

But Nellis quickly smiled and pretended that she had never made a childish face.

"When do I leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. You know you have to wake up early, right?"

"I'm always waking up early anyway."

Her mother laughed.

"I guess so. You're sleeping in late again today, though."

It was true that after being adopted by the Elantria family, Nellis had changed her lifestyle to avoid being a burden to the duke and duchess. She always woke up earlier than anyone else, studied all day, and went to bed later than anyone else.

Nellusion had teased her about it, saying that was why she wasn't growing taller. But she had already passed her growth spurt.

Those trivial memories had been precious to Nellis, who had endured the lonely life in the palace. But now, those memories were just disgusting.

It wouldn't happen again. Nellis said softly to her mother.

"I can wake up early if I want to. You'll see tomorrow."

"Our daughter always does what she says she'll do, right?"

Her mother whispered kindly and patted Nellis's back. Then, as if to say it was time to get up, she playfully patted Nellis's buttocks twice.

"Okay! Now, let's pack the rest of your luggage?"

"Yes, I'll do it now."

Please wait for me healthily, Mom.

If I really have gone back in time, maybe God has given me a chance to save you.

Nellis whispered to herself, hugging her mother's warmth one last time.

***

The city where the Academy was located was called Katena. It was named after the princess who had first established the Academy, Princess Katerina, and was maintained solely by the income from the students and teachers of the Academy.

After a long carriage ride, when Nellis arrived at the Katena station, she saw children of her age group around her.

Nellis recognized all of their faces, and it felt strange to see that the ones who used to mock her were now much more innocent and timid than she remembered.

Nellis already knew the city's geography well, so she walked briskly and skillfully, carrying a large bag that was almost as big as she was. The eyes of the children who were looking around uncertainly focused on her.

The first reason was her attitude, and the second was her Purple Eye.

Purple eyes were very rare, but lilac-colored eyes were not uncommon. However, the deep, reddish-purple iris of the Tyrion Purple, like Nellis's, was something that no one present had ever seen before.

It was because of the symbolic meaning of the Purple Eye that the Elantria family had adopted her as their daughter and sent her to be the crown princess. The Purple Eye was a symbol of Elantria, one of the three heroes who had defeated the evil dragon and laid the foundation for the Empire.

The current Elantria family claimed to be the legitimate descendants of the hero Elantria, but they did not have the Purple Eye.

Nellis had found it strange that she had the Purple Eye, which her mother did not have, but it was possible that she had inherited it from a distant relative.

As she grew older, around 18, the Purple Eye became more prominent, and the gazes she received became stronger, whether good or bad.

"Hey!"

A woman's voice called out from nearby. Nellis looked around and saw a luxurious carriage stopped by the road.

A tall woman got out of the carriage. She seemed to be a maid, but Nellis didn't recognize her. Maybe she was the attendant of someone who was about to graduate?

The maid approached Nellis and asked, looking down at her. She didn't react to the Purple Eye, so she must not have been from a very high-ranking family.

"Are you a kid from around here?"

The maid seemed to think that Nellis was a commoner because she didn't have any attendants and was carrying a large bag. Indeed, Nellis's current attire wasn't very neat due to the long journey.

Nellis put down her bag and lifted her chin.

"I'm the daughter of a knight. Are you looking down on me and speaking to me in such a rude manner?"

The maid's face turned pale with surprise. She quickly bowed.

"I apologize, miss."

A laughing voice came from inside the carriage. A short while later, a girl with a bright smile poked her head out of the open carriage door.

The girl with the reddish-brown hair was a stranger to Nellis. Nellis tilted her head, wondering if the girl was around her age.

Of course, Nellis didn't know every young noblewoman in the social circle. But she should have known all of her peers who had attended the Academy from entrance to graduation.

According to the Empire's law, the direct descendants of nobles, namely those of baron or higher rank, were required to attend the Academy.

On the other hand, the indirect descendants of nobles, such as those of knightly families, could attend the Academy if they could afford the tuition and wished to do so.

Nellis belonged to the latter category. However, some children of indirect descendants of nobles would sometimes drop out of school due to financial difficulties.

Was this girl one of them?

Judging by the carriage and the maid's attire, she seemed to be from a quite wealthy family. While Nellis was pondering this, the maid quickly approached her mistress.

"Miss, be careful."

"I've got it."

The girl spoke with a bit of pride and turned to Nellis.

"You're smart, aren't you? You speak well."

"You seem smart too."

Nellis replied vaguely, unsure of what to say. The girl gestured to Nellis.

"If you're going to school, why don't you ride with us? Is your bag heavy?"

"It's heavy, but I don't want to impose on you for no reason."

Although it was still before the entrance ceremony, Nellis had already developed a habit of being cautious around others.

She had learned the hard way that she couldn't trust anyone.

The girl didn't seem to mind the rejection and looked at Nellis with wide eyes.

"What do you say? We were going to ask you for directions anyway. Are you a second-year student?"

"I'm entering today."

"Really? I'm the same! My name is Diane McKinnon."

"Nellis Truede."

The McKinnon family didn't have a long history, but they were a prominent family in the upper class.

Nellis remembered that the McKinnon trading company was one of the three largest trading companies in the Empire around this time, although it would decline by the time she became an adult.

But had she attended school with the daughter of the McKinnon earl? Nellis wasn't sure, as she had been quite uninterested in her surroundings during her early years and had only read books.

She had only memorized the names of her peers during the second half of her second year, and it had taken her some time to match the faces with the names.

At least, Diane was not among the children who had bullied Nellis during her later years.

The McKinnon family was still in good standing until Nellis's death, so why had Diane dropped out of school?

Anyway, Diane's proposal to give Nellis a ride in exchange for directions was reasonable. The maid kindly took Nellis's bag and handed it to a neatly dressed servant, and Nellis skillfully got into the carriage.

As Nellis sat down in the carriage, she saw Diane getting in and understood why the maid had overreacted. Diane had a crippled leg.

Diane smiled brightly when she saw Nellis looking at her.

"I have a bit of a problem with my leg. So, the adults said they weren't sure if I could continue with school life."

"Why? Is it still painful?"

"It's not that, but they're still worried."

Nellis roughly understood the situation. Children instinctively recognize the weak. Although it might not be as difficult for Diane as it was for Nellis, who had no family power, Diane might also have had a hard time adapting to school life.

The carriage moved slowly in the direction Nellis indicated. Nellis soon looked away from Diane and gazed at the school building, which was getting closer and closer.