Chapter 190: Descent into Madness
Bernice’s brow furrowed as Aurelia’s words hung heavy in the air. "It isn’t the punishment? What are you trying to say?" she pressed, her gaze unwavering.
Aurelia met her stare, a flicker of something akin to pity crossing her celestial features. "The punishment, Bernice, is far worse than anything you can imagine." She paused, letting the weight of her next words sink in. "It’s the repeated cycle of death and rebirth, a never-ending loop of suffering."
Bernice recoiled as the horrifying truth unfolded. Her supposed ’mortal life’ wasn’t just a consequence; it was a cruel sentence. "You mean... these past lives, the ones filled with tragedy, those were...?"
"Your punishments," Aurelia confirmed, her voice a solemn whisper. "Each time you failed to recognize the truth, the tapestry of time would rewind, casting you back to a previous life, your memories fragmented, forced to relive the cycle anew."
A wave of nausea washed over Bernice. The fragmented memories, the nagging sense of déjà vu, it all fit into place. But then, a new question arose, tinged with a hint of dread. "And the time reversal... you said someone else has that power?"
Aurelia nodded, a sorrowful smile gracing her lips. "Indeed. You, my innocent self, the one who defied fate for love, were unaware of the true cost. The one manipulating time, reversing your tragic ends... is your beloved Duke Alexander Agnes."
Bernice’s breath hitched. The man she loved, the one who brought solace and purpose to her seemingly mundane life, held the key to her torment? It was a truth too shocking to comprehend.
"But why? Why would he..." she stammered, her voice cracking with disbelief.
"Perhaps out of love, Bernice," Aurelia offered, her voice laced with a hint of understanding. "Perhaps he, like me, couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. He defied the natural order, manipulating time to keep you by his side, unknowingly perpetuating your suffering."
Bernice sank into a nearby chair, her mind reeling. The revelation was a crushing blow, shattering the idyllic picture she had painted of her life with Alexander. Love, defiance, and a horrific consequence – the story mirrored Aurelia’s own celestial rebellion in an unsettling way.