Capítulo 2 CHAPTER 2

Elaine's heart pounded as she stood cornered in her own study, surrounded by those she had once trusted. Edmond's face, once so familiar and reassuring, was now a mask of cold calculation. Lúcia stood beside him, her expression smug, as if reveling in Elaine's downfall. The advisors, guards, and servants who had pledged their loyalty to the D'Armont name now stood as silent witnesses to this betrayal.

Her mind raced, calculating her options. She was outnumbered and unarmed, her usual guards conspicuously absent. This had been carefully planned-they had waited until she was isolated, ensuring no one would come to her aid. The faint scent of poison lingering in the untouched glass of wine on the table confirmed their intentions. They didn't just want her wealth and power; they wanted her gone.

"You're making a mistake," Elaine said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. She forced herself to meet Edmond's gaze, hoping to find some trace of the man she had once loved. "If you do this, you'll never have the loyalty of the D'Armont allies. My family's legacy is built on trust, not treachery."

Edmond's lips curled into a cold smile. "Trust?" he echoed, his tone mocking. "Your trust is precisely what made this so easy. You handed us the keys to your empire on a silver platter, Elaine. All we had to do was take them."

Lúcia stepped forward, her voice dripping with false pity. "Oh, Elaine, you always were too naive. You surrounded yourself with sycophants and pretended they were your friends. But in the end, power is all that matters. And now, it's ours."

Elaine's fists clenched at her sides. She had trusted Lúcia with her secrets, her fears, her dreams. The betrayal cut deeper than she could have imagined, and the anger simmering within her threatened to spill over. But she couldn't let them see her despair. Not yet.

"You'll never succeed," she said, her voice sharp. "The D'Armont allies are loyal to my family, not to you. They'll see through your lies."

Edmond chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "By the time they realize the truth, it will be too late. The empire will already be in my hands. As for you..." He gestured to the guards, who stepped closer, their weapons drawn. "You won't be around to object."

Elaine's breath quickened as the guards advanced. She scanned the room, searching for anything she could use as a weapon. Her eyes landed on a decorative dagger mounted on the wall-a family heirloom, more ceremonial than practical, but better than nothing.

In a swift motion, she lunged for the dagger, pulling it free from its mount. The guards hesitated, surprised by her sudden defiance. Elaine brandished the weapon, her grip tight despite the trembling in her hands.

"Stay back," she warned, her voice firm. "I won't go down without a fight."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. For a moment, Elaine thought she had managed to unnerve them. But then Edmond stepped forward, his expression calm and unbothered.

"Elaine," he said, his tone almost bored, "you're only prolonging the inevitable. Put the dagger down before you hurt yourself."

"I'd rather hurt you," she shot back, her voice laced with venom.

Lúcia laughed, the sound cruel and mocking. "How pathetic. Do you really think you can fight all of us? You're just making this harder on yourself."

Elaine's grip tightened on the dagger. She knew Lúcia was right; she couldn't fight them all. But she couldn't bring herself to surrender, not after everything they had done.

"If I'm going to die," she said, her voice steady, "I'll do it on my terms. Not yours."

Edmond's expression darkened, and he gestured to the guards. "Take her down," he ordered.

The guards moved as one, their weapons glinting in the lamplight. Elaine braced herself, her heart pounding in her chest. She swung the dagger wildly, managing to keep them at bay for a few moments. But she was outmatched, her untrained strikes no match for their discipline and strength.

One guard lunged forward, knocking the dagger from her grasp. The weapon clattered to the floor, and Elaine was shoved against the desk, her arms pinned behind her back. She struggled, but their grip was unrelenting.

Edmond approached, his expression cold and detached. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of clear liquid. "This is a kindness," he said, uncorking the vial. "A quick death, painless. Consider it my final gift to you."

Elaine glared at him, her defiance unwavering. "You'll regret this," she spat. "One day, you'll pay for what you've done."

Edmond smirked, his confidence unshaken. "I doubt that."

He poured the liquid into a goblet, mixing it with wine. As he held the cup to her lips, Elaine clenched her jaw, refusing to drink. The guards tightened their grip, forcing her head back. The bitter liquid burned her throat as it was poured down her throat.

The effects were immediate. A searing pain spread through her chest, and her vision blurred. Her body convulsed, and she collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. The last thing she saw was Edmond and Lúcia standing over her, their expressions triumphant.

And then, darkness.

Elaine's consciousness drifted in the void, a place devoid of time and sensation. Memories of her life flashed before her: her father's warm smile, her mother's gentle hands, the laughter of her childhood. And then, the betrayals. Edmond's lies, Lúcia's treachery, the conspiracies that had brought her to this end.

But amidst the pain and sorrow, a spark of something new began to form. It was faint at first, barely perceptible, but it grew stronger with each passing moment. It was a resolve, a determination to fight back. To reclaim what had been stolen from her.

A voice, soft and ethereal, broke through the darkness. "Elaine D'Armont," it said, "your journey is not over."

Elaine tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she felt a warmth envelop her, pulling her out of the void. The darkness gave way to light, and with it, a sensation she thought she would never feel again: the beat of her own heart.

When Elaine opened her eyes, she was met with the soft glow of sunlight streaming through lace curtains. The familiar scent of lavender filled the air, and the sound of birds chirping outside the window reached her ears. She sat up slowly, her head spinning.

She was in her old bedroom, the one she had grown up in before inheriting the estate. The furnishings, the decorations, even the books on the shelves were exactly as she remembered them. It was as if she had been transported back in time.

A knock at the door startled her, and a maid entered, carrying a tray of tea and pastries. "Good morning, Lady Elaine," the maid said, her voice cheerful. "Did you sleep well?"

Elaine stared at the maid, her mind racing. This was Sarah, her personal attendant who had retired years ago. But here she was, younger and more vibrant than Elaine had seen her in ages.

"Sarah," Elaine said slowly, "what day is it?"

The maid looked puzzled but answered nonetheless. "It's the fifteenth of May, my lady. The year 1843."

Elaine's breath caught in her throat. 1843. That was nearly five years before her death. Somehow, impossibly, she had been given a second chance.

As the maid set the tray down and bustled about the room, Elaine's thoughts raced. The betrayals, the conspiracies, the poison-it was all in the future now. She had time to prepare, to change her fate. This time, she wouldn't be caught off guard. This time, she would fight back.

Her hands clenched into fists, a steely determination settling over her. Edmond, Lúcia, and all the others who had wronged her would pay for their treachery. She would reclaim her empire, protect her family's legacy, and ensure that no one would ever betray her again.

But first, she needed a plan. And she needed allies.

As Sarah helped her dress for the day, Elaine's mind was already at work. She would start by identifying those she could trust, those who had remained loyal even in her darkest moments. And she would keep her enemies close, playing the part of the naive heiress until the time was right to strike.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Elaine allowed herself a small, bitter smile. They thought they had defeated her, but they had underestimated her resolve.

This was her second chance. And she would not waste it.