Dear Immortal Tyrant

Lina stared intently at the spot where her scar was supposed to be. She wasn't an idiot. She knew there should be some blemish at the least. She stepped even closer to the mirror, but saw nothing. What the hell?

Lina rubbed the spot and didn't feel an ounce of pain. Was she not shot near the heart? She kicked off her skirt, then did a full spin. Nothing. At. All. There was no visible bruise or swelling. No intention of her injuries.

Without warning, the doors slammed open.

Lina let out a scream and spun around, hiding her face. She stood in her underwear and bra with her face shielded only to realize it was stupid. Usually, if you were naked and running out of an apartment building, you'd cover your face to hide your identity. But everyone in this damn hospital knew who was residing in here. f𝑟e𝒆𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗oѵ𝐞𝗹.c૦𝑚

"A body worth waging war on."

Lina dropped her hands in disbelief, quickly grabbing the skirt off the ground and zipping it back up. She was shocked at how brazen Mia was. Mia's eyes curiously raked Lina up and down, centering on her breasts, hips, and when Lina turned to get her top, her back side.

"I can tell why you have Kaden and Atlantis wrapped around your pinky."

"Have some decency," Lina said whilst sliding her shirt on.

"Why? We're all women here."

More like a woman and girl. Lina kept the comment to herself whilst tucking her shirt into her skirt, for the top felt too loose. Then, she turned to fully face Mia.

"What brings you here?" Lina finally asked. She crossed the room and towards the hospital bed, whilst Mia remained standing by the doorway. ƒ𝗿e𝘦𝚠𝗲𝚋n𝚘ν𝙚𝗹.𝑐o𝙢

"Kaden was at the company, so I came to inquire what you did."

"I did nothing," Lina said.

Lina began to fold the hospital blanket, so that it was much easier on the cleaning crew. Out of habit, Lina smoothed out the edges and placed them on the foot of the bed. She ignored Mia's crawling stare that followed every moment. Even now, Lina was wary of the woman.

"I tried so hard to make him move. Everyone is a testament to my tenacity. It took me weeks on end, but he refused to go anywhere… What exactly did you do to Kaden?"

Lina arranged the pillows together, picking up the ones fallen to the ground, and placing them back.

"I did nothing."

Lina moved to the nightstand where she swept a wrapper here or there from her snacks. She collected it and threw all the lingering items into the trash. She wanted to keep herself busy, so that Mia would get the message and leave.

"He neglected himself for you."

Lina stopped.

"Who?"

"You have the luxury to ask who it is?" Mia mused. "Quite the temptress."

Lina rolled her eyes and realized she felt straight into this foolish trap. She held back a tired sigh. She needed to read more books and throw herself back into her job. By now, her brain was mush. The lack of brain stimulation was making her lazy and weak.

"What if I said it was both Atlantis and Kaden?" Mia said.

"What? Do you like Atlantis?" Lina scoffed whilst walking back to the coffee table. She began to arrange all the trash onto the plate, recycled half the items, and discarded the rest.

"I do not know."

Lina stopped for a brief second. Then, she went back to approaching the couch. Does Mia know the truth? Did Mia also have a recollection of a life before this one? Lina pressed her lips together. The youthful and innocent little Princess of her first life flashed before her eyes. Prince Kade's younger sister, his one and only relative that showed her kindness.

Lina's throat tightened. A little girl that died far too early from unnatural circumstances. If Atlan hadn't taken revenge… If Atlan hadn't harmed the little Princess. What would her future have been like? Who would she have become? What laws would she have aided in creating?

"It is best if you—" Lina cut herself off.

Do not meddle in their lives.

Lina knew nothing could change their first life. Atlantis didn't even know what he did to Mia. she let out a shaky breath, for the dilemma was there. But who was Lina to intervene? Atlantis's biggest mistake in this life was loving her again.

"Best if I what?"

"Leave," Lina said. "I have nothing useful to tell you."

"You're selfish."

Lina straightened up and glanced at Mia. She looked the young girl straight in the eyes. How old was Mia? Twenty-one? Twenty-two? How old was Atlantis again? Lina tried to remember. Probably a year or two older than her, so twenty-seven.

"At your age, I thought I knew everything as well." Lina took a final look around the room, to make sure nothing was out of place. Then, she approached the door.

"You're wrong."

Lina raised a brow.

"I know I'm a brat. I accept that I'm a bitch at times and even a villainess. I know I don't know the secret of the universe. I'm young and inexperienced, but I'm trying aren't I?"

Lina's lips curled in either amusement or pride. She didn't know if she'd have the guts to be proud of Mia's statement. How far has that lovely little Princess grown? If Lina could go back to change the past, be a little bit braver, be more vocal, would everything have turned out like this?

"I care about Kaden," Mia suddenly said. "And Atlantis? He's so damn annoying. He pretends to be harsh, but he's a cry baby moping around for his lost lover. My god, I can't stand him."

A five-year age gap, yet Mia was the mature one? Lina could somehow picture it.

"I'm concerned for Kaden. He has always treated me well, so I want to do the same to him. And seeing as you have no plan in helping him, I do. So tell me—"

"Do you love Kaden?"

Mia was caught off guard by this question. Then, she touched her stomach.

"Oh god," Lina misunderstood. The rug was yanked from her feet. Suddenly, she lost control of this conversation. She was no longer leading it. She staggered backward, nearly tripping over her own footing.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Mia gagged.

Lina nearly fainted right then and there. Her imaginative mind was beginning to create technically illegal but not really explicit scenarios.

"Me? Loving Kaden?" Mia scoffed. "I'd rather get hit by a car. No offense to you, but full offense to him."

Lina slowly blinked. Oh. Sick as in throw up from disgust. Not the other way around. She let out a sigh of relief, for everything would've been far too weird.

"I can't believe you'd assume I'd love him romantically. I only think of him as a useful networking person. That's all."

Ah, the role of a brother was reduced to just connection. Poor Kaden. By now, the man was sneezing during a meeting. He bore a dark and irritated glower. Who in the right mind was talking crap about him? He dared his employees to even think negatively of them.

With his nostrils flared, his nose itchy from another sneeze, the useful connection was beginning to further frighten his employees.