The Traitor's Redemption
The younger one, a nimble lieutenant named Rhys, had eyes only for my sister from the moment he set foot in the General's residence.
The one assigned to me was his older brother, a captain once feared as "The Ghost of the Frontier."
His body was a roadmap of shrapnel scars. Nerve damage made his right hand tremble, and his left ear was nearly deaf.
I couldn't bear the thought of him being sent back to the battlefield, so broken and battered. I personally requested he stay.
When his old wounds flared up, sending waves of agony through him, I dove into medical texts to find ways to ease his pain. I arranged for the best military physical therapists to see him every week, even though he never once met my gaze. When his right hand could no longer hold a pistol steady, I threw myself into firearms training, becoming a crack shot just so my father would have no reason to replace him.
I always told myself his coldness was just a symptom of his trauma, a fortress of ice around his heart.
I believed that if I was patient enough, my warmth could eventually thaw it.
That delusion shattered during an ambush on a border support mission. He snatched the gun from my hands and tossed it to my sister.
As enemy soldiers closed in on me, the only words he had for me were, "I'm sorry. Sera needs this more."
Seraphina Hayes. The illegitimate daughter my father brought home.
As the blade pierced my chest, I heard him whisper, his voice a ghost in my ear.
"What I owe you in this life, I'll repay in the next."
So, his distance was never about trauma. It was a choice. He simply never wanted me close.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my father told us to choose our guards.
1
I studied the two brothers standing before me, saying nothing.
Seraphina bit her lower lip, her gaze shifting timidly to me.
"Aria, you have to inspect the troops so often. It would be much safer for you to have the more agile guard. Why don't you take Rhys? Elias he seems to be struggling physically. I can take care of him."
As she spoke, she took a half-step closer to Elias Blackwood.
The stoic mans back went rigid, a flicker of anxiety crossing his eyes.
I remained silent, the fragmented memories of my rebirth slowly piecing themselves together.
In my last life, it was after these exact words from Seraphina that I had hesitated. She had made the same sudden offer to give me Rhys, the more capable fighter. Watching her now, with that same look of cautious concern, acting as if her only thought was for my well-being, I remembered how Id truly believed her. I thought she was protecting me from being burdened by the "problem" that was Elias.
Like a fool, I refused. I didn't want my newly arrived sister to feel slighted, nor could I stand the idea of sending the heavily scarred Elias back to the front to die in a blaze of cannon fire.
It wasn't until that final day, during the ambush, that I saw Seraphina for who she truly was.
Her words had been, "Aria, you'll be safer with the gun," but when Elias handed it to her, she took it without a single moment of real hesitation. The man she had chosen, Rhys, was an elite soldier, more than capable of protecting her. She had the emergency beacon my father had given her hidden on her person. But after a few token protests, she accepted Elias's protection as her due.
Shed always been like this, banking on the fact that I couldn't stand to see others in trouble because of me. She knew I would always be the one to back down.
It allowed her to secure her own safety while maintaining her reputation as the sweet, considerate girl who always thought of the greater good.
But this time, I spoke, my voice calm and even.
"Fine. Rhys can stay with you."
The mask of concern on Seraphina's face froze.
She wasn't the only one stunned. Beside her, the Blackwood brothers both snapped their heads up, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Insolence!"
My father's face darkened as he rounded on Seraphina.
"Don't be ridiculous! Aria is the sole heir to this family! Elias is half-crippled, he can barely hold a gun. How is he supposed to protect you?"
A faint, imperceptible smile touched my lips.
So my father knew the extent of Eliass condition all along.
This entire charade of a "choice" was nothing more than a performance for outsiders.
However
Just as the tension in Seraphina's shoulders began to ease, just as she was about to raise a hand to wipe away non-existent tears, the man who had been silent this whole time suddenly spoke.
"I can protect Miss Caldwell."
My eyes shot up to his.
The man who hadnt said a single word to me in three years in my past life was now speaking with perfect clarity?
As my gaze met hisbloodshot, yet shockingly clearI knew with absolute certainty:
He had come back with his memories, too.
No wonder hed talked about repayment in the next life. His greatest fear, reborn, was still being chosen by me.
Too bad for him, this time, I had no intention of choosing him at all.
"If you doubt my combat ability, you can test me right now," Elias continued, his tone unwavering.
I never doubted his skill.
In my final moments in my past life, my consciousness watched as he, to protect Seraphina, single-handedly tore through the entire enemy ambush force. The pistol in his left hand was steadier than anyone's.
How laughable. I had pushed myself to master firearms back then, terrified my father would send this "defective" soldier back to the front to be cannon fodder.
Sure enough, the moment he dropped the pretense, it took him only three moves to pin my father's own special forces instructor to the ground.
My fathers expression softened.
The glimmer of tears in Seraphina's eyes vanished instantly. To be honest, Elias was far less charming than his brother. If it weren't for his legendary reputation as "The Ghost of the Frontier," she would have picked the handsome, clean-cut Rhys from the start.
"In that case, Elias will go with you. As for Rhys, you will protect Miss Aria."
Hearing the final assignment, Rhys shot a look in my direction. When his eyes landed on my crisp military uniform, his brow furrowed in undisguised disdain.
Suddenly, Rhys dropped to one knee.
"General, I request permission to return to the Southwestern border zone."
My father's face hardened. "A position as a personal guard isn't good enough for you? You'd rather go back to dancing with death on the front lines?"
Rhys pointedly turned his face away, avoiding my steady gaze.
"My skills are insufficient, sir. I am not worthy of protecting Miss Caldwell's life."
I lowered my eyes, a bitter smile on my lips.
The disability Id gotten at fifteen while shielding Seraphina had, in the end, become proof of my incompetence in the eyes of others.
Eliass cold distance in our past life he must have seen me the same way.
"Rhys! How could you speak to my sister like that!" Seraphina rushed to his side, pushing at his arm, her voice trembling.
When Rhys looked up at her, his eyes were churning with an emotion he didn't bother to hide.
"I came back from the battlefield for one person, and one person only."
In the heavy silence of the room, a soft laugh escaped me.
Seraphina quickly suppressed a rising smile, patting his hand in a mock reprimand. "Don't be silly! I would never let you go back!"
"Why make this so difficult?" I drawled, toying with the dog tag at my waist. "Sister, why don't you just take both of them?"
Seraphina's cheeks flushed. "Aria don't say things like that."
The Blackwood brothers were undeniably handsome. From the moment they had walked into the living room, her gaze had never strayed from them.
My father considered it for a moment. "Aria, are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I don't want either of them."
Both brothers stared at me now. Their expressions were a clear mix of confusion and disbelief, as if trying to figure out where I got the audacity to say such a thing. Eliass gaze was particularly intense, layered with an emotion I couldn'tand didn't want todecipher.
"Then what about your security?" my father asked.
"What else is there?" I replied calmly.
He was clearly taken aback.
"Actually, Father, why don't you send me to the Rangers? There's no shortage of protection there."
In my last life, I was so consumed with Elias that I missed crucial opportunities to solidify my family's power within the military hierarchy. My situation and Seraphinas were worlds apart. Father always said we were both his daughters, but the promotion recommendation lists sent from the troops only ever included Seraphina and my cousin. It was all because he saw me as limited by my old injury. It didn't matter that I was the daughter of his lawfully wedded wife; he didn't care.
My cousin was a Major in the Rangers, a decorated officer. Every year, Seraphina reaped honorary awards based on his achievements. Meanwhile, I had to beg and plead with the logistics department just to get approval for Elias's experimental medication.
If I wanted to change my fate, I had to seize it with my own two hands.
The Rangers didn't think much of the General's daughter who had "pulled strings" to get in. They dumped me in a logistics support company and washed their hands of me.
I didn't complain. I poured everything I had into training and tactical studies. The military aptitude Id never shown in my past life now emerged with a force that surprised even me.
After taking first place in the most difficult border infiltration exercise, the brigade commander promoted me personally. He held the enlistment ceremony that should have happened six months prior and gave me command of a reconnaissance platoon. The military was in a critical period of strengthening its forces. As much as he doted on Seraphina, he couldn't afford to ignore my abilities now.
Slowly, my reputation in the service began to rival Seraphina's title as the "General's Golden Girl."
One day, back at the family estate, Seraphina cornered me in the hallway.
"Aria, don't you think you're being a little too conspicuous lately?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"You keep stealing the show in these exercises, spending all your time on the training grounds. I'm not trying to discourage you, sister, but your success is probably just a fluke. If you make a mistake one day, you'll be embarrassing the whole family."
"Besides," she added, her eyes flicking meaningfully towards Elias, "with your physical limitations, what officer would want to marry you if you keep carrying on like this?"
"I think you should just quit messing around with the Rangers. In the future, I'll just bring you along to these sorts of events."
I scoffed. "You're just afraid I'll outshine you, aren't you?"
Her pupils contracted.
"Sister, in what capacity are you telling me to tone it down? As the General's rightful heir, or as the youngest platoon leader in the Rangers?"
"You seem to be enjoying all the benefits, so what right do you have to tell me to sit down and be quiet?"
"Aria, how could you..." Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
I watched her performance with cold detachment, cutting her off. "Since you brought up my injury, maybe we should talk about that 'accident' when I was fifteen?"
"I risked my life to shield you from enemy fire. Who was it that gave me a final push?"
"Leaving me with a permanent, debilitating injury?"
Seraphina stumbled backward, her trembling fingers flying to her mouth.
"Don't put on that act. You weren't the one who took the bullet."
"Go on, keep being the General's Golden Girl."
I turned to leave.
But she suddenly collapsed to the floor, her face tilted up to mine, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No, sister I was just so scared"
"How could you think I would do something like that..."
The crystalline tears splashed onto the stone tiles.
"That's enough!"
Rhys strode forward, pulling her into his arms. "Miss Caldwell, that was completely out of line!"
Seraphina quickly clutched his arm, shaking her head through her sobs. "Don't I'm really okay" But her body continued to tremble.
A flash of pain crossed Elias's eyes. He looked directly at me. "You should apologize."
I almost laughed out loud.
He waited stubbornly for my response.
CRACK! The sound of my hand striking his cheek echoed in the hallway. Seraphina shrieked, throwing herself in front of him. "Aria! How could you hit him!"
I slowly lowered my tingling hand. "Sister, you'd better get your men in line. They seem to have forgotten their place."
"You" Rhys's fists clenched so hard his knuckles cracked.
Elias touched his reddening cheek, his eyes filled with a shock I had never seen there before.
I walked away without giving any of them a chance to speak.
I had planned to pack my things and move into the barracks, to escape this viper pit for good. But in the early hours of the next morning, my door was hammered open.
Rhys kicked his way in without a second thought. Before I could even react, he had violently dragged me out of bed.
"Sera's been kidnapped! You're coming with me, now!"
I moved instantly, pulling the pistol from under my pillow and pressing the cold barrel to his forehead.
"Move again. I dare you."
"And what does her kidnapping have to do with me?"
"You still have the nerve to deny it!" Rhys's eyes were bloodshot; he'd clearly been up all night. "If you hadn't said those cruel things to her yesterday, she never would have driven off in the middle of the night!"
"Now the kidnappers have specifically demanded you in exchange for her. This is your mess to clean up!"
The door burst open again, and Elias rushed in, his face pale. He scanned the room frantically. "Did you find her?"
Rhys tightened his grip on my collar. "The kidnappers agreed to a trade."
"You caused this mess. You'll be the one to fix it."
"You're asking for it!"
I slammed the butt of the pistol against his face. His brow split open, and blood streamed down his cheek. "A bodyguard. Do you really think you have the right to lay a hand on me?"
The blow left Rhys dizzy, but his eyes only grew more ferocious. "My apologies for the offense, Miss Caldwell, but you don't have a choice in this matter."
"For Sera's sake, we will gladly accept any punishment!" he snarled, grabbing my wrist. "Elias! Restrain her!"
My marksmanship could hold Rhys off, but once Elias moved, I had no chance.
With a loud crash, I was slammed against the wall. The sight of Elias's military boots filled my vision. I struggled with all my might, but I was no match for the two of them.
I could only look up, a final, desperate plea in my eyes. "Elias don't do this please"
His Adam's apple bobbed.
In the end, he just turned his head away. "I'm sorry."
Click.
The sound of the magazine being removed from my pistol sealed my fate. I was completely subdued.
On the way, Elias watched me himself.
"You came back too," he said suddenly.
A mocking smile twisted my lips. "And yet, you're still just as cruel to me."
He was silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was raw.
"I owe you."
SLAP!
I hit him again, hard.
"Two lifetimes, and your apologies are still worthless."
His head snapped to the side. His hair fell across his face, hiding his expression. I only heard his low voice.
"I swear, this is the last time."
He suddenly grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight I thought the bones would shatter. "This time, I'm trading you for her. Consider the debt from our last life paid."
"After this, I will protect you, even if it costs me my life."
I turned my face away and laughed coldly.
His knuckles whitened as he squeezed harder, promising me, "It's just an act for them. I will never let any real harm come to you."
The exchange point was an abandoned armory.
In the moment I passed Seraphina, she suddenly stumbled forward.
"Elias! Rhys!"
My head whipped around.
Elias was the first to react, rushing forward to catch her securely in his arms. Rhys deftly sliced through the ropes on her wrists. Elias's arms were wrapped around her so tightly his fingertips were trembling.
I could just make out the shape of his words as he murmured to her:
"It was my fault I let you suffer"
A strange, unfamiliar ache tightened in my chest. Even though I had told myself, again and again, not to hope for anything.
The rough texture of a hemp rope digging into my skin broke my trance.
Before I could make a sound, cold duct tape was slapped over my mouth.
I've been locked in this dark, damp warehouse for three days and three nights. There isn't an inch of my skin that isn't covered in the ugly, weeping scars left by a branding iron.
The leader of the kidnappers kicked over a metal drum in frustration. "Aren't you the General's precious daughter? How come it's been three days and no one's even called to negotiate? Are you even his kid?"
I pulled at the corner of my bleeding lips.
The family did have a precious daughter they cherished.
It just wasn't me.
"Last chance." The man brandished a syringe, stalking closer. "This drug will amplify your pain tenfold. Now, call your family."
"If they're willing to pay the ransom, you'll be spared some suffering."
"If they're still not willing" he hefted an axe with a sinister grin, "then I'll start by chopping off that injured arm of yours and sending it to them!"
"Wait! Don't"
The moment the needle pierced my vein, every muscle in my body began to seize.
"Dial!"
A cold phone was shoved into my blood-caked hand.
I scrolled and scrolled through the contact list.
My father and cousin's numbers went straight to voicemail.
Seraphina declined the call immediately.
Finally, my finger hovered over Elias's name
"Hello?"
"Elias!" My voice was a shredded rasp. "Bring the ransom! They drugged me, they're going to cut off my arm!"
The clinking of glasses and cheerful chatter echoed from the other end of the line.
I froze. "Where are you?"
"Miss Caldwell, it's Sera's welcome-home party tonight. Don't cause trouble."
The blood in my veins turned to ice. "What did you say?"
"Just hang on one more night. I'll come get you tomorrow."
The kidnapper let out a derisive snort.
My teeth began to chatter. "You promised you promised you would protect me"
After a long silence, he said softly, "Stop playing games."
The line went dead.
"Wait! Elias!!"
I tried to redial, but all I got was a cold, busy signal.
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