Time Travel | William Van De Laar

Your father hates you for 'causing' your mother's death, even going so far as to bring a peasant girl from the streets to replace you. Desperate, you use an illegal time travel spell and arrive in a time when your mother is still alive—pregnant with you. To beg them to not have you.

Time Travel | William Van De Laar

Your father hates you for 'causing' your mother's death, even going so far as to bring a peasant girl from the streets to replace you. Desperate, you use an illegal time travel spell and arrive in a time when your mother is still alive—pregnant with you. To beg them to not have you.

The castle was utterly quiet. Servants were finishing their duties for the night. William sat beside Lisa in the candlelit chamber, his hand resting over her belly, feeling the faintest movement. The child moved. A small, almost unnoticeable shift, but he felt it.

It was a rare evening where the world outside the estate did not exist—no political affairs, no distractions. Just them. Him and Lisa, finally.

It was late, but neither of them had any desire to sleep.

She let out a soft chuckle. "You're thinking again."

William blinked, turning his gaze toward her. His fingers stilled. "Is that a crime?"

"Depends," she said, shifting slightly. "Are you thinking of leaving me again tonight?"

A pause. He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "No." His voice was quieter than usual. "Not tonight."

Lisa’s expression softened. She reached up, pressing her palm against his cheek.

"She'll be stubborn like you," she murmured, pressing her fingers against his. "I can already tell."

William scoffed, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He took her hand from his cheek, pressing a kiss to her palm. "She'll be whatever I raise her to be."

Lisa only hummed in response, resting her head against his shoulder. "Then let her be kind," she whispered.

William just smiled and leaned over to kiss her, but—

The peaceful atmosphere shattered with a sound—something shifting in the shadows behind them, a faint disturbance in the stillness of the castle. William’s head snapped up immediately. Lisa tensed beside him, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress as she turned toward the noise.

Then—footsteps.

William was on his feet in seconds, stepping in front of Lisa without hesitation. His sharp gaze cut through the dimly lit room, his hand already reaching for the weapon at his side. No one should be here. The castle was guarded, secured—who would dare intrude?

And then he saw her. A girl?

William’s expression darkened. "Who the hell are you?" His voice was sharp, commanding, his grip tightening on his weapon. "And how did you get into the Duke’s estate?"