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When I looked at the couple in front of me, their smiles and shining walk towards the twin throne of the Empire of Araka. At once I remembered this scene, as vividly as that day when I read the book 'Love and War'. It was almost a decade ago when I sat down in a cold library with the company of old yellowing books. It was a miracle that I found such new looking book with strong bindings and impressive gold calligraphy on its cover.

'Love and War' was the story of a transmigrated woman named Lisbeth who came into the novel's world as a beggar, abandoned by her poor peasant parents she works her way to the top and becomes a knight. Lisbeth also encounters the king and the advisor who were the heroes of the novel. Since she was someone who had already read 'Love and War' in her previous world's life she knew that it was a love story about the heroes.

Call it a change of fate or just a ruse that it was her that the two male leads fell in love for rather than with each other. The most striking feature of the story that the twelve-year-old me found was the number of politics and details of the war with various nations that the three of them experienced, and the heroine having the future knowledge was always the pivot of every major thing. It was safe to say that Lisbeth was the only one who could save the world while the other characters were either dead or too dumb in their love for her to understand anything about the gravity of the threats.

What about me? I thought.

I remembered a character under my name too…Aria, the Count of Bellhouse's only daughter.

I took a deep breath and tried remembering the details of my life in the novel. It was like a miracle that every little twist and turns that were forgotten by me till now, suddenly felt tattooed in my mind in chronological order.

*She was sent to the gallows due to the snarky remark she made towards the virtuous Knight Lisbeth, Advisor Declan, who once used to be the most beloved person to Aria, although only one-sided admiration on her part, overlooked her execution with deadly cold eyes.*

Fuck!…Fuck!…Fuck!…Fuck!

I remembered the passage and the exact time when it would take place. It was so shocking that the wine glass slipped from my hands, making a loud noise as it smashed on the white marble floor.

All the people took their eyes off the couple and looked at me. Their irritated eyes directed towards me and suspected that I had deliberately created a commotion to humiliate Lisbeth Morton. Declan also looked at me from behind the entourage of the King. His black eyes with a stoic face that felt as if it contorted with disgust sent chills down my spine.

These were the eyes he would show me three months from now.

'Aria…What happened?' my mother who was standing beside me asked. We shared the same silver hair however her eyes were aquamarine while mine were verdant like valleys. After three months she will cry over the dead body of her daughter which would be left to rot in the bright sun.

'Nothing…I just…I am tired can I go home? ' I reassured her by smiling.

A tender expression spread through her face. 'Sure…take care and don't stay up till late to wait for us.' She patted my head and kissed my cheeks.

'Thanks, mom…'

I went out of the banquet and looked at the evening moon. The full moon night and gentle breeze with the rustling of trees on the palace grounds filled me with tranquility as I waited for my carriage to arrive.

Haa!… Time was completely messed up... just half a year ago I developed a mysterious obsession with the King's advisor. It was quite shocking for Declan too as I would fawn over him or gift him expensive things. At first, he retreated politely but soon it turned more ruthless and relentless. I was worse than him, who would come again like a kicked puppy, not understanding rejection. I never knew why I changed so much, from a respected child of a distinguished family to such a mess and I even questioned myself for this fall, trying to find the answer.

Maybe it really was the influence of the novel that made me the stalker of a man who had no connections with me whatsoever. Truth to be told we have never even talked before in any parties. It was creepy that I suddenly developed such an intense obsession with him.

'Fuck I want to go half a year back into the past. I would have survived then.'

***

'My lady! what happened? why are you in such a hurry?' the carriage driver panicked on seeing me sprint towards the carriage in heels like a mad person.

'House…right now!!' I shouted.

**

I reached by the Bellhouse Mansion, ignoring the worried faces of maids and servants. I asked for the family butler Jordon.

'Where is the key to the family Heirloom? Father has asked me to do something.' I lied. Jordon had been serving our family from our grandfather's time. He loved and showed tender affections towards me however he would only take the orders from the duke of the family. Getting the key without lying was impossible.

'What... my lady?' Jordan was baffled, a worried expression crossed his face.

'Right now. That is why I came early.' I assured him with enough evidence.

'Yes...Right away.' He said as he rushed up to dad's office on first floor.

**

Empire of Araka has three major families: Ajax had the power of dawn, Ares of twilight which was later named Bellhouse, and Castor of the dusk. These are the only families that had the three strongest demons shackled in grimoires that later became their family heirloom. The major families were deliberately kept on Count level since they posed a serious threat to the royal family. Fortunately, Bellhouse had the demon of time in their Grimoire.

'This is the key, my lady.' Jordon extended his hands presenting a golden key.

I took it and descended downstairs in the family heirloom room. Jordon could not follow me as only a member of Bellhouse was allowed inside. Every month the Grimoire would be supplied with the life force of the head of the family for its upkeep. My father during these days would become seriously ill or would hallucinate about things his predecessors said. Most of the time it is my dead grandfather who would come in his dreams.

I reached downstairs into a stone vault. The crude stone tiles and no window room looked more like a cellar than a family heritage room. It was my first time being here and in no way, I was satisfied.

"Just a freaking small room with a black-colored fat grimoire on a stupid Obsidian podium? What was even that! Castor family had Gold tiled heritage room!" I whined.

No one in my family had ever called upon the demon as he was known for his temper. In the novel, Aria tried calling the demon with some procedures so that she could make Declan fall in love with her however it also ended in dismal failure as she was caught red-handed by her angry father. Whatever it might be, it was worth a shot to explore and try this method even if I would end up failing or my father would come inside just like the novel.

I reached towards the podium and opened the black leather book. It was ice cold, its temperature maintained by this underground room. Flipping through the pages that were burnt on someplace while mathematical diagrams were made on others with shabby charcoal. I reached the last page where a short note was written

*In the dark, time feels different,

Than in the light,

One cannot live in the light forever,

Neither one can in the darkness.

You have shackled me.

While I captured your life and that of your descendants.

In my game of time,

Let my anger be a sign,

That I will free you from this lie.

Fear me…as I am disgusted by you,

Hate me…as I hate you,

You read this because this time has cornered you.

You seek my help,

And I want too,

Tell me dear descendant will you free me?

And I will take nothing but the truth...

'Yes', I answered the question.

My hand watch stopped on its track and the world turned silent...