Chapter One: A Life Ends, A Tale Begins

Aria trudged out of the dimly lit office, her steps heavy against the cracked pavement.

The sound of her phone buzzing incessantly in her pocket grated on her nerves, each vibration a reminder of the life she couldn't seem to escape.

When she finally fished it out, her heart sank as the screen lit up with yet another notification: Bank Alert: Overdue Payment Reminder.

"Great," she muttered under her breath, shoving the phone back into her bag.

Before she could take another step, the screen lit up again—this time with a call. The name "Mum" flashed across it. She stared at it, her stomach twisting in knots, before reluctantly answering.

"Hello?" she said, trying to sound neutral.

"Aria, where's the money you promised? The rent's overdue, and I can't keep covering for you!" her mother's voice snapped through the receiver, sharp and unforgiving.

"Mum, I told you, I'm working on it," Aria replied, the words tasting bitter as they left her mouth.

"Working on it? That's all you ever say! Do you know how much pressure I'm under because of you? You're useless, Aria. Always have been!"

Aria's grip on the phone tightened. Her chest burned with a mix of shame and anger. "Maybe if you didn't spend all your time blaming me, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

The argument spiraled out of control, their voices growing louder with every exchanged word. Finally, Aria hung up, her hand trembling as she shoved the phone back into her bag.

She walked home in silence, her mind a chaotic storm. When she reached her apartment building, her heart sank further. Her landlord stood outside her door, his fist pounding against it.

"Aria! I know you're in there! You've got three days to pay up, or you're out!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the hallway.

Panic surged through her. She turned and darted back down the stairs, her footsteps quick and unsteady. She didn't stop running until she reached her boyfriend's apartment—a sanctuary she hoped would provide her with some relief.

But that hope shattered the moment she saw him.

He was standing in the parking lot, his arms wrapped around another woman. Her laughter rang out, light and carefree, as he leaned down to whisper something in her ear.

Aria froze, the sight driving a dagger through her chest. Her world crumbled in that instant, leaving her feeling smaller and more broken than ever.

Without confronting him, without even making a sound, she turned and walked away.

She didn't know where her feet were taking her until she stood before the city's old clock tower, its shadow looming over her like a silent judge.

She climbed to the top, her hands gripping the rusted railings as she looked out over the sprawling city. The lights below twinkled like stars, so close yet impossibly out of reach.

For hours, she sat there, the cold wind biting at her skin as she thought about everything and nothing. When she finally climbed down, the world felt even darker than before.

Walking through a narrow alleyway, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. It was sudden, like a knife twisting deep inside her. Gasping, she clutched at her abdomen, her knees buckling beneath her.

The cold, dirty ground rushed up to meet her, and the world around her faded into blackness.

---

Aria woke to the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze and the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy of an ancient forest.

The air was cool, tinged with the scent of moss and wildflowers.

She sat up slowly, her body aching as though she'd been asleep for years.

Blinking, she took in her surroundings—the towering trees, the soft grass beneath her fingers, the gentle hum of crickets in the distance.

"Where… am I?" she murmured, her voice hoarse.

She looked down and froze. The clothes she wore weren't hers.

Instead of her usual jeans and blouse, she was draped in a flowing gown made of silk, its intricate embroidery shimmering in the moonlight.

The fabric felt impossibly soft against her skin, like something out of a historical drama.

Her hands moved to her hair, which was pinned up in an elaborate style she couldn't begin to describe.

Her fingers trembled as they traveled down to the hem of her dress, then to her bare feet.

"What is this…?" she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Her gaze fell to her hands, and she recoiled in shock.

One of them was blackened, as though dipped in ink.

She rubbed at it furiously, hoping to wipe it away, but the darkness clung stubbornly to her skin.

Panicking, she stumbled through the forest, following the faint sound of running water. She found a stream, its surface shimmering like liquid silver under the moonlight.

The sight was mesmerizing, almost otherworldly.

Kneeling beside it, she plunged her hands into the cool water, scrubbing at the blackness with frantic desperation.

Some of it faded, but her hand remained stained, the darkness refusing to leave entirely.

Frustrated, she splashed water on her face, trying to shake off the surreal feeling that had taken hold of her.

As she straightened up, she caught sight of something—or rather, someone—in the distance.

A man stood leaning against a tree, his figure bathed in moonlight.

He was tall and strikingly handsome, his features so flawless they seemed almost divine.

His long hair cascaded down his back like a silken waterfall, and his eyes, though partially shadowed, glimmered with an ethereal light.

Aria's breath caught in her throat. She had never seen anyone so beautiful, so otherworldly.

But her admiration turned to unease as she noticed something strange. Black veins crept up his neck, snaking their way across his pale skin like an ominous curse.

Before she could make sense of what she was seeing, the sound of hooves shattered the stillness.

Aria turned, her heart racing as a group of men in gleaming armor emerged from the shadows. They moved with precision, their swords glinting under the moonlight.

They parted to reveal a man on horseback. His armor was more ornate, his posture commanding. A thick mustache curled above his stern mouth, and his piercing gaze bore into her.

He raised a sword and pointed it directly at her.

"Lady Seraphina Evercrest," he declared, his voice cold and authoritative, "you are accused of poisoning the crown prince and conspiring treason against the throne. By royal decree, you are sentenced to beheading."

Aria's blood ran cold.

"What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her mind reeled as his words echoed in her ears.

Seraphina Evercrest?

Poison?

Treason?

This wasn't her life. This wasn't her world.

And yet, it was her life they were about to end.