Chapter 1.The life that wasn't Mine

The last thing I remembered was the rain.

It had been raining for hours, and the streets were almost empty. The road was wet, and the lights from passing cars reflected on the ground. I stood under the small shelter of a closed shop, staring at my phone when the battery warning appeared on the screen.

2%.

I sighed and put the phone inside my bag. I should have gone home much earlier. My shoes were soaked, my clothes were damp, and I was tired from spending almost the whole evening reading a novel. I had picked it up because I was bored, but somehow, I ended up getting completely lost in the story.

The novel was set in a kingdom called Aveloria, where magic and powerful noble families were part of everyday life. The female lead, Seraphina Vale, was a beautiful young noblewoman from one of the most influential families in the kingdom.

She was rich, well respected, and engaged to Crown Prince Adrian Blackthorne, the future king. From the outside, her life looked perfect, but the more I read, the more problems she seemed to have.

She trusted the wrong people, especially those who pretended to care about her. They slowly ruined her reputation until even her own family began to doubt her.

There were several times when I wanted to reach into my phone and shake her.

"Why can't you see what they're doing to you?"

Of course, she couldn't hear me.

By the final chapters, I was already angry with her. I kept waiting for her to realize the truth, but instead, she was accused of treason and sentenced to death. Adrian was the one who gave the order.

I stared at my phone after finishing the final chapter.

"What a terrible ending."

I couldn't believe that was how the story ended. I actually wished I could enter the novel and warn Seraphina before everything went wrong. If I were in her place, I was sure I would make better choices.

I never imagined that wish would come true.

A sudden flash of headlights caught my attention. I looked toward the road just as a loud horn sounded. A vehicle was speeding straight toward me.

I stepped backward without thinking, but my wet shoe slipped against the pavement. I tried to regain my balance, but it was already too late. The sound of screeching tires filled my ears as my phone slipped from my hand.

For one brief moment, everything seemed to slow down.

Then I thought about my mother.

She had called me several times that evening, but I had ignored her because I didn't want to be disturbed while I was reading. I had planned to call her as soon as I got home.

I wish I had answered.

That was my last thought before the vehicle hit me and everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I noticed was the smell of roses.

I remained still, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above me. A large crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the room, reflecting the morning sunlight that came through the tall windows. Heavy blue curtains covered the sides of the windows, while elegant furniture with gold details stood around the room.

I slowly sat up and immediately felt a sharp pain in my head.

"Where am I?"

Even my voice sounded strange.

Before I could think about it, the bedroom door opened. A young woman hurried inside with two servants behind her. The moment she saw me sitting up, relief appeared on her face.

"Lady Seraphina!"

I stared at her.

"Who?"

She stopped and looked at me strangely.

"Please don't sit up too quickly, my lady. The physician said you should rest."

"Why did you call me Seraphina?"

She frowned.

"Because that is your name."

I gave a nervous laugh.

"No, it isn't."

I looked down at my hands, expecting to see my own familiar fingers. Instead, slender hands rested on the silk blanket, with a delicate gold bracelet around one wrist.

Then I noticed my hair.

I picked up a strand and stared at it.

It was silver.

"Bring me a mirror."

The servant quickly picked one up from a nearby table and handed it to me.

The moment I looked into it, I couldn't speak.

A young woman stared back at me with long silver hair, pale skin, and striking violet eyes. She was beautiful, but the face wasn't mine.

I knew it immediately.

Seraphina Vale.

I lowered the mirror and tried to make sense of what I was seeing. Maybe the accident had left me unconscious in a hospital. Maybe this was some strange dream brought on by the novel.

But the servants were real, the room was real, and the pain in my head was becoming harder to ignore.

I swallowed and looked at the older woman.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Three days, my lady."

Three days?

I rubbed my forehead and took a slow breath. There was only one thing I could do.

"I need to know today's date."

The servants exchanged uncertain looks.

"The seventeenth day of the Moon Festival," the older woman replied.

I went quiet.

I remembered that date.

In the novel, Crown Prince Adrian was supposed to arrive at the Vale estate the following evening. His visit was important, but it wasn't supposed to happen yet.

"Where is the Crown Prince now?"

The younger servant hesitated before answering.

"His Highness arrived last night, my lady."

I stared at her.

"Last night?"

"Yes. He has been waiting for you."

That made no sense.

Adrian wasn't supposed to be here until tonight.

Before I could ask anything else, three hard knocks sounded against the bedroom door.

The servants immediately lowered their heads.

A deep male voice came from outside.

"Seraphina."

I recognized it instantly.

Crown Prince Adrian Blackthorne.

The door opened, and he walked into the room.

He looked exactly like the man described in the novel. His dark hair was neatly styled, and he wore a black royal coat decorated with silver embroidery. His eyes settled on me, and I noticed the anger in them almost immediately.

He stopped a few steps away.

"Tell me the truth, Seraphina."

His voice was calm, but there was something threatening beneath it.

"Why did you try to kill me last night?"

My mouth fell slightly open.

I had never heard anything like that in the novel.

"I... what?"

Adrian's expression hardened.

He reached inside his coat and pulled out a small silver dagger.

My eyes immediately went to the handle.

There was a name engraved across it.

Seraphina Vale.

I stared at the dagger, unable to understand how it could possibly be there.

Adrian stepped closer and held it out between us.

"I found this beside

my bed last night."

His eyes never left mine.

"So tell me, Lady Seraphina..."

He paused, his voice becoming colder.

"Why was your name engraved on the weapon used to attack me?