Prologue

Currently in Pandora

Lady August's POV

The night was so quiet, I could only hear crickets chirping. My wedding to Prince Cayden is set for tomorrow and he will also be crowned Emperor of Veneesha tomorrow.

I should be happy because I'm getting married to the person I love and who loves me too, but as time goes on it seems like I'm being killed by pain and sadness.

I just sighed and walked to the lake in front of my luxurious room. There were no soldiers on guard so I could walk freely in the yard. I reached the small lake surrounded by white flowers and I looked at the tree on the edge of the lake where fireflies were flying.

The surroundings are beautiful. The lake seems to be full of magic along with the wind. But no matter how beautiful the surroundings are, I can't get rid of the sadness in my heart.

I felt my chest and grabbed the medallion. This is what the Prince gave me, a sign that I am the woman he will marry.

"I love you, but I am not the one who is destined to love you," I whispered into the wind. I took off the medallion and looked at it one last time. "Lith puram syeth ta lismuth dithpularam ansuem juseya meth." I uttered an oration and dropped the medallion into the lake.

"Lady August! What have you done?" The temple administrator asked me in surprise. His face seemed to lose color as his gaze shifted from me to the lake that I interpreted as a medallion.

"It doesn't belong to me," I answered him.

He seemed surprised at my answer and confusion flooded his face. "Why are you saying that? You've been chosen long ago to be Prince Cayden's bride.

I smiled bitterly. I remember being so happy that the prince chose me. I love the prince so much that I felt so happy that he chose me. But all that happiness has crumbled since the previous day.

"You were right, I have been chosen. But I am not the true owner of the medallion. I am not destined to marry Prince Cayden." I answered bitterly. Tears pooled but I held them back from falling.

The supervisor was even more confused with me because of what I was saying. "It doesn't make any sense, how could you say that Lady August."

I looked at him. Maybe it's time for him to know the truth. "Headmistress, you know that I can see the future." My introduction to him. "Tomorrow, I will die. There will be an assassination and I will be killed." I said that he was surprised by the administrator. He covered his mouth while his eyes widened.

"Oh my gosh." He said it as if he was about to lose his trance. That's not surprising because what will happen tomorrow is surprising.

"My life is until tomorrow, but I want to save the Prince, I tried to look for a solution and I found there is another me living in a far galaxy. She will replace me." I will continue.

"What? Another you?" This is a surprising question.

It nodded. "Yes, there is another me, living on Earth. She is me. She is the one destined to marry the Prince. My destiny is to die tomorrow."

"No, we should tell the Prince so we could prevent it from happening." It pales in promise.

I smiled bitterly at him. "No. It is already written in the prophecy that I will die tomorrow and she will be summoned. Please, headmistress, you have to keep this a secret, you have to take care of me from the other world. You are the only person I trust." I asked him.

Her face looks like I am asking for a very difficult task to do. But he nodded bitterly, almost crying. "We will double the guards. In case, we could still prevent it from happening." It promised.

"Thank you," I answered him. I know that what will happen tomorrow cannot be stopped. My end is set. "Headmistress, I need to see the Prince," I promise for the last time.

•••

It was a very peaceful night in the castle of Veneesha. I sneaked into the kingdom with the help of the headmistress. For the last time, I want to see the prince.

I walked quietly down the hall and reached a wide lawn. The Prince's private room was there so I walked along a stone path and saw the flowers surrounding it as if the stone path had become a fence.

I saw that the light in the room was still on so I knew that the Prince was still awake. So I quietly entered his room without him knowing. I saw the Prince standing with his back turned. It was already wearing a luxurious nightgown and it suddenly turned around to feel my presence.

"Who's there?!" He promised me so authoritatively that I stopped.

He didn't recognize me because I was wearing a white hood and my face was covered. So I removed my hood and smiled at Cayden.

"August! What are you doing here?" He asked in surprise and immediately approached me.

"I wanted to see you," I promise and hold back from crying. I suddenly finished him which surprised him too. I'm not in the habit of just being lazy. I was raised as a noble and reserved. He hugged me back.

"I wanted to see you too. So badly." He said hugging me even tighter.

I looked up at him and carved in my memory his perfect face, his long eyelashes, his eyes that seemed to attract, his sharp nose, and his red lips. This will be the last time that I'm seeing them. "Do you love me?" I suddenly asked him.

He smiled and looked at me lovingly. "I love you so much." He answered.

I felt so happy. "I love you. Please make love to me tonight." Promise him without hesitation.

He was surprised by what I said. He probably didn't expect me to say that. "August, I love you so much that I want you to remain pure until our wedding." It answered with full love.

"Please, I want it now, I don't want to wait for tomorrow." I try. I want to be with him in the last moments of my life. If there is only one way to save my life.

He cupped my face so gently and kissed me. I thought it was the start but it wasn't. He stopped kissing me and stared at my face with longing. "God knows how much I want to make love to you right now. But I value you so much. You are my most important woman and I don't want to ruin you." He said this with full approval.

It felt like there was a lump in my throat when I heard what he said. It's like my heart is being squeezed. This will be the last time. But I suppose this is according to the prophecy. I bit my tongue so I wouldn't cry. I smiled at him and planted a kiss on his lips. "I love you. No matter what happens please don't forget about me." I promised him bitterly that my voice almost broke.

"That-"

"Please promise me." I cut him off.

"Yes, I promise my love." It's a wholehearted response.

I ended up crying. How I wish my fate would change. I hugged him for the last time so tightly that if I can't let go, I really won't let go. "I'll go back now," I promised to quit.

"I will send you home." It promised.

I didn't refuse because this was the last thing he brought me.

•••

I am now facing the big mirror. I'm done fixing it. I was hailed as the most beautiful woman in the kingdom of Veneesha. I looked more beautiful than my usual self. Today is the day my end is set but I didn't realize it. I showed my usual aura of the noble and reserved. The meek lady August is what they are seeing to hide my sorrow. I am not afraid to die, but I want to continue living with the man I love.

"Lady August, the carriage is here." Rina, who is my assistant, inspired me.

I didn't look at him but I got up from sitting and started walking out of my room. I met the other celestial ladies who would deliver me as well as the headmistress. The number of soldiers also doubled so I looked at the headmistress who didn't show it, I knew she was worried.

They help me get into the carriage. The headmistress also entered and sat facing me.

"We already checked the perimeters, and there are no suspicious activity or person, but did I still request to increase the guards." He said and closed his eyes.

"Thank you." I only promise. But my vision is not wrong. This is one of my powers as a Celestial Lady.

I felt the carriage moving forward and I heard the footsteps of the horses. I just closed my eyes and prayed silently. I should be great, even though I will die today it is a miracle to find a replacement. I am doing all of this for Cayden. If he will not marry the right person he will turn into a tyrant and will fall of the kingdom of Veneesha.

It is the cruelest thing to see your death. But I still see it as a gift, without it I can't prepare everything. It may be the end of my life, but I will make sure that Cayden will be happy.

I have already felt the slightly bumpy side of Denayah Clift. Here we will go by tradition.

"Who are you?!" A soldier shouted from outside and suddenly the shouting started outside and I heard someone fall to the ground.

"What's happening?" The headmistress asked palely. He stood up and got out of the carriage. I also followed him and we found many bloodied and lifeless soldiers lying on the ground.

"Lady August, this will be your end." Said a man in black with a mask on his face and carrying a sword.

"How dare you threaten a celestial Lady, you will be punished!" Head Mistress said angrily.

"I have no against Lady August but I am just hired. You will die by my sword." He said darkly.

Odd, but I am not scared. "I already know that you will cause my death. But I wouldn't die with your sword." I promised him and without hesitation, I jumped off the cliff with my eyes closed.

"Lady August!" The screams of my companions and the last words I heard.