A cold breeze swept across my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. The scent of damp earth and flowing water filled the air. My eyelids felt heavy, but as I slowly opened them, the sight before me was unfamiliar. A dark, endless sky stretched above, with a pale moon casting its glow over the quiet landscape. The soft sound of a river flowing nearby was the only thing breaking the silence.
I blinked, trying to gather my thoughts. My body felt strange—weak yet sturdy, foreign yet oddly familiar. A deep exhaustion settled into my bones, as if I had been fighting for hours before collapsing. I pushed my hands against the cold ground, feeling the rough texture of dirt and scattered pebbles beneath my fingers.
Wait… my hands?
I brought them closer to my face. They weren't mine. The skin was rougher, slightly weathered. My fingers were longer, my palms calloused in ways I didn't recognize. A wave of unease rushed over me. I touched my face, feeling sharp cheekbones and a stronger jawline. This wasn't me. This wasn't my body.
My breathing grew unsteady. I forced myself to sit up, my muscles aching as if they hadn't been used in a long time. The river beside me shimmered under the moonlight, its gentle waves lapping against the shore. My reflection wavered in the water, distorted by the ripples. I leaned forward, hesitating before finally looking at my own face.
Silver-grey hair, falling over my forehead in uneven strands. Sharp features, unfamiliar yet somehow resembling the old me. My heart pounded in my chest. This wasn't just someone else's body—this person… looked like me. Different, yet the same.
And then, I saw it.
A body.
Lying just a few feet away on the riverbank. His clothes were the same as mine, except they were soaked in blood instead of water. His face was pale, his long silver-grey hair damp and tangled. His black eyes, now lifeless, stared blankly at the sky. I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to think. The wounds on the corpse were fresh. Deep, clean cuts—an assassination, not a brawl. Meaning whoever did this hadn't wanted a struggle. They had been efficient.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
That was me.
Or at least, the body I had lived in before.
I was looking at my own corpse , lying motionless in the dirt. Deep slashes and stab marks. I was murdered.
But if my soul was here… then whose body was I in?
I staggered to my feet, my legs shaky but strong. This body felt older, heavier. My clothes were different—dark robes with golden embroidery, thicker and more luxurious than what I used to wear. This wasn't the outfit of a commoner.
Was this a dream? A hallucination?
The last thing I remembered was… sleep.
And now, I was here.
The implications hit me all at once.
I had reincarnated.
And the man I had taken over had been murdered.
Wait… so the ritual worked?
Ahh… finally, my efforts paid off.
I can start over—a new life.
But before that ,
I needed answers. I quickly searched the clothes I was wearing—dark robes, slightly worn but made of fine material. My hands moved instinctively, checking the pockets. That's when my fingers brushed against something—a folded piece of parchment inside an inner pocket. I pulled it out, the golden essence seal slightly damp but intact.
Even in the dim light, I could make out the name.
Layla
A strange, uneasy feeling settled in my chest as I broke the seal. It was blank but suddenly the words resounded in my mind like a monologue .
Be safe, Yuhan . I suspect that Minister Dorian Evernight has allied with the other two hidden elders. I don't know if they know about our relationship , but I'm certain they see you as a threat. I can't afford to lose you. Please, stay safe and return soon—I'm waiting for your response.
The signature was unmistakable—Princess Layla.
I clenched my jaw. Who was she? Was she involved in this assassination? If this body's previous owner was important enough to be killed, then this woman—Layla—must have played a role in whatever game had unfolded here.
And now, I was in the middle of it. But first ,
I need to find a safer place . Staying here is too risky. Once I'm secure, I'll think about this letter and see if I can use this woman to familiarize myself with this world.