Ariella Nightshade's last memory before the world faded into darkness was the cold, unforgiving eyes of Prince Leander. The very same eyes she had once adored, the eyes that had once whispered promises of eternal love, now glared at her with betrayal. The blade he had thrust into her heart had not just killed her—it had ripped apart everything she had once believed in.
And then, there was nothing.
She had expected the silence to be absolute, a peaceful oblivion. But instead, she felt herself falling, as if through layers of time itself. For an endless moment, everything felt blurry, fragmented. Faces and names flashed before her eyes—some familiar, others utterly unknown.
A sharp gasp pulled her from the darkness, and her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she noticed was the ceiling above her, carved wood beams intricately designed. Not the simple whitewashed ceiling she had grown accustomed to in her final moments, but something far more elegant.
A room. A chamber.
Ariella sat up with a start, her heart racing. She looked down at her hands—soft, unmarked by time, still delicate like they had been before her death. It couldn't be. Could it?
She jumped to her feet and rushed to the nearest mirror hanging on the wall. Her reflection startled her. She looked exactly the same as she had before—long, dark hair cascading down her back, porcelain skin, and those hauntingly violet eyes. But there was something... different. The woman in the mirror was different. There was a certain darkness in her eyes, a sharpness she had never seen before.
No. This couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening.
But it was.
Ariella's breath caught as the memories flooded back—her death, the betrayal by Prince Leander, the political games she had lost to. She remembered the way her life had ended, and how, in the moment of her death, she had cursed him. She had cursed everything, but mostly, him.
"I'm dead," she whispered, her voice trembling. "How am I here?"
She turned away from the mirror, only to find herself facing a grand room—a room that could only belong to nobility. Ornate rugs covered the stone floors, expensive tapestries adorned the walls, and everything reeked of wealth and power.
I'm in the past? she thought. But no, this couldn't be right. The layout, the furniture, the architecture—all of it was eerily familiar. She had seen it all before.
Before she could make sense of it, a soft knock on the door made her freeze.
"Ariella?" a voice called, smooth as silk. "Are you awake?"
Her heart skipped a beat. That voice—she knew it.
"Lady Ariella, your breakfast awaits," the voice continued. "Are you feeling well?"
Lady Ariella? She took a step back, her mind racing. The name was hers, but the title felt strange on her tongue. She wasn't Lady Ariella anymore—at least, not in the life she remembered.
Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside. She was dressed in a lavish gown of emerald silk, her golden hair styled in an intricate braid. She was beautiful—too beautiful. And yet, there was something about her, something in the way she studied Ariella with sharp eyes that unsettled her.
"I trust you slept well, Lady Ariella?" the woman asked, her tone polite, but her gaze calculating.
Ariella narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled. "I'm Elysia. Your maid, remember?"
Ariella blinked. A maid? She had no recollection of this woman at all.
"And what is this place?" Ariella asked, trying to steady her racing thoughts.
"You're in the Nightshade estate, of course. It's your home," Elysia replied, stepping closer with a certain elegance in her movement. "The family has been awaiting your recovery since your... illness."
The Nightshade estate? Ariella's mind spun. That name—she knew it all too well. It was her family. The noble Nightshades. The very family that had once held power, until everything had crumbled in her previous life.
But this wasn't possible. She had died—betrayed, stabbed in the back by the one person she had loved most. Prince Leander. So why was she here, in her old home, in a past that felt so real yet so foreign?
Ariella's fingers trembled as she took a step back. "I remember nothing," she whispered, more to herself than to Elysia.
Elysia gave her a curious look. "That's alright, Lady Ariella. Your memories will return in time."
Ariella turned away from her, feeling the weight of the situation crash down on her. "Why does everything feel so... wrong?"
Elysia hesitated, her gaze flickering. "Perhaps you've been through too much. Rest, and you'll be fine. The family... the prince... they are all waiting for you."
Ariella's breath caught at the mention of the prince.
Leander. The man who had torn her heart apart. The man she swore never to trust again.
But she had to play along. She had to find out what had happened—why she was here, and what she could do to change the course of this twisted fate.
"I'll get dressed," Ariella said, her voice firm, as she pushed aside the fear clawing at her chest. "Leave me. I'll join the others soon."
Elysia hesitated but nodded, bowing respectfully before retreating from the room.
Once the door closed behind her, Ariella let out a shaky breath. Her mind raced. Was this a second chance?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of hurried footsteps approaching the door. Before she could react, the door swung open again, and this time, it was him.
Prince Leander.
He stood in the doorway, taller than she remembered, his dark hair falling loosely around his face. His piercing blue eyes, however, were fixed on her with a look that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Ariella," he said, his voice cold but tinged with something else—something dangerous. "You're awake."
Ariella's pulse quickened. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. How could she face him again, knowing the pain he had caused her?
But she couldn't back down. Not now.
Not this time.
"Leander," she said, her voice steady despite the pounding in her chest. "It's been a long time."
The prince's gaze hardened. He stepped into the room, his presence dominating the space. "You should have stayed away, Ariella. But now that you're back, I expect you to remember your place."
Her stomach tightened. This wasn't the man she had loved. This wasn't the prince who had sworn to protect her.
And yet, she felt that old pull, that dangerous obsession that had once entangled her heart.
"Leander," she said again, quieter this time. "Why are you here?"
His lips curled into a thin smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "I came to remind you of your role in this kingdom. And to ensure you never forget the consequences of crossing me."
Ariella's heart skipped a beat. Crossing him?
"What do you mean?" she asked, taking a cautious step back.
Leander's smile faded. "You'll see soon enough."
And with that, he turned on his heel and left the room, leaving her alone with her racing thoughts.
Ariella stood frozen in place, her mind spinning. The prince had been the one to betray her, to kill her. But now, he was here, in this new life, with the same dark eyes, the same dangerous smile.
And Ariella knew one thing for certain—this time, things would be different. She would make sure of it.
As Ariella's thoughts churned, the door creaked open once more. This time, however, it wasn't the prince. It was a shadow. A figure cloaked in black, their face hidden in the darkness.
"I know what you're planning, Ariella," the figure whispered, their voice barely audible.
Ariella froze, her heart hammering in her chest. "Who are you?" she demanded, but the figure was already gone, leaving behind only the lingering scent of roses and danger.