Chapter 2
Elira's mind raced.
She sat in unfamiliar silk sheets, within a palace she had never seen before, trapped in a body that was not hers—and standing before her was the very man who, in her past life, she had only heard about in whispered warnings.
Duke Kael Dravencourt.
The Crimson Tyrant. The Cold-Blooded Butcher. The Empire's Shadow.
And now… her fiancé?
Her breath caught in her throat as his crimson gaze swept over her. No softness. No curiosity. Just scrutiny, as though dissecting a puzzle he didn't trust.
"You've been unconscious for two days," Kael said. "Your physicians said it was a side effect of the sealing ritual."
She blinked. "The… sealing ritual?"
His eyes narrowed slightly. "So you truly don't remember."
He stepped forward, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the room. Every movement was precise, predatory. His aura didn't radiate warmth—it suffocated.
Elira tried to sit straighter, act composed. This wasn't her body, her life, or her past. But if she didn't adapt quickly, she wouldn't live long enough to find answers.
"I… remember the engagement," she lied.
Kael's lips curled—not into a smile, but something more cynical. "Do you also remember offering your soul for power? Or promising obedience as my wife in exchange for my protection?"
Elira's spine stiffened.
What had this woman done before Elira took over her body?
He walked over to the table and picked up a silver box. Inside was a thin, black ring carved with ancient runes. Dark energy hummed around it like a whispering curse.
"This," he said, "is the binding seal you agreed to. If you wear it, no one can hurt you—not even I."
She hesitated. "And if I don't?"
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"Then your protection ends, and so does our agreement. You'll be just another body buried beneath northern snow."
Elira's fingers trembled slightly. She had faced betrayal before, tasted the blade of treason, and died by those she loved. She refused to let that happen again.
So, she reached forward—and took the ring.
Kael watched her, expression unreadable. When she slipped it on, the black metal burned against her skin, sinking slightly into her flesh with a faint glow. A pulse of ancient magic wrapped around her finger and then faded.
"Good," he said at last. "Now, let's test your sincerity."
She looked up. "Test…?"
Kael turned, walking toward the door. Before exiting, he cast her one final look over his shoulder.
"Join me in the council chamber at midnight," he said coldly. "If you're truly ready to be my wife… prove it."
The door clicked shut.
Elira stared at her hand, the cursed ring still humming faintly.
She had been alive for less than an hour in this new world, and already—death might have been the easier fate.
🔮 Next Chapter Preview – Chapter 3: The Crimson Chamber
Midnight arrives, and Elira walks into a chamber lined with weapons, scrolls, and secrets. Kael stands waiting—not alone, but with a circle of masked advisors, each more dangerous than the last.They demand proof of her loyalty... and Kael gives her a deadly task.
Fail, and she'll lose more than just her second chance.