*Chapter One: The Awakening*
The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and polished wood, soft rays of morning sunlight filtering through heavy velvet drapes and painting gold patterns on the marble floor. Maya's eyes fluttered open, reluctant to leave the haze of sleep. But what greeted her wasn't the familiar ceiling of her cramped apartment, or the faint hum of city traffic outside her window. Instead, she found herself lying beneath an ornate canopy bed, swathed in luxurious crimson silk that felt like a whisper against her skin.
Her breath caught. Panic flared, sharp and cold, tightening her chest as her fingers trembled against the smooth sheets. She was not where she had fallen asleep.
Slowly, her gaze shifted. The room was vast and grand beyond anything she'd ever seen—tall ceilings gilded with gold filigree, walls adorned with intricate tapestries depicting battles and courtly banquets, and a delicate chandelier that shimmered like captured starlight. Every detail screamed wealth and power. Maya's fingers brushed the bedpost, its surface carved with symbols she didn't recognize but that seemed ancient and weighty. Her heart hammered with confusion, fear, and a strange flicker of something else—curiosity.
She pushed herself up, silk pooling around her legs, and swung her feet to the floor. The slippers beneath her toes were unfamiliar—soft leather, molded perfectly to her feet. Her hands lifted to her face, trembling as they traced the contours of her cheeks, her jawline, the smooth skin beneath her fingertips.
Then she caught her reflection in the tall mirror leaning against the far wall—and stopped cold.
The face staring back was beautiful, impossibly so, but it wasn't hers. Dark hair tumbled in glossy waves over slender shoulders. Eyes the color of emerald flames bore into her with a fierce intensity. High cheekbones and a delicate nose framed lips so full and red they looked painted on.
She barely recognized the woman she'd read about so many times—the infamous Seraphina Valenheart, the villainess of the kingdom's most scandalous tale. The woman who had brought ruin to herself and those around her, destined to die alone and despised.
And yet, here she was. Or rather, *Maya* was in *her*.
Her breath hitched. The world felt unsteady beneath her feet. How was this possible? Was she dreaming? Had she slipped into madness? Or was this some cruel joke?
The sound of a gentle knock echoed at her chamber door.
"Milady?" came a soft voice.
Maya's head snapped toward the door. "Enter," she said, her voice barely steady.
The door opened slowly, revealing a young maid with downcast eyes and trembling hands. "Your bath is ready, milady," she said quietly, bowing her head.
Maya blinked. The maid's reverence felt unfamiliar, yet fitting in this grand place. She swallowed hard. "Thank you," she replied, pushing herself upright. Her legs wobbled, unaccustomed to the unfamiliar weight and grace she now carried.
As the door closed behind the maid, Maya paced the room, fighting waves of dizziness and disbelief. She needed to think—really think.
She remembered the day before clearly—her life as Maya, twenty-six, an ordinary woman juggling a stressful job, a cramped apartment, and an endless stream of worries about rent and bills. She'd always loved to escape into books, especially fantasy novels. *Thorns of the Crown* was her favorite. The tragedy of Seraphina Valenheart had gripped her heart every time she read it.
And now she was Seraphina. It wasn't just a fancy dream—she knew facts and events about this world that no one else could. The way the court whispered behind closed doors, the brewing tensions between noble houses, the looming shadow of war. She felt a rush of adrenaline mixed with dread.
Because Seraphina's fate was sealed. She was a villainess who would be cast out, betrayed, and ultimately executed.
But Maya refused to accept that ending.
*I'm not her. I'm me.* The thought steadied her trembling hands.
Determined, she moved to the ornate dresser and pulled open a drawer, revealing finely embroidered dresses and jewels sparkling like captured starlight. The weight of the silk and velvet reminded her this was no dream.
She needed to learn the rules of this world fast.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a summons—a messenger had arrived with news from the court.
When the maid returned to help her dress, Maya studied her reflection again. She would have to play the part perfectly if she wanted to survive—and maybe, just maybe, change everything.
The weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders, heavy as the crown that awaited her—or the chains.
Taking a deep breath, Maya whispered to herself, "I will rewrite my fate."The grand hall of the palace was a cavernous space filled with murmurs and curious eyes. Nobles draped in velvet and jewels lined the balconies, their gazes sharp and scrutinizing as Maya entered.
She felt every heartbeat echo through her chest as she stepped onto the polished marble floor, walking toward the throne where Prince Alaric sat. His presence was magnetic—tall, with sharp features and eyes like storm clouds—commanding attention without effort.
Maya forced her face into a mask of calm and bowed deeply.
"Lady Seraphina," Prince Alaric's voice rang out, cold and precise. "Your recent actions have caused unrest in the kingdom. You are summoned to explain yourself before the court."
Whispers rippled through the hall like a rising tide. Maya's throat tightened.
Her mind raced, scrambling to remember what she knew about Seraphina's past. A confrontation with the Viscount of Arden, a disputed land deal, political intrigue that had sparked rumors of treason.
But she didn't have all the answers. Not yet.
Gathering her courage, Maya raised her chin. "I acted with the kingdom's best interests in mind."
The prince's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing more.
As she withdrew, a murmur of disbelief and disapproval followed her steps.
Back in her chambers, Maya sank onto the plush chaise lounge. The weight of this new reality pressed down on her. This was no longer a story she read from the safety of her couch. This was her life.
But as dawn stretched into morning, a fierce resolve bloomed inside her.
If this world had cast her as a villainess, she would prove it wrong.
She would rewrite every chapter.
Her fate would be hers alone.