She kept running, panic flooding her chest. Wake up, wake up, wake up, she begged herself with every pounding step. Her breaths came sharp and ragged. Faces blurred past her, strangers staring and murmuring but she didn't care.
She burst onto a wide stretch of black road. A deafening roar filled her ears. Massive, shining carriages.no, machines--sped past in blurs of color.
And then she froze.
A metal beast hurtled straight toward her, its eyes glowing white, its voice a furious scream of brakes. Time slowed. Her body refused to move. Her heartbeat thundered so loud it drowned out the world.
So, this is how it ends….. again.
She closed her eyes, chest tightening, bracing for the bone-crushing impact
but instead, she was swallowed into warmth. Two arms wrapped around her, strong, steady, achingly familiar. The scent hit her first, something deep in her memory sparking.
She opened her eyes. "Raiden"
Darkness.
When she woke again, the first thing she saw was the ceiling. The same pale-pink walls. The same countless teddy bears. And the same… unfamiliar comfort.
Her vision cleared, as faces hovered above her and faces she recognized yet didn't.
"Baby! Are you okay?" The woman, her mother, but not gathered into a tight embrace. Her clothing was simple, soft, unlike the silks and golds her mother once wore, yet her beauty was effortless.
"What happened? Did anyone bully my beautiful baby?" The man in glasses aka her father cupped her cheek, his worry plain.
Sera's lips trembled. Words refused to come. She buried her face in her mother's chest, sobbing quietly.
A warm hand touched her head. "Do you want to be alone?" Raiden's voice was gentle. She nodded.
They each pressed a kiss to her forehead before slipping out, the door clicking shut behind them.
Silence fell.
Sera pushed herself to her feet, walking to the window. The sprawling city stretched before her, glittering in the light.
Her fingers tightened on the windowsill.
"So, this is my second life" she whispered.
Sera stayed by the window a moment longer, breathing in the unfamiliar air. The sounds of this world were strange, distant roaring of 'machines' the faint hum of lights, voices muffled through walls.
When she finally turned, her eyes caught on a sleek black handbag resting on the chair. Something inside tugged at her hand, a slim leather folder. She opened it and found documents neatly stacked, all marked with the name Serain Bristol. At the top of one paper, in bold letters: Employee ID – FROSTECH COMPANY
Her brows knitted. "Frost… Tech?" she read aloud slowly, tasting the foreign words.
A knock on the door made her flinch. It was Raiden again, leaning casually. "Mom said you've got work in two hours. You're feeling better now? Or should I call them for a day off?"
Work. She didn't remember agreeing to serve under anyone, she was the princess of Avirath, daughter of Queen Sandra. But now… this "Sera Bristol" apparently worked under a company she had never heard of.
"I'm fine" she lied.
Raiden stepped in, tossing a set of keys onto the desk. "Don't forget your ID this time. Your boss called last week about that."
Boss. The word felt like a pebble in her shoe, irritating and unfamiliar. Still, she nodded, pretending she understood.
After he left, she examined the badge clipped to a black lanyard. Her picture was there, the modern her, smiling faintly in a white blouse. She wondered what kind of person this Sera had been. and if she could pretend to be her long enough to understand this strange world.
When she finally left the house after understanding little much from Raiden, she stepped into a bustling street lined with towering buildings of glass and steel. Her heart pounded at the sight of massive screens flashing colors and voices, carriages without horses rushing past at impossible speed, and people walking while staring into glowing boxes in their hands.
"This world" she whispered, "is alive in a way I've never seen."
Yet, deep down, she knew she would have to survive here, and that meant playing along with whatever life this Sera had left for her.
Getting to the company was a battle in itself.
Sera stood at the edge of the road, staring at the strange, roaring beast's aka cars, Raiden had called them, rushing past in endless streams. There were no carriages, no guards, no familiar cobblestone paths. Crossing the road felt like stepping into the jaws of death. She waited until a group of people moved together, then hurried across with them, gripping her bag so tightly her knuckles ached, following the automatic map on her hand that Raiden told her to follow.
The city swallowed her whole. Towering glass walls reached for the clouds, their reflections shimmering like rivers. Everywhere she turned, people were dressed in strange fabrics, speaking in clipped tones, rushing past her without so much as a glance. By the time she reached the enormous building marked FrostTech Industries, her legs felt heavy and her heart pounded.
Inside, everything smelled sharp and cold and polished marble, buzzing lights above, voices echoing in the wide lobby. She stepped into a moving box (Raiden had called it an elevator), clutching the rail as it suddenly rose, making her stomach drop.
When the doors opened to her floor, she stepped out slowly and froze.
"Serain?"
The voice made her heart skip. Standing there in a crisp navy shirt was a man she would recognize anywhere. His face was the same, sharp jawline, warm eyes, that faint smirk but his hair was styled neatly, and he wore a sleek black watch instead of a sword. Kaelith Kailyn.
He moved toward her quickly, relief flooding his expression. "God, I was worried after your call yesterday. I thought" Without finishing, he wrapped his arms around her.
Sera stiffened, shock giving way to something hotter to anger. She pushed him back, eyes blazing. "Don't touch me."
He blinked, hurt flickering across his face. "Sera… what's wrong?"
But she was already walking past him, her heels clicking on the polished floor. Kaelith followed, trying to catch her gaze. In this life, he was her boyfriend yet in her heart, she was still Serain of Avirath, and his touch brought back too many memories she wasn't ready to face.
Still, Kaelith wasn't one to give up. His voice softened as he fell into step beside her. "If I did something… just tell me. I'll fix it."
She ignored him, keeping her eyes on the stack of documents in her hands. Inside, she scoffed. 'Seriously, you too, Sera? I guess we both have bad taste in men'
Her sigh was loud and deliberately annoyed.
Just as Kaelith reached out to touch her arm again, a sharp thwack! landed on the back of his head.
"Ow! What the--" Kaelith winced, rubbing the spot.
"She said she doesn't wanna talk, so stop bothering her and go do your work."
The voice was firm yet oddly comforting, and Serain turned to see its owner.
And froze.
The woman before her looked like she had stepped out of some divine painting dark skin glowing under the office lights, hair and lashes pure white, eyes sharp but warm. She wore a fitted green blouse tucked into tailored pants, moving with the grace of someone who knew exactly how good she looked.
Serain couldn't stop staring. This human was absurdly beautiful, she could put half the palace court to shame.
Her admiration was cut short when the goddess-like woman suddenly pressed something warm against her cheek.
"Ah! Ouch!" Serain flinched.
"Am I looking too sexy? You've been digging a hole into me with those eyes" The woman smirked, handing her a cup iced coffee with cream swirling inside.
"Ah yeah, no sorry" Serain stammered.
The woman chuckled and pinched her cheek. "You're being weird today. But I'm glad you were cold to Kaelith. I don't like him at all" She slid into the seat beside Serain as if she owned the space.
Serain barely heard the comment about Kaelith. She was too focused on this woman because in her first life, she had never seen her. And Serain needed to know more.
She couldn't just ask outright, not when everyone here already thought she was "Serain Bristol" who knew them well. So she came up with a subtle plan to check her office ID card
Except every time she tried to peek, the woman moved just enough to block her view.
Finally, the white-haired beauty sighed and handed the ID over herself "You're really weird today"
Serain whispered the name softly, "Andrea Anis."
"Um… Andrea… are we best friends?" she asked in an unusually cute way, almost testing the waters.
Andrea laughed, a rich warm sound. "Me!? Aira would kill us, don't you think?"
The moment the name Aira left her lips, Serain's chest tightened. And then, as if the universe wanted to mock her, she felt a presence behind her.
Slowly, she turned.
There she was.
Aira Hel.
Same honey-brown eyes, same delicate smile, same soft wave of hair, the woman who in her first life had smiled just like that before shattering Serain's world, by sleeping with her husband.
For a split second, the bustling office faded away. All Serain could see was that night the betrayal, the humiliation, the way her chest had burned when she found out. Her nails dug into her palm, trying to keep her expression neutral.
"Hey" Aira said casually, as if they were just normal coworkers.
Serain forced a polite smile, though inside her mind was screaming, 'How dare you stand here in front of me?'
Andrea, oblivious to the storm brewing, looked between them. "Oh good, you're here. Let's all grab lunch later."
Serain's gaze never left Aira. Her lips curved faintly, but her eyes were ice.
"Sure" she said sweetly, the kind of sweetness that could rot teeth.
Inside, she was already planning.
This time, she wouldn't be the naive princess.
This time, she'd make sure Aira paid.
For the next few days, Serain devoted herself to learning how this world worked. She was quick to adapt maybe too quick. The more she discovered, the more her mind spun in disbelief.
The phone was the biggest shock. The strange glowing device that could call people from far away, and take pictures? It felt like magic. Raiden was the one who patiently taught her how to use it, even helping her with the language. He found her odd questions suspicious, but she was clever and spinning little excuses to change the topic whenever things got too close to the truth.
She also realized something crucial:
Everyone here was different from her first life
Raiden is an influencer, outgoing, obsessed with spicy food, always in baggy clothes.
Mom, Sandra a kindergarten teacher, adventurous in the kitchen, doting to a fault.
Dad, Fedro a surgeon, extroverted and playful, shamelessly flirty with his wife, yet fiercely protective of his daughter and son.
Aira, living right next door, strangely detached from Kaelith, showering Serain with gifts, and glaring whenever she got close to other women.
Andrea, the flawless baddie who always seemed to have her back.
And Kaelith? Well… she had no interest in learning anything about him.
Today she was in the office, still getting the hang of her new job, her fingers awkwardly dancing over the keyboard. That peace was shattered by the familiar irritation that was Kaelith's voice. Again.
"This is too much, Serain! Can't you just fucking talk to me? We can fix this!" he pleaded, desperation dripping from his tone.
Serain didn't even bother looking up at first, rolling her eyes. But then she'd had enough. She snapped.
"STOP!"
The word cracked through the office, pulling everyone's attention. She stood, meeting his eyes with ice.
"I don't fucking love you. I don't give a damn about you. So please, piss off. I'm breaking up with you. We're done."
Gasps filled the room. Aira let out a low whistle, Andrea clapped slowly, and the rest of the office sat frozen in shock.
"BUT WHY?!" Kaelith's voice broke, rage replacing hurt as he grabbed her arms hard.
Her breath hitched. In an instant, memories from her first life crashed over her, his hands holding her just like that night when he and Aira ended her life. Her chest tightened, panic clawing its way up her throat. She shoved at him, but his grip only tightened.
Andrea and Aira both moved, ready to step in but then a voice cut through the air like a blade.
"What's going on?"
The entire office froze. Even Kaelith's grip slackened.
Sera turned, her heart skipped a beat.
Azar.
He stood taller than anyone in the room, broad shoulders filling the doorway. The sharp black suit clung to his frame, the fabric expensive. His green eyes burned with power, the kind that made people lower their gaze without thinking.
Everyone bowed. Everyone except Serain.
His eyebrow lifted. "Where's your manners, Miss Bristol?"
But she couldn't speak. Couldn't think. Something in her chest pulled her forward, her feet moving before she even realized it. She stopped right in front of him, and her hand rose on its own, brushing against his cheek.
Gasps erupted. Even Azar flinched not from fear, but from sheer disbelief at such a bold touch.
Gasps echoed through the office as Serain's fingertips brushed Azar's cheek.
It lasted less than a second.
Azar's expression hardened instantly. He caught her wrist, pushed her hand away, and stepped back, the movement sharp, almost impatient, like swatting away something far too familiar for his liking.
"Do not touch me without my permission,Miss Bristol" his voice was cold enough to slice through the heavy silence in the room.
Serain froze, heat rushing to her face. She didn't know if it was from embarrassment or the strange electric sting his rejection left behind.
His sharp green eyes scanned the entire room, pausing on Kaelith just long enough to make him look away in discomfort. "Everyone, back to work."
Chairs squeaked, keyboards clacked, and the usual office noise returned, though the tension remained like an unspoken rumor.
Then his gaze fell back on her. "Miss Bristol. In my office. Now."
Without waiting for her reply, Azar turned and walked away, the click of his shoes echoing against the floor each step sounding like a command she had no choice but to follow.
Aira and Andrea exchanged knowing glances as Serain reluctantly trailed after him, her heart pounding for reasons she didn't care to admit.
Azar's office was colder than the rest of the floor not by temperature but by presence. The walls were neat, every file stacked with precision, not a single pen out of place.
Serain stood awkwardly in front of his desk, fiddling with her fingers.
He didn't waste time. His green eyes stayed locked on a document as he spoke, tone sharp and cutting.
"You've been off-minded these days. Work slow, reports half-done, and nothing in proper order. If this continues, Miss Bristol, I won't hesitate to fire you."
The words sliced through her chest. She bit her lip, holding back, but it was too much. Tears pooled before she could stop them, spilling down her cheeks.
Azar finally looked up. His brows furrowed in clear surprise.
He had seen her serious, stubborn, even annoyed before. But crying? Never. Serain was known for being strong, independent, and untouchable in this office.
And now she looked so small.
Awkward silence lingered for a moment before he reached for a box on his desk, sliding it toward her without a word. Tissues.
Serain sniffled, taking one, slowly calming down. Her eyes wandered, trying to distract herself, and landed on something that didn't fit the cold orderliness of his desk.
A small photo frame.
Inside, Azar was smiling. Smiling wide, an expression she never imagined on his face as he hugged a girl tightly in the picture.
Her chest tightened. 'Who was she? Why did it hurt to see him smile like that?'
Before she realized it, the words slipped out but in a wrong way.
"Are you… single?"
The question hung in the air, heavy.
Azar froze, his expression unreadable. His hand, mid-movement as he set down his pen, stilled completely. His eyes slowly lifted to hers, sharp yet searching.
"What does that have to do with your work performance, Miss Bristol?"
Serain's heart hammered as Azar's gaze pinned her down. She regretted the question the moment it left her lips, but there was no taking it back.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair, eyes flicking briefly to the photo frame before returning to hers.
"That's my sister" he said flatly.
Serain blinked. "Sister?"
"Yes. Her name is Lyra, Lyra Frost" Azar added, his voice softer for the first time.
Relief washed through her chest, though she couldn't understand why. The thought of him smiling that way for a lover had made her stomach twist painfully. But a sister, it was different.
Azar noticed her subtle change in expression, the way her shoulders relaxed. His brow arched.
"Why do you look so relieved, Miss Bristol? Were you expecting something else?"
Heat rose to Serain's cheeks. She quickly shook her head, fumbling for an excuse.
"N-No! I was just....surprised. You don't seem like the type who.. um smiles a lot."
For the first time since she'd known him, Amoris actually chuckled. Low, quiet, but real.
"You'd be correct."
His tone turned cool again as he tapped the desk.
"Now, wipe your tears, and get back to work. This office doesn't run on emotions."
But as Serain left, her mind spun. She had never seen this side of him.
And one thought couldn't stop echoing in her head,
In her first life, she never knew Azar had a sister. She wants to know more about this life Ezar Frost (Azar is Ezar) and Lyra Frost.