Maria Davis was always a shadow in her own life-the second choice, always behind others. In their home, a small and noisy apartment on the city's outskirts, the sunlight seemed to deliberately avoid her window. Her mother, a tired woman with sunken eyes, only had eyes for her younger sister, Sara. Sara, with her golden hair and innocent smile, was the family's star. Maria? She was just a tool-the one who had to work hard so Sara could shine.
From a young age, Maria learned to be silent. When Sara played at school, Maria studied late into the night under a lamp-not for herself, but for the exams Sara had to pass. Her mother would say, "You're stronger, Maria. Sara has to build her future." Her father, who spent most of his time in cafes, never even smiled at her once. At night, while Sara listened to lullabies in her bed, Maria washed dishes in the kitchen and got ready for her morning shift-a factory job that covered her hands in blisters.
She had turned twenty-five, but she was still the same exhausted girl. That morning, the rain was pouring. Her umbrella was broken, her hair was stuck to her face, and her work bag felt heavier than ever on her shoulder. She hurried down the street, her heart pounding from the stress of work and lack of sleep. Suddenly, the sharp light of a car's headlights blinded her.
SCREECH! BANG!
Her body went numb on the cold, wet ground. In the darkness, the image of Sara with her smile danced before her eyes. She thought it was over-that she was finally free from this suffering.
But a voice, like a mysterious whisper, echoed in her mind:
"Do you want to live?"
Maria's eyes filled with tears. No, she didn't want it to end like this. With all the strength she had hidden for years under her family's pressure, she screamed:
"Yes! Yes, please let me live! I promise this time, I'll be for myself!"
A white light engulfed everything. When she opened her eyes, she wasn't on the street anymore. She woke up in a luxurious bed with velvet curtains. Her hair was now a shining silver, and she was wearing a lavish, ornate aristocratic dress. She stood in front of a mirror and screamed in horror:
"What is going on here?!!!"
Maria's scream echoed in the room, but the voice came not from her own throat but from the delicate lips of "Elina Blackwood." Her heart hammered like a drum in her chest, and she held her small, white hands over her face.
"No, this can't be real... I must be dreaming. It has to be a dream." She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to transport herself back to her gray, rainy world-that run-down apartment, the sound of her parents fighting, and Sara who took everything with her laughter. But when she opened her eyes, she still saw the blue velvet curtains and the silk bed. A cold sweat dripped from her forehead. "No... this is a nightmare. I must be unconscious after the accident."
In her mind, memories flashed by like quick flashbacks: the nights she studied under the dim light of a lamp for Sara's exams, her hands blistered from factory work, and her mother's cold gaze saying, "You have to do it, Maria. Sara is weak." Years of enduring, years of being a shadow, and now... this? The body of a ten-year-old girl with silver hair staring at her in the mirror like a stranger?
"If this is real... I have to escape. I don't want to be killed like Elina." Tears streamed from her eyes, but Maria-or rather, Elina-still couldn't believe it. In her mind, the story played out like a horror movie. Elina Blackwood, the villain she had read about years ago in an old book. That arrogant and jealous girl whose life was filled with hate and whose ending was either execution or exile. Now, Maria was in Elina's body, in the very mansion that was full of secrets and betrayal in the story.
In her mind, scenes from the story came one by one. Elina always loved Leonard, the Crown Prince of the land. Every year at his birthday party at the palace, she would show up in lavish dresses and a gaze full of envy. But she always messed things up-she would use schemes or shouting to drive away the girls who gathered around Leonard. The parties, which were also attended by Princess Diana, Leonard's sister, always turned into chaos because of Elina. Maria shivered in her mind. Leonard had later gone to the battlefield, and a girl had descended from the sky there-a saint with divine power who won the war. Leonard fell in love with that saint, and Elina, out of intense jealousy, had tried to harm her. The result? A death sentence from the very same Leonard she once loved.
But that wasn't the only ending in the story. In Maria's mind, the image of Blake, Elina's stepbrother, took shape. Duke Valentine, Elina's father, had lost his wife after giving birth to Elina and blamed her. Since Elina was a girl, she couldn't be the successor, and the Duke gradually distanced himself from her-always hiding in his study. When Elina was eleven, the Duke brought a boy her age from the orphanage and named him Blake, choosing him as his successor. From that day on, Elina was jealous of Blake, and for years, she vented her anger by tormenting and abusing him. But as they grew older, Blake also fell in love with the saint. After the Duke's death, Blake, with the hatred accumulated from years of suffering, exiled Elina to a barren, dry land to die.
Maria clenched her fists. "No... this can't be my fate!" Her eyes were filled with tears, and her breathing was heavy. In the mirror, Elina's face-with that silver hair and cold eyes-stared back at her. "I'm Maria... I was there, in the rain, in that life full of suffering. This is just a nightmare..." But the feeling of the silk on her body and the sound of the magical fountain from the hallway were more real than anything. She had to find a way-before Leonard gave the death sentence, or Blake sent her into exile. Deep in her heart, she swore: "This time, I will live for myself."
The door opened softly, and a young girl with tied-up brown hair and a white apron entered. She held a tray with a pitcher of water and a crystal glass. The girl's eyes widened when she saw Elina sitting upright on the bed, looking around in a panic. "My Lady? Are you feeling alright?" Her voice trembled a little, as if she was expecting Elina's usual shout or insult.
Elina took a deep breath. She had to show her difference from the very beginning. "Good morning..." Her voice was soft, something foreign to the original Elina. Then she asked hesitantly, "What... is your name?" The girl's eyes widened even more, and the pitcher of water in her hand shook. A few drops spilled onto the floor. "My... name? My Lady, I'm Hannah! You always call me Hannah. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
Elina gave a faint smile, although her heart was still pounding. "Yes, I'm just... a little confused. Thank you for telling me... Hannah." These words seemed to be from another world to the girl, Hannah. The original Elina would never say thank you, let alone ask her maid's name with hesitation. Hannah stared at Elina with disbelief, as if she was waiting for her to suddenly scream or throw something.
"If... if you'll excuse me, I'll go prepare your breakfast." Hannah said in a hurry and gave a quick curtsy, but her gaze was full of doubt and surprise. Elina nodded. "Thank you, Hannah. Please... take your time." When the door closed behind Hannah, Elina leaned back and slowly let out her breath. "Okay... what do I do now?" In her mind, the story was like a dangerous map. Elina had to start now. She didn't want to repeat the original Elina's fate. She had to find a way... otherwise, this magical world full of monsters and magic would become her grave.
The door opened again, and Hannah came in with a breakfast tray-fresh bread, colorful fruits, and jasmine tea. But this time, she was also carrying a few rolled-up newspapers under her arm. The smell of paper and ink filled the air.
Hannah placed the tray on the table and looked at Elina with hesitation. "My Lady, I brought these from the kitchen. I thought you might want to read the news." Elina stared at the newspapers with curiosity. Her delicate hands opened one. A large headline on the front page caught her attention: "Fourth day of the Blue Moon, year 512: Crown Prince Leonard's grand birthday celebration will be held tonight." Her heart jumped. "Tonight... is the Crown Prince's birthday!?"
In her mind, a scene from the story flashed back. Ten-year-old Elina at that very party, walking through the hall like a peacock in a lavish red dress with sparkling jewels. She looked at everyone with pride and arrogance, and tormented the girls around Leonard with sarcasm and taunts. Once, she had even deliberately spilled a glass of wine on one of their dresses, and her laughter had filled the hall. Duke Valentine, who had bowed his head in shame, later scolded Elina in her room. That night, Elina's behavior had not only made the Blackwood family a laughingstock but had also intensified the nobles' hatred.
Elina gripped the newspaper tightly. "No... not this time. I won't repeat that mistake." Hannah stared at her with a look of surprise. "My Lady? Is something wrong? You always loved this kind of news." Elina gave a faint smile and tried to seem normal. "I just... want to be different tonight, Hannah. I want a simpler dress."
Hannah froze. "Simpler? But... you always chose the most extravagant dresses for the Crown Prince's party!" Elina took a deep breath. "Not this time. Help me find something elegant but simple." Hannah hesitantly nodded and went to the closet. In Maria's heart, fear and hope were fighting each other. Tonight, she had to change Elina's mask-not a proud snob, but someone who could change her fate.
Maria stared at the newspaper again. Between the lines of the news, a sentence caught her attention: "Duke Valentine Blackwood continues to plan for the family's expansion." Her mind returned to the story. In the novel, the Duke would adopt a boy from the orphanage a year later, when Elina was eleven-Blake. That day was the beginning of Elina's jealousy and years of tormenting Blake.
Elina clenched her fists. "I'm ten years old now... so I have one year!" One year until Blake arrives and her relationship with the Duke gets worse. In Maria's life, her father was always absent, and Elina had never known a father's love either-only the Duke's coldness and distance. If she could fix her relationship with the Duke during this time, maybe Blake wouldn't become her enemy. Her heart beat faster with hope, but she was also afraid-if the Duke distanced himself from her again, everything would repeat just like in the story.
Hannah came back with a simple blue dress. "I found this, My Lady. I think it would suit you." Elina smiled. "Great, Hannah. I'll wear this." Hannah whispered with surprise, "You've... really changed." Maria looked in the mirror. Ten-year-old Elina's face with her silver hair and icy eyes stared back at her. "One year... just one year."
Suddenly, the door opened loudly. Duke Valentine entered with heavy steps. His icy eyes were fixed on Elina's simple dress. "Elina, is that dress for the Crown Prince's celebration?" His voice was cold. Maria paused for a moment. The word "father" was like poison in her throat-neither she nor Elina had ever known a father's love. She said with effort, "Yes, Your Grace. I want to be different tonight." The Duke was silent for a moment, as if he was judging her behavior. Then he nodded. "We'll see." And without another look, he left the room.
Maria let out her breath. She had one year-to gain the Duke's trust and prepare for Blake. In her heart, she could still feel the wounds of her past life-her father's neglect and the suffering for Sara. The sound of the magical fountain came from the courtyard, and she swore to herself: "This time, I'll change my fate, even if the Duke never accepts me."