Hello...
My name is Eva.
And welcome to my story.
Where should I begin?
Let me think.
Perhaps... with this:
Right now, I'm living my second life.
In my first life, when I was twenty-two, I was executed by the Emperor of this empire-Eyan Lucien Therald.
The charge was treason, a crime I never committed.
But my family had, or so they said.
And because I bore the same surname-Elvaris-that was enough.
Enough to sentence me.
Enough to kill me.
The last thing I remember from that life was the cold wind brushing my face as the world faded.
And then... I opened my eyes.
Alive.
Twenty years old again.
Maybe it was the Goddess.
Who had granted me another chance.
This time, I chose to do what I hadn't before.
I left.
Left my family. Left the Elvaris name. Left everything that could tie me to death.
Forgive me, Mother.
Forgive me, Father.
But I-I want to live.
I became a commoner, far from nobility, far from danger.
And most of all-far from Emperor Eyan Lucien Therald.
You might be thinking, You've read a story like this before.
A girl reborn. A past full of betrayal. A vow to change fate.
And maybe you're right.
But that was only the beginning.
The real story began-
When I met him.
---
I was twenty-four when it happened.
Just a market morning, like any other.
I was buying fruit from the vendor when someone crashed into me.
My basket tipped, apples and pears scattered everywhere.
I whirled around, ready to scold the stranger-
But the words never came.
Because when I looked up, I saw him.
He had a calm face, kind eyes, and a strange presence that seemed to still the world.
He extended his hand toward me.
"Lady, are you all right?"
Of course, I wasn't. My fruit was ruined.
I wanted to snap: 'Do I look all right to you?'
But instead-I just stood there, blinking, dazed.
He glanced at the mess and said, "Let me buy you some new fruit. It was my mistake."
In my mind, I thought, Yes, it was. You should.
But out loud, I said, "No... it's okay."
"Please," he insisted gently, "let me make it up to you."
I hesitated. Then nodded. "Okay..."
He smiled a little. "May I ask your name?"
"My name?" I echoed.
"It's alright if you don't want to tell me-"
"I'm Eva," I said quickly, cutting him off. "My name is Eva."
"Just Eva?" He tilted his head. "You seem like a noble lady."
"I was once," I replied, with a small smile. "Not anymore. I live as a commoner now."
He looked at me a moment longer.
"Eva... it's a beautiful name. It suits you."
"And you?" I asked. "What's your name?"
"I'm Kyel."
"What about your family name?"
"I don't have one," he said. "I'm an orphan. I've always been alone."
"Kyel..." I whispered. "That's a beautiful name too. It suits you."
We both laughed then, as if the awkwardness dissolved into something softer.
He bought me fresh fruit.
He even walked me home.
---
I saw him again two weeks later.
I stopped him. We talked. Laughed.
Then it happened again.
And again.
Weeks turned into months.
And somehow, we kept crossing paths-always by coincidence.
Or maybe... by fate.
I began to think:
Maybe the Goddess meant for us to meet.
Maybe this was the reason I was given a second life.
Kyel was kind. Gentle. Thoughtful. And... devastatingly handsome.
So I did something bold.
I decided to propose.
Yes, I know-tradition says the man should propose.
But I couldn't wait any longer.
I asked him to meet me at the Harvest Festival.
He said he might not be able to come-he had work-but he'd try.
So I waited.
The festival came and went.
The lanterns dimmed. The music faded.
And still-no sign of Kyel.
I sighed. Maybe I'll ask him another time, I thought.
I turned, disappointed, and began walking home.
Then-
I heard someone call my name.
I turned.
It was Kyel.
His breath was ragged, his hair tousled, as if he'd run through the entire city to find me.
"Eva," he gasped, "sorry I'm late..."
"You came," I said softly.
"Yes."
There was a pause.
Then he asked, "What is it you wanted to talk about?"
I took a breath.
"It's nothing, really. I just wanted to ask if you... if you'd marry me."
His eyes widened.
"Marry... you?" he said, still catching his breath.
"You look surprised," I said quickly. "You can say no. I'm not forcing you or anything. I just-"
I laughed nervously. "I fell in love with you the moment I met you, and-"
I looked up.
His face was red. His lips parted, breathless and speechless.
I tried to recover. "Kyel, don't mind me. I was just jok-"
"I do," he interrupted.
I blinked. "What?"
"I'll marry you," he said. "But I... I don't have a ring."
I laughed then-half joy, half disbelief.
And reached into my pouch.
"I do."
I pulled out two simple silver rings.
He took one, held my hand carefully, and slid it onto my finger.
Then he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Thank you for choosing me," he whispered.
"No," I said, smiling through a heart that felt too full-
"Thank you for choosing me."
And we laughed again, standing beneath the glowing lanterns and the echo of distant music.
---
And so, this is how my second life began.
Not with tragedy.
Not with vengeance.
But with a choice.
And with him.
---