"Why? Why did you do this?"
A girl bathed in blood asked the man before her. Her white gown was torn in many places, dyed crimson from her seeping wounds. Under the soft moonlight, her pale skin glowed faintly. Her long silver hair hung in disarray, and her crimson eyes — like twin blood moons — burned with anger and hatred.
"It's painful... too painful. I hate this pain... I hate it."
The man before her wore a black suit embroidered with gold. Half his face was hidden behind a broken mask, and the other half was so disfigured that it was barely recognizable.
"Luv, I don't want to kill you... but I have to."
His hoarse, trembling voice carried both sorrow and resignation. Tears welled in his eyes as he raised his hand.
"You— It's you?!"
The girl's breath caught in her throat. Shock flooded her as realization struck. She coughed violently, struggling to speak.
"So you won't even spare me? Your own wife?"
Her voice cracked, filled with disbelief and pain. The emptiness in her husband's eyes told her everything—there would be no mercy.
She exhaled shakily, closing her eyes in quiet acceptance.
"Guess I can't escape this..."
Then, her crescent moon pendant began to glow with a deep red light.
BOOOOM!
The pendant exploded, enveloping them both in a blinding flash.
---
"Ahhhh—!"
The girl jolted awake with a scream. Her body trembled as her eyes darted around. The room was familiar—her own, the one she received after marrying into the Shadow Clan.
"My lady, you're awake!"
A maid rushed to her side—Clara, Luviana's most trusted aide. Clara had been with her since childhood, more a friend than a servant.
She was the only person in the Moon Clan who loved Luviana without reason—other than her parents and brother. But with her parents missing for thirteen years, and her brother, the current Clan Leader, too weak to defy the Elder Council, she had been forced to marry Eclipse.
"Clara..."
Luviana's voice broke. Tears welled in her eyes as she suddenly threw her arms around the maid.
"My lady—what are—" Clara stopped when she saw her mistress crying. She said nothing more and simply held her tighter.
Luviana felt something heavy lift from her heart. The regret of not being able to save Clara in her past life seemed to fade.
Perhaps... this was her new beginning.