In the hushed depths of slumber, a voice, low and familiar, resonated with an almost ethereal quality, its words caressing my ears like a lover's whisper.
"May you finally find happiness. I'll be waiting for you."
The promise hung in the air, sweet and melancholic, before the darkness receded, and consciousness surged back, sharp and disorienting.
But the world that greeted me was not the one I knew.
Gone was the familiar comfort of my bed, the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the curtains.
Instead, I found myself in a chamber of opulent grandeur, a space teeming with individuals clad in what appeared to be servant uniforms, their faces a mixture of elation and tears, as if witnessing a miracle unfold before their very eyes.
Bewilderment washed over me, a tidal wave of confusion threatening to drown my senses.
Where was I?
The question echoed in my mind, unanswered, as I struggled to reconcile this reality with the memories that clung to me like shadows.
Why did I feel so diminutive, so fragile?
A chilling realization dawned upon me:
Was I a child again?..
The thought sent a shiver down my spine, a primal fear gripping my heart.
"What is happening...?"
I murmured, my voice barely a whisper, my mind struggling to grasp the enormity of the situation.
Where in the world am I?
The question reverberated within me, a desperate plea for understanding in the face of the inexplicable.
"Little lady, Nhallieta!"
A voice pierced through the fog of my confusion, drawing my attention to a maid with fiery ginger locks, her face streaked with tears, her eyes shining with an almost feverish intensity.
She clutched my hand, her grip surprisingly firm, as if afraid I might vanish into thin air.
Nhallieta?
The name echoed in my mind, unfamiliar yet somehow resonant, as if a distant memory stirred within the depths of my soul.
That name must belong to the child.
"You're finally awake, my lady! Your family is coming."
Her words were punctuated by sobs, a torrent of emotion that seemed to mirror the chaos swirling within me.
Her sobs persisted, confirming her role as my maid, a figure of unwavering loyalty in this strange new world.
Moments later, a group approached, their faces wet with tears, their expressions a mixture of relief and disbelief, as they reached out to touch my face, as if to ensure this wasn't a dream, a cruel illusion designed to torment them.
"My sweet angel! You're finally awake, my dear!"
A woman's voice, laced with a mother's love and a lifetime of worry, enveloped me as a woman, perhaps in her early forties, grasped my other hand, her touch gentle yet possessive.
Her voice was thick with emotion, each word a testament to the pain and anguish she had endured.
Her cascading raven hair, framing a face that bore the marks of time and worry, framed a pair of golden eyes that shone with an almost otherworldly light.
"Thank goodness..."
A man's voice, deep and resonant, filled the room with a sense of calm amidst the storm of emotions.
A handsome man, seemingly the woman's age, likely the child's father, murmured with a gentle smile that barely concealed the years of worry etched upon his face.
His silver hair shimmered in the light, accentuating his glistening amethyst eyes, eyes that held a depth of wisdom and understanding that belied his age.
Then, there were the twins, radiant and handsome,
their presence adding another layer of complexity to this already surreal scene.
"Sis! You're awake!!"
My apparent sister cried out in joy, her voice ringing with unrestrained happiness, as she rushed forward to embrace me.
She appeared around fifteen years old, her youthful exuberance a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere that had pervaded the room.
She had long raven hair and gold eyes, mirroring the lady who I assumed was my mother, her features a delicate blend of innocence and determination.
"It's such a miracle that you finally awoke after three years, lil sis..."
The young lad, with silver hair and purple amethyst eyes, resembling the man who I believed to be my father, spoke softly, his voice laced with a mixture of relief and affection, suppressing his own tears with a smile that mirrored his father's.
He was about the same age as the girl, his presence radiating a sense of quiet strength and unwavering loyalty.
...Wait... Raven hair.. Gold eyes... Silver hair.. Purple like amethyst eyes..?
The colors, the descriptions, sparked a memory, a flicker of recognition in the depths of my mind.
Could it be?
...No way.
The main characters from a novel I once read?!
The tragic, hopeless romance novel that had captivated me with its intricate plot and heart-wrenching characters?
This... was the world of "The Twin's Fate."
Boring as the title may be, the plot was undeniably interesting, tragic, and utterly disgusting, a tapestry woven with threads of love, betrayal, and ultimately, despair.
~The story began when the two naive siblings of this body's owner entered the academy at fourteen, eager to embrace the world and forge their own destinies.
Initially, their lives were idyllic, a carefree existence filled with laughter, friendship, and the promise of a bright future.
They forged friendships and dominated the academy's ranks, excelling in their studies and earning the admiration of their peers.
Though these so-called friends were, in reality, mere admirers, drawn to their charms, their talent, and their seemingly perfect lives.
Specifically, Nicholas attracted four girls: Anna, Herina, Daflia, and Chrystline, each vying for his attention, each willing to do whatever it took to win his heart.
Meanwhile, Nillianhie was pursued by four suitors: Xhane, Mychael, Yujan, and Kalisper.
Inevitably, these individuals brought nothing but trouble to the twins.
The plot thickened with the introduction of the villains: Jadhir, Lnimben, Anna, Yujan, and Jesicha.
A relentless group, driven by their own twisted desires and their insatiable hunger for power, determined to tear the siblings apart and claim everything for themselves.
Yes, two of the eight admirers were among the villains, their betrayal cutting deeper than any blade, their actions shattering the twins' trust and leaving them vulnerable to the machinations of their enemies.
The first tragedy to befall the siblings was the death of their parents, a devastating blow that left them orphaned and alone in a world that seemed determined to crush them.
Corruption, political pressure, war—all these hardships led to profound depression, a darkness that threatened to consume them from within, leaving them hollow and empty.
The other admirers offered solace, their words of comfort ringing hollow in the face of such overwhelming grief, but Anna and Yujan held the upper hand due to their mana influences and manipulation, their insidious schemes slowly tightening around the siblings, trapping them in a web of deceit and despair.
Consequently, the siblings, with nowhere else to turn, their hearts broken and their spirits crushed, agreed to marry the two villains, a decision born of desperation and despair, a sacrifice made in the hope of protecting what little remained of their family and their legacy.
An unfortunate turn of events, a tragic twist of fate that sealed their doom.
From that moment on, their lives were filled with nothing but suffering, a relentless cycle of pain and anguish that seemed to have no end;
Criticism, peer pressure, depression, exhaustion, dullness, and ultimately, suicide..
But now, knowing the plot, armed with the knowledge of their tragic fate, I wouldn't simply allow things to unfold as planned, of course!
I would rewrite their story, I would change their destiny, I would ensure that they found happiness, even if it meant defying fate itself.