Outside of the damp hallway, her room was warm, the temperature was better due to the thick window curtain that blocked out the cold air and the fire that burned in the fireplace.

Kiara took her clothes and entered the bathtub, The water was warm, with sweet fragments of honey, and the pain in her body started to disappear slowly. Yura poured oil into her body so that she would feel relaxed. her gaze shifted towards Yura. but she didn't say anything. 

she fell into a parallel world, that she only knew through the books.

The world she was reincarnated in was a magical world, Elara Larousse, the daughter of Duke Larousse. She was one of the four Duke's daughters, but her father always gave her a cold stare.

Thalassian Concord, In the heart of the continent, nestled between the majestic mountains and endless expanse of the ocean, here land had unparalleled beauty, glistening rivers, and dense forest. it's a heaven located in the south. To the north, its snow-capped peaks stand as natural fortresses, while the South boasts an enigmatic ocean teeming with mysterious creatures. This sea stretches beyond the empire's borders, connecting it to distant kingdoms, and is celebrated as one of nature's greatest wonders.

 According to the legends, The Empire of Thalassian Concord was founded over 1000 years ago and forged by the divine powers of Celestine, the Goddess of Balance, and Aegir, the God of Oceans. They blessed this land to be a sanctuary of harmony and abundance. And God of Ocean gives his name.

Yet, even divine protection could not shield the Empire from the traits of time. Wars invasions, and internal strife tested its strength, but the empire always emerged victorious.

Two decades ago, the Thalassian empire faced its gravest threat when a powerful demon from the Underworld, the second-most powerful Queen of the Demons. Descended upon the empire.

Her ambitions were plunging the world into darkness chaos reigned, and hope began to fade. But salvation came in the From Empires Saint Elyriana, a divine figure believed to be the goddess's chosen and Former master of the Magic Tower. Together, they wielded an ancient relic to Demon Queen Maeltharix. Though the Thalassian empire was saved, legends say the relic's seal is not eternal. 

Whispers of Maeltharix's eventual return linger, casting a shadow over the empire. But in saving the empire, Saintes's Elyriana and Master of the magic tower lost their lives.

Today, the Thalassian empire stands as a beacon of power and resilience, but its peace is fragile. The neighbouring Kingdom Voritha, a long-time rival, constantly attempts to encroach on the Thalassian empire's borders. Each attempt fails, thanks to the empire's formidable defences and strategic prowess.

 At the heart of this thriving empire is Emperor Arsenios Vynar Thalass, a powerful water mage and a Thalassian, descendants of a magical bloodline tied to the oceans. His rule is marked by growth and stability, but unseen dangers are beginning to stir in the shadows.
 
 In the empire, four powerful noble families hold significant influence. The Grand Duke of Northcrest rules the North, The Duke of Larousse Governs the South, The Duke of Righwolf oversees the East, and The Duke of Wysteria commands the West. These families have long been the most powerful in the empire.

However, in recent years the Marquise Valmont has been gaining considerable influence, primarily due to The Empress Aletheia Vynar Thalass, being the daughter of a former marquess, has significantly strengthened the Valmont family's power. Each of these noble families possesses their shadow army, tasked with protecting them. And most powerful.

 She spent time gathering this information. Curiously, despite not knowing their language, she can still speak and read the local language—something she discovered through various books, which suggests that certain linguistic capabilities remain even when memories fade.

 Hmph… if this happens, I'm going to die. She sighed and thought, it was frustrating for her. Reading the empire's history fills her with frustration. So much remains unknown, and this body's memories are frustratingly incomplete. but for now, she had more immediate concerns for her future.

 "Knock… Knock."

A soft, familiar voice knocked on the door. Yura stood outside—the servant she had previously sent to the library to collect historical, political, and business-related books. Kiara decided that it would be easy to read all kinds of books, it would make it much easier to understand this world. 

 "Put the books over there," she said to Yura. "It looks like you've brought the right materials." at the study table she was sitting on the chair, her piercing red eyes fixed on Yura. as though she was happy, but inside of her mind knew that she wasn't really.

 My past life as a businesswoman never truly left me. The Divine Tree's warning echoes in my mind: a future betrayal must come someday. she thought she grabbed one of the books on the table. 

"Yes, my lady," Yura replied, her honey-smooth voice carrying confidence. Just days ago, she had been a trembling maid, and now she moves purposefully.

"The head butler was there too." "He said these books are the best" Yura said, her voice soft and honey-melting voice. A few days a girl who was trembling in fear of other maids was now she was going here or there only for her work.

 She stared at Yura, the head butler. He didn't help Elara; instead, he always gave her a cold expression. Perhaps he was influenced by the false rumours circulating about her.

 "Did you know about those rumours regarding me, Yura?" Elara asked her, eager to understand why she remained by her side until the end. In Elara's first life, she was accompanied by her master, Elara, but after a year, she was killed by the crown prince right in front of her. In her second and third lives, she was the only one who stayed with her.

 In this life, I vowed to save her. We will live together, no matter what. I promised you that I would not neglect those around me as I had in Korea—this time would be different... she thought, the entire room seemed to silent, Kiara leaned back in her chair, sighing, her expression was pale, reading books in a room whole weeks, that makes her face that way. 

"Bang Bang"

"Oi…Ela? Should I send a search party or an invitation to get you out of your room?"

 A sudden loud voice comes across the door as if someone knocking on the door desperately. Yura went to open the door. the voice was a boy, who screamed outside of the door.

 "Are you alive? Is this Dungun, you are hiding from me? Or you are planning to run away from this empire?"

 Without warning, a sharp, teasing voice broke the silence in Elara's room. It was Elara's twin brother, Cassius Larousse, who was only seven minutes older than her.

 "Seriously, knock like a normal human! Not like a maniac!" she exclaimed.

 The loud knocking had startled her, but this was normal for him. He never seemed to knock like a regular person, always barging in unexpectedly. they look alike, his red eyes and dark black hair, just like a carbon copy of each other.

 "Why don't you come outside? Eirlys said you've been holed up in here. Is there a problem?"

 he asked, concern evident in his expression. Cassius was always the gentleman, and we shared the same hair and eye colour. 'Do all twins look that alike?' she wondered. "Oh, I just wanted some alone time." With all respect, she replied to him. "I was planning to meet with you, can you escort me to the Royal Library next week?" said Calmy, her voice carrying an unexpected softness in her mouth.

 When she first woke up, she asked Yura about her family, and she was shocked to mention her own family but, Kiara explained her situation. To smooth things over, she told her she'd broken up with the Crown Prince and hadn't left her room since. and with tears in her eyes, she believed what her master was saying was right, 

Technically, it wasn't a lie, old Elara had indeed broken up with her lover before her reincarnation. But now, it was confusing—what should I call her? The real Kiara or Elara? Whatever the case, I needed to focus on my survival. she thought

 "Did you hit your head on a rock or something? Do you have amnesia?" Cassius asked. "Next week is Calantha's 20th birthday."

 He was right; she had hit her head, but not on a rock—on a car. she had completely forgotten her birthday. Sometimes, she even forgets her own. Cassius' voice broke the silence, dripping with sarcasm. Cassius looked shocked when he heard my request, but perhaps his reaction was more subdued than it would have been from others.

"Huh… No, I remembered her birthday, but I didn't buy her a gift." She sat on the sofa. Her younger sister, Calantha, is turning 20, and her birthday coincides with something tragic that happened at that night's party.

 "Then let's go shopping. You can buy some accessories for yourself too." Cassius said.

she nodded. She let down her book and met her brother's gaze with a soft smile. "Let's go" 

'Of course, I wanted to go outside to gather information about magic. What is the fated cycle?'

 she was searching for all the books in her room, that is there anything about magic or about fate, but she couldn't find them. those books are forbidden and Elara wasn't interested in magic, so in her room wouldn't book named magic.

"Um… brother, do you know anyone familiar with the High Priest of the Holy Temple?"

 If I'm correct, most holy power users know about this. When I'm bored, I often read novels, and in those stories, high priests are known to have time-travelling abilities; sometimes, those saints even turn back time.

 "Why don't you ask Eirlys? She is a saintess." "But why are you suddenly interested in the High Priest and the Temple?" Cassius crossed his arms over his chest.

 Cassius was curious; he knew his sister very well. She had memories, and in those memories, Elara had not shown interest in the Temple or its powers. She only wanted love from her father, who always regarded her with a cold stare. 'What kind of person was he?' she hadn't meet her her family. 

 "I have a little business with them. Let's go to the capital, bro."

 "Yes."

 'What are you thinking, Ela? You've never shown interest in them before, and now you're keeping to yourself while wanting to know about that priest.'

As they walked down the corridor, she smiled. for now, she was focused on her own growth and survival. this was her new start to life.