Back to our heroine, Anastasia Violeta—freshly awake from her coma and the nightmare that clung to her—she now sat facing the man she had attacked the moment she regained consciousness. The atmosphere had settled into a strange calm after she drank the tea he offered her. The liquid in her cup was dark, almost too dark, and every time she brought it close, her heart tightened with the suspicion that it might be poisoned. Still, she chose to remain steady, pushing that unease aside for now.
She took another sip, studying the man who sat across from her, unfazed by her earlier violence. Her eyes were sharp as always. Eventually, she decided to voice the question that had been pressing on her mind since the moment she saw him.
"How do you know who I am? And where exactly are we?"
Her tone was cold and guarded, but the edge in her voice betrayed her doubt.
The man smiled gently. His voice was calm when he spoke, though it carried the weight of a seriousness he didn't bother to hide behind his handsome features.
"You're in the Kingdom of Zephyria. This place is far from your old world. And as for how I know you… I can sense your extraordinary magic. It's been radiating from you ever since we met."
Anastasia paused, her mind racing.
"And you… who are you?"
He answered simply, staring directly into her eyes.
"I'm Nathan Blackwood, Count of Blackwood. I found you unconscious in the forest. When I brought you here, I felt the power within you. That's how I knew you're the rightful heiress of the Violeta Duchy."
Anastasia didn't look shocked—not truly. She had always known this truth, lived with it as if it were a curse stitched into her soul. But what caught her attention was his ability to sense her magic.
"And how do you know all this? How can you possibly know everything?"
Her tone sharpened.
"I'm the son of Hanna Violeta—your mother's twin sister. I inherited a part of the family's magic, and that allows me to understand who you are… including the truth of your inherited curse."
Nathan spoke as though he expected her to accept this without resistance.
He added quietly,
"But I'm here because I can help you control your power. Your magic is far too strong—stronger than anything I've ever seen. It may even surpass SSS+. If you keep overusing it, your magic will start controlling you, and it will consume you. That would mean your death."
Anastasia already knew her curse well, but she inhaled deeply and kept her composure. She didn't explode or lash out. Instead, she sat still, turning his words over in her mind.
"And you… what do you want from me?"
"I want to help you control your magic. To teach you how to use less of it without letting it devour you. And… I want to be here when you need me."
His eyes held a seriousness that almost felt like sincerity.
Anastasia contemplated for a moment. She wasn't someone who accepted help easily, but perhaps this was the only path to survival.
"Fine. Let's see if you're actually capable of helping me."
Silence stretched, until she suddenly asked,
"By the way… when you found me in the forest, wasn't there a girl beside me? Light brown hair, long, with an angelic face?"
Nathan's stare hardened, as if he had expected that question.
"I didn't find anyone except you. That forest is dangerous, and goblin tribes roam there. You were in critical condition. Even if that girl had been with you, I doubt she would have survived. If not for your magic pushing the beasts away, you'd be dead too."
A heavy silence followed. Anastasia shut her fierce eyes for a brief moment, channeling her magic. When she opened them again, confidence burned in her gaze.
"I found her."
Nathan blinked in confusion, then suddenly understood. He rose sharply, grabbing her shoulders.
"Did you share your magic with her?!"
Anastasia remained calm, her look icy.
"Yes."
Nathan exploded,
"You're insane! Sharing your power weakens your life force. It gives your curse an even stronger hold on you! It could kill you!"
His face was inches from hers, trembling with anger—but Anastasia didn't flinch. She used a burst of magic to push him away. He hit the ground hard.
"She's my sister. And I will protect her no matter what. If you try to stop me, I won't hesitate to end your life."
A dark aura wrapped around her, making Nathan shudder. He stood with difficulty, shaken.
"You have a sister? But your mother only gave birth to you."
Anastasia's expression sharpened with deep suspicion. She
stepped toward him.
"How do you know that? Your power only works in this world. How do you know anything about my previous one?"
Nathan tried to change the subject hastily.
"Do you… want to bathe before we head to the palace?"
Her suspicion grew, but she let it slide for now and nodded.
After bathing, she found a luxurious dress waiting for her. Elegant, extravagant, but it didn't interest her. She preferred simple clothes—shirts and trousers—but she wore it anyway.
When she stepped out, Nathan had prepared the carriage. Before she climbed inside, he handed her a strange potion.
"This will change your hair and eye color. You mustn't appear in your true form. Your hair color is extremely rare here—it marks the royal bloodline."
Her hair turned silver, her eyes violet, mirroring Nathan's.
On the way to the capital, Anastasia watched the new world through the carriage window—towering buildings, bustling markets—but her face remained unreadable.
"I apologize for earlier…"
Nathan murmured, trying to ease the tension.
She didn't respond. Instead, she asked plainly,
"Why did you make me change my appearance?"
He explained that many would covet her power if they knew who she truly was, especially as Violeta's rightful heiress.
Then he shared her family's history: how her grandmother Elizabeth, sister to the first emperor, married the strongest mage and Lord of the Tower… how her mother Mary was the rightful successor… how the family was once honored.
Anastasia cut in coolly,
"And what happened to them?"
His silence was long, then he said quietly,
"They're all dead. Only you, I… and your mother remain."
Her face was hollow when she answered,
"My mother is dead."
"How did she die?"
Silence fell like a stone. Anastasia lifted her head slowly, her eyes cold, and a faint unsettling smile curled her lips.
"I killed her."
Nathan froze. Her words stabbed through him. His face twisted in shock and disbelief, while she remained seated, as if she had just stated the weather.
"You… what?!"
"As I said. I killed her with my own hands."
Her voice was low, sharp, merciless. No regret. Only a shadowed truth he couldn't comprehend.
"Why? How could you do something like that?!"
Nathan finally erupted.
She answered with eerie calm,
"She deserved it. Sometimes life demands sacrifice… even if that sacrifice is the person who gave you life."
Nathan slumped back, stunned. For a moment he felt something he hadn't felt in years—fear. Not of her power, but of the unknown she carried. The darkness behind her eyes.
Unbothered by his reaction, Anastasia closed her eyes briefly, then spoke softly,
"Don't look for answers you'll regret discovering. It's enough to know I did what had to be done."
Nathan realized then that she was not someone whose soul could be read, and that her past was far darker than he'd ever imagined.
Despite the suffocating air between them, Anastasia continued,
"Does the Violeta family have new hosts?"
A flash of anger crossed his face.
"You'll know that later."
Then he muttered under his breath,
"You really are like that person…"
She asked sharply,
"Who do you mean?"
"No one. It doesn't matter."
He turned away, closing the subject.
When the carriage finally arrived at Blackwood Estate, Anastasia stood before the massive iron gates. The mansion was breathtaking, surrounded by gardens and fountains, but none of it stirred her frozen heart.
Inside, the servants lined up to greet them. Nathan had instructed them beforehand to treat her with complete respect.
"This is my twin sister. I've been searching for her for years. I finally found her."
The servants stared in confusion and fear, but Anastasia met their bows with a gaze that made their bodies tremble.
Nathan guided her to her room, telling her to rest. He would return later to discuss her magic training.
As she wandered the room, studying its details with detached eyes, there came a gentle knock on the door. Before she could respond, the door swung open…