Zuri woke up with a headache that felt like someone had tried to iron her brain.
She groaned, opened her eyes… and froze.
The ceiling above her wasn't her room.
It wasn't even normal.
It was a giant, glittering chandelier shaped like a sun — and it was definitely not from Mr Price Home.
"Where am I?" she whispered.
Before she could sit up, a scream cut through the room.
"THE VILLAINESS HAS RETURNED!"
Zuri blinked, still half-asleep.
"Wait— villainess? Me? I only fight with my WiFi."
Suddenly, six armored knights rushed in, swords drawn, forming a deadly circle around her bed. Their armor shimmered with runes. Their eyes were wide with fear.
One pointed shakily.
"Lady Zelaria… you live again!"
"I live again every morning," Zuri muttered. "It's called waking up."
The knights gasped.
Then the doors slammed open with force, and a tall figure stepped inside — Prince Caden.
Handsome. Serious. Eyes sharp like he spent his free time analyzing people's souls.
This would be a great time for Zuri's heart to behave. It did not.
He stared at her.
Not with anger.
Not with fear.
But confusion.
Zuri lifted a hand. "Hi. Um… I think you've mistaken me for someone who knows what's going on."
A knight whispered, "She's mocking you, Your Highness."
Caden slowly approached, sword in hand, muscles tense.
But he didn't attack.
Instead, he studied her face like she was a very confusing maths problem.
"She… doesn't look evil," he said quietly.
"Excuse you," Zuri replied, offended. "I tried eyeliner today. That's effort."
The room went silent.
Caden frowned. "Lady Zelaria never wore… eyeliner."
"Well, maybe she should've!" Zuri snapped. "Maybe she'd have been happier!"
The knights panicked.
Caden raised a hand. "Everyone out."
"But— Your Highness—"
"Out."
The knights hurried away, leaving Zuri alone with the prince.
He kept his distance, eyes locked on her like she might explode.
"I need to confirm something," he said calmly. "Do you know where you are?"
Zuri swallowed. "Judging by the sword pointed at my face… I'm guessing not home?"
The corner of his lip twitched — almost a smile.
Almost.
"You are in Veloria," he said. "And you… are Lady Zelaria. The most feared sorceress in our history."
Zuri stared at him.
Then at her hands.
Then back at him.
"Are you serious? I can't even keep a pot plant alive."
Caden stepped closer. "We watched you die one hundred years ago. Now you've returned. So tell me…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Why do you seem different?"
Zuri took a deep breath.
"Because…" she said gently, "I'm not her."
A soft gust of magic rippled across the room.
The candles flickered.
Caden's eyes widened.
Somewhere in the mirror behind her, a shadowy woman's reflection smiled.