The Moonlight Heir

Chapter 1:

Elinya pov:

Russia felt… colder than I imagined.

Not just the air—though the chill bit gently at my cheeks—but the atmosphere itself. Tall buildings stood like silent witnesses, the sky stretched pale and endless above them, and everything moved with a calm discipline I wasn’t used to.

I tightened my coat around myself as I stood at the gates of the most prestigious international university in Russia, my suitcase resting beside my feet. The iron gates were massive, elegant, intimidating—just like the life I was about to step into.

A new country. A new beginning.

The university was one of Russia’s most prestigious international institutions, housing multiple faculties—from medicine to business, law, and economic

My breath came out slow and steady, though my heart was racing.

I had dreamed of this moment for years. Late nights buried in books, exhausted mornings in hospitals, the smell of antiseptic clinging to my clothes—every sacrifice had led me here. And now that I had finally arrived, it felt unreal, like I might wake up and find myself back home in India, listening to my father hum softly while making tea.

Father.

A small smile curved my lips as I thought of him. Magnus Sen—my constant strength. He had supported my decision without hesitation, even though I knew it hurt him to let me go. He never said it, but I saw it in his eyes the day I left. Still, he chose my happiness over his loneliness.

I swallowed, blinking away the sudden sting in my eyes.

This is for you too, I thought.

I adjusted the strap of my bag and stepped inside the campus.

The university was breathtaking. Snow-dusted pathways, grand academic buildings, students from all over the world walking past in hushed conversations. Languages blended into a soft murmur, unfamiliar yet exciting. For the first time, I truly felt how far I was from home.

And yet… I wasn’t afraid.

I had been alone before.

Losing my mother at five had taught me that life could change in a heartbeat. I barely remembered her voice, but I remembered her warmth—how her presence felt safe. People often told me I looked like her. My doe-brown eyes, my soft features, even my smile. Sometimes I wondered if that was why Papa looked at me the way he did—like I was both a blessing and a memory.

I shook my head gently, grounding myself.

No looking back today.

The cold Russian air brushed against my skin as I stood at the entrance, my breath visible, my heart racing. Everything felt unfamiliar—the language around me, the towering buildings, the way people moved with purpose. Yet somewhere beneath the fear, there was excitement. This place didn’t know my past, my losses, or my struggles.

I tightened my grip around my bag, reminding myself why I was here. For my dream. For my father. For the future my mother never got to see. This was not just my first day at a prestigious university—it was the first day of a life I chose for myself.

I didn’t know it yet, but this city was already watching me. And somewhere within its shadows, fate had begun to move.