MY LIFE, TAKE TWO

House Veyrant burned. Flames crawled up the manor walls like hungry serpents, devouring silk curtains, polished wood, and everything that once tried to resemble a home. The night smelled of smoke and ruin. Soldiers dragged the duke, duchess, and their eldest daughter through the courtyard, their grips firm, unyielding. Selene didn’t fight. She didn’t scream. She didn’t even blink. She simply walked when they pulled. Silently. She stayed quiet through it all— Through the accusations thrown like stones Through the judge’s booming voice declaring treason, Through her parents’ desperate, trembling pleas for mercy She stayed quiet even when the guillotine was brought out. Even when the crowd surged forward, eager. Even when the reality of it all settled heavily into the air— Final. Her mother went first. A sharp drop. A dull thud. A rolling shadow across the stone. Her father followed. Another drop. Another sound. Another life ending before her eyes. Selene exhaled slowly. Ah… Still nothing. No grief clawed at her chest. No tears blurred her vision. No frantic denial came rushing in. Just… quiet. If anything— There was relief. A strange, hollow lightness. Good. Her gaze lowered briefly to the blood staining the ground. I’m next. Finally— She would be free. Free of the Veyrant name. Free of a family that never truly saw her. Free of a kingdom that never gave her a place to stand. Free of everything. She lifted her head. Not to the executioner. Not to the crowd. But beyond them. To the nobles watching from a distance. And there— She found her. Celeste Aurelis. Her twin. Her other half. The kingdom’s beloved light. Golden hair catching the firelight, soft and radiant even in the middle of destruction. The same face Selene had once trusted without hesitation. Now— Queen of Arvenne. Standing beside King Damien Aurelis—the man who was never meant to sit on the throne. The man who had carved his way there through blood, beginning with the rightful crown prince. Together, they ruled with quiet cruelty wrapped in elegance. Oppose them—you die. Stand out—you die. Know too much— You die slower. House Veyrant had done none of those things. And still— They burned. They had been framed of treason by none other than Celeste Selene’s gaze didn’t leave Celeste. Not for a second. She didn’t know what she expected. A reaction? A command to stop this? A single word? Anything. Celeste’s face shifted. Just slightly. Her brows drew together— Her lips parted— As if she wanted to say something. For a moment— There was something there. Something real. Something… desperate. Selene stilled. For a second Just a second She almost spoke. Then— It was gone. Just like that. Celeste’s expression smoothed out, settling into something distant. A small smirk, like that of mockery Selene’s lips curved. A small, quiet smirk. Ah. So that was it. When the guards grabbed her arms, she didn’t resist. She laughed. Soft at first. Then louder. Then— Unrestrained. The sound echoed sharply against the stone, drawing attention, twisting through the murmurs of the crowd until it became something unsettling. Something wrong. Even the executioner hesitated for a fraction of a second. Selene tilted her head back slightly, laughter still spilling from her lips. How ridiculous. All of it. They forced her down. Her knees hit the platform. The wood was rough beneath her skin. Real. Grounding. The blade rose above her. Cold. Waiting. Selene’s laughter faded. Not completely. Just enough. Her breathing slowed. Her gaze lifted once more— Not at the crowd. Not at the sky. But forward. Still. Calm. “…What a miserable life.” Her voice was soft. Almost thoughtful. The blade dropped. Darkness swallowed everything. Gasp. “Hah—!” Selene shot upright, her hand flying to her neck. Her breath came in sharp bursts, uneven, unsteady. Her heart slammed violently against her chest. She was— Alive. Her fingers pressed against her throat. No wound. No blood. No pain. But she could still feel it. The weight of the blade. The final moment “…What’s going on?” Her voice came out hoarse. Unfamiliar. She looked around. Her room. Her bed. The curtains she hadn’t seen in years. The vanity near the window. Everything— Exactly as she remembered. From long ago. Selene swallowed. “I died.” A pause. “I definitely died.” This wasn’t a dream. It couldn’t be. Dreams didn’t feel like this. Didn’t linger like this. Didn’t leave behind the echo of death so clearly etched into her body. Knock. Knock. Selene froze. The sound felt too loud. Too sudden. The door creaked open. And light stepped in. Golden hair. Bright eyes. A presence that filled the room too easily. Celeste. Selene didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t breathe. Her twin smiled brightly, stepping inside without hesitation. “Good morning, sister! Happy birthday!” She crossed the room quickly and wrapped her arms around Selene in a warm, effortless hug. Selene went still. Completely still. Her hands hovered awkwardly at her sides. She didn’t return it. “…Birthday?” she repeated slowly. “Yes! Our sixteenth!” Celeste beamed, pulling back slightly, her eyes shining. “You forgot already?” Sixteen. Selene’s gaze lowered briefly. Then lifted again. So that was it. Time had turned back. Celeste continued talking, her excitement spilling over. “Oh! And the debutante ball next week—we have to go together! The princess is also already of age, so—” Selene barely heard her. Her eyes remained on Celeste’s face. Studying. Searching. That moment earlier That expression Was it real? Or had she imagined it? “Selene?” She blinked. “Hm?” “You seem distracted, sister” Celeste said, tilting her head slightly. “Is something wrong?” Selene shook her head. “…No.” A pause. “…I’m fine.” It was a lie. But it came easily. “Let’s go down for breakfast!” Celeste said, already turning toward the door. “I’ll come,” Selene replied quietly. Celeste smiled again—bright, effortless—and left the room. The door closed . Silence returned. Selene sat there for a moment. Then slowly— Her expression faded. Her fingers moved to her neck again. Lightly. As if confirming something. Again. Still nothing. Her gaze lifted toward the mirror. The girl staring back at her looked untouched. Unbroken. Alive. “…So it’s real.” Her eyes lingered Thoughtful. Heavy. The fire. The blade. The laughter. And Celeste. Her brows furrowed slightly. “…What was that?” No answer came. Selene lowered her hand. Whatever this was— A dream. A second chance. Or something else entirely She stood. This time— She wouldn’t walk blindly toward her end. And this time She would find out the truth.