The sound of the hooves gets closer, not just one rider but a whole terrifying army. Lucia's heart pounds, anxious and fearful. Her feet ache from running barefoot in this forest. Not knowing where to go, she just keeps running, hoping to hide or find someone who can help her.

"This shouldn't have happened. I'm sure he drank the poisoned tea." Lucia isn't entirely sure what had gone wrong; her plan to kill her husband had utterly failed.

......................

Before she was hunted by her own husband, Lucia was a lady from the House of Fross. She was the only daughter of Lord Patriqe Fross and Lady Helna Fross. They were nobles who were respected for their honesty, and Lucia, since childhood, had been loved for her wisdom and cheerfulness. She always helped people in need and was not ashamed to befriend the poor.

Unfortunately, everything changed in an instant when she was forced to marry a monster who had ruined her happiness.

"A month earlier, as Lucia passed by the pond, she overheard voices from a nearby shed. They were planning to kill her husband and absorb his power. Lucia then approached them."

"If you want to kill him, I can do the deed." Lucia was determined.

The seven people all stood shocked by her presence, and even more so by her words. They all thought Lucia was tricking them and setting a trap. It was impossible for a wife to want to kill her husband with her own hands. Needless to say, they were enemies, so it was impossible to believe her words.

"Are you not his wife? We can't let you leave this place then." One of them spoke, his hand ready to grip the sword. He took a step, intending to cut off her neck.

"I meant what I said. And what you see is not like what you expected." Lucia's eyes showed no fear. Her eyes also looked like the eyes of a corpse: not shining, not showing any emotion.

"Put your sword down. Let me talk to her." A curly man who seemed different from the others spoke, his voice deep yet annoying.

"If you want to kill him, why didn't you do it before? Why come here? Are you looking for an alliance?" His voice was mocking.

"You can say so. I'll do the job, and you help me leave this place. If you agree, that's the deal." Lucia looked very serious.

"Interesting. You don't even ask who we are, but you tell us directly you want a part in killing your husband. But, if that's what you want, then we leave it to you." His eyes were cold, his smile was sarcastic, as if something more exciting was playing in his head.

When the time came, Lucia made tea for Lewis with poison in it and brought it to him herself. Lewis didn't ask Lucia anything, and he didn't look at her. He just took the tea and drank it. Moments later, he collapsed. Lucia thought he was already dead without checking on him. She quickly stepped back and ran away from the reading room. However, her steps stopped when the guard and two knights stopped her. Lucia was put in prison for a week in Doge's Palace.

In the prison, Lucia became like a corpse. She had not eaten or drunk anything for weeks. Her condition worsened, but her hope remained strong that she would soon escape with the help of her allies. But something she didn't know was that they were all already dead.

"Your Grace, please wake up and take these." Iry, her personal maid, secretly came to the Piombi, the lead chambers, and gave Lucia bread and water.

"Iry? H... How did you get in here?" With a sore throat, Lucia asked. Iry handed her bread and water, and she took it."

"Your Grace, please eat the bread and drink the water. So that you have the strength to escape." Iry was sweating, her eyes seemed to be hiding something.

"Did anyone help you avoid the guards? Was there a man with curly hair?" Lucia asked hopefully.

"Your Grace, the man you mentioned is actually a prince from a neighboring country. He died a day before you were imprisoned." Iry said with a sad tone. She was sad that her ladyship was suffering.

Lucia was silent. She was sure that Lewis had killed him. She was also not surprised to hear that the man was a prince; who he was was not important; for Lucia, she just needed help to run away from here. Her hope was still there because Iry would help her escape.

A few minutes later, Lucia managed to get out, stepping on the ground she hadn't stepped on in a week. The cold night wind greeted her body. The cold had turned into comfort, as it had been a long time since Lucia had breathed fresh air, having been imprisoned. Iry and Lucia separated. Lucia didn't want Iry to follow her; she didn't want anything to happen to her. After Lucia came out of the Ducal Palace fence, she was greeted by a voice she knew very well, but it was even more frightening, making her legs tremble, unable to stand. She fell to the ground.

"Lucia Greexen. Good to see you're still alive. But I guess not for long." A deep, mocking voice spoke.

"H... How are you still alive?" Her voice trembled. Her thoughts couldn't process well.

"I already knew your plan a long time ago. I always sent my shadow knight to you to be my eyes and my ears."

"So, you killed the prince. You also let me watch you drink the poisoned tea. You planned to make me look foolish by falling into my own trap!" Lucia screamed, hurt at knowing her husband crushed her hope.

"Lucia, there's something more you need to know, a story..." He knelt on one leg in front of Lucia. His fingers held her chin, lifting it up so their eyes met.

Lucia's eyes widened at what he said. Her heart was broken. Tears began to flow. Her mind stopped processing. The truth was too heavy for her to accept. All the feelings of pain, sadness, disappointment and regret filled her, drowning her in the deep sorrow of a painful reality.

"Dear wife, now you have 5 minutes to run as far as you can. This time, try to choose a better one to help you escape because once I find you, you're dead for sure." He whispered in Lucia's ears, deep and emotionless.

......................

Lucia can't run anymore; she'd been in this state for several hours. Finally, she trips over a rock and falls to the ground, her screams of pain echoing in the forest. Lucia quickly covers her mouth, realizing her screams must have been heard by her husband. She stands in pain. Her leg is sprained; she can't run anymore.

"No. Their voices! They're almost here! Where do I go now?" Lucia freezes, fear thickening in her heart.

The deeper Lucia goes, the more overwhelming her anxiety becomes. There are no trees thick enough to hide her, let alone a welcoming cave. Suffocating regret envelops her. Lucia squeezes her eyes shut, trying to gather the strength to force herself onward, to ignore the pain. But when she blinks them open, her hope of getting out of this forest is gone as she sees a dead end ahead of her.

"Is this the end? Is this where I will die?" Lucia lets out a bitter laugh at her misfortune.

"Lucia Greexen." A deep voice, chillingly familiar, calls her name.

"My husband... you're here," Lucia says, her voice a soft whisper as she slowly turns her head to look straight into the dark eyes of her husband, who is riding his black horse.

"There's nowhere left for you to go. The choice now is: fall to your death, or be stabbed by this sword. Choose wisely." He states, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.

"Why couldn't you just let me go from the beginning? You know I don't love you, so why did you drag out our marriage for two years?" she spits, a tone of despair in her voice.

His expression remains a perfect, unreadable mask; his gaze is unwavering, his voice a block of ice.

"My little wife, I don't need your love. I just want to see you die miserably," he counters, the endearment a poisonous barb.

"I think that's a lie you tell yourself," Lucia scoffs.

"Say what you want. I'm not changing my mind about your destiny to die today," he declares, his tone absolute, shutting down any argument.

"You're right, then... goodbye, Lewis Greexen." With those words, Lucia launches herself from the cliff's edge, arms outstretched, plunging into the dark, churning abyss below. Even as the wind tears past, as the cold spray of the sea rushes up, a desperate, insane hope surges: a silent plea for someone, anyone, to help her. She regrets every single one of her choices. She begs, silently, with every desperate beat of her fading heart, for someone to help her change her destiny, for one last chance.

Lewis takes one deliberate step closer to the cliff's edge, wanting to see and make sure Lucia has truly vanished into the sea. His face is dark, showing no emotion. After seeing Lucia's body disappear into the sea, he looks up at the bright moon that lights the dark sky. No stars are visible; only clouds fill the sky, as if portending a heavy rain will soon drench the earth.

"Lucia Greexen... No. Lucia Fross, this is the end of our story. You are free now." And with those words, Lewis's love also dies along with Lucia.

Lewis rides his horse back. He leaves that place with a weight in his chest, returning to Ducal Palace. Thunder booms, lightning flashes. The heavy rain begins to fall, drenching him instantly, almost as if it replaces the tears he refuses to shed.

Meanwhile, the same world but in a different era, in modern times, the same relentless heavy rain drenches the earth. Elora, a girl known for being arrogant and mischievous, is viciously shoved down the stairs. Blood comes out profusely, hot tears flow. As her vision blurs and consciousness slips, she prays in her heart that if she is given a second chance, she'd genuinely try to be a better person and choose a better man than her treacherous fiancé. And then, in that stark moment, she dies. Murdered by her own fiancé.

God, who hears every human heart's cry and knows all that transpires, granted them a second chance. Lucia, having lost all will to live or to change her own fate, underwent a soul-swap. Elora has been chosen to become Lucia, while Lucia's soul will vanish, never to return.

In the timeless space where their souls meet, Lucia seizes the chance to chat with Elora.

"Elora... Elora Russel," a soft voice startles Elora who is sleeping under a large tree in an endless white space.

"Ummm, who calls my name?" Elora wakes, rubbing her swollen eyes as if roused from a very long sleep.

Elora's eyes widen. All around her is pure whiteness, like being in the sky but without a sun, yet still bright. Not a single cloud is visible.

"Uwahh, what place is this?" Elora's voice sounds very shocked.

"This is the space between life and death. Where human souls will temporarily reside." Lucia says, standing next to Elora, looking ahead with a very beautiful smile.

Elora looks up, stunned by Lucia's beautiful smile. She'd never seen this girl, yet she feels a strange sense of familiarity, as if they'd met before.

"So, I'm dead." Elora looks down, tears welling up in her eyes. Sadness washes over her; she is dead, without a chance to do anything.

"Elora... Don't be sad. Because in a moment, you'll replace me." Lucia sits down next to her, moving her body so that their eyes meet.

"Replace you? What do you mean? We're both already dead." Elora is speechless.

"That's right, but God wants to give you a second chance. Remember when you asked for a second chance?" Lucia says, trying to help her recall her wish.

"Yeah... I remember now." Elora murmurs, the memory of her desperate wish just before she died crystallizing in her mind.

"So, Elora... Before you replace me, I'll tell you my story. That way, you'll never make a decision like I did." Lucia's voice holds a firm emphasis on 'decision.'

......................

"So that's what happened to you... Lewis Greexen... He must be terrifying." Elora isn't sure if she can truly change Lucia's fate after hearing her story and understanding Lewis Greexen's capabilities.

"Don't worry, because you will get love from him. You just need to stay by his side and make him happy, forever." Lucia's voice is sincere, yet tinged with sadness.

"But why me? You've been here watching spirits for ages. Is there really no one else good enough? And you and Lewis have been dead for a long time. Why change a destiny that's already over?" Too many questions swirl in Elora's head, but she can't ask them all.

"Well, Elora, you can say it's been centuries. But here, it feels like only a few hours. Besides, we died on the same night but in different eras. Time works differently in the realms, between life and death. I chose you because I saw your strong spirit, and your ultimate desire to change for the better, just like me. That's why I chose you."

"But how is it logical? Does God allow it?" Elora, a genius girl, thinks this is absurd.

"God isn't just swapping souls randomly. God waits for the right one. That's what happens now. I haven't met anyone suitable to switch with. But God already knows what kind of soul I'd pick, so you lived and died at just the right time." Lucia tries to explain it clearly, so Elora can understand.

"So, you mean God planned my whole life just for you to choose me?" Elora seems to get what Lucia means.

"That's right, your birth, your life, even your death - it was all God's plan, so you'd be the right one to take my place." Lucia smiles. She is happy to finally leave this place, no longer having to feel bad about what she did to her husband.

"Well, if I go back to your time and become you, will I go to the time you'll die?" Elora needs to know so she can be prepared.

"Don't worry, I've chosen a good date and time. You'll see for yourself." Lucia chuckles at Elora's face which shows that she is getting interested.

"Well, I can live in your time, how about you live in mine?" Elora sounds excited by her own proposal.

"It's impossible. God has decreed that my soul will only be here until I meet the right one. After that, my soul will disappear." Lucia sounds sad but she still maintains a smile on her face.

"But that's not fair right? And I didn't even wish to be you and live in the past. I think I'm going back to the time when I hadn't met my fiancé yet." Elora begins to feel sad, remembering the moment she died.

"You want to see what happens to your fiance now?" Lucia asks in an excited tone.

"Of course!" Lucia's eyes light up.

Lucia plucks a leaf from the large tree that they lean against. She asks Elora to blow on it while thinking about her fiancé. Then, in the blink of an eye, the leaf turns into a screen showing her fiancé's current condition. It appears that he is being arrested by the police while trying to bury Elora's body.

"That jerk! I hope he rots in prison!" Elora is furious but satisfied to see that he will receive a fitting punishment.

Lucia chuckles; Elora's strong nature and stance are perfect for the new Lucia.

"Lucia, I want to ask you a question that doesn't make sense to me. Lucia... if I were to live as you, and die as you. What would happen in the future? Will I go back to living as Elora?" Elora is serious.

"That's right, your soul will stay in here and you will again be reborn as Elora Russel. However, your past memory, everything that happened - you being killed by your fiancé, our meeting, and the memory of becoming Lucia - will disappear. As if you never experienced any of it." Lucia is also serious with her words. This is a secret of nature that is not logical to humans but not impossible for the Power of God.

"But, what if I'm killed by my fiance again? It means that I will go through the same thing I went through before?" Elora starts to shrink and get nervous thinking about it.

"Calm down. God will change your destiny if you bring good and fulfill my wish for Lewis to have a good ending." Lucia smiles, she wants to show that everything will be okay.

Elora doesn't know why, but she also smiles as if she is happy to see Lucia happy. She intends to do her best if given a second chance even though it isn't in her time but in Lucia's time. A time that is very different from hers.

"Then, I'll try. No! I promise I'll make him happy!" Elora declares, determination shining in her eyes.

"Then, that's a promise between us. Good luck." Lucia's smile is calm, a sense of peace settles over her.

Lucia regrets her past foolishness. She longs to make Lewis happy, but knows she doesn't deserve a second chance herself. That is why she'd only asked for someone else to change her fate. She knows Lewis will die a year after her own death, unable to accept that his wife, the woman he loves, Lucia, has chosen death over his love.

"Don't worry, I promise I won't fail!" Elora smiles to dispel Lucia's worries.

Lucia's lips also form a sweet smile. As a sign of farewell, they embrace for a long time. Then, the time comes, and Elora's body shines brightly like starlight. Her soul disappears, then Lucia's soul also turns into dust and is gone forever.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

Elora Russell, a girl from the future, has died and is reborn in the 17th century. She is now married to Duke Lewis Greexen and is the young Duchess of Emerald, Lucia Greexen.

Lewis, the King's nephew, is a wealthy and influential man who is respected by his Duchy's citizens but feared by his enemies. This is a magical world where dragons are fearsome, wizards are good, and people have special powers. Is it possible for a modern-day Elora to accept this new world? The problem is that the old Lucia hated Lewis because she thought he had ruined her family. But Elora is here and has promised Lewis a happy ending.

She suddenly behaves freely and without fear arounds her husband. What does Lewis, a cold and intimidating duke, think of Lucia's unexpected change? Can they build love and become stronger for each other? Can Elora adapt to her new life and deal with all the trials that come her way? What changes will she make to their history and world? Above all, will Elora keep her promise and give Lewis the joy he deserves?

The morning sunlight streams into Lucia's room. Birds chirp outside, a cheerful song to welcome the day. For Elora, waking up as Lucia Greexen, it was a new beginning.

"Ummm, this mattress is so soft... am I in heaven now?" Elora murmurs, her eyes still closed. She rolls onto her side, feeling lazy and warm. She feels stuck to the soft mattress, its soft blanket, and the fluffy pillow.

But suddenly, the memory of the space between life and death, and of meeting Lucia, makes her bolt upright. Her eyes snap open. The room feels strange, like something from a Renaissance painting. She scrambles out of bed and looking for a mirror. The large mirror shows her in Lucia's body. A scream bursts out of her before she can stop it.

"I'm really in Lucia's body!" she gasps, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

"Your Grace! Why are you screaming?" a young girl, dressed as a maid, threw the door open. Her face is a mask of pure anxiety.

Lucia jumps, startled. The door had slams open so hard it feels like it will fly off its hinges. The maid's loud voice makes her heart leap into her throat.

"No, it's nothing," Lucia holds up a hand, a silent command for the maid not to come closer.

"Your Grace, I'm sure I heard you scream." The maid's wide eyes are fixed on her, still shocked by her ladyship's scream.

"Hahaha, nothing to worry about. I just remembered that I intended to meet with Lewis today." Lucia tries to sound confident.

"With His Grace? Did you forget that His Grace is currently not in the palace? He's out at the Royal Palace, meeting with the King."

"What?! When did he leave, and when will he be back?"

"Your Grace, you're acting so strangely today. Are you ill? I must call for the healer." The maid's voice is filled with worry.

"No, no, I'm fine. It's okay, I want to clean up now."

"Yes, Your Grace, I've already prepared your bath."

As soon as she arrives in the bathing room, Lucia freezes. Her jaw drops. Her eyes widen, stunned by the beauty of the bathing room.

The room is huge and beautiful, unlike anything Elora has ever seen. Sunlight fills the space, making it glow softly. In the middle is a large pool of clear water, sunken into the floor with pink rose petals floating on top. The pool's edges are made of smooth, light stone.

The walls have tall, thin pillars that hold up high, arched ceilings. Everything are carved with intricate patterns. But the best part was the pink flowers everywhere, growing like thick vines on the pillars and walls, like a magical garden inside. The air is warm and smells like roses. It is more than just a place to wash. It is a beautiful, calm space, clearly made for a couple to share.

"This is a bathroom?! This is too much! So different from the future!" Lucia blurts out, too stunned to control her words.

"Your grace? You called it a bathroom? Is that a new name for this bathing chamber? And what future?" The maid looks utterly confused.

"Huh? Oh no, it's nothing. I just dreamed I was in the past, so when I saw how beautiful this place is, I was stunned." Lucia doesn't know what else to say.

"Your Grace, don't make me worry. Ever since you woke up, you've acted strangely, not like usual." The maid's eyes well up, scared her lady is sick.

"Forget it, leave me here. I'll take a shower myself." Elora can't stand the maid's worrying anymore. Her head starts to ache.

The maid gasps, her mouth falls open, eyes wide with shock. Her face turns pale. Worry and fear wash over her. She has never been told to leave. Her lady always needs help with her bath, down to every detail.

"I'm sorry, you can help me." Lucia quickly corrects herself.

Elora remembers now. In this era, maids do everything for their masters. Not like in the future, where showers had heaters and hot water on tap and maids only help if asked. Here, they even help with private parts. She feels hot with embarrassment.

After her bath, which feels more like a grand ritual than a simple wash, other maids help Lucia with her dress and jewelry. Elora feels weird and uncomfortable in the heavy, tight dress. In her era, people only wear dresses like this for weddings, and even then, not everyone chooses them.

"I feel like a living doll" she mutters.

Once the maids have finished and leave her room after her breakfast, Elora finally has time for herself. She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. It is time to examine her room, and everything the real Lucia had. What her favorite colors were, what jewelry she liked, and what books Lucia read.

Beyond that, Elora also has time to truly admire her new bedroom. The room is luxurious and huge, like a football field. Beautiful paintings decorate the high ceiling. Sunlight streams in, filling the room. The window is framed by intricate, dark wood carving and heavy, rich red velvet curtains pulled back with golden cords, revealing a breathtaking view of a beautiful garden.

"Why is Lucia's bedroom more luxurious than a 5-star hotel?! And the view is amazing! Am I actually in heaven?" she spins, feeling her life like a princess.

"Now, I want to go out and walk around!" Lucia dashes out quickly, flying down the stairs so fast she bumps into the butler walking down with a pile of papers.

"Ouch! That hurts!" Lucia cries out, rubbing her bruised backside. The collision sends her sprawling, landing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Your Grace? Are you rushing down the stairs?" the male butler, who looks to be in his 40s, asks. He's fallen too, his papers scattered everywhere.

"Ahh, yes. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you." Lucia quickly gets up and apologizes. Then, in a flash, she runs for the main door, a large and heavy oak door, leaving the butler stunned.

"Is that Her Grace, the Duchess? Did she just apologize to me?" The butler mumbles, confused. He starts picking up his scattered papers, his mind uneasy. His lady is acting very, very strange.

Outside, Lucia gasps. She was truly in a palace! A few guards stood guard. Their uniforms are black with high collars and rich gold braiding on the chest and sleeves, a striking display of authority, swords hanging at their sides. Everything is just like a royal show. The palace's outside walls look unique, different from the palaces Elora has seen in her time, perhaps because the old palaces have been renovated. In the future, most of the old palaces that exist today have been turned into museums, some have also been turned into hotels and restaurants, with tourists visiting in modern clothes. Here, real people live and work, dressed in official uniforms.

"Your Grace! Your Grace! Where are you? Please answer me!" Lucia's personal maid yells, her voice filled with worry. She spins around, turning in every direction, searching for Lucia.

Lucia quickly hides under the hedges, behind a fountain. Elora doesn't want to be found. If she is, she wouldn't be able to enjoy the beautiful outside in peace. With her high rank, she'd be surrounded by guards. But she isn't the real Lucia; she is Elora, a girl who hates being followed, hates being ordered, and loves doing whatever she pleases.

"Please stop looking for me, leave me alone please... Leave me alone. Go away." Lucia whispers, just loud enough for herself to hear. She truly hopes the maid would leave so she can sneak out and go for a walk alone.

"What are you doing here?" A man's deep, calm voice cuts through the air, startling her. He has been standing behind her since earlier, observing her strange behavior, his face utterly expressionless.

"Whoahh!" Lucia yelps, jumping back.

"Who are you? Why are you standing so close behind me?" she demands, quickly rising from her squatting position.

"You must be so surprised that you've forgotten who I am?" His voice is calm but deep, an unreadable tone.

Elora's mind spins. She has no idea how to respond. This man couldn't be her husband in this era; Lewis is currently at the Royal Palace. There is no clue who he is. Sweat starts to form. Her body feels hot and tight.

"There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere. Your Grace, please don't go anywhere without telling me. I'll die if anything happens to you!" The maid says in one breath, her voice scolding. She looks like a worried hen who has lost her chicks.

Lucia is first shocked by the sudden shout, but her face quickly changes to irritation. Her hiding place is found. Her hope of enjoying the beauty of nature alone is ruined.