the ball

Austin sat frozen on the edge of the bed, his mind racing. This isn’t real. This can’t be real. But the warmth of the nightgown against his skin, the weight of the long red hair draping over his shoulders—everything felt too real to deny.

Before he could process what was happening, the door to his lavish bedroom burst open.

“Austin!—I mean, Seraphina! Are you ready for the ball tonight?”

Austin turned, startled, to see a young woman standing in the doorway. She had short brown hair, bright green eyes, and an excitable energy that made the room feel smaller.

“Who are you?” he blurted out before he could stop himself.

The girl’s face scrunched in confusion. “What do you mean, ‘who am I?’ I’m Nutty, your best friend! Did you hit your head or something?”

Austin swallowed. Nutty? That name was familiar—wasn’t she Seraphina’s friend in the book?

Before he could think too hard about it, Nutty continued, “Anyway, are you excited? It’s the biggest event of the season! The ball is going to be amazing!”

Austin’s stomach churned. “Is… Is Romeo going to be there?”

Nutty blinked, then laughed. “Of course, he’s going to be there! But why do you keep calling him Romeo? His name is Xender. You’ve been acting so weird about that lately.”

Austin’s breath hitched. Xender? So Cassian—no, Xender—really was the Romeo from the book.

“I… I thought that was his name,” Austin muttered, trying to make sense of everything.

Nutty playfully rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to stop reading those dramatic romance novels before bed! Anyway, hurry up and put on your clothes, Your Highness. We don’t want to be late.”

Austin barely had time to respond before Nutty turned and rushed out the door.

He sat there for a moment, gripping the silky fabric of his nightgown, his heart hammering.

I’m trapped in this story.

And worse—

I have to face Xender tonight.

Austin took a deep breath, staring at his reflection in the grand mirror. He was dressed in an elegant deep red suit, the fabric rich and regal. His long red hair was neatly styled, cascading over his shoulders. No matter how many times he blinked, the face staring back at him was still Seraphina’s—yet he felt like himself.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. I just have to play along. If I follow the story, maybe I can figure out how to escape this nightmare.

With that thought, he straightened his posture and left for the ballroom.

The grand hall was even more breathtaking than he imagined. Glittering chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting golden light across the polished marble floors. Laughter and music filled the space as nobles twirled in dazzling gowns and fine suits.

Austin moved carefully, remembering from the book that Seraphina was supposed to sit near the back of the ballroom, watching the festivities unfold. He settled into an ornate chair, trying not to look too out of place.

Then, something caught his eye.

A shadowy figure passed along the edge of the ballroom, moving too quickly for Austin to get a clear look. A chill ran down his spine as he tried to follow it with his gaze. Who was that?

Before he could find out, a presence appeared in front of him.

Austin turned back—only to flinch in surprise.

Standing before him was a tall, striking man. His green hair was streaked with black, neatly tied up in a bun. His piercing yellow eyes locked onto Austin’s with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his features a perfect balance of elegance and danger.

Austin's breath caught in his throat.

He’s… beautiful.

No. Handsome.

No. Dangerous.

A lump formed in Austin’s throat as he struggled to look away. This was Xender. The same person who would one day—

Kill him.

But at that moment, as the golden light of the ballroom reflected in those haunting yellow eyes, another terrifying thought crossed Austin’s mind.

Am I really falling for this person?

Xender's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile as he extended a hand toward Austin. His golden eyes gleamed under the ballroom’s soft lights, filled with something unreadable—something that sent a chill down Austin’s spine.

“You seem lost in thought, Seraphina,” Xender murmured, his voice smooth yet laced with amusement. “Is something troubling you?”

Austin stiffened at the name. He had to remind himself—to everyone here, I am Seraphina. He forced a small smile, shaking his head. “No, I was just… thinking.”

Xender tilted his head slightly, studying him. “Thinking about me, perhaps?”

Austin’s breath hitched. The way Xender’s gaze bore into him, as if seeing straight through him, made it hard to breathe. He knew this man was dangerous, yet his presence was intoxicating.

“I…” Austin hesitated, not knowing how to respond.

Xender chuckled softly, stepping closer, so close that Austin could smell the faint scent of something dark and sweet—like roses mixed with something richer, almost metallic.

“You’re acting strange tonight, my love.” Xender’s fingers lightly brushed against Austin’s, making him flinch. “Have I done something to make you uneasy?”

You killed me in another life.

Austin swallowed hard. He knew he had to tread carefully. If this was the past, if he was reliving Seraphina’s story, then he had to follow the script.

Forcing himself to relax, he met Xender’s gaze and smiled. “Of course not. I was just… distracted.”

Xender’s eyes darkened slightly, as if he didn’t quite believe him. But then, he smirked. “Then allow me to be your distraction tonight.”

Before Austin could react, Xender gently took his hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against his knuckles.

Austin felt his heart slam against his ribs. His body screamed at him to pull away—to run—but he remained frozen in place, caught in Xender’s hypnotic gaze.

How did Seraphina survive this?

Or, more importantly—would Austin survive this time?

To be continued

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