EPISODE 1: The Woman from Town

In a quiet forest clearing, far from the noise of the kingdom, lived a man named Cedric. A humble peasant, he lived a content and honest life with his wife, Lyanna. Together, they worked the land, gathered herbs, shared meals, and dreamed of raising a family in peace.

One day, Cedric traveled to town to sell his handmade tools and gather supplies. It was there, near the market stalls, that he met a woman named Drevana a widow with dark eyes and brown hair, quiet and composed, yet visibly weary of hardship.

Touched by her situation, Cedric brought her home. That evening, he sat with Lyanna and spoke with honesty.

“She needs shelter,” he said. “And an extra pair of hands would help. I’d like to take her as my second wife.”

Lyanna, though uncertain, agreed. “If you believe it’s right, I’ll accept it.”

So Drevana joined the family. In time, the three lived together with a fragile harmony. There were disagreements, tension between the two women but also moments of understanding. They worked, ate, and endured the seasons as one household.

Then, in early spring, Lyanna gave birth to a daughter a beautiful baby with sapphire blue eyes and black silk hair, the image of quiet grace. They named her Aurelia.

The very next day, Drevana gave birth to a girl of her own with brown hair and sharp black eyes, a strong willed child named Emily.

Two daughters, born side by side. But even as infants, their worlds were never equal.

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Years passed. The girls grew into young women.

At nineteen, Aurelia had become a familiar face in town. Her beauty especially her rare blue eyes made her stand out. But it was her kind heart and gentle manners that made people love her. She helped the elderly carry goods, tended the sick, and often shared what little she had with those in need.

Meanwhile, Emily spent her time working in the tavern, surrounded by friends and noise. Unlike her sister, she didn’t care for chores or quiet kindness. She resented Aurelia for always being noticed by their father, by the townspeople, and especially by the men who turned to watch whenever Aurelia walked past the tavern.

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Then came the day everything changed.

After returning from a grocery run, Aurelia was helping Lyanna cook and tidy the small home, when a neighbor arrived in a panic.

Cedric had been bitten by a snake in the woods.

They rushed to his side. The doctor came, but it was too late and the venom had already spread. His breathing grew faint. His once strong hands could no longer hold the tools that built the home they all lived in.

By nightfall, Cedric had passed away, leaving behind two wives who barely spoke, and two daughters who had grown into quiet enemies.

Without Edric, the house began to fall apart not just the walls, but the family itself.

Lyanna and Drevana argued constantly, each blaming the other for small things, for big things, for nothing at all. They had never truly liked each other but now, without the man who kept them balanced, their resentment had room to grow.

Emily’s bitterness deepened. She had never liked Aurelia. Not even as a child.

“She was always Father’s favorite,” she would whisper to her friends. “And the town treats her like she’s royalty.”

The truth was harsher Emily was jealous. Jealous of the attention. The praise. The beauty. The way men looked at Aurelia whenever she passed the tavern.

And Aurelia? She tried to stay quiet, and tried to keep the peace.

But peace was no longer welcome in the house.

Emily began to bully Aurelia, whispering threats when no one else was near.

“If I see you going out again,” Emily snapped one evening, “I’ll burn your clothes again. You’ll have nothing left.”

So Aurelia stayed home, cleaned the house, cooked meals, and kept her head down.

But still… sometimes, in the quiet hours of the morning, she would step outside into the forest, lift her face to the sky, and sing softly, gently just for herself.

And one day, that song would reach the ears of someone she never expected.

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