Chapter 1: The Brelov Twins
November 2, 2021
“How can twins be so different?”
“One seems like she was blessed by every god, perfect in every way… and the other…”
Click, click. Tanasia paused as she walked toward the party hall, glancing at the people whispering about her. When she looked back, she realized everyone’s eyes were on her. It wasn’t just a few people; everyone in the room was sneering at her. No matter how much she tried to hide her face behind a fan, her eyes couldn’t be concealed.
The Brelov twins, born as daughters of the marquis, were said to be blessed by the gods. The younger twin, Noxia, was dazzling—silvery hair, doll-like features, and such beauty that she seemed almost holy. In stark contrast, the elder twin, Tanasia, had jet-black hair and a somber aura, so ordinary it was hard to believe she shared the same face as Noxia.
Their abilities were just as different as their appearances. Noxia had inherited the rare powers of the family and could manipulate water, one of the four classical elements, with ease. Tanasia, however, had no abilities at all. From birth, she had been measured against her sister, and she was always the loser. People called the twins “Light and Shadow”: Noxia, blessed by all gods, and Tanasia, with nothing. In the gossip-filled social circles, this story was too good to pass up. The more famous Noxia became, the more ridicule Tanasia endured.
So, days like this were nothing unusual. Everyone at the party expected Tanasia to slump her shoulders and slink away in shame, leaving them to mock her further.
But… Tanasia defied expectations. She stood still, silently staring at those who mocked her. In her blue eyes, calm as still water, there was an unusual charisma. One second… two seconds… three… ten. As time passed, no one spoke, and a tense silence fell. Even though Tanasia was considered the “ugly duckling,” she was still the daughter of the Brelov marquis. People could gossip behind her back, but no one dared openly ignore her.
“What did you just say? It sounds like you were talking about me, but I couldn’t hear clearly—say it again.”
At fifteen, Tanasia’s voice had a sharpness that belied her age. No one answered, so her gaze landed on the lady who had been whispering the most. The woman tried to feign ignorance, but under Tanasia’s silent pressure, she had no choice but to answer.
“Well… I didn’t mean anything by it…”
“You said one of us is perfect, blessed by every god. And the other? Surely you’re talking about me.”
This was the first time Tanasia had ever confronted people like this. Everyone was shocked.
“I… I just meant that I’m looking forward to Lady Tanasia’s growth.”
Tanasia’s lips curved into a cynical smile, unusually sharp for her. Her dark hair and porcelain skin, combined with a new, strangely powerful aura, caught some bystanders off guard.
“Listen carefully from now on.”
Her blue eyes scanned the nobles in the hall, exuding confidence.
“Whisper behind my back one more time…”
Her lips moved slowly, painting a perfect curve.
“I will tear your mouth open, no matter who you are.”
Murmurs swept through the crowd. The words were shockingly bold, unlike anything Tanasia had ever said before. She continued, almost to confirm her threat:
“If you’re curious about what I’ll do, try talking one more time.”
With that, she walked as if nothing had happened. The nobles left behind looked not with scorn, but with astonishment at her boldness.
At first, I didn’t realize this was a world from a book. My last memory was submitting my resignation to the company I had been obsessing over and taking a solo trip to celebrate. Not long after takeoff, the plane exploded. I died at twenty-seven, in the prime of life.
“I was just about to rest… and then I die?”
My life had always been a race, and this was the first real break I had ever been given. Yet I never even got to dip my toes in the water before it ended. Raised without parents, I had spent my life clawing my way toward success, believing it was the only answer to avoid pity and disregard. Looking back, I had never truly enjoyed life.
The sting of injustice brought tears to my eyes, but it was too late. There’s a saying: even rolling in dog poop, life is still better here than the afterlife. Having experienced death, I could relate immensely. No matter what life you live, dying too soon is the worst. So when I awoke in the body of a black-haired girl I didn’t know, I swore I would survive this time.
“Tanasia… are you conscious?!”
Strangers, an unfamiliar and exotic place.
‘Tanasia?’
Why was someone calling me by this name? The name felt familiar, though the face was unlike any Tanasia I had imagined.
My eyes widened in shock. Jet-black hair, flawless white skin, lips naturally red—it was the face of a true beauty. I had died in a plane crash, yet I now opened my eyes in another world, in someone else’s body.
‘Tanasia… Noxia… Brelov family…?’
Suddenly, memories surfaced. “Beloved Saint”. A fantasy romance novel I once read casually. It was about twin sisters, utterly different. The younger, Noxia, was adored for her beauty and abilities, while Tanasia, ordinary and unimpressive, was constantly compared and belittled. Naturally, Tanasia grew jealous of Noxia.
As she matured, Tanasia began imitating Noxia—her dresses, jewelry, mannerisms. She blamed the gods: Why did Noxia get everything and I nothing? If only I were Noxia… By adulthood, Tanasia had become a mere replica of Noxia. Unfortunately, a fake could never surpass the original. In that story, Tanasia was the villain.
“So…”
I reached one conclusion.
‘I’ve become the Tanasia from that novel.’
How? I had died in a plane crash! But since it’s a common trope in fantasy novels, it wasn’t shocking. I accepted reality quickly. I was dead anyway, and there was no turning back. The only thing that mattered was that this reality wasn’t bad at all.
‘I’ve become a noble.’
If there was a next life, I’d hoped to be born into wealth. Now, that wish had come true. Unlike the novel’s Tanasia, I had no reason to be constantly tormented. Born into the Brelov family, beautiful, powerful, and privileged. Sure, I envied Noxia’s water abilities, but that didn’t diminish my own status. I felt satisfied. In real life, I had always worried about survival and instability, but now, even as a so-called villainess, I could live comfortably.
‘And even if Noxia is the world’s most beautiful, who cares? The second most beautiful is still beautiful.’
I never imagined that Tanasia—the so-called “ugly duckling”—would be this stunning. As a reader, her jealousy was thrilling. As the person inside the body… it made no sense. With my looks, I could easily rival Noxia. In the novel, Tanasia cursed her black hair, but I found it striking. Her long hair only added to her mysterious aura. The envy that consumed her in the book—I abandoned it immediately. My mind was filled with happiness. Most importantly, I had been given life again. This time, I would indulge and live joyfully until the end.
I began to consider what to do next. Sunbathe on the beach? No. Perhaps relax in a hot spring for a few days.
“Hmm─”
I hummed happily, envisioning my future. For several days, I indulged in dreamlike rest at the mansion. Gourmet meals, long naps until noon. Nothing could be more blissful.
‘This is paradise.’
It felt perfect… until today.
“Hasn’t Lady Tanasia been acting strange?”
“Yeah, ever since she tried stealing Noxia’s dress, she’s been off. After that riding accident, she’s even stranger.”
“Oh, and have you heard? Rumors of the Kahlua Empire developing human weapons…”
The maids spoke in whispers, which I noticed but ignored. I had to get used to my new self anyway. However, a few words caught my attention.
‘The Kahlua Empire?’
It felt like I had forgotten something important. I approached the maids, who shrank back nervously, probably feeling guilty for gossiping earlier.
“Repeat what you just said.”
“Uh, if you mean what we said earlier…”
“The rumors about the Kahlua Empire.”
They relaxed slightly, realizing I wasn’t scolding them.
“Recently, there are rumors that the Kahlua Empire is developing human weapons. There are more disappearances this year than last, and people say the Empire took them.”
Another maid chimed in:
“Don’t worry about it, my lady. Our Arwen Empire is an ally of Kahlua; it can’t be true. These are just baseless rumors.”
I held my breath. Unfortunately, I knew the rumor was true. Suddenly, I remembered: in Beloved Saint, there would be a war with the Kahlua Empire, and Tanasia dies.
“Noooo!”
All my bliss vanished. With the fall of the kingdom, the Brelov family would be ruined. The Tanasia in the novel, notorious for her misdeeds, met an unexpected end: executed by the victorious general of Kahlua. Until then, being part of the Brelov family shielded her from punishment, but once the country fell, no protection remained.
“Miss, are you alright?”
Startled, the maids stared at me wide-eyed.
‘This is serious.’
The impending war didn’t just threaten my lifestyle—it meant my death. The Kahlua Emperor had long sought territorial expansion and developed forbidden human weapons. In a few years, they would appear and crush the Arwen Empire. I couldn’t allow that. I wouldn’t die young again.
‘Stay calm. There’s still time.’
I racked my brain, thinking of who killed Tanasia in the story: Askan, the final villain. He had survived the human weapon experiments, mastered swordsmanship and magic, and become a monster. His intellect, skills, and ruthlessness made him the ultimate antagonist in the novel.
A memory surfaced: At 15, Askan escaped the Kahlua Empire’s human weapon lab. Mistaken for a slave, he was sold to a noble family in the Arwen Empire…
Right. Askan had once crossed into Arwen. That grudge explained his later attacks. I calculated quickly: Tanasia and Askan were the same age. If he escaped at 15, it had to be this year.
“Where is the slave market in the capital?”
“Excuse me? Slave market?”
“Yes. I need to go immediately.”
Before the maid could respond, the bathroom door creaked open. A boy appeared, dressed in tattered clothes, clearly a Brelov household servant. He bowed deeply and spoke in a monotone:
“The bathwater is ready, as ordered.”
He also had black hair, but his aura was darker than mine. Even expressionless, his sharp nose and high forehead revealed his striking features. Something about him reminded me of a character from Beloved Saint. On his neck, partially hidden by his collar, I saw ancient markings—forced tattoos from the Kahlua experiments.
“No… it can’t be…”
I covered my mouth, trembling. He raised his golden eyes to me, and a chill ran down my spine. Composing myself, I asked casually:
“When did you join our household?”
“You don’t recognize me?”
His expression remained unchanged, but an eerie aura lingered.
‘Do we already know each other?’
I swallowed hard. Setting aside introductions, I asked the most important question:
“…Your name?”
The boy looked at me silently, then said in a low voice:
“Askan. My name is Askan.”
It hit me like a hammer. The final villain of the novel, Askan, had been sold to my family by mistake.
“Wait a minute!”
How could this be? None of this was in the original story!
