DISCLAIMER: The author's imagination and passion are the only sources of inspiration for this novel, which is a work of dedication. Parallels between these pages and the past or present may be apparent to some readers, but they are completely coincidental. You are free to interpret this art anyway you see fit, and it is meant for your enjoyment.
The Great Birthday Siege had ended a year earlier, and the Hylde Manor was now the unofficial hub of the Empire's development. Samantha's once-desired "Quiet Life" has transformed into something far more amazing.
Reinn watched the sunset from the balcony of her recently established academy. She had managed to guide the story away from catastrophe. Her brother was a well-liked commander, her father was in good health, and the two most powerful men in the kingdom were currently squabbling in her office about who should accompany her to the anniversary feast.
Giywon had grown up; the conceited Prince was now a visionary leader who sought Reinn's advice before making any significant decisions. The icy Wolf used his free time to teach the Academy's security and bring Reinn unusual herbs for her tea, but Dyierrean had softened.
Reinn said to the refreshing evening breeze, "It's perfect. I actually did it. I beat the novel."
The feast was a cozy, private event. Reinn was seated between Giywon and Dyierrean, and the three of them enjoyed a friendly relationship that had made the nobility envious.
Giywon raised his glass and exclaimed, "To Reinn," his blue eyes glimmering with a love that had only grown stronger over time. "The woman who taught a Dragon how to share his sky."
"To Reinn," Dyierrean continued, his solid, grounded hand momentarily covering hers on the table. "The woman who taught a Wolf that home isn't a place, but a person."
Reinn experienced a wave of true joy. She loved them both, but for different reasons and in different ways. Peace, love, and a future she had created on her own two hands marked the conclusion of the "Season" of her life.
Reinn sat in her study late that evening, when the moon was at its highest point, to make one more note in her personal journal. Before the new year started, she wanted to capture this sense of tranquility.
However, the ink did not flow black when she touched the pen's nib to the paper. It was a translucent, blazing gold.
Reinn shook the pen and scowled. Abruptly, the paper started to move by itself. Like living creatures, the words she had penned began to reorganize themselves, twisting and shifting.
Her heart started to accelerate as she pondered, "What is this? My magic?"
Reinn quickly understood the solitary, terrible statement that the golden ink made. It was the first sentence of a different novel, a dark sequel she believed had never been completed, that she had read years ago in her previous life.
"The doll played her part well, but the puppeteer grew bored with the happy ending."
Reinn's breath caught. Her study door cracked open abruptly.
There was neither a guard nor a maid standing in the doorway. Samantha Lim's original body was mirrored in the figure of a young woman dressed in a contemporary white medical gown, her face hidden by shadows.
Reinn gasped and got up so fast her chair fell over. "Who are you?" she asked.
The figure moved into the moonlight. It wasn't an unknown person. It was the original Reinn Hylde, the "Villainess," whose soul was said to have disappeared. She wasn't alone, though. A guy in robes shimmering with stars from another cosmos stood behind her, his eyes like void-space.
The original Reinn added, "You did a wonderful job fixing my life, Samantha," her voice a warped echo of Reinn's. "The Prince is so much kinder now. The Duke is so much more... attentive. Thank you for preparing them for me."
The man behind her moved forward, grinning cruelly. "The 'Isekai' protocol is complete. The vessel is polished. Now, give the soul back to its rightful owner."
A sudden, excruciating tug in Reinn's chest made her feel as though her spirit was being hooked and pulled from her body. She attempted to shout for Dyierrean and Giywon, but nothing came out.
She could see the Imperial Palace through the window. The golden pyrotechnics abruptly changed to black ash as a huge, dark vortex appeared in the sky above it.
The real Reinn moved in closer, touching Reinn's forehead with her hand. "Don't worry, Samantha. I'll let you watch from the mirror while I burn down everything you built. It's much more entertaining that way."
The door exploding open was the last thing Reinn saw before her vision faded into a chilly, black chasm. Despite their horrified expressions, Giywon and Dyierrean were not staring at her. They were examining the area where she had once been.
Reinn was still standing there for them. However, the woman's eyes were no longer green when she turned to face them. They were a soulless, flat crimson.
Giywon stepped back in bewilderment and muttered, "Reinn?"
The men hadn't seen the sharp, predatory smile on the woman's face in more than a year. "Hello, boys. Did you miss me?"