The rain tapped gently against the window.

It was a quiet night, silent, the kind where the world seemed to stop for a moment.

He was lying in bed, a dim lamp lighting the room and an open book resting on his chest.

He'd promised himself he would read just one more chapter before sleeping, but he was already finishing the final volume of the story.

The novel had him completely hooked.

In it, the villain was a cold and distant alpha: the feared Duke Kael Aetherion.

A man known for his severe temperament, his intimidating presence, and his absolute indifference toward his own betrothed.

His betrothed was a noble omega named Lysander Valemont.

A young man from an influential family who, according to court rumors, had a capricious, proud, and difficult personality.

Because of those rumors, nearly all the nobles saw him as someone troublesome.

And Kael... never trusted him.

Never tried to understand him.

The reader sighed as he read a scene where the duke once again ignored his betrothed in front of everyone.

He closed the book for a moment, frowning.

"Even if he has a bad temper..." he murmured quietly, "no one deserves to live in a marriage full of contempt."

He knew Lysander Valemont wasn't a perfect character.

He'd been raised in luxury, accustomed to having many things done his way.

But even so...

The way he was treated in the story had always struck him as cruel.

He opened the book again.

He knew exactly what scene came next.

The part he hated most in the entire novel.

The birth.

The words seemed to weigh more as he read.

Pain.

Loneliness.

Blood.

In the original story, Lysander gave birth without Kael by his side.

His body, weakened and exhausted, couldn't endure.

And in the end...

He died.

Leaving behind his child... and a marriage that never got to be happy.

The reader closed the book slowly.

A lump formed in his throat.

"If things had been different..." he whispered sadly, "maybe his story wouldn't have ended like that."

Exhaustion began to overtake him. He set the book on his chest and closed his eyes for a moment.

The room fell silent.

He didn't notice the smell at first.

A faint scent... strange.

But little by little, the air began to feel heavy.

He opened his eyes, confused.

He could barely breathe.

He tried to sit up, but his head was spinning. His heart pounded as he struggled to get out of bed.

He took one step.

Then another.

But his legs gave out.

The book fell to the floor.

He tried to drag himself toward the door, desperate for air, but his body no longer responded.

The world turned blurry.

The air wouldn't come in.

Everything was going dark.

And as his consciousness slowly faded, one final thought crossed his mind.

If I had the chance...

I'd try to change that story.

Then...

Everything went black.

The first thing he heard was the sound of bells.

Music.

Voices speaking in respectful tones.

He opened his eyes slowly.

The ceiling above him wasn't his bedroom ceiling.

It was high, decorated with golden details and white fabrics that fell like soft curtains around the bed.

He sat up abruptly.

The mattress was too large.

Too soft.

He looked at his hands.

They were thinner.

More delicate.

His breathing quickened.

He turned his head and saw a large mirror in front of the bed.

When his eyes met the reflection, his heart nearly stopped.

Long hair.

A beautiful face.

Eyes that weren't his.

He stood slowly and walked toward the mirror.

He recognized that face.

He'd imagined it many times while reading the novel.

It was Lysander Valemont.

The noble omega betrothed to the feared Duke Kael Aetherion.

The same omega who, according to the original story, was destined for an unhappy marriage... and a tragic death.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

"My lord Lysander," said a nervous voice from the other side, "it's nearly time for the ceremony."

Ceremony.

His eyes widened even more.

He looked down at his clothes.

White garments with elegant embroidery covered his body.

Delicate jewels adorned his neck.

Then he understood.

Today was the day.

The day of the wedding between Lysander Valemont and Duke Kael Aetherion.

His heart began to pound.

He had died.

And now...

He had woken up inside the novel he'd been reading.

Right in the body of the omega destined for an unhappy marriage... and a tragic death.

He looked at his reflection once more.

His fingers trembled slightly.

"It can't be..." he whispered.

The bells rang again in the distance.

The fate of that story had already begun.

But this time...

He didn't intend to let it end the same way.

If he had truly been given a second chance...

Then he would do everything in his power to change that ending.

Even if Kael Aetherion hated him.

Even if the entire court believed the rumors about him.

Even if no one expected anything from Lysander Valemont.

This time...

His story would not end in tragedy.

The bells kept ringing throughout the palace.

Lysander Valemont breathed deeply as the maids finished arranging his clothes.

The white fabrics fell softly around his body, embroidered with silver threads that gleamed under the candlelight. His reflection in the mirror looked like someone out of a dream.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Perfect.

And yet...

He knew this wedding wasn't a celebration.

It was an obligation.

"My lord Lysander..." said one of the maids nervously, "all the guests have already gathered."

Lysander nodded slowly.

His heart was pounding.

"This is the beginning of the story..."

He remembered perfectly what happened in the novel.

The marriage between Lysander Valemont and Duke Kael Aetherion had been arranged for political reasons between two great families.

There was never love.

Not even respect.

Only rumors, pride... and a distance impossible to cross.

He took another deep breath.

"But this time... things will be different."

The great doors of the ceremonial hall opened slowly.

The sound of music filled the air.

Hundreds of nobles were present, dressed in elegance, watching with curiosity as the omega walked toward the altar.

Their gazes were full of silent whispers.

Rumors.

Judgments.

"There he is..."

"The capricious omega of the Valemonts."

"Poor duke..."

Lysander heard some of those voices, but this time he didn't lower his gaze.

In the original story, the real Lysander would have reacted with arrogance or anger.

But not him.

He kept walking calmly.

Then he saw him.

At the end of the hall.

Tall.

Imposing.

Dressed in a black and gold uniform that accentuated his figure.

His presence dominated the entire room.

Duke Kael Aetherion.

His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his cold eyes surveyed the hall with a distant expression.

He looked more like an ice sculpture than a groom at his own wedding.

Lysander felt a small chill.

So this is him...

"The villain of the story."

The man who in the novel never came to love his betrothed.

The same man who, according to court rumors, was so feared that few dared to even look at him directly.

When Lysander reached the altar, Kael finally directed his gaze toward him.

Their eyes met.

It was only a second.

But it was enough.

There was no hatred in that look.

No affection.

Only coldness.

A clear distance.

As if he were looking at a stranger.

Lysander felt a small pang in his chest.

"This is how it all started in the original story..."

A marriage without feeling.

An omega ignored.

A tragic ending.

The priest began to speak, pronouncing the traditional words of the union between alpha and omega.

The voices in the hall became a distant murmur.

Lysander could barely hear them.

His attention was on the man before him.

Kael Aetherion.

Even up close, his presence was overwhelming.

There was something about him that commanded respect... and danger.

The priest concluded the ceremony with the final words.

"From this moment, you are united as destined mates."

A silence swept through the hall.

Everyone waited for the duke's reaction.

In the original story, Kael had barely looked at his betrothed after the ceremony.

He'd been cold.

Distant.

Indifferent.

And this time...

Kael finally spoke.

His voice was low and firm.

"I hope we can maintain a... quiet coexistence."

It wasn't an affectionate phrase.

Not even a kind one.

It was more of a warning.

But Lysander wasn't surprised.

He knew this man still believed all the rumors about him.

That he saw him as a capricious, troublesome omega.

Instead of reacting with pride as the original Lysander would have...

He simply inclined his head slightly.

"I'll do everything I can not to cause you any problems, Duke Aetherion."

A brief silence formed between them.

Something changed in Kael's expression.

Just for an instant.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

As if that response wasn't the one he'd expected.

But the moment passed quickly.

Applause began to fill the hall.

The wedding was over.

Now the real marriage began.

And as the nobles celebrated the union, Lysander couldn't help thinking about one single thing.

This time...

"I won't let our story end the way it did in the book."

Even though the man beside him still looked at him with coldness.

Even though his destiny was written in tragedy.

This time...

Lysander Valemont intended to change everything.

The carriage advanced slowly through the lamplit streets of the capital.

The wheels resonated softly over the stone road as the last wedding guests bid their farewells at the imperial palace.

Inside the carriage, the silence was heavy.

Lysander Valemont sat by the window, watching the city lights pass one after another.

Beside him, Kael Aetherion remained completely still.

His posture was straight, impeccable, as if even in a private moment he was still the same imposing duke everyone feared.

Neither of them spoke.

Lysander knew this had also happened in the original story.

After the wedding, the ride to the duke's residence had been filled with the same uncomfortable silence.

A newly formed marriage... that felt more like an agreement between strangers.

Finally, the carriage stopped.

The great iron gates of the Aetherion mansion opened slowly.

The place was enormous.

Imposing.

The white walls of the palace gleamed under the lantern light, and the perfectly maintained gardens surrounded the residence as if guarding their master's territory.

A servant opened the carriage door.

"Welcome home, Duke Aetherion."

Kael descended first.

His presence was so commanding that even the servants bowed their heads the moment they saw him.

Then Kael extended a hand toward the interior of the carriage.

It was a formal gesture.

Nothing more.

Lysander hesitated for a second... but took his hand and stepped down.

The contact was brief.

But even so, he could feel the natural difference between an alpha and an omega.

Kael's dominant presence was strong, stable... almost overwhelming.

The servants received them with respect.

"Welcome, Lord Lysander."

He nodded softly.

Everything was new.

Everything was too large.

In the original novel, the real Lysander had reacted with arrogance upon arriving at the mansion.

He'd made demands.

He'd argued with the servants.

But he wasn't that person.

As they walked through the long hallways of the palace, Lysander observed the details with quiet curiosity.

The walls were decorated with antique paintings.

The tall windows let in the moonlight.

It was a beautiful place... but also cold.

Finally, Kael stopped in front of a large door.

He turned to face him.

His dark eyes observed him with calm, but without warmth.

"This will be your room."

The words were direct.

Clear.

Lysander blinked.

Ah...

He remembered immediately.

In the original story, Kael never shared a room with his betrothed.

The marriage existed in name only.

Without closeness.

Without trust.

Without love.

"Thank you, Duke Aetherion," Lysander replied calmly.

Kael observed him for a moment.

Perhaps expecting a complaint.

Perhaps expecting pride or irritation.

But none came.

The silence became strange.

Finally, Kael spoke again.

"I've heard many rumors about you, Lysander Valemont."

His voice was still low and firm.

"I don't expect affection between us. This marriage was a political decision. As long as you maintain House Aetherion's reputation... I won't interfere in your life."

It was a warning.

But also a clear distance.

Lysander understood perfectly.

In the original story, Kael had taken the same stance.

He'd decided to ignore his betrothed entirely.

Lysander lowered his gaze slightly.

Not out of submission.

But because he was thinking carefully about his words.

Then he responded calmly.

"I understand."

Kael frowned slightly.

"I don't wish to cause problems in this house," Lysander continued softly. "I'll do everything I can to conduct myself properly as a member of the Aetherion family."

A silence fell between them.

It was a response that was too calm.

Too reasonable.

It wasn't the reaction Kael had expected.

Court rumors described Lysander as a proud, temperamental omega.

Someone who reacted with anger at anything that displeased him.

But the young man before him...

Didn't match that image.

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.

For a moment, he studied him more closely.

Then he spoke.

"I hope so."

Without another word, the duke turned and began walking away down the hall.

His footsteps echoed firmly against the marble floor.

Lysander watched him go.

When Kael's tall figure disappeared into the distance, he slowly released the breath he'd been holding.

He entered his new room.

It was enormous.

The bed was even larger than the one at the Valemont residence.

The windows showed gardens illuminated by moonlight.

He sat on the edge of the bed.

And finally spoke in a low voice.

"Well..."

He looked at his hands.

The hands of Lysander Valemont.

The omega destined for an unhappy life in the original story.

"I suppose this is the real beginning."

He knew that changing fate wouldn't be easy.

Kael still believed the rumors.

The relationship between them was full of distance.

But at least...

Today he hadn't made things worse.

That was already a small change.

Lysander slowly lay back on the bed.

He stared at the ceiling in silence.

And a small smile appeared on his face.

"Step one... survive."

The rest...

He'd figure out tomorrow.