A long, long time ago, when the world knew only kings as rulers, a grand kingdom flourished under the reign of its sovereign. In the heart of the palace, within the opulent chambers of the harem, resided three women bound to the king—Concubine Yahiya Ken, Concubine Noor Giza, and the most revered among them, Noble Consort Sefa Yilmaz.
Sefa, elevated above the rest, wielded power and influence, a status that Noor could never stomach. Though she was merely a concubine, Noor possessed something Sefa did not—the king's undivided affection. With a cunning mind and a heart brimming with jealousy, Noor played her games well, spinning webs of deceit to pull Sefa down from her pedestal.
One fateful morning, an unintended mistake would change everything.
A eunuch, trembling and breathless, mistakenly handed Sefa a letter meant for Noor. As her fingers unfolded the delicate parchment, her eyes widened—words of forbidden affection lay inscribed within. A lover's confession. Noor was betraying the king.
Anger surged through Sefa's veins. Clutching the letter, she summoned Noor to her chamber, her heart pounding. When Noor arrived, draped in an air of false innocence, Sefa did not hesitate.
"How dare you disgrace the king?" Sefa's voice rang sharp as steel. "Sneaking around with another man under His Majesty's roof—have you no shame?"
Noor gasped, her eyes flickering with momentary panic before she swiftly composed herself. "I don't know what you mean, Sister Sefa." She feigned confusion, but Sefa saw right through her.
"Do not play the fool!" Sefa's patience snapped. Fury took hold as she shoved Noor backward in a burst of rage.
And that was when fate intervened.
The chamber doors flung open. The king stood at the entrance, his piercing gaze taking in the scene before him—Noor sprawled on the floor, Sefa towering above her.
A storm brewed in his eyes. Without hesitation, he strode forward and struck Sefa across the face.
The sting of the slap burned, but nothing compared to the pain of betrayal.
"Noor is carrying my heir," the king declared. "And you, Sefa, are nothing but a venomous woman blinded by jealousy. From this moment forth, you are stripped of your noble consort title. Noor shall take your place, for she is cultured and bestowed with integrity!"
Sefa's world crumbled. Her title, her dignity, her love—all stolen away.
She let out a hollow laugh. "Your Majesty, do you even know if the child in her womb is truly yours?"
The king's jaw tightened. "Are you questioning me?"
Sefa exhaled sharply, her heart shattered beyond repair. "We have been married for four years, Your Majesty. Is this truly how you repay my loyalty?" Her voice trembled with raw emotion as she continued, her memories flashing before her eyes.
"The first year of our marriage, when you had yet to ascend the throne, the Crown Prince tried to poison you. I took that cup and drank it for you.
When the tribal communities rebelled and attacked you on the battlefield, I kneeled in the snow, pleading my father and brother to send reinforcements to save you.
On the night before you claimed the throne, when traitors attempted to assassinate you, I took the lethal blow that was meant for you.
Time after time, have I ever let you down?"
The king's expression faltered for the first time.
But Noor saw the shift, and she acted swiftly. Dropping to her knees, she sobbed pitifully. "Your Majesty, please do not disgrace Consort Sefa. She is from a powerful family—if she wishes, she could have me killed!"
The flicker of doubt in the king's gaze hardened into cold steel.
"You are using your past sacrifices as leverage," he accused. "You have changed, Sefa. You have become malicious beyond recognition."
Sefa felt her soul being crushed.
The king turned to his guards. "Lock her away. Let her reflect on her mistakes."
The chamber doors slammed shut behind them, leaving Sefa alone in the suffocating silence.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Is it me who has changed, or is it you?
The weight of her agony was too much to bear. She lunged forward, slamming her head against the table.
Darkness swallowed her whole.
---
A New Beginning
Noises echoed through the palace.
FUTURE SYSTEM ACTIVATED
SENDING NEW SOUL TO HOST DEAD BODY
BEEP... ENTERING HOST
LOADING MEMORY
BEEP... DATA LOADED
AUTHORIZATION FULLY GRANTED
Sefa's body jerked. A sharp inhale rattled her lungs as her eyes fluttered open. The world spun in disarray.
A small white mouse sat on her shoulder, munching on a bamboo branch, its whiskers twitching.
BEEP... SYSTEM ONLY VISIBLE TO HOST
A pounding ache wracked her skull. Groaning, she lifted her hand to her forehead, only to feel warm, sticky blood trailing down her fingers.
Her breath hitched. What the hell?
She turned to the mouse, still chewing lazily, oblivious to her crisis.
"Aishhh," she groaned. "The original host must have really been something else… She gave me a damn cerebral concussion."
The mouse blinked, then spoke.
"You were sent here for a mission, Host. Your job is to change Sefa's fate and turn her life around."
And then, without a care in the world…
He continued munching.