A sharp ache pierced through the fog of her consciousness as she lay on the cold, hard stone floor.

"Mmm…" A soft murmur escaped her lips, swallowed quickly by the oppressive silence that enveloped her.

What is that noise?

With great effort, she pried open her heavy eyelids.

"Look at her! She's as foolish as a fledgling! Useless—she doesn't even possess a shred of intelligence!"

"Indeed! she is just a brainless woman."

The girl curled deeper into herself. Are they speaking of me? My heart… Where am I? Just moments ago, I had been in my lab. Time travel… could it be real?

Drawing upon her innate strength, she closed her eyes and dug deep within her soul, tracing remnants of memories that belonged to the girl she had suddenly become. A heart-wrenching tale unfurled before her—one filled with betrayal and despair. An adopted sister named Niya had cast a long shadow over her life.

Niya, bright and beguiling, had spun a web of trust—one that cloaked her true intentions. Whispered promises led the girl to believe she could shine just as brightly as the stars; but as the prince's heart became entangled with the deceitful Niya, hope dimmed into darkness. Shattered by betrayal, the girl had leaped from a rooftop, seeking solace in the embrace of oblivion.

In this cruel world, only her mother, Maira, stood as an unwavering shield against the tempest—an unwavering guardian whose heart ached for her daughter, whose pain hung in the air like a lingering fog.

Amidst this cacophony of emotions, a warm presence rushed to her side, wrapping her in a cloak of love. "My dear child, how are you? It's alright. There are countless paths in this vast world. He is not your only fate."

Yet, the girl merely stared into the void, adrift in a sea of sorrow.

Maira's heart twisted in anguish at the sight of her daughter's despair. Just then, a girl with an enchanting gaze stepped forth, her tears flowing like an unstoppable river. "Sister, I know you harbor feelings for him. But he belongs to me, and such is the nature of love!"

Pari recognized the performance instantly—a tragic act played by Niya, her cunning sister, casting herself as the wronged maiden. Like a fox cloaked in sheep's guise, Niya thrived on the crowd's sympathy.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the throng—a young man with a storm brewing in his eyes. "Pari, do not cast blame upon your sister! I pursued her myself! If there is blame to be borne, let it rest upon my shoulders!"

Reyan—the prince with a heart of ice! He had belittled her countless times, yet reveled in the warmth of her affections. In a cruel twist of fate, he had turned his back, choosing Niya over her.

The crowd gathered, breath held like cherry blossoms waiting to fall, captivated by the unfolding drama.

A smile broke through Pari's despair, her voice laced with honeyed innocence. "Sister, why do you say such things? You are the one who urged me to pursue this prince, insisting I win his favor! Now you seek to blame me?" Tears glistened in her eyes, a calculated display that rippled through the onlookers.

Ah, if you can weave your tales, then I shall spin my own.

Niya faltered, surprise flickering across her features. How dare this fool twist the narrative! The crowd's murmurs of doubt reached her ears, igniting suppressed fury within her. "Sister! What absurdity! I never encouraged you! You chased after him, while we both claimed to love him! You had your chance!"

With newfound strength, Pari stepped closer, her gaze unyielding. "Love? When did I ever dare to claim such a thing? I only respected him, following your instructions to care for him because of his noble lineage. I never loved him!"

A charged silence enveloped the room, thick as the morning mist clinging to the mountains, as the audience sensed the brewing storm between the sisters.