### Chapter One: A New Beginning
Ariana blinked against the bright sunlight streaming through the academy gates, taking in the grandeur of the royal academy she had always dreamed of attending. The towering stone walls, meticulously maintained gardens, and the chatter of excited students created an atmosphere of anticipation. But for her, this place was a double-edged sword. She had been reincarnated into the world of *Change Destiny*, where she had once been the villainess destined for an untimely demise at the hands of her fiancé, Crown Prince Lucas. Determined to change her fate, she had resolved to distance herself from him as much as possible.
With a deep breath, she adjusted the strap of her satchel, reminding herself that this time would be different. She wasn't the same naïve girl she once was; she had learned from her past life. Today marked the beginning of her journey at the academy, and she intended to navigate it on her own terms.
The entrance exam was the first hurdle. Students were required to showcase their magical abilities, which Ariana had spent years honing. She stepped forward, confidence swelling within her as she approached the testing podium. With a graceful wave of her hand, she conjured a swirl of shimmering lights, illuminating the stage and capturing the attention of the crowd. Whispers of admiration rippled through the audience, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
Ariana knew she had impressed the panel of teachers. After successfully passing her entrance test, she felt a mixture of relief and excitement. But as she stepped off the stage, her heart sank when she spotted Crown Prince Lucas. He was flanked by admirers, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around him, but she refused to let it deter her. Ignoring the way her stomach twisted at the sight of him, she turned away and headed deeper into the academy.
As she navigated the halls, she spotted a familiar face—Finn, the quiet boy from her previous life, whose unwavering loyalty had gone unnoticed. Before she could say anything, she collided with someone in her distracted state.
"Whoa!" Ariana exclaimed as she bumped into Finn, nearly knocking him over.
"Sorry!" he stuttered, looking genuinely flustered.
Ariana chuckled, realizing that their clumsy meeting felt strangely comforting. "It's fine! I guess we're both a bit overwhelmed."
They exchanged awkward smiles, but before they could continue their conversation, a commotion drew their attention. The room erupted in silence as Crown Prince Lucas made his entrance, his eyes scanning the crowd with the confidence of someone used to being the center of attention.
Ariana's heart sank again. Just as she was about to slip away, an unexpected scene unfolded before her. Jake—though she didn't know his name yet—was leaning against a wall, watching the Crown Prince with a mischievous glint in his eye. In one fluid motion, he extended his leg, causing Lucas to trip and tumble dramatically to the ground. The laughter that followed was contagious.
"What the—!" Lucas shouted, scrambling to his feet and glaring at Jake. "Do you even know who I am?"
Jake shrugged, a smirk plastered on his face made the authorities believe the crown prince lost his memories. As he was slipoing away when the authorities was looking after the crown prince. The crown prince yelled back at him,
"You won't get away, just ask anyone who I am and you'll regret it." Jake keeping smile and cool. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe you should ask your head for directions; it seems you've damaged it in your fall."
The room erupted in laughter again, and Ariana couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction watching Lucas's face turn crimson with rage. This was the kind of chaos she had never expected, and it felt liberating to witness the Crown Prince being made a fool of.
Lucas pointed a finger at Jake, fury radiating from him. "You think you can just treat me like this? I'm the Crown Prince!"
Ariana stepped back, amused by the unfolding drama. She had always found Lucas's arrogance grating, and seeing him put in his place, even if just for a moment, was refreshing.
Jake leaned closer, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Crown Prince or not, you just made an excellent case for why you should watch where you're walking."
The tension between the two was palpable, and even Finn seemed caught off guard by Jake's audacity. Ariana's heart raced; it was strange how exhilarating it felt to watch someone challenge the prince in such a bold manner.
As Lucas continued to argue, insisting that he was fine despite his embarrassment, Ariana exchanged a glance with Finn, who was watching the scene unfold with wide eyes. "Looks like someone isn't going to have a very good first day," she remarked, unable to suppress her laughter.
"Yeah, that was… unexpected," Finn replied, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice.
With the Crown Prince thoroughly humiliated, Ariana couldn't shake the feeling that this year at the academy might just be different. She had no intention of repeating her past mistakes, and if this unexpected chaos was any indication, she was ready to embrace her new life and carve out her own destiny.
With newfound determination, she glanced at Finn and the spectacle before her, her heart light with possibility. It seemed that perhaps she had allies in unexpected places, and for the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful about what lay ahead.
As the laughter from the Crown Prince's misfortune began to die down, Ariana felt a sense of relief wash over her. Just when she thought she could slip away unnoticed, she heard a familiar voice call out her name.
"Ariana!" Lucas's voice rang through the hall, commanding attention. She turned, half-expecting to see him adorned with his usual charm, but instead, he wore a frustrated scowl.
"Your Highness," she said, her tone polite but distant, as she approached him. There was an edge to her voice, a reminder of their complicated history.
"I've been meaning to talk to you," Lucas said, his expression softening slightly. "I find your attitude… intriguing. You're different from the other girls."
Ariana raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across her face. "If you're interested in me, Crown Prince, then perhaps you should come speak to me yourself rather than calling me over."
The comment drew a mix of gasps and chuckles from the onlookers, and Lucas's face tightened with annoyance, but Ariana held her ground. She would not be swayed by his princely charm this time.
Just then, another figure entered the fray—Edric, a popular and somewhat notorious student known for his boldness and his tendency to chase after the academy's most attractive girls. He had been watching the interaction with keen interest, and upon seeing Lucas engage with Ariana, he rushed forward, eager to impress.
"Ariana, wait! That was very bold of you!" Edric called out, his voice ringing with bravado. "I'm intrigued by that."
Before Ariana could respond, Jake, who had been observing the unfolding drama with a mischievous glint in his eye, quickly made his move. With a swift sidestep, he intercepted Edric, sticking his foot out just as the other boy tried to rush past.
Edric tripped over Jake's foot, tumbling forward in a graceless heap. The laughter that erupted was instantaneous, echoing through the hall like a wave. Ariana couldn't help but stifle a giggle as she watched Edric struggle to regain his composure, his face turning bright red.
"Smooth move, Edric!" Jake called, feigning concern. "I didn't know you were intrigued for a role in a comedy show!"
Ariana looked at Finn, who stood beside her, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Did he really just do that?" he whispered, trying to contain his amusement.
"Yeah, it seems like he has a knack for making people look foolish," she replied, her voice light with laughter. "I'm starting to like him."
Edric finally managed to pick himself up, brushing off his clothes with indignation. "What was that for?" he shouted, glaring at Jake. "You think you're funny?"
"Just making sure you stay on your toes," Jake replied, a smirk on his face. "It's dangerous to rush into things without thinking, you know?"
The crowd was in stitches, the atmosphere alive with laughter and playful jabs. Lucas, meanwhile, stood by, his annoyance morphing into irritation as he watched his moment with Ariana slip further from his grasp. He clenched his jaw, clearly unhappy with both Jake's antics and Edric's clumsy attempts to outshine him.
Ariana seized the opportunity, a playful grin crossing her lips. "Maybe this academy isn't so boring after all," she mused, glancing at Jake and then back to the now flustered Edric.
"I'll say," Finn added, chuckling as he watched Edric stumble over his own words, trying to recover from the humiliation. "It's like a reality show out here."
As the laughter continued, Ariana felt a sense of camaraderie with her new classmates—especially with Jake, who seemed to thrive on creating chaos in the most entertaining ways. Perhaps this year would be different. She was no longer the villainess waiting for her downfall; she was in control of her own destiny, ready to embrace the unpredictable journey ahead.
Ariana stood amidst the playful chaos of the academy hall, the laughter still ringing in her ears. As she observed the scene unfold—Edric still fumbling to save face and Lucas struggling to regain his composure—she felt an unexpected thrill of excitement. It was a far cry from the dark, predetermined path she had once walked.
In the midst of the laughter, a figure approached her—Jake, or rather, Evan, as he introduced himself with a confident grin. He was disheveled yet charming, and there was something magnetic about his presence that drew her in.
"Hey there! I'm Evan," he said, extending his hand toward her. "And this is my friend Finn."
"Nice to meet you, Evan," Ariana replied, shaking his hand. "I didn't catch your name during the entrance exam."
"Yeah, I didn't really want to make a big deal of it. But I figured I should introduce myself now," he said with a casual shrug. "We were actually hoping you might join our group for the upcoming projects and classes. I mean, who wouldn't want to work with the most interesting girl in the academy?"
Ariana raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She had never heard of an Evan in the original storyline of *Change Destiny*. In fact, this was the first time she was encountering anyone outside the established cast of characters. "Why me?" she asked, genuinely curious. "I'm just trying to stay under the radar."
"Exactly!" Evan replied, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "You've got that whole 'not interested in the prince' vibe going on, and I respect that. Plus, it'll be way more fun to work with someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind."
Ariana couldn't help but smile at his straightforwardness. "You seem to have a pretty good grasp of the social dynamics around here."
"Trust me, it's a full-time job keeping track of the royal drama," he said, rolling his eyes playfully. "And this guy"—he gestured to Finn, who stood a little awkwardly beside him—"is a genius with magic. We need someone who can balance us out. You're perfect."
Finn looked shyly at Ariana, his cheeks tinted with a light blush. "Yeah, I'd love to work with you," he added softly, his eyes earnest. "I think we could create something great together."
Ariana pondered their proposal, a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursing through her. This wasn't just about projects; it was an opportunity to forge new connections and possibly change her story. "Alright," she said, a determined look crossing her face. "I'll join your group."
Evan's face lit up with a grin, and he clapped his hands together in triumph. "Awesome! You won't regret it. Let's show this academy how we can work together!"
As they began to discuss their plans for the projects, Ariana felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. This new dynamic, with Evan and Finn, offered her a chance to redefine herself in this world. Maybe she could rewrite her fate after all, and perhaps it all began with this unexpected partnership.