The night was dark, but not the kind of darkness that offered solace. It was the kind that clung to the soul, thick and suffocating. Aria Valtor stood at the edge of the balcony, staring out into the city she had once healed with a compassionate heart. Now, that heart was broken beyond repair. The wind tugged at her hair, whispering in the silent hours as she clutched the railing, her fingers trembling.

Her eyes, once filled with hope, were now clouded with despair. She had given everything—her trust, her loyalty, her love—and in return, they had betrayed her. The very people she had worked so tirelessly to protect were the ones who had condemned her.

The Duke. The man she had loved, the man who had sworn eternal loyalty to her, had been the one to pull the strings that led to her demise. His cold eyes had never wavered as he watched her fall, her name sullied by lies, her reputation shattered. He stood in the shadows now, hidden from view, but she could feel his presence lingering like a poison, settling into the very air she breathed.

"Aria," a voice called, faint but unmistakable.

She didn't turn. The voice belonged to a friend, but there were no allies left for her in this kingdom.

"Why?" Her voice cracked, the word escaping her lips like a prayer. "Why did you let them do this to me?"

The silence in the room was deafening. Aria had always been the healer—the one who saved others. She had poured every ounce of her life into the well-being of this kingdom, only to be crushed by the very hands she had healed.

A sharp pain shot through her chest as she collapsed onto the floor, her breath becoming shallow. The poison had begun to spread. Her life was slipping away, and there was no escaping it now. She had only one final wish before the world consumed her.

"Let me be reborn," she whispered into the void. "Far from here. Far from him."

As her vision blurred and the world began to fade, she felt the weight of her heart's final betrayal. But there was no time for anger, no time for hatred. All she could do was surrender to the darkness, to the promise of another life, another chance...