Lena Norridge had always been content with the quiet life she led. A 22-year-old woman who preferred the pages of a manhwa over social gatherings, she had never really been interested in the hustle and bustle of the world outside her cozy apartment. Her days revolved around work—mundane presentations, endless meetings, and data reports—and her nights were spent immersed in fantastical worlds of romance, intrigue, and drama within the pages of her beloved comics.
But all of that changed on a particularly dull Tuesday afternoon.
Lena was crossing the street, her eyes glued to her phone screen, absorbed in the latest chapter of Crowned in Fate, a r19 manhwa she'd been following religiously for months. The plot was filled with complex political maneuvering, forbidden romance, and a cold, stoic crown prince named Kaelen, whose icy exterior hid a much deeper emotional turmoil. Lena often daydreamed about being a part of such a world, one where every day was filled with passion, danger, and excitement.
She never saw the car coming.
One moment, she was laughing at a particularly steamy scene involving Kaelen and the heroine, and the next, her phone was ripped from her hands as the world around her went black.
Her last thought before the darkness consumed her was: What a way to go…
When Lena opened her eyes again, the first thing she noticed was the overwhelming warmth around her. The scent of flowers lingered in the air, and the soft rustle of fabric brushed against her skin. She blinked, confused, as her surroundings came into focus. The cool blue walls, the elegant furnishings—it looked like something straight out of a historical drama, not her modest apartment in the city.
She shot up in panic, only to be met with a sharp, unfamiliar voice. "Alina, you're awake."
Lena froze. Alina?
The voice was soft, yet commanding, and it came from a woman who stood beside her. The woman was dressed in an elaborate gown, her face serene yet weary. But what struck Lena the most was how out of place she felt. This wasn't her room, her life, or her body.
Looking down, Lena noticed she was no longer wearing the casual clothes she'd had on earlier. Instead, she was in a flowing, elegant gown, the kind reserved for the upper echelons of royalty. She was lying in a luxurious bed, draped with silk sheets, surrounded by opulence that she couldn't even begin to comprehend.
"What… what happened?" Lena muttered, her heart racing. Her voice was different—softer, more feminine. Not hers.
The woman at her bedside gave her a gentle, knowing smile. "You've been ill for some time, my lady. We were all worried."
Ill? Lena's mind raced. She barely registered the woman's words, the situation swirling around her in a confusing haze. Was this some kind of dream? Maybe she'd been knocked out cold in the accident and had slipped into some strange coma fantasy.
But then the memories started flooding in—memories that were not her own. A name, Alina, echoed in her mind, followed by a rapid fire of images—noble clothes, a grand family estate, and an arranged marriage to none other than the crown prince of this world, Kaelen. Her heart sank as the weight of the memories crashed down on her. I'm not Lena anymore…
The woman's voice pulled her back to reality. "Do you remember, Alina? Your marriage to the prince is fast approaching."
Lena's head spun as she tried to make sense of it all. Arranged marriage? To the crown prince?
The name Kaelen hit her like a wave, and the memories of him—cold, distant, and mysterious—began to surface. Wait, no… this can't be real. This is like one of those manhwa…
"Alina?" The woman's voice was now tinged with concern, her brow furrowed as she studied Lena. "You've been unwell for quite some time. Should I fetch the doctor?"
Lena swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing. She wasn't in her apartment. She wasn't even in the same world. Somehow, she had transmigrated into the manhwa universe, the one where she had once been a passive observer, marveling at the high-stakes drama and romance unfolding on the pages. But now she was Alina, the woman set to marry the cold, enigmatic crown prince.
This was no dream.
The woman's concerned expression deepened. "Are you sure you're all right? You've been unconscious for several days. The prince will be pleased to hear you're recovering."
"Wait, the prince?" Lena's voice came out in a whisper, almost strangled by the weight of the realization. Is she talking about Kaelen?
The woman nodded. "Yes, my lady. He's been anxiously waiting for you to regain consciousness. He will want to speak to you soon."
Lena's heart skipped a beat. Kaelen?
She had read about him in the manhwa—his cold eyes, his aloof demeanor, and his mysterious past. He was the crown prince, the heir to the throne, and the man she was supposed to marry.
Her chest tightened. This couldn't be happening. How did I end up here?
Her gaze fell to her hands, now delicate and dainty, adorned with rings that signified her new status as a noblewoman. She was no longer Lena Norridge, the office worker who read manhwa in her spare time. She was Alina, the unwilling fiancée of a prince she barely knew.
"Alina?" The woman's voice broke through her frantic thoughts, concern written all over her face. "Are you well? You seem… distant."
Lena shook her head, trying to steady herself. "I… I think I need some time to think."
The woman nodded, clearly still worried. "Very well, my lady. I will give you some space. But please, do not forget that your responsibilities await you. Your marriage to the prince will take place soon."
As the woman exited the room, Lena was left alone in the luxurious chamber. The weight of her new reality settled in, and the faint sounds of the outside world barely reached her ears.
I need to figure this out. Fast.
Lena—or Alina, rather—had to survive this world. But how? And more importantly, how could she navigate a forced marriage to a prince she had only ever read about in manhwa?
The clock was ticking.
Alina's room was silent, save for the faint ticking of a clock in the corner. Lena—still struggling to grasp the enormity of her situation—pressed her hands to her temples, trying to make sense of the memories that weren't hers. They had come flooding in the moment she had awoken, filling the gaps of her former identity. The name Alina felt foreign on her lips, but it was the truth now. She was Alina, daughter of the Duke of Darrowmere, and she was about to marry Prince Kaelen, the heir to the throne.
Her heart beat faster as her thoughts raced. This isn't my life. This can't be real.
The world outside her window seemed so foreign—vast and beautiful, with rolling hills that stretched out into the distance, framed by grand stone walls and towers. The sunlight filtered through the ornate curtains, casting golden rays across the room. It looked like a place from another era, from the very pages of the manhwa she had been reading only days ago.
Lena rose shakily from the bed, feeling the weight of the heavy gown that draped her body. The dress was delicate, crafted with intricate lace and shimmering pearls, but it was too much. The tight corset beneath the layers of fabric made it hard to breathe. This is insane, she thought, a wave of frustration hitting her. She needed to get her bearings before she did something foolish.
Her eyes darted to the nearby mirror.
She hesitated, almost afraid of what she would see, but as she glanced into the reflection, she saw a face that was still hers—yet not. Alina's face was slightly softer than hers, with rounder features and long auburn hair that cascaded down her back. Her eyes, a warm brown, shimmered in the light. It was still Lena, but it was also Alina. The woman staring back at her was no longer the girl who had lived a quiet life, safe from the tumult of royal intrigue. She was now a noblewoman with responsibilities she hadn't asked for and an arranged marriage she could neither escape nor ignore.
This is not a dream, Lena thought with a sense of sinking dread. This is my life now.
She walked shakily to the window, looking out over the lush grounds of what seemed like an estate straight out of her fantasies. Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw soldiers in polished armor marching across the courtyard, attendants scurrying around the estate, and the distant silhouette of the royal palace standing tall in the distance. I'm here. In the world of Crowned in Fate. I'm actually here.
The world felt suffocating. Her breath came in shallow gasps. The thought of being trapped in this strange world, forced to marry a prince she had only ever read about in fictional pages, seemed overwhelming. What do I even do now?
But as the fear settled, it was replaced with a sudden determination. I need to survive this, she thought. I have to figure out who I am now, and how I can survive here without causing a scandal. This is my only shot.
There was no time to waste.
The door to her chambers creaked open again, and a servant entered, bowing deeply. "My lady, the prince has requested your presence in the royal garden."
Lena's heart skipped a beat. The prince?
She nodded, attempting to mask her nerves. "I'll be there shortly."
The servant bowed once more. "Very well, my lady."
As the servant exited, Lena's mind raced. This is it. I'm about to meet Prince Kaelen.
She had read enough of Crowned in Fate to know that Kaelen was no ordinary prince. His reputation preceded him—cold, calculated, and ruled by duty. His marriage to Alina had been arranged before either of them could form any real thoughts on the matter. In the manhwa, Alina had been portrayed as a naive, innocent girl, oblivious to the darker currents running through the royal family.
But Lena—now Alina—had no intention of playing the part of the naïve bride. If she was stuck here, she needed to survive, and that meant understanding the prince and his world, something the original Alina had failed to do.
She swallowed her unease and adjusted her gown before making her way out of the room. Her footsteps echoed softly down the grand hallway, and she tried to ignore the nervous flutter in her stomach. Just breathe, she thought. Stay calm. You're just meeting him. There's no reason to panic. He's just a man, right?
The palace was a maze of marble halls and lush tapestries, each room more elegant than the last. As she made her way through the corridors, she tried to calm her racing thoughts. She had read the manhwa, yes, but there was one thing she hadn't prepared for: the feeling of being Alina, standing on the precipice of a future she hadn't chosen.
The royal gardens, when she arrived, were breathtaking.
The air was fresh, and the smell of roses and lavender filled the space. A winding path led to a fountain in the center, where a tall figure stood, his back turned to her.
Prince Kaelen.
Her breath caught in her throat. She had imagined him many times, but the real thing… the real Prince Kaelen was far more imposing than she had ever anticipated. He stood with an air of authority, his raven-black hair falling in soft waves around his sharp, aristocratic features. His shoulders were broad, and the royal cloak he wore draped elegantly behind him, adding to his already commanding presence. His eyes, cold and unreadable, stared out across the garden as if lost in thought.
He's… beautiful, Lena thought, feeling an unexpected pang in her chest. His presence was magnetic, though distant.
She cleared her throat. "Your Highness?" Her voice was softer than she intended, and it came out shaky despite her best efforts to sound composed.
Prince Kaelen turned to face her slowly, his piercing gaze locking with hers. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still.
Lena's heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't expected his eyes to be so intense, so searching. There was a depth to them—something hidden beneath the surface that made her feel both drawn to him and wary of him at the same time.
"Lady Alina," he said, his voice low and smooth. "You've recovered, I see."
Lena nodded, forcing herself to maintain composure. "Yes, Your Highness. I apologize for any inconvenience my illness may have caused."
He didn't reply immediately, his eyes scanning her face as if he were searching for something—an answer, a truth. There was a long pause, a silence that stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension.
And then, as though it was a matter of fact, he said, "The wedding will be soon. You must be prepared, Alina."
Lena's heart sank. This was real. This wasn't some dream or fantasy. This was her life now. And somehow, she would have to navigate it.