The beginning - Earth
"Hang her! Hang her! Hang her!" the crowd cheered.
Arya looked at the crowd in derision. Of course they were here to see her death.
Once upon a time, she had been adored and respected by this same crowd.
She had been Arya Warawut, the young mistress of the respected Warawut family.
Now, she was Arya, the criminal who was about to be killed by hanging.
She looked at her schoolmates who stood in the crowd looking at her with mockery and hatred.
Once, they had all adored her. She had been the genius student of Dharavati college.
Arya had only herself to blame for all these. If only she hadn't accepted that she devil into her life.
And just as she thought about the she devil, she appeared as if she was summoned. Wanna Rangsit, Arya's former best friend and nemesis.
The crowd made way for her as she moved to the front supported by Saran Narong, Arya's ex fiance.
She laughed at how the world had changed so quickly for her.
Wanna came close to the platform and the crowd kept quiet to hear her speak.
"Arya, I am really sorry that things became like this between us, I want you to know that I forgive you for everything you did to me. And I hope in our next life we can be best friends too."
"Such a nice girl!"
"I can't believe she would forgive that witch Arya"
"Arya doesn't deserve such kindness from Wanna."
The crowd was filled with such adoring comments towards Wanna.
Arya laughed bitterly. "Wanna, I don't care if you forgive me or not. In my next life, I hope I never set my eyes on you again and the one thing I regret most is befriending you." she replied.
"such a despicable person"
"to think she is this way after trying to kill Wanna, no single remorse."
"I can't wait for her to he hanged and leave the earth."
The crowd was angry at Arya.
"Hang her! Hang her! Hang her!"
Wanna was sobbing while Saran comforted her as he glared at Arya.
Arya rolled her eyes, she honestly didn't care about them anymore.
She just wanted everything to be over. Arya was scared of dying. Very scared, but she knew there was no hope for her. Her own parents wanted nothing to do with her, they had already disowned her.
The executioner came up to the platform and raised a hand up.
"Arya Warawut...." he started speaking before he was interrupted by Arya.
"Arya just Arya" she told him.
He shrugged, "Arya has been sentenced to death by hanging for the attempted murder of Wanna Rangsit who narrowly escaped death. As per the law, Arya can be saved by marriage, does anybody wish to marry her?" the executioner asked in a bored monotone.
Arya rolled her eyes, the executioner asked this question everytime there was an execution and yet nobody had ever offered to marry the sentenced criminal. She knew her case wouldn't be any different.
"I will marry her." someone spoke from the crowd.
Arya gasped in shock.
"who said that, please come forward." the executioner called.
A young man walked forward. Arya felt he looked familiar but she couldn't remember how she knew him.
The crowd was filled with excited whispering.
"And what's your name."
"Thornin" he replied.
"And your surname?" the executioner asked.
"I have none, I am an orphan. I work for the Rattanakul family." he replied.
Now she remembered him, he was the lackey for the Rattanakul brothers while she was in school.
"and you are sure you want to marry her?" the executioner asked.
"Yes sir."
The executioner looked at Arya.
"and you, do you want to marry him?"
Arya looked at the young man, Thornin, did she want to marry him? Did she really have a choice? It was either she married him or she died.
"I will marry him." she answered.
"Okay, let's get you two married."
The noose was untied from her neck and her hands were untied.
The marriage ceremony went swiftly.
"if you attempt to do any more crimes or attack Wanna Rangsit, you will be hanged and this time, nobody will save you, understand?"
"Yes, I understand." Arya replied.
The crowd dispersed with them being disgruntled that Arya wasn't being hanged anymore.
"please come with me." Thornin told Arya.
"Okay" she replied.
He led her down the platform to where he had kept his horse and helped her get on the horse.
Arya got on the horse and he sat behind her.
As the horse moved through the streets. Arya was in turmoil. Why had Thornin saved her?
The both of them had never interacted with each other before.
"Thornin." she said.
"yes" he replied.
"Why did you save me?"
"I didn't think you should die, everyone deserves a second chance."
"But I tried to kill Wanna. Everyone has said they wanted me to die"
"Well I am not anyone, I am Thornin."
They got to the Rattanakul mansion. Arya had been here several times. Lady Amara Rattanakul and her mother were in the same social circle so she had always been invited for parties here.
Saran had hated the Rattanakul brothers and had refused to accompany her to any party here.
"We are here." he told her.
He got down from the horse and helped her down.
A servant came to meet them.
"Thornin, the mistress has asked for you to come inside immediately with her." she told Thornin.
"Okay." Thornin replied.
"When we get inside, do not say anything, just let me handle it okay?"
"Okay." she nodded.
He walked towards the mansion and she walked behind him unsure of what to expect.
They got into the mansion, Lady Amara was waiting there with her sons, Akkhi, Phayu and Nam.
"Yes Lady, you asked for me." Thornin said.
She walked up to him and gave him a slap on his face.
Arya was shocked.
"How dare you do such a thing?" she yelled at him.