Prologue: The End of One Story
Evelyn Han had died just as she lived—overworked, underpaid, and clutching her favorite romance novel in one hand and a cup of instant ramen in the other.
The novel, A Crown of Roses, had been het escape: a lush fantasy filled with nobles, scandal, and a tragic villainess who dared to love the Duke meant for the heroine. Evelyn had cried when the villainess was executed, all for loving too much and plotting too little.
And now, Evelyn opened her eyes…
…to a palace ceiling.
Chapter 1 - Lady Seraphina Has a Problem
"I beg your pardon," Evelyn said faintly, "but did you just call me Seraphina Ardenne?"
The maid blinked. "Yes, my ladt. Your father, Baron Ardenne, awaits you for breakfast."
No.
Not Seraphina.
Not that Seraphina—the villainess of A Crown of Roses, famed for her beauty, pride, and tragic fall from grace. Evelyn stumbled to the mirror.
Pale skin like porcelain. Sapphire eyes. Silky golden curls. And a sharp, elegant face straight off a book cover.
She was her.
The daughter of the powerful Baron Ardenne. Sister to Adrian Ardenne—the knight who dies for the heroine in the final act.
And worst of all?
She was in love with Duke Killian Evandros, the original male lead, who ends up with the heroine.
Evelyn's blood ran cold.
"I'm screwed."
Chapter 2 - Not the Script Anymore
In the original story, Seraphina ruined herself by trying to interfere with Killian and the heroine, a commoner named Lilia. She used underhanded tactics, public humiliation, and political sabotage. In the end, she was cast aside, her family fell into disgrace, and her father died of shame.
Not this time.
"New rule," Evelyn said at breakfast, slicing her toast with purpose. "We do not die in prison."
Her father, Baron Ardenne, blinked. "Darling?"
"I'm going to be nice to Lilia. Friendly. Charming. She's adorable."
Her brother Adrian choked on his coffee. "You want to befriend the commoner Killian keeps visiting?"
"Yes," Evelyn said. "Also, I'm canceling my engagement pursuit of Duke Killian."
Adrian dropped his fork.
Baron Ardenne sat forward, eyes wide. "You've loved him since you were twelve."
Not me, Evelyn thought. That was the old Seraphina. "He doesn't love me back. I'm moving on."
Her father stared, then—laughed. "You've matured, my gem! You make me proud!"
Her brother? Not so much.
He stared at her like she was a stranger. Because he had a secret.
Evelyn knew it from the book.
Adrian… was in love with Lilia.
Chapter 3 - The Duke Who Can't Be Ignored
Avoiding Duke Killian Evandros was harder than expected. He and Adrian were best friends. He dined at their estate. He trained with the knights. He looked like a fallen angel—silver hair, unreadable eyes, and that quiet, commanding voice.
"Lady Seraphina," he said one evening, catching her in the garden. "You've been ignoring me."
"I've been busy," she replied coolly. "Duchesses don't magically become interesting overnight, Your Grace."
His eyes narrowed. "You always used to follow me around."
Evelyn smiled sweetly. "I used to eat glue in preschool too. We grow."
He was silent for a beat—then laughed. It was soft. Sincere. Startling.
Something shifted in his gaze.
Oh no, she thought. I'm changing the script too well.
Chapter 4 - The Heroine Arrives
Lilia, the heroine, arrived at court for the Spring Festival. Sweet, naive, and every bit as charming as Evelyn remembered.
But this time, she was not alone and vulnerable. She had a powerful ally—Lady Seraphina, reformed villainess and unexpected best friend.
And Evelyn noticed something else: Lilia didn't seem that interested in Duke Killian.
She kept glancing at Adrian.
And Adrian kept looking anywhere but at her.
Evelyn grinned.
Now this is getting interesting.
Chapter 5 - Sibling Secrets
One evening, Evelyn—still in Seraphina's elegant chambers—caught Adrian alone, staring out the window at the moonlit gardens.
"Brother," she said carefully, "you're acting like you have a secret."
He startled, then sighed. "It's Lilia. I'm… in love with her. I always have been."
Evelyn smiled softly. "I know."
He blinked. "You what?"
"Don't worry, I'm not going to ruin it. But I am going to help."
Adrian looked at her with something close to relief. "How?" "Don't you worry''
Chapter 6 - The Duke's True Feelings
Meanwhile, Duke Killian was growing more intrigued by Seraphina's strange new behavior.
"She's different," he told Adrian over wine one night. "Less desperate, more dangerous."
Adrian smirked. "Sounds like you're jealous."
Killian shook his head. "No. I'm curious."
Because Evelyn's Seraphina wasn't the same jealous villainess who once schemed to destroy him and Lilia. She was witty, unexpectedly kind, and—worst of all—unpredictable.
Chapter 7 - The Festival of Roses
At the Spring Festival ball, a evenement made to celebrate the victory against the evagiola empire the court glittered with jewels and whispered rumors.
Seraphina wore a gown of deep emerald, the color of her father's banner. She smiled warmly at Lilia when they met, and the two danced with ease, drawing surprised looks from the crowd.
Adrian stood nearby, his gaze soft but pained as he watched Lilia laugh.
Killian, observing from across the room, noticed everything—and something he hadn't expected to feel.
Jealousy.
Seraphina caught his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and smiled.
The game was on.
Chapter Eight: A New Alliance
The original villainess might have hated Lilia with every fiber of her being.
But Evelyn? She was crafting a new story.
A story where rivals became allies, where love was complicated but honest, and where the power of choice rewrote fate. Together, Seraphina and Lilia planned to uncover the real threat lurking beneath the glittering court—one that could destroy them all.
Chapter 9 - Dancing with Danger
The Festival of Roses continued for three nights.
On the second evening, Seraphina found herself alone on the palace balcony, away from the music and whispers.
And then he appeared—Duke Killian, the moonlight catching the silver in his hair.
"You're avoiding me again," he said.
"I've decided I enjoy peace," she replied.
"You used to enjoy me," he said, stepping closer.
Her heart stuttered. Damn him.
"That was another life," she said, raising her chin. "I've read ahead. You're not good for me."
He studied her. "You speak in riddles."
"And you play with hearts."
Killian suddenly leaned in. "I don't want Lilia."
That caught her breath. "What?"
"I never truly did," he murmured. "But I think I want you."
Then he kissed her.
And for one dangerous, shattering moment, Evelyn forgot everything she knew about the book.
Chapter 10 - Brother Knows Best
She didn't tell Adrian about the kiss.
But he knew.
"Killian's getting too close," he said the next morning, arms crossed as they walked the gardens.
"He's your best friend," Seraphina replied.
"He's also dangerous when he's confused. And he's confusing you."
Evelyn looked at her brother. The one person in this world who truly loved her. Who would die for her.
"You're worried about me," she said.
"I always have been."
Adrian turned toward her then, and his voice softened.
"But if you ever do fall for him again… just promise me you'll protect yourself this time."
She didn't know how to answer.
Because some small, treacherous part of her was falling for Killian.
Chapter 11 - Lilia's Confession
Seraphina found Lilia in the rose gardens that evening, clutching a letter and crying quietly.
"What's wrong?" she asked gently.
"I can't tell him," Lilia whispered. "I can't ruin the friendship between them."
"Tell who what?" Evelyn asked.
"That I love Adrian," Lilia said, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Not the Duke. I never loved Killian. But if I say anything, I'll destroy them both."
Seraphina was stunned. This wasn't in the book. Not like this.
The love triangle was twisting.
And hearts were going to break.
Chapter 12 - The Duke's Choice
Killian found Seraphina again before the final ball.
"Dance with me," he said simply.
"I shouldn't."
"But you want to," he said, offering his hand.
And she did.
The whole court watched as the infamous villainess and the noble Duke danced under chandeliers—eyes locked, breath catching, the past rewritten with every step.
"You're dangerous," she whispered.
"I know," he said. "So are you."
She pulled back before the final step, her heart in chaos.
Because this time, she wasn't just stealing a story.
She was living one.
And someone was going to get hurt.
Chapter 13 - Enter Prince Lucien
The palace whispered before it even happened:
"Prince Lucien has returned from exile."
The Second Prince. The "shadow of the crown." The one whispered to have run an underground spy network, blackmailed nobles, and once vanished for a year—only to return with blood on his boots and a smile on his lips.
In the novel, he was executed for treason three years from now—after betraying his brother, the Crown Prince.
But Evelyn knew he was more dangerous than he let on.
And now, he was staring at her.
"Lady Seraphina Ardenne," he purred, kissing her gloved hand. "I heard you were interesting. I hate when people understate things."
She narrowed her eyes. "I heard you were in exile."
"I got bored." His smile was a blade. "And now you're the most talked-about woman in court."
She glanced at Killian across the ballroom.
Killian was watching.
And he didn't look pleased.
Chapter 14 - The Jealous Duke
That night, Seraphina returned to her chambers to find a knock on her door.
It was Killian.
He didn't speak right away. Just walked in, silent, tense.
"So," he said finally, "Lucien now?"
"I wasn't aware I needed your permission to breathe near royalty," she said coolly.
Killian's jaw clenched. "He's dangerous."
"So are you."
"I've never hurt you."
"Not yet," she whispered. "But you will. You're not written for me, Killian. Not in the book."
He grabbed her wrist gently. "Forget the book."
Her breath hitched. "What?"
He stepped closer, voice low. "Forget the script. The old story. We're writing a new one."
She stared up at him, torn between the future she knew… and the man who stood before her like a storm waiting to break.
Chapter 15 - A Proposal in the Dark
Lucien made his move the next day.
At a midnight banquet, he took Seraphina's hand beneath the table and murmured:
"You're clever. You know things. You're not playing their game—you're playing your own."
She turned to him slowly. "And what do you want, Your Highness?"
He leaned closer. "To survive. And maybe to make that Duke burn a little. He's had everything for too long."
She smirked. "You want to use me."
Lucien's smile widened. "I want to offer you something. Power. Chaos. Freedom."
"And the price?"
"Dance with me," he said. "Publicly. And let's see if your Duke bleeds."
Chapter 16 - The Dance That Broke the Script
Seraphina walked into the Moonlight Ball on Lucien's arm.
The crowd fell silent.
Killian went still.
Lilia gasped. Adrian muttered a curse.
But Seraphina? She smiled. Because she wasn't just doing this for spite.
She was testing Killian's heart.
As Lucien twirled her across the floor with wicked grace, he whispered:
"You're making him crazy. Well done."
"Good," she whispered back. "Now let's see if he fights for me."
And across the room, Killian Evandros stepped forward, eyes burning with something more than jealousy—something closer to obsession.
This story was no longer about a girl who died for love.
It was about a woman who made powerful men kneel for it.
Chapter 17 - The Duke Strikes
Lucien barely released Seraphina's hand before Killian was at her side.
"You've made your point," he said, voice quiet and razor-sharp.
"Which one?" she replied sweetly, refusing to step back. "That I'm desirable? Or that I'm free?"
He grabbed her wrist—gently, but firmly.
"You are not his pawn."
"I'm no one's pawn," she snapped. "Not anymore."
Killian's eyes darkened. "Then tell me what this is. You and Lucien? A game?"
"It was," she whispered. "Until you started losing."
That was the first time she saw Killian lose control.
He stepped into her space, hands clenched at his sides. "If he touches you again—"
"You'll what?" Lucien drawled from behind. "Challenge me to a duel like some tragic lover?"
Killian turned, murder in his eyes.
Seraphina stepped between them. "Stop it. Both of you."
Lucien's smirk faded. Killian's glare lingered.
And Seraphina realized—
She was no longer just playing with fire.
She was standing between a blade and a bomb.
Chapter 18 - The Garden Ultimatum
Later that night, Killian cornered her in the palace gardens, lit only by the silver of moonlight and the rage in his chest.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, voice strained. "Is it punishment? Revenge?"
"No," she said. "It's survival."
He stepped closer. "I'm not your enemy."
"You were never my lover either."
Killian's jaw clenched. "You want honesty? Fine."
He looked her dead in the eyes.
"I have never wanted anyone the way I want you."
Silence fell.
"I tried to forget you. For years. Even when you were awful. Even when you were cruel. Because it was easier than wanting something I thought I couldn't have."
Seraphina's heart slammed against her ribs.
"Then why didn't you choose me before?" she whispered.
"Because I was afraid." He stepped forward. "But I'm not anymore."
And he kissed her—raw, real, and desperate.
Not like a hero in a book.
But like a man who knew he might lose her.
Chapter 19 - The Prince Makes His Move
The next day, Lucien sent a letter:
"I enjoyed last night. I don't think your Duke did.
Shall we keep playing? Or are you ready to make a real alliance?"
— L
With it came a ring. Black sapphire. Royal insignia.
A symbol of betrothal.
Baron Ardenne was thrilled. "A royal match? You'd be untouchable!"
Adrian was horrified. "Lucien is dangerous."
Lilia said nothing—but her face paled.
Seraphina stared at the ring.
She could accept it… and destroy the entire story.
Or reject it… and let the war between Killian and Lucien erupt anyway.
Chapter 20 - Torn
That night, Seraphina stood alone in her chambers, the sapphire ring in one hand, and a letter from Killian in the other:
"I won't fight fair. Not for you.
If you want war, I'll give it to you.
But I'd rather give you my heart."
—K
She laughed, half in shock, half in ache.
The villainess had rewritten her fate.
Now she had two men who would burn kingdoms for her.
But what would she burn to survive the fire?
Chapter 21 - The Choice
Seraphina stood alone on the edge of the palace cliffs, moonlight casting silver over the sea below.
In her hand: Prince Lucien's black sapphire ring, glinting like temptation itself.
Behind her: memories of a novel she was never meant to live.
She clenched the ring tighter.
Lucien offered her power, chaos, survival.
Killian offered her something far more terrifying: a future built on love.
Seraphina stared at the ring—then threw it into the sea.
It flashed once before vanishing beneath the waves.
"No more pretending," she whispered. "This is my story now."
Chapter 22 - And Then There Was War
The next morning, all of court buzzed with the news: Lady Seraphina Ardenne rejected a royal proposal.
Prince Lucien didn't react.
Not publicly.
But Evelyn—Seraphina—knew better.
He was the type to smile and plot.
He sent a simple note to her door:
"Shame. We could've ruled the ashes together."
—L
She burned it.
Chapter 23 - The Duke's Devotion
That evening, Killian appeared at her estate.
No guards. No fanfare.
Just him. Silver hair wind-swept, cloak half off, eyes storm-bright.
"You said I'd hurt you one day," he said quietly. "But you're the one who's killing me now."
Seraphina's heart cracked.
"I threw his ring into the sea," she whispered. "Isn't that enough?"
He stepped closer, took her hands. "No. Not if you're still going to push me away."
"I'm terrified."
"I am too. But I'd rather be terrified beside you than safe without you."
Silence.
Then she pulled him down and kissed him.
No games. No walls. Just her.
Chapter 24 - A Dangerous Calm
Days passed.
Killian stayed close, never pressing, never doubting again.
They shared stolen moments: late-night walks, secret touches, whispered promises.
But Seraphina knew peace never lasted long.
Especially not when Lucien began moving his pieces.
Rumors of a secret alliance.
Court nobles falling under his influence.
And somewhere deep in the shadows: a plan to destroy Killian.
Seraphina met with Lilia and Adrian under moonlight.
"We have three years before Lucien's execution in the original story," she said.
Adrian nodded grimly. "He won't wait that long this time."
Seraphina looked up, eyes burning.
"Then we destroy his ending before he touches mine."
Chapter 25 - The Disappearing Rose
It happened in an instant.
One moment, Seraphina was walking the palace garden alone—just after dusk, when the last of the nobility had retreated for wine and gossip.
The next, everything went black.
No screams. No trace. No witnesses.
When Killian arrived at her estate for their secret meeting that night, he found only her handkerchief in the dirt, embroidered with her family crest… and a black sapphire placed on top.
A message.
She was gone.
Chapter 26 - The Cage
Seraphina woke in a lavish carriage—pillowed, perfumed, and moving fast.
Across from her sat Prince Lucien, smiling as if nothing were amiss.
"You looked tired," he said casually. "I thought you deserved a little… break."
She didn't speak.
"I gave you a choice. You chose him."
"Because I love him," she said coldly.
Lucien's smile faltered. Then sharpened. "He won't come for you. Not fast enough."
"You don't know him."
"I know men like him," Lucien said softly, leaning forward. "Men who fight for kingdoms. But not for women."
"You're wrong."
He stared at her. "Then let's see how far he'll bleed."
Chapter 27 - The Duke's Fury
Killian rode without sleep. Without food. With murder in his veins.
Adrian found him first. "The Prince's convoy is heading east—toward the sea fortress."
Killian barely responded.
He wore no crest. No banners. Just his blade.
But his face—his face was death.
"Lucien took her," Killian said quietly, mounting his horse.
Adrian stared at him. "Then what are you going to do?"
Killian's eyes burned. "Burn everything that stands between me and her."
Chapter 28 - Fire and Steel
The sea fortress was carved from black stone, guarded by royal soldiers loyal only to Lucien's private cause.
They didn't see Killian coming.
They saw smoke. Then steel. Then death.
Seraphina stood at the tower window, hair whipping in the ocean wind—and saw a single rider charging through the flames.
Killian.
"Killian!" she shouted. He's here!
The prince rose from his chair, his calm finally cracking. "No. He shouldn't be—"
But it was too late.
The door exploded open.
Killian stormed in, blood on his sword, fury in his eyes.
"Let. Her. Go."
Lucien drew a blade, manic with rage. "She's mine!"
"No," Seraphina said, stepping between them. "I was never yours."
Lucien lunged.
Killian caught the blade—with his hand.
And then, with a roar like thunder, he drove his sword through Lucien's side.
Chapter 29 - Aftermath
Lucien lived.
Barely.
He was arrested by the royal guard—on Killian's command—and taken away in shackles, screaming promises of revenge that echoed across the cliffs.
Killian didn't watch.
He only held Seraphina, arms shaking with adrenaline and fear.
"You came," she whispered, clinging to him.
"I always will."
"I thought you'd never find me."
His voice broke. "I would have searched the world. Burned the world."
She looked up at him then. "Then it's yours. My world. My heart."
He kissed her—not as a rescue, not as a claim.
But as a vow.
Chapter 30 - The Trial of the Second Prince
The grand courtroom of the imperial palace had not been used in decades. Its marble halls were carved with the faces of the gods, its floor set in obsidian and gold.
Now, it echoed with whispers. And fear.
Because Prince Lucien Valerius—once heir to shadows, now disgraced—stood bound in enchanted chains, pale but defiant.
And at the center of the chamber… was Lady Seraphina Ardenne.
She walked in with her head high.
By her side, Duke Killian Evandros, his sword gleaming in ceremonial silver, his expression carved from stone.
At her back: her father, Baron Ardenne, face torn between pride and dread.
And in front of her: the full court, the Emperor himself, and hundreds of nobles who had once called her villainess.
Now they would hear the truth.
Chapter 31 - Testimony
The Emperor raised a hand. "Lady Seraphina. State your account."
Her voice did not shake.
"Three nights ago, I was taken against my will. Drugged. Bound. And transported to the sea fortress. Prince Lucien Valerius oversaw the entire operation."
Gasps. Murmurs.
Seraphina's eyes never left Lucien's.
"He offered me a ring. I refused. He kidnapped me to punish me."
Lucien laughed once. "She wanted me to. She played us both."
Killian stepped forward, voice thunder.
"Dare to finish that lie."
Silence.
Seraphina turned to the Emperor. "I was kidnapped. He held me in a locked tower. When Duke Evandros arrived, Prince Lucien attempted to kill him. He would've killed me, too."
More murmurs. But no one interrupted.
Until Adrian stepped forward.
"I saw the aftermath. I saw the fortress burn. And I saw the look in her eyes when Killian carried her out."
Even Lilia rose. "He's dangerous. He's always been."
The tide was turning.
Chapter 32 - Judgement
The Emperor rose.
"Prince Lucien, you stand accused of treason, unlawful imprisonment, attempted assassination, and sedition against the crown."
Lucien smiled. Bloody and unbothered.
"I tried to marry a powerful woman. The Duke is just angry she chose better."
Seraphina's voice cut through him like ice.
"I chose the man who didn't try to cage me."
The Emperor raised his hand.
"Prince Lucien, you are stripped of all titles. You are hereby sentenced to execution by royal decree—to be carried out within a fortnight."
Lucien locked eyes with Seraphina one last time.
"I will haunt your story."
"No," she said softly, "you're no longer in it."
Chapter 33 - After the Fall
That night, the palace was quiet.
Killian found her on the balcony overlooking the sea.
"You were incredible," he said. "Braver than any knight I've known."
She turned to him, tired but free.
"I feel like I've been running for years. Through a book I didn't write. A role I never wanted."
"And now?"
She leaned into him. "Now I want to write something new. With you."
He smiled, brushing his fingers through her wind-tossed hair.
"Then let's start with this."
He knelt.
Pulled out a ring—not black sapphire, but crystal-clear diamond, carved in the shape of a rose.
"Not to save you. Not to claim you. But to walk beside you. Will you marry me?"
Seraphina laughed through her tears.
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, yes, yes."
Chapter 34 - The Wedding Announcement
Two weeks after Lucien's execution, the capital buzzed with gossip again—not from fear, but from excitement.
The Duke of Evandros and Lady Seraphina Ardenne were to be wed.
It would be the grandest wedding in a decade. Nobles polished their jewels. Tailors stitched moonlight into gowns. And invitations, gilded in gold and sealed with twin roses, arrived at every corner of the empire.
But even as the city prepared, danger watched from the shadows.
Because not everyone had wanted Seraphina to survive Lucien.
And some had whispered: if she makes it to the altar, she'll become untouchable.
So plans were made.
And daggers drawn.
Chapter 35 - The Night Before
Killian found her pacing in her rooms, dressed in silk and nerves.
"You're not sleeping," he said, leaning against the doorway.
She spun toward him. "How do you calm down before a political marriage that half the court secretly hopes ends in bloodshed?"
He stepped inside. "You breathe. You remember who you are."
Seraphina met his eyes. "I'm scared."
He wrapped his arms around her. "Then we walk into tomorrow together. Terrified. And invincible."
Chapter 36 - The Vows and the Vipers
The wedding was held in the ancient temple beneath the royal palace—once used to crown queens and forge alliances in blood and fire.
Seraphina entered the hall dressed in a gown of silver and white, embroidered with baronial roses, her mother's pendant at her throat.
Her father wept openly. Adrian smiled like a fool. Lilia looked like she'd faint.
Killian stood waiting—midnight cloak over his shoulders, sword at his hip, but a smile in his eyes meant for only her.
The ceremony began.
But halfway through the vows, a burst of smoke erupted from the pillars.
Screams.
Chaos.
And out of the mist came—
Masked assassins.
Chapter 37 - The Wedding That Became a War
Killian moved instantly, sword drawn.
Adrian tackled one attacker before he reached the nobles.
Seraphina stood tall, eyes glowing with fury.
"Who dares?" she shouted, fire in her voice.
From the smoke, a voice answered:
"Those who remember the villainess you were."
A dagger flew—toward her heart.
She didn't flinch.
Killian caught it mid-air with his blade.
"You will not touch her," he growled.
Together, they fought back to back—Duke and Bride, sword and fire.
Lilia activated protective wards. Adrian fought like a beast.
And when the dust cleared…
All the assassins were dead.
Chapter 38 - The Second Vow
Later that night, they stood alone beneath the stars, their wedding robes bloodstained but proud.
"No more interruptions," Killian said, voice hoarse.
"No more ghosts," Seraphina answered.
The priest returned, hands trembling, and spoke the final words.
"With this vow, your fates are bound. From this day forward, let no one tear you apart."
Killian took her hands.
"I don't need a throne. I just need you."
Seraphina smiled. "Then rule with me. Not over kingdoms. But over our fate."
They kissed.
And the stars burned brighter for it.
Chapter 39 (final) – A new life
So, After the married and did you know… a month later she found out she was pregnant with a baby girl so now that Seraphina and Killian live happy with there little baby girl named Estella they lived happily ever after… And also lilia and Adrien also married and had 3 beautiful baby boys named Troy, Alec and Stefan and a little girl named Estelle ;-;