(A/N: Their relationship dynamic progresses and doesn't stay exactly like it is at the start (The one-sided love doesn't last long). Pacing is also relatively fast at the start, but slows down in the future in romance arcs.)

In his old life, he was an assassin, invisible, efficient, and utterly alone.
His only escape came from the pages of a fantasy novel, Crown of Thorns, and the character no one else seemed to understand: Lady Evelina D’Arclight, the proud and brilliant villainess fated to lose everything.

After his death, he wakes up inside that very story, not as a hero, but as Cael Arden, a student at Eryndor Royal Academy. The world is just as he remembers it, right down to the woman destined to fall.

But this time, he’s not a bystander.
With a lifetime of deadly skills and the knowledge of what’s to come, Cael sets out to rewrite the story itself, to protect Evelina, rise through the academy’s ruthless hierarchy, and change a fate written in stone.

As alliances form and secrets surface, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur.
And in a world built on power and prophecy, he’ll prove that even a villainess deserves her happy ending.

The moment we each took hold of our treasure, Kevin with the book, Vivianne with the dagger, Evelina with the ring, and me with the key, the world erupted into light.


It seared our skin for a single, agonizing second before any of us could speak. Then the light swallowed everything, and the library vanished.


When I finally blinked the last of the brightness from my vision, I found myself somewhere familiar. Somewhere impossibly familiar.


Evelina and I stood directly before our estate, the morning sun warm on our faces. No sign of Kevin or Vivianne. No archmage. No library.


"I dropped them off at her estate's gardens," the archmage's voice echoed in my ear, answering the question I hadn't asked yet.


Evelina crossed her arms, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Didn't even let us say goodbye."


Chapter 287 - Back in Berian