Sebastian Leodegrance was fated to bring about the world's end, his path irrevocably marked by the three scars etched across his left eye as proof of his unholy contract with Ardalas, the Evil God.

His insatiable thirst for power would have been enough to conquer all, even without the infernal blessing, but now not even the divine intervention of the Goddess could thwart his ambitions.

With purposeful strides, he marched toward Cassiopeia to claim the hand of the renowned Princess Ava Cassia, a woman whose veins coursed with the blood of greatness. But as he drew closer, he discovered that the Princess had been exchanged with her Lady in Waiting.

"Yes. I am the replacement. You have been fooled!"

***

"From now on, Isla, call me Elder Sister."

The person in front of her was the brightest constellation in the world. Ava Cassia... the Princess who was even prettier than the Nereids. But it was like looking in the mirror.

She looked exactly like her.

"Maybe the Goddess sent you to me so we can become Sisters. How about it, my dear Isla? Would you call me Sister?"

Her most cherished treasure; her Elder Sister, Ava.

"I'm sorry, Sister... this is the only way."

"You must replace me. Because if I bear his child... this world would perish..."

The Tyrant's Replacement Bride

The moonlight filtered through the canopy of leaves above, casting ethereal shadows on the forest floor. The gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of wildflowers and the earthy scent of damp soil. 


The rustling of leaves and the chirping of crickets created a symphony of sounds, and the occasional hooting of an owl added to the mysterious ambiance of the night. 


As both horses Isla and Adam rode ran deeper into the woods, they noticed the intricate patterns of the tree bark, each one unique and telling a story of the tree's age and history, just the usual things they would notice when they visited this place. 


The moss and lichen that cling to the trunks and branches seemed to glow in the soft moonlight, adding to the otherworldly feel of the forest. 


Small critters scurry about, their rustling heard but not seen. They caught a glimpse of a fox darting between the trees, its russet fur shimmering in the moonlight. 


PICNIC ON THE HILL