Awakening In An Unfamiliar World

The last thing I remember was a sharp pain, cold metal biting into my skin, and a suffocating sense of dread. The world around me had dimmed until nothing remained but darkness. Death had come swiftly, a sudden and violent end I had never expected.

Yet now… I was awake again.

My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, the surroundings made no sense to me. I was lying on a bed draped in velvet curtains, rich and luxurious, embroidered with golden threads. The ceiling was high, adorned with intricate carvings of roses and vines, illuminated by the warm glow of a chandelier. A scent of lavender filled the air.

Where was I?

Panic surged in my chest as I sat up abruptly, clutching my head. This wasn't my room. This wasn't my life. My heart raced, and my pulse pounded in my ears. I should be dead… yet I wasn't.

A quick glance down at my hands revealed something even more shocking—these weren't my hands. They were slender, pale, and too elegant. I jumped off the bed and rushed to a nearby mirror. The reflection that stared back at me was that of a young man, perhaps in his early twenties. Sharp features, well-groomed brown hair, and strikingly noble attire. This wasn't me. I was older, rougher, and… plain.

"What's going on?" I whispered, my voice trembling. The voice that came out was foreign, deeper than my own.

A sudden knock at the door snapped me out of my stupor. I stiffened, trying to process what was happening. Before I could gather myself, the door opened, and a woman entered. She was dressed in the uniform of a maid, her face filled with warmth and familiarity.

"Good morning, Lord Cedric," she said, bowing slightly. "Lady Seraphina has requested your presence in the gardens for tea."

**Cedric? Lady Seraphina?**

I was neither of these people, but clearly, everyone else seemed to think I was. Cedric... that must be who I had become.

Before I could respond, memories flooded my mind—foreign memories that weren't my own, but somehow, I knew them. Cedric Lennox. He was the eldest son of the Duke of Lennox, a prominent noble family in the kingdom of Aylmere. He was engaged to none other than **Lady Seraphina Reinhardt**, the infamous villainess known for her cold-hearted and manipulative nature.

In the original story, Seraphina was fated for a tragic downfall. She was the cruel and calculating antagonist, destined to be brought down by the true heroine, Lady Evelyn, a kind and innocent noblewoman. And Cedric? He was supposed to die—betrayed by Seraphina in her pursuit of power.

I had been reincarnated as Cedric, the doomed fiancé of the villainess.

The maid smiled politely as if nothing were amiss. "Shall I help you dress, my lord?"

"N-no, I'm fine," I stammered, still trying to grasp the reality of the situation. "I'll manage."

She nodded and quietly left the room. I sank back onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing. This wasn't just some twisted dream. I was Cedric now, and somehow, I had been reincarnated into a world I vaguely recognized from a novel I had once read.

**But why?**

Why had I been placed in the role of a man fated to die? And worse yet, why was I engaged to Seraphina, the villainess who would inevitably lead to my ruin?

I needed answers, and the only place to start was with Seraphina herself.

***

The gardens were sprawling, filled with blooming flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges. It was a picturesque scene, but the air felt heavy, knowing what awaited me. As I walked along the stone path, servants bowed and greeted me as if I belonged. Yet, deep down, the fear of being discovered gnawed at me.

Then, I saw her—**Lady Seraphina**. She sat at a marble table under a shaded pavilion, sipping tea as if the world bent to her whims. Her beauty was undeniable—long, silver hair that cascaded down her back, piercing emerald eyes that held a glint of cruelty, and an aura of confidence that made others cower.

As I approached, her gaze shifted to me, and a faint smile curled her lips. "Cedric, darling. You're late."

There was no warmth in her words, only a chilling formality. I stood before her, unsure of how to act around someone like her. The memories of Cedric warned me to be cautious, but something about this Seraphina felt even more dangerous than the villainess I had read about.

She gestured to the seat across from her. "Come, sit. We have much to discuss."

I hesitated for a moment but complied, sitting down with as much composure as I could muster. "You wanted to see me?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if sensing something was off, but she didn't comment on it. "Yes. There's been a... development."

"A development?" I repeated, trying not to sound clueless.

Seraphina leaned forward, resting her chin on her delicate hand. "Our engagement. It's causing a stir among the nobles. There are whispers that your father is reconsidering the alliance, given... certain rumors."

I raised an eyebrow, my pulse quickening. "Rumors?"

She gave a soft, dangerous laugh. "Oh, come now. Surely, you've heard them. Rumors about me, of course. That I'm ruthless, power-hungry, willing to do whatever it takes to climb higher." Her smile widened, but her eyes remained cold. "You don't believe them, do you?"

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. The truth was, if the story was anything to go by, those rumors were all too true. But now that I was Cedric, things had changed. I couldn't afford to let her drag me down with her.

"I don't put much stock in gossip," I said carefully, watching her reaction. "But..."

"But?" she pressed, her tone dangerously sweet.

"But I think we need to be careful. If these rumors continue, it could hurt both of us."

For a moment, she stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, she laughed—a low, mocking sound. "Careful, Cedric. You're starting to sound like one of my enemies."

I stiffened, realizing I had overstepped. But before I could backpedal, she reached across the table and placed her hand on mine.

"Don't worry, darling," she said softly, though her grip was firm. "I'll protect us. After all, you're mine."

As I looked into her eyes, I felt a chill run down my spine. There was no escaping her—Seraphina Draven, the villainess I was now bound to.

And somehow, I had to survive.