The first thing he felt was the cold sensation of steel pierg his skin, as Verde’s vision grew blurry. He looked down to see the hilt of a sword, buried deep in him, before looking up at the wielder. The sword’s owowered over him; his blood-spattered face twisted into a sneer as he yahe bde out from Verde, unleashing a siing rivulet of blood.

  The sed thing he felt ain. Pain that tore through his flesh and bone, as he barely mustered the strength to stay on his feet, his sword cttering to the ground beside him. Though a battle was raging around him, Verde could hardly hear the shouts of his men as they watched their leader fall, his eyes fixated on the oppohat just bested him.

  Wulfe Alvar, the ‘Fang of the Metzger Throne.’ Of course, Verde khat he was foolish to even try to cross swords with the feared military ander of the Metzgers, and he khat his meager army would not stand a challenge against the man. It was a foolish endeavor, Verde now realised.

  His blurred vision could still make out Wulfe’s e eyes burning bright against the battlefield, as Verde felt the strength beginning to give out on his legs. He could see Wulfe’s mouth t and twisting as the other was saying something, though the words he shouted were dulled out by the ringing in Verde’s ears as he crumpled to the ground.

  He thought that he was doing the right thing for his people, even if it was in vain. But it only caused him more strife for his little territory, estranging even his little sister. As his vision dimmed, Wulfe’s shouting became fainter and fainter, before Verde was met with utter silence.

  He thought that he was doing the right thing for his people, even if it was in vain hope. But it only caused him more strife for his little territory, estranging even his little sister. As his vision dimmed, Wulfe’s shouting became fainter and fainter, before Verde was met with utter silenbsp;

  If only I could do this ain.

  When he awoke, he could only see darkness. Verde jolted upright, his hand instinctively toug his stomach, fling when he realised that the wound was gone.

  Was the battlefield a dream? No, the pain was far too real. Was this a dream?

  Verde staggered onto his feet, looking around him. The afterlife, perhaps? He didn’t expect it to be so… barren, with nothing but pure darkness in front of him, threatening to e his entire being. He began to cautiously make his way about the empty space, though he could only see an endless b stretg before him.

  Verde didn’t know how long or how far he had walked, but he eventually came across something other thainess.

  He saw an eborate gold stand, intricate in design and propping open a single object: A book.

  Is this the only thing the afterlife has to offer? Verde frowned as he approached. He saw that the book was already open on a page, however he lifted the cover to see the title.

  ‘A Snowfall Serenade’

  He’d not heard of that one before. Curiosity piqued, he id the book down on the page it was inally ope, a firailing along the page as he read through the passages. What he saw caused a cold shiver to run down his spine.

  ‘The Lord of Frimasvale was sin in battle. Adeise could not get over the news, as she colpsed in her room. Her dear brother, how did they e to this? Distraught, her thoughts wandered over to priheron, his f words and resence. How she longed for that now.”

  What in the hell was this?

  Verde flicked through the passages, faster and faster each time as he began to feel sick. This book was like a dot of the past, present, and future - all from the eyes of his sister. After his death, Adeise officially abandoned her title as Duchess of Frimasvale,falling into the arms of priherozger. Leaving their home undefended, it fell to others vying for power, eventually succumbing to the war as a casualty of crossfire. She eventually went on to fall for Theron ahe prince, helping him take over the throne aablishing dominan all three territories.

  Everything he had worked so hard for - to protect his sister and his home, all gone up in fmes. His efforts were clearly in vain, as Verde choked back his horror. He flipped to the back of the book, to see a small blurb.

  ‘Duchess Adeise of Frimasvale had lived a sheltered life, but this was all thrown into a frenzy by the passing of the King and the subsequent power struggle that took over the nd. However, the handsome priheron and righteous knight Wulfe both offer her a helping hand when she’s forced to flee her home, after the death of her trolling brother. Will love blossom amidst the fires of war? Adeise aid the willful young prince, and help him win the war? Or will she fall for the roguish charm of sir Alvar?

  Publisher House’s sed steamy romahis time set in a faraway fantasy nd!”

  This was… A story?

  His life, his sister’s life, all of their subjects. They were mere characters in a novel, it seemed. Verde could hardly believe it - perhaps this was how the afterlife recorded the events of his life?

  But he found that hard to believe, as he read over the boorish nguage, the cover of the hat depicted his sister in a strange way, her portrait looking like a wispy winter maiden.

  No, this was nothing more than a book written for eai, akin to the cheap pys that he would see sed-rate buskers putting up ireets. Verde restrained himself from tearing at the book, as he ched his jaw and balled his fists.

  His nd was razed and all of his troops were sin, all for the sake of enabling Adeise to get together with the Metzger prince? His own purpose in life was just to serve as an obstacle to their coupling?

  Verde couldn’t believe this. Surely, this was a cruel prank or an awful dream. In his anger, he tossed the book to the ground, gring up towards the heavens.

  “I refuse to accept this fate!” He shouted, not g who or what could hear him. “My life is not a prop to a sed-rate story, nor is my home.”

  When he was met by the iable silence, Verde couldn’t help but grow agitated. Whoever set this up robably desperately bored from reading this medioovel.

  “I am not a puppet that dances along to its strings,” he snarled, defiance brimming in his voice as he pressed a hand over his heart. “Remove these tethers, and I will create a much more eaining read when I’m allowed my own free will! I’m sure that I will be able to craft a much more iing story.”

  At that, he heard a creaking sound, startling him as he turned around. A door had suddenly appeared, pin and wooden, though tucked into carved stone. Verde’s eyes widehis was the door to his bedroom.

  Without hesitation, his hand flew straight to the hao push it open. When it swung forward, a bright light leaked into the b, blinding Verde. He had no idea what y beyond, but he screwed his eyes shut, sucked in his breath, and walked through the entrahout looking back.

  Whatever was to happen, it ’t be worse thae written in those wretched pages. Not if he had anything to say about it, at least.<