Darkness shattered.
"Ahhhhhhh—!"
A scream tore through the vast chamber as a boy shot upright from the bed, his hand reaching forward desperately—grasping at something that no longer existed.
Empty air.
"Huff…! Huff…!"
His chest heaved violently, sweat forming instantly across his pale skin. His eyes trembled as they darted around the unfamiliar surroundings.
Golden ceiling.
Towering pillars.
A room far too grand… far too suffocating.
"Wh-Where… am I…?"
His voice came out broken, unstable.
His fingers slowly tightened against the sheets before loosening again, as if trying to confirm reality itself.
This wasn't right.
Nothing felt right.
His gaze dropped to his clothes.
Silk.
Royal.
Unfamiliar.
"Why… am I wearing this…?"
His hands trembled as they traced the fabric, his breathing growing uneven. A strange sense of detachment crept into his mind—like he was inside someone else's life.
Then—
A memory surfaced.
A gunshot.
A scream.
Blood.
"I… I was…"
His lips quivered.
"I was shot…"
His eyes widened as the memory completed itself.
"…protecting my sister."
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
"Then… does that mean…"
His throat went dry.
"Did I die…?"
His gaze slowly lifted toward the large window across the room.
Light poured in from beyond it.
Clouds drifted peacefully in a vast, endless sky.
Too peaceful.
Too wrong.
"Is this… heaven…?"
He whispered.
"…or hell?"
No answer came.
Only silence.
Drawn by something he couldn't explain, he forced his unsteady body off the bed.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each movement felt unreal, like walking inside a dream that refused to break.
As he approached the window, his reflection faintly appeared on the glass.
He froze.
A young face stared back at him.
Handsome.
Refined.
Seventeen, at most.
Not his.
Not even close.
His pupils shrank violently.
"…What…?"
His hand slowly rose, trembling, touching his cheek.
The reflection copied him perfectly.
"No…"
Another step forward.
Closer.
Closer—
"WHAT?!"
His voice cracked.
"Who is this?! This isn't my face!!"
Before his panic could spiral further—
CREEEEAAAK—
The massive doors behind him opened.
The sound echoed like a verdict.
Heavy footsteps followed.
Slow.
Commanding.
He turned sharply.
A man entered.
Tall.
Overbearing.
Draped in royal red, a crown resting upon his head like absolute authority itself.
Behind him walked a woman—graceful, elegant… yet her eyes held something fragile.
The air changed.
Pressure descended.
The man's gaze locked onto him.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You."
His voice echoed across the chamber.
"What were you doing?"
The boy flinched.
"W-Well… I—"
"That is irrelevant."
The interruption came instantly.
Absolute.
Unquestionable.
The King stepped forward slightly, his expression devoid of warmth.
"I, the King of Velzar, hereby declare you—Noah—unworthy of the title of Crown Prince."
The words struck like thunder.
Noah's mind went blank.
"You are to be expelled from this kingdom… and sent to the Forest of Imosul."
Silence.
Total.
Devastating.
Noah couldn't process it.
Not the accusation.
Not the punishment.
Not even the name.
Crown Prince…?
Expelled…?
Forest…?
His thoughts clashed violently.
What had this body done?
What kind of crime led to this?
"You will depart immediately."
The King's voice continued, merciless.
"If you have any last words, speak them now."
Noah said nothing.
His lips refused to move.
Instead… his gaze slowly shifted.
Past the King.
To the woman behind him.
The Queen.
Tears streamed silently down her face.
No sound.
No protest.
Only pain.
Something inside Noah's chest twisted violently.
An unfamiliar emotion.
Deep.
Raw.
Before he could stop himself—
"…Mom…"
The word slipped out.
Soft.
Fragile.
The Queen's eyes widened slightly.
Their gazes met.
For a moment—
Time stopped.
But no words followed.
None could.
The King turned away.
Without hesitation.
Without regret.
His footsteps echoed as he exited the chamber.
The Queen followed.
Her tears remained.
Moments later, a maid entered.
Her posture perfect.
Her tone distant.
"As per the King's orders, you must leave immediately, Prince."
Noah remained silent.
What could he even say?
That he wasn't their prince?
That he had taken over this body?
Madness.
No one would believe him.
So he simply nodded.
The palace corridors stretched endlessly.
Grand.
Cold.
Each step echoed like a farewell he didn't choose.
Soon—
He reached the outside.
A broken carriage awaited him.
Worn.
Pathetic.
Fitting.
Without a word, Noah stepped inside.
The carriage moved.
Creaking.
Slow.
From a distant window high above—
The Queen watched.
Her tears fell freely now.
Inside the carriage, Noah leaned back.
His thoughts finally began to settle.
"…So I've been transmigrated…"
His voice was low.
"…into a Crown Prince."
A bitter laugh almost escaped him.
Of all things.
Of all fates.
But one question remained.
Why?
Why was he exiled?
What had this body done?
No answer came.
Only uncertainty.
His thoughts drifted again.
Back.
To Earth.
Gunshots.
Chaos.
Blood.
His sister's terrified eyes.
He had pushed her away.
Forced her to run.
Told her not to trust anyone.
Not even the police.
"…Please be safe…"
He whispered.
The carriage suddenly stopped.
"We've arrived, Prince."
The driver's voice called out.
The door creaked open.
Noah stepped down—
And froze.
Before him stretched a forest.
Dead.
Blackened.
Lifeless.
The air itself felt wrong.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
No sound.
No life.
Behind him—
Laughter.
Mocking.
Cruel.
"Accept this as your death, Prince."
The driver smirked.
"This forest is filled with monsters."
The carriage turned.
Left.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Noah stood alone.
Completely alone.
"Krrrrrkkk…"
A sound echoed behind him.
Low.
Distorted.
Unnatural.
Slowly—
He turned.
A rabbit stood there.
Small.
But wrong.
Blood dripped from its mouth.
Its teeth—sharp.
Too sharp.
Its muscles—swollen.
Twisted.
Its eyes—
Hungry.
Noah's face went pale.
His instincts screamed.
RUN.
He ran.
Without hesitation.
Without thinking.
His heart pounded violently as his legs pushed beyond their limits.
Behind him—
The rabbit grinned.
And chased.
Effortlessly.
Like a predator… playing with its prey.