Rain tapped against the windows of Aiden’s apartment like a restless whisper, soft at first, then growing louder, sharper—until it became impossible to ignore.

But Aiden ignored it anyway.

Curled on his bed, phone inches from his face, he scrolled through the final chapter of Crown of Hearts, his eyes burning but unwilling to stop.

He shouldn’t have read this late.

Shouldn’t have rushed the ending.

Now it felt like something inside him was being crushed.

Celestia stood on the palace balcony, radiant and distant, her hand clasped with King Alaric’s. The empire cheered below them.

And behind—

Someone walked away.

Shinomi.

Alone.

Aiden’s fingers tightened around his phone.

He already knew what was coming.

Still, it hurt.

“I choose Alaric… I need someone powerful at my side. I’m sorry.”

Aiden let out a hollow laugh.

“Powerful?” he muttered. “You had him.”

His chest ached.

Shinomi didn’t argue.

Didn’t protest.

Just… left.

Like he had never belonged there in the first place.

Aiden skipped to the epilogue, even though he knew he shouldn’t.

And there it was.

The part that ruined everything.

Shinomi—no longer the loyal knight.

Now something darker.

A warlord.

A villain.

Aiden threw his phone beside him and stared at the ceiling.

“This is so unfair…”

His voice came out quieter than expected.

“I’d never choose Alaric.”

A pause.

“I’d choose Shinomi.”

Thunder cracked.

The lights flickered.

And then—

Darkness.

“…Seriously?”

But something felt off.

The air turned heavy.

His head spun.

His breath caught.

“Wait—”

Pain shot through his chest.

He gasped.

No air.

His body went numb.

The world blurred—

And vanished.

—

Cold.

That was the first thing he felt.

Cold and wet and wrong.

Aiden’s eyes snapped open.

Rain poured down onto his face, soaking him instantly. His body ached, pressed against rough stone.

He sucked in a breath—

Mud.

Iron.

Blood.

His heart began to pound.

This isn’t my room.

Before panic could fully set in—

A shadow loomed over him.

“…Still alive. How disappointing.”

The voice was low.

Cold.

Filled with quiet disgust.

Aiden froze.

Slowly—hesitantly—he looked up.

And his entire body went rigid.

Violet eyes.

Sharp.

Emotionless.

Shinomi.

But not the Shinomi he loved.

This one looked at him like he was nothing.

“…You’re awake, Ren.”

The name hit like a slap.

Ren.

Aiden’s breath stuttered.

No.

No way.

His gaze dropped instantly to his hands—

Smaller.

Cleaner.

Dressed in expensive fabric, now soaked and stained.

His heartbeat spiked.

I’m… him?

That him?

His mind flashed with memories—not his own, but familiar.

A boy laughing in court.

Mocking.

Cruel.

“Even a stray dog like Shinomi dares stand beside the throne?”

Aiden’s stomach dropped.

Oh no.

Oh this is bad.

This is really bad.

“I should kill you here,” Shinomi said calmly. “It would save me time.”

Aiden’s entire body tensed.

Fear shot through him, sharp and immediate.

He’s serious.

He’s actually serious.

And then it hit him fully—

Shinomi hated Ren.

Not casually.

Not mildly.

He despised him.

From the bottom of his heart.

Aiden swallowed hard, his throat dry despite the rain.

“W-wait—”

A hand grabbed his collar violently.

Aiden gasped as he was yanked up, his body lifting off the ground with ease.

Shinomi pulled him closer.

Too close.

Up close, there was nothing gentle about him.

His expression was flat, his eyes cutting straight through him.

“Do you remember what you said?” Shinomi asked quietly.

Aiden’s mind went blank.

He did.

But Ren would’ve said it proudly.

Aiden couldn’t.

“I…” His voice shook. “I—”

Shinomi’s grip tightened.

“You stood in court,” he continued, voice low and controlled, “and laughed.”

Aiden flinched.

“You called me a dog.”

His breath hitched.

“And now,” Shinomi finished, staring straight into his eyes, “you look like you can’t even speak.”

Aiden’s heart raced wildly.

Think.

Think.

What would Ren do?

No—that’s wrong.

If I act like Ren, I’m dead.

“I don’t…” Aiden forced the words out, his voice unsteady. “I don’t want to die.”

Silence.

Shinomi blinked once.

Just once.

That was it.

But it was enough to show—

That wasn’t the answer he expected.

Aiden’s chest rose and fell rapidly.

“I was wrong,” he added quickly, desperation creeping in. “About—about what I said—”

Shinomi’s expression darkened.

“Now you regret it?” he asked.

Aiden froze.

That tone—

Worse than anger.

Cold.

Unforgiving.

“I—” Aiden swallowed. “I didn’t think—”

“Clearly.”

The single word cut sharply.

Aiden flinched again.

Damn it.

Say something right.

But his thoughts were a mess.

Fear tangled with something else—

Something almost unreal.

Because despite everything—

Despite the situation—

A small, ridiculous part of him whispered:

That’s Shinomi.

He’s real.

Right in front of me.

The realization sent a strange shiver through him.

Fear… and something close to awe.

Which made this even worse.

Because the same person he admired—

Could kill him right now.

Shinomi studied him in silence.

Longer this time.

His grip didn’t loosen.

Didn’t tighten.

Just held.

“…You’ve changed your tone,” Shinomi said finally.

Aiden didn’t dare move.

“Where is your arrogance?” Shinomi continued. “Your pride?”

Aiden let out a shaky breath.

“…Gone,” he admitted.

It slipped out before he could stop it.

For a moment—

Nothing.

Then—

A faint scoff.

Not amused.

Just dismissive.

“…Pathetic.”

The word stung.

Aiden’s chest tightened.

But he didn’t argue.

Couldn’t.

Because he knew—

This wasn’t his place to fight back.

Not anymore.

Not like Ren used to.

Shinomi finally released him.

Aiden stumbled back, nearly slipping on the wet stone.

His legs trembled.

He barely stayed upright.

Alive.

Still alive.

“That doesn’t erase what you’ve done,” Shinomi said coldly.

Aiden nodded quickly.

“I know.”

His voice was quieter now.

Careful.

Measured.

Because every word mattered.

Shinomi turned slightly, rain sliding down his armor.

“You’re not worth killing in the mud,” he said. “Not yet.”

Aiden’s stomach dropped again.

Not yet?

Great.

So I’m just… delayed death.

“Take him,” Shinomi ordered.

Aiden blinked.

Before he could react—

Hands grabbed his arms from behind.

Soldiers.

Of course.

He hadn’t even noticed them.

As they pulled him forward, Aiden didn’t resist.

His mind was too busy racing.

I’m in Ren’s body.

Captured.

Hated.

No allies.

No power.

No safety.

And Shinomi—

He glanced ahead.

Shinomi walked without looking back.

Cold.

Untouchable.

Exactly like the version from the end of the novel.

Aiden’s grip tightened slightly as he was dragged along.

This isn’t a story anymore.

There’s no reset.

No reread.

If I mess up—

He swallowed hard.

I die.

A shiver ran through him, colder than the rain itself.

But beneath the fear—

Something else flickered quietly.

Not confidence.

Not yet.

Just a fragile thought.

If I’m really here…

Then things aren’t fixed.

They can change.

Maybe not everything.

Maybe not easily.

But—

Aiden lowered his gaze, hiding the storm of emotions in his eyes.

First…

He needed to survive.

Because right now—

Shinomi didn’t just hate him.

He was waiting.

Waiting for a reason—

To end him.