GDE~01

~Chapter 1~

At the top of a towering spire, a woman with crimson hair twisted elegantly into an elaborate updo stood perched upon the windowsill.

Crouched low, gripping the frame tightly with both hands while leaning her body slightly backward, she looked perilously close to falling.

“Elly. Stop this and come down… please? It’s dangerous.”

At the voice—gentle, coaxing, and unbearably familiar—the woman opened her mouth as she stared at the lady before her, a woman who looked exactly like herself.

“I do not regret pushing you from the second-floor terrace.”

Her voice was cold.

“I was always forced to live in your shadow. I grew up constantly compared to you—perfect little you, who excelled at everything. Every man I ever liked ended up falling for you instead. Everyone always chose your side.”

Though they were twins, they had always been so very different.

Their faces, their crimson hair, their height, their build—even their voices—were nearly identical, as though they were reflections of one another.

And yet… they were not.

If her twin was graceful and proper, then she was anything but.

She climbed trees without hesitation, danced terribly, couldn’t brew tea properly, burned cookies, and no matter how much she practiced, her embroidery never improved.

But her sister?

Quiet. Elegant. Brilliant.

Everything she touched, she mastered with ease.

Her twin had always been praised as a precious jewel, while she herself had been branded a failed creation.

“I hate you.”

Tears glimmered in her eyes, but her smile remained bitter.

“I wanted to live somewhere you didn’t exist. I wanted to breathe without seeing your face.”

Her fingers tightened around the frame.

“One of us has to disappear… or this will never end.”

Was it because she wasn’t ladylike enough?

Was that why everyone had always chosen her sister?

As the imprisoned Empress leaned farther back, she noticed the tower door opening behind her twin.

Two men entered.

The moment she saw them—

She let go.

Her hands slipped from the windowsill, and her body plummeted.

Down below, the pure white snow was stained red.

I closed the book with trembling hands.

That ending was too tragic.

Did she really have to die like that…?

Poor Elenoa.

Always compared to her twin sister Elizabeth…

It felt painfully similar to my own life—being endlessly compared to my academically gifted older sister.

Unlike me, Elenoa had been compared to a flawless twin.

And in the end, she wasn’t loved either.

Not by her family.

Not by the man she loved.

Not by anyone.

Just as I sat there, heart aching, the book was suddenly snatched from my hands.

“Sooryeon, are you reading this useless nonsense again?”

I flinched and turned around in my chair.

My mother glared down at me in disapproval.

“If you have time to waste on books like this, you should study more. Do you really think you’ll get into medical school at this rate? Learn something from your sister! Honestly, why are you always wasting time on things that won’t help your grades?”

I clenched my fists tightly in my lap.

I was sick of it.

Study. Study. Study.

Medical school.

My sister.

I hated all of it.

I wasn’t smart enough to become a doctor.

My grades were barely average.

And more importantly—

I didn’t even want to become one.

But whenever I tried to say that, no one listened.

I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew this much:

It wasn’t medicine.

Maybe I could work in an office.

Or maybe a factory.

Anything ordinary would be fine.

But my parents refused to accept ordinary.

“…I borrowed it,” I muttered quietly. “I was going to return it.”

“Unbelievable. The exam is right around the corner, and you’re acting this relaxed? Go to the academy right now—and return this on your way!”

SLAM!

The bedroom door shut violently.

I flinched.

A drop of water landed on the back of my hand.

No—

Not water.

Tears.

I didn’t want to go.

I didn’t want to study.

“Why are you still standing there?! Get to the academy now!”

At my mother’s shout, I quickly wiped my eyes, changed clothes, and grabbed my bag.

Under one arm, I held the red hardcover novel tightly against my chest.

Elenoa.

As I stepped outside, I remembered the pouring rain and grabbed an umbrella.

I really don’t want to go…

I looked down at the book.

You and I really are alike, aren’t we?

I’m always compared to my sister because of grades.

And you…

You were compared to your perfect twin in every possible way.

BEEEEEP—!

The pedestrian signal began to change.

Panicked, I rushed forward, trying to cross before the light turned red.

Then—

SCREEECH—!!

CRASH!!

A deafening noise.

My body flew upward.

Then slammed down.

Voices screamed around me, but they sounded distant.

Muffled.

Buzzing.

All I could hear clearly was the rain.

And just before my consciousness faded—

I saw it.

The crimson cover of Elenoa.

“Mmnh…”

A soft groan escaped my lips as I pushed myself upright.

…Huh?

I’m standing?

Didn’t I get hit by a car?

Frantically, I checked my body.

No injuries.

No blood.

No pain.

What…?

Am I dead?

Is this heaven?

But this wasn’t a hospital.

Nor was it my room.

I stood in the middle of a vast lake.

At its center rose a magnificent ancient tree.

All around me, cherry blossoms bloomed in endless waves.

Petals drifted softly through the air.

Then I saw her.

A woman with crimson hair stood at the edge of the water.

I slowly approached.

As if sensing me, she turned.

And the moment I saw her face—

My breath caught.

“Elenoa…”

The tragic Empress from the novel.

Why… was she here?

Why was she standing before me?

She smiled faintly.

Then, before my eyes—

Her form shifted.

She became younger.

A girl my age.

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Help me.”

Her voice echoed directly in my mind.

“Help me change it.”

What…?

“You might be able to change my fate.”

I froze.

“Thank you… for loving me.”

Her embrace tightened.

“Please… live as me.”

My eyes widened.

“I’ll share my memories with you.”

Cherry blossoms swirled violently around us.

“Become me.”

The wind roared.

The petals engulfed us both.

And then—

She disappeared.

When I opened my eyes, the world had changed.

“Where… am I?”

The heavenly lake was gone.

Instead—

I saw Elenoa.

Hiding behind a pillar.

Crying.

I followed her trembling gaze—

And there—

In the imperial garden—

Stood the Emperor.

Beside him…

A woman with Elenoa’s exact face.

Her twin.

They laughed together over tea.

Wait—

I turned sharply as Elenoa ran.

I tried to grab her—

But my hand passed right through her.

“…What?”

I stared blankly.

A ghost?

Am I… a ghost?

Then—

A man with silver hair appeared.

Sword in hand.

His silver eyes followed the direction Elenoa had fled.

For a moment, he looked toward the Emperor and the other woman—

Then silently walked away.

Who… is he?

Before I could think further—

The wind swallowed me again.

[Astran…? You’re returning to Astran?]

That voice—

The silver-haired man.

[Then… I suppose we shall never meet again.]

[Why do you insist on living like this? I can speak to His Majesty. Please… leave this palace.]

[Why should I? To make others happy? Even if I die, I will endure here.]

[Your Majesty…]

[Forgive me for being unable to see you off. Since I am trapped in this tower… this will be our last farewell. Goodbye, Grand Duke.]

Grand Duke…

Ainhardt?

Elenoa turned coldly toward the window.

The silver-haired Grand Duke lingered only a moment before lowering his head… and leaving.

Then—

Everything changed again.

I was in the tower.

No—

I was Elenoa.

I stood upon the windowsill.

Facing my twin.

“E-Elly… come down. Please…”

“Don’t come any closer.”

My mouth—

It moved on its own.

“You were always the good one. The ladylike one. And I was always the troublesome child…”

No—

Stop—

“We cannot exist together. As long as you and I both remain… this will never end.”

“Elenoa… please…”

“You are the victim. I am the villain. That is how it has always been.”

I inhaled sharply.

“One last thing…”

My voice trembled.

“I do not regret pushing you.”

My body leaned backward.

“You gave me not only defeat… but utter misery.”

The tower doors burst open.

A golden-haired man with golden eyes—

And—

A silver-haired man.

No—

Wait—

I know what happens next—

I let go.

And as I fell—

The last thing I saw…

Was the silver-haired man reaching desperately toward me.

Then—

The snow below turned red.