As the Grim Reaper, Thonus was feared by all living beings. But now, the harbinger of death was the orembling in fear before the figure standing before him.Zareth.

  A red dragon who had stormed the underworld. No angel nor ruler of the afterlife could stop her. Even a dozen guardian troops were ied in an instant.

  "Where is she?" Zareth's voice rumbled with fury. "Where are you hiding Cecilia's soul?!"

  The red dragon rampaged, destroying everything around her, repeatedly demanding the whereabouts of a girl named Cecilia. Thonus, who had reaped Cecilia's soul, hid under a table, praying the dragon would leave.

  "I should have listeo my mother and bee a prosecutor instead of a Grim Reaper," Thonus muttered to himself.

  The reason behind the dragon's fury could be traced back to the past.

  Cecilia was born a beloved princess. She lived peacefully in a golden patil one day, she met Zareth, the gold-loving dragon.

  Zareth fell in love with Cecilia at first sight. Initially, she inteo kidnap her, but upon seeing Cecilia speak to her without fear, her heart softened. She began following her, watg over her from afar, proteg her from danger, and eliminating anyone who dared e near her.

  But when she learhat Cecilia had chosen another prince, Zareth lost trol. In her rage, she stormed the prince's kingdom and bur to the ground. She killed the prince right before Cecilia's eyes.

  "Why?!" Cecilia screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Why did you do this?!"

  "Because I love you," Zareth replied, her voice filled with despair.

  "I would rather die than be loved by a monster like you!"

  In utter desperation, Cecilia plunged a dagger into her heart, ensuring that Zareth could not save her. The red dragon could only watch as she burned, screaming in agony.

  ____________________________

  "You took her soul," Zareth growled, her eyes bzing.

  Who would have thought that the crazed dragon had found Thonus? Perhaps she had forced anel to reveal that Thonus was the one who carried Cecilia's soul.

  With a single movement, Zareth's cws pierced through the table, grabbing the trembling Grim Reaper beh it. Thonus shrieked in panic as Zareth lifted him, f them to meet eye to eye.

  "Spare me! I was only doing my job," Thonus pleaded, shaking with fear.

  "Where did you hide her soul?" Zareth's voice thundered.

  "S-She's crossing the reinatie!" Thonus barely mao speak.

  Zareth moved quickly, but she was too te. Cecilia's soul had already passed through the reinatie. Before his head could be crushed like a melon, Thonus hastily offered a solution.

  "I-I make you be with her again!"

  Zareth narrowed her eyes. "How?"

  "I send you to the world where she was reborn," Thonus swallowed hard. "But she will lose her memories."

  "Do it now."

  Thonus raised his hands, toug the symbol in front of the reinatie. With swift motions, he opened a portal to another world. At the very least, he would only be fired for doing this.

  Then, Zareth stepped inside.

  "W-Wait! Why am I being pulled in too?!" Thonus screamed as he was sucked into the portal.

  "To make sure you're not lying," Zareth murmured with a sinister smile.

  "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..."

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  As the portal closed, Zareth found herself crashing onto solid ground, her body ag all over.

  It had been a long time since she had felt pain like this. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

  "You damn i! You tricked me!" Zareth growled, trying to rise from the ground.

  "Who are you calling an i, huh?!" a man shouted, throwing a punch at Zareth's face.

  With quick reflexes, Zareth caught the man's arm and twisted it, making him colpse to the ground. Zareth slowly stood up, sing her surroundings.

  "Chirp, chirp, chirp..." A weak sound came from uhe rubble. A small rat struggled to crawl out.

  Without hesitation, Zareth grabbed it and squeezed it tightly.

  "Damn you for deceiving me."

  As a dragon that had transded death, of course, she could reize the soul withi.

  The rat was Thonus, the Grim Reaper, who now suffered an even worse fate than Zareth.

  "Chirp, chirp, chirp..." the rat tried to speak, but its voice was muffled by Zareth's grip.

  "So, you did this on purpose?" Zareth asked, her eyes glowing red. "Did you think I would fear fate hunting me for entering a world without permission?"

  "C-Cit..." the rat shook its head quickly, its eyes full of terror.

  Zareth loosened her grip slightly. "If fate hunts me, it will affect Cecilia too. So, by possessing another body, this is the best option."

  The rat nodded again, this time more assuredly.

  "Then, where is Cecilia?" Zareth murmured, furrowing her brows.

  Zareth narrowed her eyes, sing the unfamiliar ndscape. The air smelled different—no lohe crisp st of forests or the burning embers of her own wrath, but something artificial, thick with smoke aal. T structures of gss and steel loomed above her, their surfaces refleg neon lights that flickered like stars trapped in man-made steltions. Strange carriages without horses roared past on bck stone roads, their red and white lights fshing in rhythmic patterns.

  Zareth frowned. "What kind of world is this...?"

  Before Thonus could answer, approag footsteps were heard. A group of men arrived, their faces full e.

  "You bitch! How dare you do this?!"

  But before any bloodshed could occur, someone appeared and stopped them.

  "Stop!" A girl's voice echoed, sileng everyone.

  Zareth turned. A shirl with light brown hair stood there, surrounded by rge men dressed in unfamiliar clothing.

  Even if she had a different face, who wouldn't reize that warm soul?

  "Damn it! The governor's daughter is here!" The men fled instantly.

  "Chase them," the girl ordered the rge men, who nodded and immediately obeyed.

  "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with .

  "My whole body hurts, miss," Zareth replied, struggling to stand. Deep ihonus screamed, "Liar! Pai affect her!"

  "e, get in. I'll take you to the hospital," the girl said, helping Zareth into something resembling a carriage. She gently wiped her wounds with a handkerchief, making Zareth feel at ease. Meanwhile, Thonus muttered from behind, "Two-faced bastard. She's purposely not healing herself just to get attention."

  "Kind dy, I want to thank you, but I don't know your name," Zareth said politely.

  The girl smiled. "My name is Cecilia. And you?"

  Zareth smiled. She had expected it—after all, who wouldn't reize their own wife?

  Thonus, oher hand, screamed internally, "You two aren't even married yet!"

  "I'm Zareth. Thank you for your kindness, Lady Cecilia."

  Cecilia gave a faint smile. "o meet you, Zareth. I'll make sure you get proper treatment."

  Zareth simply nodded, hiding the satisfa in her eyes. Inside, she was already envisioning their future together. A cozy home, Cecilia by her side, a peaceful life... maybe even a couple of children running around in the gardehis time, she would build the happy family that no one could take from her.

  Meanwhile, in her grasp, Thonus-rat was trembling ierror."SHE'S INSANE! SHE'S ALREADY IMAGINING MARRIAGE AND KIDS, WHEN CECILIA DOESN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHO SHE IS!"

  The tiny rat nearly cried. He khis was just the beginning.

  Outside the window, the sky was growing dark. The fn city lit up with bright lights, weling them into a new world. Zareth closed her eyes for a moment, sav the sensation.

  For the first time in so long... she had Cecilia again.

  "We'll be happy, Cecilia."

  Meanwhile, in her hands, Thonus wao scream:"WE?! YOU MEAN JUST YOU! SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING, YOU CRAZY DRAGON!