That day, we spent exploring every corner of our respective palaces.

As Seraphina, I strolled through the grand halls with Ella, who explained every detail. The palace walls were adorned with portraits of my family: my father and mother, the King and Queen, my older brother, the Crown Prince, and my younger sister.

I was astonished by how loving this family was. My brother, Ezra Lion Elarion, greeted me warmly this morning, asking if I needed help with my royal studies. My younger sister, Hestia Liliana Elarion, even invited me to play dolls in her room. It all felt strange, considering that in my previous life, my brother was rarely home, and my sister always saw me as her rival. My parents? They only cared about my academic achievements, not me as an individual.

"I don’t know how to act around them," I muttered softly.

Ella gave me a gentle smile. "Your Highness, your family loves you more than anything. You just need to give yourself some time to adjust."

I nodded, trying to process the fact that I was now part of a family that genuinely cared for me.

However, this body used to belong to someone very different from me. The original Seraphina was known to be rude, selfish, and always looked down on others. No wonder many of the servants seemed nervous about my change in demeanor.

***

Meanwhile, at the Nocturne household...

Calista was walking down a long corridor with Jane. Their walk led them past a large room with its doors wide open.

"What’s that?" Calista asked, stopping in her tracks.

"That’s the Nocturne family library, My Lady," Jane replied.

Calista stepped in without a second thought. Inside, towering bookshelves were filled with old books that carried the distinct scent of aged paper. A spiral staircase stood in the corner of the room, connecting to an upper level also lined with shelves.

"Amazing," she whispered, her eyes sparkling.

Jane smiled softly, noticing Her Lady's newfound interest in reading.

Calista grabbed one of the books from a nearby shelf and flipped through its pages. She didn’t understand much of its content—full of political and legal terms—but the library felt like a whole new world to her.

"My Lady, the Duke and Duchess were very worried yesterday after you returned from the city. They would feel at ease if you rested today. How about returning to your room?" Jane suggested gently.

Calista simply smiled faintly and nodded. This warmth was so different from her past life. As an orphan, she had to fight for survival on her own since her teenage years, working part-time jobs to make ends meet. It felt like a dream. For the first time, she felt like she had a place to call home.

But, just like Seraphina, Calista’s body previously belonged to someone infamous for being rude and arrogant. The original Grand Duke’s daughter was a haughty and disrespectful person, often neglecting the warmth her family had to offer.

***

In the Imperial Palace

Emperor Helios was flipping through a report with a curious expression.

"Isn't this strange? Two girls known for constantly fighting suddenly became best friends. And the change happened after they pulled each other’s hair. I mean, who makes up after a hair-pulling fight?!"

The man sitting across from him, Caelan, stared at Helios with a blank expression. "I don’t know, and I don’t care."

Stolen novel; please report.

Helios grinned. "Oh, I know you care. You're just pretending to be cold, like ice cream in the winter—hard on the outside but still melts on the inside."

Caelan rolled his eyes. "Did you call me here just to talk about this?"

"Of course not." Helios held up a document. "I plan to confirm everything at next week’s imperial ball. And do you know what I’ll bring?"

"Your logic?" Caelan replied flatly.

"Ha, very funny," Helios retorted sarcastically. "I’ll bring my charm, of course."

Caelan stood up. "Fine. While you’re busy with your ‘charm,’ I’ll return to my territory. There are important matters I need to handle."

Helios let out a long sigh. "Why are you like a palace pillar? Strong, sturdy, but so boring."

"And you’re like a crumbling pillar," Caelan countered. "All flashy, but ready to collapse."

Helios paused for a moment. "You know? I’m starting to regret that we’re cousins."

***

A Few Days Later

Seraphina and Calista sat in an exclusive tea salon in the noble district. The décor exuded luxury with crystal chandeliers and marble tables surrounded by velvet chairs. The air was filled with the aroma of floral tea and royal pastries.

"So, did you enjoy yourself over the past few days?" Seraphina asked, sipping herbal tea from a porcelain cup.

Calista nodded, smiling softly. "I love my residence. It has a massive library, and I’ve spent a lot of time there. My room also has painting supplies, so I’ve been painting occasionally." She paused for a moment, then added warmly, "I have a family who genuinely loves me. It felt strange at first, but I’m starting to get used to it now."

Seraphina chuckled. "Me too. I have a very caring older brother. He patiently teaches me royal lessons, and my younger sister, who used to be scared of me, now dares to approach me. My parents are also very supportive—they even praised my hobby of playing the piano, something that was often ignored before."

Seraphina sighed contentedly. "I’m so grateful to be here."

"We’re lucky," Calista agreed with a nod. "But the previous owners of these bodies were so foolish, weren’t they?"

The two of them giggled, enjoying the moment together.

Seraphina then asked, "Did you receive an invitation to the imperial ball?"

Calista nodded, her eyes sparkling.

"How about we go dress shopping now?" Seraphina suggested excitedly.

Calista agreed, and the two of them walked to the nearest boutique, chatting enthusiastically.

"Is an imperial ball like prom?" Calista asked innocently. Seraphina burst into laughter at the question.

"It’s completely different, you know?" They continued their journey with great anticipation.

Meanwhile, inside a carriage moving slowly, Caelan watched them from afar. His gaze was fixed on Calista, who was smiling softly. There was something that made his chest feel strange.

"What is this feeling?" he murmured quietly. Then he clutched his chest anxiously. "Do I have heart disease now?"