The sun was already set on the horizon when Zyrich finished her work and went out of the tavern. She was just a few meters away from her workplace when her gaze fell upon a woman standing on the side of the road, looking at the vast ocean, her back to her. 

The woman was tall and slender, her figure draped in a flowing gown of emerald green, a stark contrast to the simple, worn clothing of the townsfolk. Her long, wavy burgundy hair cascaded down her back, framing a face that was both delicate and striking. The woman's presence seemed out of place in this small, humble town, a radiant beacon in the fading light. Zyrich hesitated, unsure if she should approach the woman. She had never seen her before, and her beauty, her elegance, felt like something out of a dream, a vision from a world far removed from their own. 

"Excuse me," Zyrich said, her voice soft, a touch hesitant. "Are you lost?"

The woman turned, her eyes meeting Zyrich's, a deep blue that seemed to hold the secrets of the night. A faint smile touched her lips, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth that seemed to light up her face.

"Lost? No, not at all," she said, her voice a melodious chime, a symphony of grace and charm. "I am simply admiring the beauty of your town."

Zyrich felt a flicker of unease. The woman's smile seemed too perfect, too artificial, a facade that hid something beneath the surface. Her words sounded rehearsed, as if she had practiced them many times before, a practiced performance for an audience she had yet to meet.

"It is a lovely town," Zyrich said, her voice hesitant, her words a reflection of her uncertainty. "But it is small and quiet. There is not much to see here."

"I find that to be its charm," the woman said, her smile widening, a gesture that felt more like a practiced move than a genuine expression. "I appreciate the simplicity, the authenticity."

Zyrich nodded, unsure how to respond. The woman's presence was unsettling, her beauty a stark contrast to the worn and weathered faces of the townsfolk, a stark reminder of their humble existence.

"I am Floryna," the woman said, extending her hand, her touch light and delicate. "Floryna Avery Everhart."

Zyrich took her hand, her own calloused fingers feeling rough against the woman's smooth skin, a stark contrast that mirrored the difference in their lives.

"Zyrich," she said, her voice a mere whisper, her name a reflection of her humble origins. "Zyrich Kyralyn Cueto."

"A beautiful name," Floryna said, her eyes lingering on Zyrich's face, a gaze that felt more like an assessment than a genuine compliment. "And you are a beautiful woman, Zyrich."

Zyrich blushed, her cheeks warming under the woman's gaze, a blush that felt more like a reaction to the woman's scrutiny than a genuine compliment. She had never been called beautiful before, especially not by someone like Floryna, a woman who seemed to belong to a world of wealth and privilege. She felt a strange mix of emotions: flattered, uncomfortable, and a touch of fear.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper, her words a reflection of her shyness and her uncertainty.

"I am here on a mission," Floryna said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, her words laced with a sense of urgency and importance. "A very important mission. And I need your help."

Zyrich's heart skipped a beat. She had never been asked to help with anything so important before. She felt a surge of excitement, a desire to prove herself, to make a difference, to escape the monotony of her daily life.

"What kind of help?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation, her words a reflection of her eagerness and her naiveté.

"I need someone to act as my double," Floryna said, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light, her words a cryptic invitation to a world she didn't understand. "Someone who looks like me, someone who can stand in for me while I am away."

Zyrich's brow furrowed in confusion. "A double? But why?"

"It is a matter of great importance," Floryna said, her voice dropping to a near whisper, her words laced with a sense of urgency and secrecy. "A matter of life and death."

Zyrich felt a chill run down her spine. She had never been involved in anything so dangerous before. But she couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue, a desire to know more, to step out of her comfort zone and into a world of adventure.

"I... I don't know," she said, her voice hesitant, her words a reflection of her uncertainty and her fear. "I am just a simple fisherman's daughter. I don't know anything about being a double."

"You have the perfect look," Floryna said, her eyes lingering on Zyrich's face, her gaze a mixture of assessment and admiration. "And you have the heart of a kind and loyal woman. I know you can do this, Zyrich. Also, you can earn money thrice the salary that ordinary people have.”

Zyrich felt a surge of confidence, a sense of purpose, a desire to prove herself, to make a difference in her family's life. She had always been a hardworking girl, willing to do anything for her family. And this was a chance to make a difference, to prove herself, to step out of her humble existence and into a world of possibility. She was also tempted by the sum of money that Avery told her, with that, she could make her family’s life better.

"Alright," she said, her voice gaining strength, her words a reflection of her newfound determination. "I will do it."

Floryna smiled, a dazzling display of white teeth that seemed to light up her face, a smile that felt more like a calculated move than a genuine expression of happiness. "Excellent," she said. "You won't regret this, Zyrich. It will be a life-changing experience."

Zyrich felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, but she knew that she had to do this. She had to help Floryna, even if it meant putting herself in danger. She had to do this for her family, for her siblings, for her parents. She had to do this to escape the cycle of poverty that had trapped them.  As Floryna led her away from the bakery, Zyrich couldn't shake the feeling that she had just stepped into a world she didn't understand, a world of secrets and danger. But she was determined to face it head-on, to do whatever it took to help Floryna, even if it meant sacrificing her own safety. She had to do this for her family, for her siblings, for her parents. She had to do this to create a better future for them.  And so, Zyrich, the kindhearted worker, found herself caught in a web of intrigue, her life about to take a turn she could never have imagined. She was stepping into a world of secrets and danger, a world where her simple life would be forever changed. She was taking a leap of faith, a gamble for a better future for her family, a gamble that could change everything.

Zyrich went out early the next morning just like what they talked about last night. She told her family that she had an important job to do, a new job that could help them. She walked down the alley to meet up with Floryna Avery who was waiting in front of the tavern. Doubts, nervousness, and fear have lingered inside her ever since she stepped out of their house. She felt uneasy for some reason and she didn't know why. If she didn't need a large amount of money, she wouldn't agree to such a job.

"Are you ready? You made a good decision accepting my offer," Avery greeted her right after she came.

She nodded. "I only accepted this for the sake of my family. My youngest sister needs a lot of medicine to live."

“Wow. You two look really the same. This is insane!” Maldrin chimed in like a child, amused by a new toy.

Zyrich's frows furrowed. She didn't notice or realize that fact at all. Now that someone had stated that matter, she took the chance to look at the sophisticated lady beside her. She carefully examined her elegant features and after a brief moment of assessment, she swallowed hard the lump in her throat, realizing what he meant.

They really looked the same.

If only she could wear something extravagant like Avery's silky dress, and not be in years of hard work so her skin would be flawless, she would be the same as her. The only thing that didn't match between them is their hair color and height.

“Are you sure you can do this job? If you enter the car and come with us, there's no turning back,” Avery asked while looking at her like prey.

She looked down. “You told me that I can earn thrice the amount of an ordinary person's salary, right?”

“Yes. I can pay you more than that, actually. If you did a very good job, I can give you three times or more. It depends on your performance,” she replied, assuring her.

Zyrich sighed. “Okay. J-Just make sure that you will do that. That money is very important to my family. My sister needs a lot of medicine.”

“Don't worry. I am a woman of my word. You can trust me,” Avery smiled.

"Okay. Come on, ladies. Let's go! We still have so many things to do," Maldrin shouted from the inside of the vehicle. He was looking over the window in the driver's seat.

There's no backing out now. She exhaled deeply as she let Avery guide her to get in the car. She sat in the back seat while the lady sat in the passenger seat beside the driver. She didn't know where they were going, but one thing she knew for sure was that Avery needed her more than she needed the money. The excitement, desperation, and eagerness radiating from her are too obvious not to notice. She feels like Avery is waiting for that moment to come.

"The effectiveness of the job is up to you, Zyrich. If you do this right, I can reward you with another sum of money. The total pennies that you can earn from this can make your family the wealthiest folks here on the seaside," Avery commented while looking at her through the rare view mirror.

She nodded. "I-I will do my best."

After a few minutes on the road, they finally arrived at their destination. It was rows of apartments with different colors to distinguish which was which. Then, they went into the color beige one in the front and went inside to see nothing but the bed and suitcase. The guy left them after taking something from their bag, leaving her and Avery alone. She just stood near the door, not sure what to do, while the lady casually sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her.

"Let us begin," she started. "You need to be me. Every single piece of information that you need to know about the packs, family, and so on will be given to you later when Maldrin arrives. I need someone who looks exactly like me to cover me whenever Maldrin and I are going out to do some stuff. You are the perfect subject for this job."

Her eyes widened in shock after hearing all the details of why she offered her the job. She wants to back out. But the intense and dark glare of Avery is telling her that there's no turning back now. Goosebumps filled her entire body when a creepy smile was plastered on the wicked lady's beautiful face.

She is doomed.