Chapter 2 New Face, New World
A dream? God, that dream was vivid.
What?
As I looked down, I frowned. I was sitting on a fancy bed. I glanced around every corner of the room. The design was aesthetic, elegant, and light—perhaps inspired by Georgian architecture and interiors.
I'm confused.
Where am I? I'm sure I was at the camp, but how did I get here? I was heading to the secret party, but how did—
flinch
I flinched when someone opened the huge door to my room. She bowed to me, then quickly walked to the large window and pulled the curtains open. Bright, warm light softly touched my skin, illuminating the entire room. When she finished, she walked toward me.
The woman was wearing an old-fashioned maid uniform—black with a crisp white apron pinned to her bodice and a small cap on her head. I was confused and freaking out. I had never seen a maid uniform like that in my life. It was so strange.
My voice came out high-pitched, and the maid suddenly panicked. She knelt on the ground, bowing her head as low as she could, begging for mercy.
Her response shocked me. I think she misunderstood.
She was still kneeling, her head facing the ground while answering my questions. Is she afraid of me? Do I look like a bitch?
Mullens? Marquess? Argh—m-my head hurts. This is bad. I'm not that lady. They got the wrong person!
The maid handed me the mirror, but—
When I looked at my reflection, my jaw dropped. I was screaming in the back of my mind.
Who the hell is this woman!?
No... don't tell me it's me.
Wait.
I've seen this face before.
Wavy blonde hair. Eyes as blue as the deep ocean. Fair white skin.
Yes!
The woman I saw after I fell from the cliff. The woman behind the Narra tree—it's her!
B-but how did I become her? Did I possess her body?
No. I need to do something. Otherwise, they'll realize I'm not the real lady they're serving.
I walked back and forth, trying to think of the best way to fix this problem. I always thought that when a person dies, they go to heaven or hell. But where am I now? Is this purgatory? Like Christians say?
Argh! I don't know. I'm not even religious, for Pete's sake!
I stood in front of the large mirror, staring at my unfamiliar face. I looked young—maybe twelve? Or thirteen? Probably thirteen. Damn, I don't know. I'm freaking out!
While I was trying to organize my thoughts, a book suddenly fell in front of me.
thud
gasp
I looked at the book on the floor, hesitant to touch it because it felt suspicious. Still, I read the title.
A bitter smile formed on my lips as I read it.
That's a very catchy title for a novel. What the hell is this?
I picked it up and opened it.
As soon as I read the first page, the room turned completely black. No light. Just me inside the darkness.
Goosebumps spread across my skin. My heart pounded wildly. It was cold. Was this a void?
Sh*t. Someone called my name.
As I searched for the source of the voice, someone suddenly appeared in front of me.
Gosh! Her face was too close to mine!
She looked at me seriously.
When I recognized her face, I covered my mouth in shock.
She was the lady behind the Narra tree.
She looked at me coldly and said, "Let me show you..."
The surroundings changed. It felt like I was watching a movie inside my head. Images flashed rapidly—too fast, too vivid.
She added, "I can't be with you always. I need you to read the book, Iris. It will guide you in your journey..."
That day, I read the entire book.
It was strange because while reading, memories and emotions flowed into my mind. It felt like I was absorbing the contents of the book itself.
The novel was great—but not for me.
It's sh*t.
I freaking die in the novel!
"What the hell?! I died? Even in this world, death is longing for me! What's the use of me being here in the so-called other dimension? Is this supposed to be my future in this foreign world? I died just to let these 'leads' have a fcking happy ending? Bllsh*t indeed!"
I threw the book out of frustration.
thud
But I picked it up again.
D*mn it.
Wait.
ting!
In fact...
I have the advantage here.
I know the future.
I can change my role and possibly avoid my death. That would be a major twist. Think about it—I don't even have a significant role in the novel. I died because I was the accomplice, the best friend of the villain.
The story goes like this:
"The empire was in danger because monsters were everywhere and the "black mist," which was the most frightening of all, was engulfing the villages in the Kingdom. The most lethal monster in Ghradeus is called the Black Mist. It has no shape, only mist,
and those who are sucked up by it turn into horrifying monsters. To safeguard them from the Mist, the Kingdom established the Magic Knights."
"Princes Althea, who possessed the power of light, also known as the Saintess' power, and Clyde Ramsbury, a valiant royal magic knight, helped defend the Kingdom of Chrolexia as the populace cried out for aid. Together, the two of them achieve victory and saved the Kingdom,"
"The King pledged to give his daughter Princess Althea Montgomery's hand in marriage as a token of his bravery and loyalty. Because of their shared love for one another, Clyde felt grateful and joyful."
Bruh. That's too cheesy.
So this world is a romance fantasy? Mages, monsters, and kings coexisting.
Anyway, let me continue.
"While Althea is busy admiring the flowers in the royal garden. She saw Vladimir who was enraged. He abducted Princess Althea, and he forced her to wed him or else the Kingdom of Chrolexia would vanish from history."
"Princess Althea is Vladimir's obsession; it was love at first sight. But on the day of their forced union, Clyde saves Althea from the villain. They got into a violent fight, and Lady Estelle, the Marquess's daughter, interfered and was killed by Clyde for defending the villain.
Vladimir lost control of his power when he realized the blade had penetrated Lady Estelle's heart. The villain lost the fight but wasn't killed. His eternal imprisonment inside a magical diamond allowed Princess Althea and Duke Clyde to live happily ever after. The end."
So I was the loyal best friend of that obsessive jerk.
I am that Lady Estelle who died miserably at the hands of the male lead.
I only had a few scenes in the novel—and I died?
That's so uncool.
(I was about to throw the book again.)
paused
My brain cells were telling me to decide.
And I did.
I will create a safe path for myself. I will change my future.
I will not get involved with the villain anymore.
The plan exhilarated Iris.
But little did she know that everything would be far more complicated than a simple decision.
She had no idea how cunning and daring the villain truly was—especially someone known for being dangerously possessive of his best friend.