The rain tapped softly against the window, a steady rhythm that filled the quiet room.

Alina Hart barely noticed it.

Curled up on her bed, wrapped in a thin blanket, her eyes stayed locked on the final pages of the novel resting in her hands. The lamp beside her cast a warm glow, the only light in the room, as the rest of the world faded into silence.

She had told herself she would stop at the next chapter.

She didn’t.

She never did.

Because this story—this world of crowns and war, of love and betrayal—had become more real to her than anything else.

Especially him.

Prince Caelion Viremont.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the book as she read his name again, her chest aching in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

“Why does it feel like I know you?” she whispered softly, almost laughing at herself.

The rain grew heavier.

Thunder rolled somewhere in the distance.

Still, she read on.

In the story, the kingdom was falling.

Betrayal had already begun to spread through the palace walls, and the heroine—the one destined to save everything—was nowhere to be found. Every time Alina reached this part, frustration bubbled inside her.

“Why are you so useless…” she muttered under her breath, flipping the page a little too quickly.

“If I were there, I’d do something.”

The moment the words left her lips, the lights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then everything went dark.

Alina froze.

“…Hello?”

Silence answered her.

Even the rain seemed to stop.

Her heart began to pound as she slowly sat up, the book still clutched tightly in her hands.

“This isn’t funny…”

But no one was there.

No sound.

No movement.

Just darkness.

Then—

A faint glow.

It came from the book.

Alina’s breath caught as she looked down. The pages beneath her fingers began to shimmer, the ink shifting as if it were alive.

“What…?”

Before she could pull away, the light burst outward.

The world twisted.

Her body felt weightless—like she was falling and being pulled at the same time. The room around her disappeared, replaced by something she couldn’t understand. Wind rushed past her ears, loud and endless.

She tried to scream.

No sound came out.

And then—

Everything stopped.

Cold.

That was the first thing she felt.

Cold, hard ground beneath her hands.

Alina gasped sharply, her eyes flying open as she pushed herself up, her breath uneven.

“…Where…?”

Her voice trembled.

This wasn’t her room.

Stone walls towered around her, lined with tall pillars and flickering torches. The air smelled different—older, heavier. The ground beneath her wasn’t soft or familiar, but rough, like carved marble.

Her heart began to race.

“No… no, this isn’t…”

She turned quickly, her eyes scanning everything, trying to make sense of it.

The architecture.

The silence.

The way everything felt like it belonged in another time.

Her fingers tightened against the fabric beneath her—and that’s when she noticed it.

She wasn’t wearing her clothes.

Instead, a long, flowing dress draped around her, its fabric unfamiliar, delicate, and far too elaborate to be hers.

Her breath hitched.

“No… this isn’t real…”

Footsteps echoed suddenly from a distance.

Alina’s head snapped toward the sound.

Voices followed.

“Search the area. She couldn’t have gone far.”

Her entire body went still.

That line.

She knew that line.

Her blood ran cold.

Slowly… painfully slowly… she turned her head toward the hallway.

“I know this scene…”

The words barely came out.

Because she did.

She knew exactly what came next.

This was the moment the guards were searching for the missing heroine—the one who was supposed to appear here.

The one who would change everything.

Her hands began to shake.

“…No way…”

A terrible realization settled deep in her chest.

“This… this is the novel…”

The footsteps grew louder.

Closer.

Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might break.

“I didn’t just imagine it…”

The torchlight flickered across the stone walls.

“I’m inside it.”

A shadow appeared at the end of the corridor.

And just before the guards turned the corner—

Alina Reyes took a step back.

Not as a reader anymore.

But as someone who had just become part of the story.

Alina didn’t move.

She couldn’t.

Her brain was still trying to catch up with what her eyes were seeing—and frankly, it was doing a terrible job.

“I’m inside the novel,” she whispered, staring blankly at the stone floor.

Silence.

“…Okay. Cool.”

She nodded slowly.

“Not cool.”

Her hands flew to her face as she inhaled sharply.

“Okay, okay—think, Alina. Think. This is just a dream. A very detailed, very dramatic dream.”

A pause.

“…Right?”

From down the corridor, the sound of footsteps echoed again.

Alina froze.

“Search the area. The young lady must be nearby!”

Her eyes widened.

“Nope. Nope. Not staying here. Absolutely not.”

Without thinking, she grabbed the sides of her dress—still very confused about why she was suddenly wearing something that looked like it cost more than her entire life—and ran.

Or at least… tried to.

“Why is this dress so long?!”

She nearly tripped after two steps, catching herself against the wall.

“Who designed this?! Do they hate women?!”

The footsteps grew louder.

“Split up!”

“Faster, faster, faster—!” she whispered to herself, half running, half stumbling as she turned the corner.

Left. Right. Another hallway. She had no idea where she was going.

Which, now that she thought about it—

“Great. I’m lost. In a fictional medieval palace. Amazing. Love that for me.”

She finally ducked behind a large pillar, pressing her back against it as she tried to quiet her breathing.

The guards rushed past.

Alina stayed still.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three.

“…Okay,” she whispered. “I’m alive.”

Barely.

Her heart was still pounding when another thought suddenly hit her.

Hard.

“Wait.”

She blinked.

“If this is that scene…”

Her expression slowly shifted from panic… to realization.

“This is where the heroine is supposed to appear.”

A long pause.

“…Then why am I here?”

Silence answered her again.

Alina stared into nothing.

“…Oh no.”

Her hands dropped to her sides.

“Oh no, no, no, no—this is bad.”

Because she remembered the story.

The real heroine was supposed to show up later. Dramatically. Perfectly. Like some kind of destiny-powered entrance.

But instead—

“I got here first?”

She pointed at herself.

“Me?!”

She looked around, as if expecting someone to pop out and say Just kidding!.

No one did.

“Okay… okay…” she muttered, pacing slightly. “Maybe I’m just… an extra. Yeah. Background character. Very unimportant. Disposable.”

She stopped.

“…Why does that sound worse?”

Before she could spiral any further—

“Lady Seraphina?!”

Alina froze.

That name.

Slowly, she turned around.

A young woman hurried toward her, her expression filled with worry. She wore a simple maid’s uniform, her hands clasped tightly together as she approached.

“Thank goodness we found you! Are you hurt? You suddenly disappeared, and everyone is in panic—”

Alina blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then she pointed at herself.

“…Me?”

The maid looked even more confused. “Of course, my lady. Who else—”

“Wait,” Alina said quickly, stepping forward. “Sorry. Quick question.”

The maid paused.

Alina took a deep breath.

“Who… am I?”

Silence.

The maid stared at her.

Alina stared back.

“…This is important,” Alina added, completely serious.

“My lady…” the maid said slowly, her voice trembling slightly. “Please don’t joke like that. You frightened us enough already.”

“I’m not joking,” Alina said immediately. “I swear I’m not. I just—just answer me. Please.”

The maid hesitated, clearly unsure… but something in Alina’s expression must have convinced her.

“…You are Lady Seraphina Elowen,” she said softly. “Daughter of Duke Elowen.”

Alina’s heart skipped.

Seraphina.

Elowen.

“That’s… not my name,” she whispered.

“My lady?”

Alina ignored her.

Her mind was racing now.

Seraphina Elowen.

She knew that name.

“She’s… the side character,” Alina said slowly.

The maid blinked. “Side… character?”

“Oh no.”

Alina covered her face.

“Oh no, this is worse.”

Because Seraphina Elowen—

“She dies.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

The maid gasped. “My lady!”

Alina’s head snapped up. “Wait—no, ignore that. Forget I said that. That was—uh—just a thought. A very wrong thought. Completely fake. Not real. At all.”

The maid looked like she was about to cry.

“…Did you hit your head?”

“Probably,” Alina muttered.

Then, suddenly—

“Wait!” she said, grabbing the maid’s shoulders.

The poor girl froze.

“I need more information,” Alina said seriously. “Urgent. Very urgent.”

“My lady…?”

“I have siblings, right?”

The maid blinked again. “Y-Yes… You have an older brother and a younger sister.”

Alina exhaled sharply.

“Okay. Good. That matches.”

“Matches… what?”

“Nothing!” she said quickly. “Next question—am I important?”

“…You are the daughter of a duke.”

Alina stared at her.

“…So yes?”

“…Yes.”

Alina slowly looked up at the ceiling.

“…Why couldn’t I be a bakery girl?”

“My lady, I don’t understand—”

“Neither do I!” Alina said, throwing her hands up. “I was literally just reading a book, and now I’m in it, and apparently I’m someone who—”

She stopped.

Her eyes widened.

Slowly… very slowly… she turned back to the maid.

“…What’s your name?”

“M-Me? I’m Lila, my lady.”

Alina grabbed her hand dramatically.

“Lila,” she said with deep emotion.

“Yes, my lady…?”

“If I do something weird from now on—”

The maid looked terrified.

“—just go with it.”

“…I’m sorry?”

Alina inhaled deeply.

Then nodded to herself.

“Okay. New plan.”

She pointed at the ground like a general about to start a war.

“Step one: Don’t die.”

The maid made a small choking sound.

“Step two: Figure out how to get back home.”

A pause.

Her expression softened—just for a second.

“…Back to him.”

Then she shook her head, snapping back to reality.

“And step three—”

She looked around the massive, unfamiliar palace.

“—survive whatever chaos this story throws at me.”

A beat.

“…Preferably without tripping on this dress again.”

She immediately stepped on it.

And almost fell.

Lila gasped. “My lady!”

“I’m fine!” Alina said quickly, grabbing onto her. “This is fine. Everything is fine.”

A pause.

“…I hate this dress.”

Alina had one simple conclusion after everything that happened:

“This is not a dream.”

She said it while sitting stiffly in a chair that looked like it belonged in a museum, inside a room that was way too big for her emotional stability.

Across from her, Lila stood nervously, hands folded in front of her.

“My lady… should I call the physician?”

“No,” Alina said immediately. “I need therapy, but I think that’s not available in medieval fantasy settings.”

Lila blinked. “…Medieval… what?”

“Nothing,” Alina said quickly. “Forget it. Please forget everything I say.”

Before Lila could respond, loud footsteps suddenly echoed outside the door.

“Seraphina!”

Alina flinched.

“That sounded angry,” she whispered.

The doors opened.

Two people walked in.

One looked about her age—sharp eyes, elegant posture, and an expression that screamed I am responsible for everything and I am tired. The other was younger, more energetic, and immediately rushed forward.

“Are you okay?!” the younger girl shouted.

Alina blinked.

“…Hi?”

The younger girl grabbed her hands. “You disappeared! Everyone was panicking! Do you know how many guards I had to argue with just to come see you?!”

Alina looked at Lila.

Lila whispered, “Your sister…”

Alina slowly turned back.

“…My sister?”

“Yes!” the girl said. “It’s me! Elira!”

Alina nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

Then she pointed at her.

“You’re my sister.”

“Yes!”

Alina nodded again.

Then pointed at herself.

“I am… Seraphina.”

“Yes!”

Another nod.

“…Okay.”

A pause.

Elira blinked. “That’s it?”

Alina stared at her.

“…Do you want me to faint or something?”

The older brother stepped forward now, arms crossed.

“Seraphina,” he said firmly. “What happened? The guards said you were acting strange.”

Alina immediately sat up straighter.

“Hi, brother.”

He narrowed his eyes. “…That’s not what I asked.”

“Noted.”

Silence.

Alina looked at both of them.

So.

This was her family now.

Great.

Love that for her.

“So,” Alina said carefully, “quick question.”

Elira tilted her head. “What is it?”

Alina pointed between them.

“What are your personalities?”

Dead silence.

Her brother blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I just need to know,” Alina said seriously. “For survival purposes.”

“Survival…?”

“Yes.”

Lila quietly whispered, “My lady is still unwell…”

“I’m fine,” Alina said quickly. “Mostly.”

Elira sighed and sat beside her. “Okay, Seraphina, what’s going on? You’re acting like you’ve never seen us before.”

Alina opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Then opened it again.

“…Hypothetically,” she said slowly, “if someone woke up and realized they were inside a story they read—”

“Seraphina,” her brother interrupted, “don’t start with your strange theories again.”

Alina paused.

“…I have a reputation?”

Elira laughed nervously. “Kind of…”

Alina leaned back in her chair.

Of course she did.

Of course the character she possessed was already weird.

Perfect.

Just perfect.

Her brother sighed. “Enough. You need rest. The palace incident was serious. There are rumors that someone is targeting nobles.”

That got her attention.

Alina straightened.

“…Targeting nobles?”

Elira nodded. “People say it’s connected to the rebellion groups near the border.”

Alina felt something cold settle in her stomach.

Rebellion.

Border.

Danger.

“Oh,” she said slowly.

That wasn’t in her “fun fantasy novel survival guide.”

Her brother continued, “Until things settle, you are not to leave the palace without guards.”

Alina blinked.

“…I can’t leave?”

“No.”

“…At all?”

“No.”

She stared at him.

“…So I’m a prisoner.”

Elira gasped. “That’s not what he means!”

But Alina was already staring into the distance.

“…This is worse than prison,” she muttered. “At least prisoners get exercise.”

Lila whispered, “My lady, please don’t say that…”

Suddenly—

A loud crash echoed somewhere outside.

Everyone froze.

“WHAT WAS THAT?!” Elira shouted.

Guards rushed past the hallway.

“INTRUDER IN THE WEST CORRIDOR!”

Alina slowly stood up.

“…Oh no.”

Her brother grabbed her arm immediately. “Stay here.”

Alina looked at him.

Then at the chaos outside.

Then back at him.

“…Respectfully,” she said, “no.”

Before anyone could stop her—

She slipped out of his grip and ran toward the hallway.

“SERAPHINA!” Elira shouted.

Lila panicked. “MY LADY, PLEASE COME BACK!”

Her brother cursed under his breath and followed immediately.

Alina, however, had only one thought:

“This is definitely not part of a peaceful romance novel.”

She turned a corner—

And saw it.

A masked figure.

Standing in the middle of the corridor.

Holding something metallic.

Blood drained from the nearby guards as they stepped back.

“Who are you?!” one guard shouted.

The figure didn’t answer.

Instead—

It turned slowly.

And looked directly at her.

Alina froze.

“…Oh,” she whispered.

“…This is the start of the bad stuff.”

The figure raised its weapon.

And in that moment—

Alina realized something very important:

“I am absolutely not prepared for this.”