Arihan Lee let out a long sigh as he flopped onto his bed, his phone still glowing in his hand. The room was silent except for the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the occasional sound of traffic drifting in through the slightly open window. It had been another exhausting day. Between college assignments, part-time work, and endless responsibilities, all he wanted was a little escape.

Reading novels had always been his favorite way to forget reality.

A small smile appeared on his lips as he opened the latest chapter of his favorite fantasy novel, Blood Crown: The Rise of the Vampire King.

"Finally... the new update."

His excitement didn't last long.

The more he read, the deeper his brows furrowed.

"No way..."

He scrolled faster.

"No... no, no, no."

A few minutes later, Arihan threw his phone onto the pillow with a groan.

"What kind of ending was that?!"

He buried his face in his hands, still unable to believe what he had just read.

The Vampire King, Lucien Valerius, had suffered his entire life. Betrayed by his own family, manipulated by the nobles, and forced to carry the weight of an entire kingdom alone... yet the author still refused to let him have a happy ending.

"And don't even get me started on Cassian Evernight."

Arihan clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Cassian was written to be such an interesting villain. Smart, elegant, powerful... but instead of giving him proper development, the author turned him into a jealous fool who dies halfway through the story."

He shook his head dramatically.

"If I were the author, I'd rewrite everything."

He picked up his phone again and opened the comments.

His fingers flew across the keyboard.

Dear Author,

I'm officially protesting this ending.

Justice for Lucien.

Justice for Cassian.

You had one job.

Satisfied with his comment, he tossed the phone onto the nightstand.

"What a waste of such amazing characters..."

His eyelids gradually became heavier.

"I'll just take a quick nap..."

Within minutes, sleep claimed him.

...

Cold.

The first thing Arihan felt was an unbearable chill spreading across his skin.

He frowned.

"Did I leave the air conditioner on?"

His body felt strangely heavy.

His head throbbed painfully, as though someone had struck him with a hammer.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Instead of the familiar white ceiling of his apartment, an enormous ceiling painted with intricate silver patterns stretched above him.

Crystal chandeliers shimmered softly, reflecting crimson light across the room.

Heavy velvet curtains covered windows that reached from floor to ceiling.

Everything looked... expensive.

His eyes widened.

"What..."

He immediately sat upright.

The bed beneath him was enormous, covered with silky black sheets embroidered in silver thread.

"This isn't my room."

His heartbeat quickened.

He jumped off the bed and looked around frantically.

Ancient bookshelves lined the walls.

Elegant furniture carved from dark wood stood around the room.

A fireplace crackled quietly despite the strange cold lingering in the air.

"What is this place?"

Then his gaze landed on a full-length mirror.

Arihan slowly walked toward it.

Each step felt strangely unfamiliar.

When he finally stood before the mirror...

He froze.

"...Who?"

The reflection staring back at him wasn't his.

Instead of his usual black hair, silky silver hair fell past his shoulders.

Crimson eyes looked back at him with an icy elegance.

His skin was unnaturally pale.

Even his facial features had changed completely.

He slowly reached up to touch his face.

The reflection copied every movement.

"This..."

His breathing became uneven.

"No..."

"This has to be a dream."

He pinched himself.

Nothing.

He slapped his own cheek.

Still nothing.

"I'm actually awake?"

Before panic could fully settle in—

Bang!

The bedroom doors opened.

A tall servant entered, dressed in an elegant black uniform.

The servant immediately bowed deeply.

"Young Master Cassian."

Arihan's heart stopped.

"...What?"

"The preparations are complete."

The servant raised his head respectfully.

"His Majesty, King Lucien Valerius, has requested your presence in the royal palace."

Cassian.

That name echoed endlessly inside Arihan's mind.

Cassian Evernight.

The ambitious noble.

The tragic villain.

The man who betrayed the king...

...and was later executed.

A cold shiver ran down Arihan's spine.

"No..."

"No way..."

His face turned pale.

"I became..."

"...Cassian Evernight?"

As if responding to those words, a violent pain exploded inside his head.

"Ah!"

He stumbled backward, clutching his temples.

Countless unfamiliar memories rushed into his mind like a raging flood.

Elegant ballroom dances.

Political meetings.

Sword training.

Ancient vampire traditions.

The Evernight family's mansion.

And finally—

Lucien's cold expression as he ordered—

"Execute him."

Arihan's legs gave out beneath him.

He collapsed onto the polished floor, breathing heavily.

"This isn't happening..."

He laughed weakly.

A dry, hopeless laugh.

"Out of every character..."

"...why did I become the villain who's destined to die?"

Outside the room, church bells echoed across the kingdom.

The servant spoke again, completely unaware of the storm raging inside his master's heart.

"Young Master... the royal carriage is waiting."

Arihan slowly lifted his head.

If he remembered the novel correctly...

Today...

...was the day everything began.

The day he would meet the Vampire King.

The day fate started moving toward Cassian's tragic ending.

His hands trembled.

"...If I follow the original story..."

"...I'm dead."

He swallowed hard and forced himself to stand.

"No."

His crimson eyes met his reflection once more.

"I'm not dying."

"I know this story better than anyone."

"And this time..."

"I'm going to rewrite my fate."

Cassian remained on the cold marble floor long after the servant's voice faded into silence.

His crimson eyes stared blankly at the polished surface beneath him while his racing heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears.

"This can't be real..."

Only a few moments ago, he had been Arihan Lee—a completely ordinary college student who spent his nights reading fantasy novels to escape reality.

Now...

He had become the very villain whose death had left him furious enough to complain in the comments section.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

"What kind of ridiculous joke is this?"

He pressed a trembling hand against his forehead.

The memories flooding into his mind were becoming clearer with every passing second.

Cassian Evernight.

The eldest son of the prestigious Evernight Ducal House.

Gifted.

Elegant.

Feared.

Admired.

Yet beneath the flawless appearance hid a lonely man who had spent his entire life chasing something he could never have.

The affection of the Vampire King.

Arihan clenched his fists.

"No..."

"It wasn't affection."

"It was obsession."

He remembered every chapter.

Cassian slowly isolated himself from everyone around him. Every decision he made revolved around Lucien Valerius. His admiration eventually turned into jealousy, then possessiveness, and finally betrayal.

And that betrayal...

Cost him his life.

Arihan shut his eyes tightly.

"I refuse."

His voice was quiet but determined.

"I am not dying because of a plot someone else wrote."

The original Cassian might have accepted that fate.

But Arihan never would.

A knock echoed through the room.

"Young Master?"

The servant's respectful voice came from outside the door.

"May we enter?"

Cassian quickly took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He couldn't panic.

Not now.

If this truly was the beginning of the novel, then every expression, every word, and every action could change his future.

"...Come in."

The doors opened quietly.

Three servants entered together, each dressed in elegant black uniforms embroidered with silver thread.

They bowed in perfect unison.

"Good morning, Young Master."

Cassian instinctively nodded, though inwardly he was screaming.

One servant carefully approached with a tray.

"Your attire has been prepared for today's audience with His Majesty."

Another servant pulled open an enormous wardrobe.

Cassian's eyes widened.

Rows upon rows of luxurious clothing filled the room.

Black coats embroidered with silver vines.

Deep crimson capes lined with soft fur.

Elegant gloves.

Leather boots polished until they reflected the light.

Every outfit looked like something only royalty could wear.

"So this is how rich the Evernight family is..."

He couldn't help muttering under his breath.

One servant blinked in confusion.

"Young Master?"

Cassian immediately coughed.

"...Nothing."

"I was just thinking."

The servants exchanged curious glances.

Their young master seemed...

Different.

Normally, Cassian would have already chosen his clothing without hesitation.

Today, however, he simply stood there, staring at the wardrobe as if seeing it for the first time.

Finally, an older servant stepped forward.

"My Lord, His Majesty favors formal attire during royal audiences."

Cassian almost laughed.

"So even his clothes are chosen according to the king's preferences..."

How hopelessly devoted had the original Cassian been?

He sighed softly.

"Very well."

The servants carefully dressed him.

A crisp white shirt.

A fitted black coat decorated with intricate silver embroidery.

Dark trousers.

Tall leather boots.

Finally, one servant gently fastened a crimson brooch shaped like a bat onto his collar.

When they stepped aside, another servant wheeled over a full-length mirror.

Cassian slowly raised his head.

For a long moment...

He simply stared.

The reflection before him was breathtaking.

Long silver hair framed a pale, handsome face.

Sharp crimson eyes held an elegance that almost seemed unreal.

Every movement carried the grace of a noble born into power.

"So..."

"This is Cassian Evernight."

He lifted a hand, watching the reflection mimic every motion.

It still felt strange.

He wasn't looking at himself.

He was looking at someone else's life.

Someone else's destiny.

The older servant smiled faintly.

"You look magnificent, Young Master."

Cassian forced a polite smile.

"Thank you."

His words came out naturally.

Almost too naturally.

It seemed the body's instincts still remained.

Another servant stepped forward carrying a beautifully crafted sword.

"My Lord."

"Your weapon."

Cassian accepted it carefully.

The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, unfamiliar memories flashed through his mind.

Countless hours of sword practice.

Battles.

Duels.

Victories.

His body remembered everything.

He slowly drew the blade.

The silver steel shimmered beautifully beneath the chandelier.

Without thinking, he gave it a gentle swing.

The movement was flawless.

Effortless.

His own eyes widened.

"I've... never held a sword before."

Yet his body moved like a master.

The servants watched proudly.

"As expected of Young Master."

Cassian awkwardly slid the sword back into its sheath.

"I'll pretend I meant to do that..."

The servants looked puzzled once again.

He mentally slapped himself.

"Stop talking to yourself!"

A few minutes later, another knock sounded.

"The royal carriage has arrived."

The atmosphere instantly became heavy.

Cassian's smile disappeared.

His heartbeat quickened once more.

This was it.

The moment the novel truly began.

He inhaled slowly before walking toward the enormous doors.

As they opened, a long corridor stretched before him, lined with portraits of the Evernight family.

Every ancestor wore the same proud expression.

Power.

Honor.

Authority.

It was a family that valued perfection above everything else.

Cassian walked silently through the corridor while dozens of servants lowered their heads respectfully as he passed.

"Good morning, Young Master."

Their voices echoed one after another.

He nodded politely each time, still struggling to believe that all of this was now his reality.

Outside the mansion, the sight before him stole his breath.

An enormous black carriage waited at the entrance.

Its wheels were trimmed with silver.

The Evernight crest was engraved proudly upon its doors.

Four magnificent black horses stood perfectly still, their crimson eyes glowing faintly beneath the cloudy crimson sky.

The cool breeze carried the scent of roses and ancient forests.

Everything looked exactly as it had been described in the novel...

Only now...

It wasn't ink on a page.

It was real.

One servant opened the carriage door and bowed deeply.

"Young Master."

Cassian looked toward the distant horizon.

Somewhere beyond those towering walls stood the royal palace.

And inside that palace...

Waited the man who unknowingly controlled the fate of everyone in this world.

Lucien Valerius.

The Vampire King.

Cassian slowly tightened his grip on the carriage door.

A mixture of fear, curiosity, and determination swirled inside his chest.

"If I want to survive..."

"I have to change everything."

With one final deep breath...

He stepped into the carriage.

The door closed behind him with a heavy thud.

As the carriage began moving toward the royal palace, Cassian couldn't shake the feeling that every turn of its wheels was carrying him closer to a destiny he refused to accept.

The carriage rolled forward with a gentle jolt, leaving the Evernight Estate behind.

Cassian sat in silence, his hands resting on his lap as he tried to steady his breathing.

The rhythmic sound of the horses' hooves echoed through the streets.

Clop... Clop... Clop...

The sound should have been calming.

Instead, it only reminded him that there was no turning back.

He slowly pulled aside the black velvet curtain covering the carriage window.

The sight outside stole his breath.

"So... this is the Vampire Kingdom..."

Everything looked exactly as the novel had described—yet somehow even more magnificent.

Towering black castles reached toward the crimson sky like ancient guardians.

Elegant mansions lined the wide stone streets, their balconies decorated with blooming black roses that seemed untouched by time.

Golden lamps burned with eerie blue flames despite the daylight.

People walked through the streets dressed in elegant clothing.

Some had ruby-red eyes.

Others had golden or icy-blue irises.

Their skin was unnaturally pale, almost glowing beneath the dim crimson light.

Long capes fluttered behind noble vampires as servants respectfully stepped aside to let them pass.

No one smiled loudly.

No one shouted.

The entire kingdom carried an air of elegance... and quiet danger.

Cassian swallowed.

"I actually came into another world..."

His gaze wandered farther into the bustling streets.

Small children laughed as they chased one another through the market.

Merchants sold crimson fruits, glowing flowers, enchanted crystals, and bottles filled with shimmering liquid.

For a moment...

He forgot they were vampires.

They laughed.

They talked.

They lived ordinary lives.

"They're not monsters..."

"They're just people living differently."

That realization made his heart strangely lighter.

The original novel had focused so much on war and politics that Arihan had never imagined how beautiful everyday life in the kingdom could be.

Suddenly, the carriage slowed.

A loud horn echoed through the city.

The people on both sides of the road immediately bowed their heads.

"What happened?"

Curious, Cassian peeked outside once more.

Royal Knights.

Nearly fifty of them stood in perfect formation, wearing black armor decorated with silver engravings.

Each carried a spear that gleamed beneath the crimson sky.

The captain stepped forward and saluted.

"The Young Master of House Evernight has arrived."

The enormous palace gates slowly began to open.

A deep rumbling sound filled the air.

Cassian unconsciously held his breath.

The Crimson Palace...

The home of the Vampire King.

Even after reading about it dozens of times, nothing could have prepared him for seeing it with his own eyes.

The palace looked less like a building and more like a city.

Massive towers pierced the heavens.

Countless stained-glass windows reflected shades of crimson and gold.

Elegant gardens stretched across the grounds, filled with silver trees whose leaves shimmered like moonlight.

Stone gargoyles watched silently from every rooftop.

A fountain stood proudly in the center of the courtyard, its water sparkling like liquid crystal.

"So beautiful..."

He whispered without realizing it.

The carriage finally came to a stop.

One of the palace attendants opened the door.

"My Lord."

"We have arrived."

Cassian stepped out.

The cool breeze brushed against his silver hair.

His polished boots touched the marble ground.

He looked up once more.

The palace seemed even larger from below.

For the first time since arriving in this world...

Fear crept into his heart.

This wasn't a story anymore.

Every decision from this point onward would determine whether he lived... or died.

A palace maid bowed respectfully.

"His Majesty and the Royal Council are waiting."

Cassian nodded.

"I understand."

He followed quietly behind her.

The palace corridors were breathtaking.

Crystal chandeliers hung from ceilings painted with ancient legends.

Portraits of former kings lined the walls, each radiating an overwhelming sense of authority.

Every servant they passed immediately bowed.

"Welcome, Lord Cassian."

He smiled politely, though inside he was anything but calm.

Stay calm.

Don't panic.

You know this story.

Just don't act like the original Cassian.

As they reached the end of the corridor, two enormous black doors came into view.

Silver dragons were carved across their surface.

Two Royal Guards stood on either side, gripping their spears.

The maid turned toward him.

"My Lord..."

"The throne room lies beyond these doors."

Cassian's heartbeat quickened.

This was the moment.

The beginning of everything.

The guards pushed the doors open.

Creeeak...

The sound echoed through the vast hall.

The throne room was enormous.

Sunlight streamed through towering stained-glass windows, bathing the chamber in crimson and gold.

Rows of powerful nobles stood silently on both sides.

Generals.

Dukes.

Council members.

Their eyes turned toward him all at once.

Cassian suddenly felt as though hundreds of sharp blades were pointed directly at him.

He forced himself to keep walking.

His footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor.

Every step felt impossibly loud.

At the end of the hall stood a magnificent throne carved from black crystal.

And seated upon it...

Was the man who ruled the entire Vampire Kingdom.

Lucien Valerius.

Cassian's breath caught in his throat.

The novel had described Lucien as handsome.

It hadn't come close.

His long midnight-black hair flowed over his shoulders like silk.

His crimson eyes were calm yet impossibly sharp, carrying the weight of centuries.

A silver crown rested effortlessly upon his head.

He wasn't smiling.

He wasn't angry.

Yet simply sitting there made everyone else seem insignificant.

An overwhelming pressure filled the room.

Cassian finally understood why every character in the novel feared him.

It wasn't because Lucien was cruel.

It was because he possessed the quiet confidence of someone no one could challenge.

Without thinking, Cassian looked into those crimson eyes.

For a single heartbeat...

Their gazes met.

The entire room seemed to disappear.

Lucien's expression remained unreadable.

Yet something flickered in his eyes.

Curiosity.

It lasted only an instant before his face returned to its usual calm.

Cassian quickly lowered his head.

Did I just stare at the Vampire King?

Wonderful...

I've been here less than a day, and I'm already making mistakes.

Silence filled the throne room.

Every noble waited.

Every servant held their breath.

Then...

Lucien slowly rose from his throne.

The movement was graceful, but it carried enough authority to make the entire hall feel even colder.

His deep voice echoed through the chamber.

"Lord Cassian Evernight."

Cassian's fingers tightened at his sides.

"Step forward."

Without another choice, he obeyed.

Each step toward the throne felt heavier than the last.

When he finally stopped before the king, he bowed respectfully, careful not to let his nervousness show.

Lucien studied him in silence.

Long enough for Cassian to begin wondering if he had done something wrong.

Then, to everyone's surprise, the king spoke in a calm voice.

"You seem... different today."

Cassian's heart skipped a beat.

Different?

No...

Surely he can't already suspect me...