Chapter two

I still couldn’t believe how I had gotten here.

I pressed my cheeks and arms repeatedly, hard enough that they started to sting. I wanted to wake up from this world. Maybe this was just a dream.

But the pain I felt proved otherwise.

This was real.

I had become one of the characters in this novel.

A strange feeling filled my chest when I realized that a part of me had actually wished for this to happen.

Arzhel… I wanted to see him.

Even if this was only a dream, I still wanted to go to him.

But Elyndra Windmere wasn’t just a random character in the novel. Even though she was only an extra who barely had any scenes, her position in Arzhel’s life was significant.

She was the daughter of his greatest enemy.

The family suspected of killing his sister.

Even if it was never proven in the story, this mansion was the place where his sister had worked… and where she had died.

Which meant the main suspect was the Marquis.

My father.

I looked sadly out the window.

I couldn’t go to him.

I couldn’t get close to him.

“Arzhel… what am I supposed to do?”

Tears slid down my face as I gripped the fabric of the gown I was wearing while sitting on the couch.

I was alone in my room, trying to process how I had ended up here—and why—when I couldn’t even go near the person I wanted to see the most.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Ciela, the maid, rushed into the room.

“My lady! Is something wrong? Are you hurt?”

“N-no… I just felt like crying. I missed you.”

I didn’t know why I said that, but being around Ciela made me feel strangely comfortable.

Her worried expression softened immediately, and a shy blush appeared on her face.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

She was so cute.

After wiping my tears, I turned to watch her while she tidied my bed. I felt embarrassed seeing her clean the room.

After waking up, I had been so devastated about my role in this world that I hadn’t even noticed the mess I had made.

Scraps of paper were scattered across the floor.

The plate I had used earlier was still sitting on the table.

To be honest, even though I had now become a noble lady who didn’t need to do anything, I wasn’t used to it at all.

Back home, I had always done everything myself.

We never had a maid.

It had only been my brother and me, helping each other through life.

Thinking about my brother again made my chest ache.

But I didn’t want to cry anymore, especially since Ciela was here. She might start worrying that something was wrong with me.

“Ciela… what do I usually do? What’s my schedule like?”

She looked confused that I didn’t know, but she still answered politely.

“Currently, my lady is preparing for her coming-of-age celebration.”

Her words immediately made something click in my mind.

I remembered.

In the novel, there was a gathering at the Windmere mansion.

It was the very place where the female lead and Arzhel first met.

The moment their relationship began.

Arzhel couldn’t miss this opportunity to investigate his sister’s death, because during the ball the mansion would be open to all nobles.

And this was also the mansion where his sister had died.

Which meant the main suspect… was Marquis Johnson Windmere.

“When… is the celebration?” I asked.

“Tonight, my lady. Your dress for tonight is already downstairs. Would you like to see it?”

Ciela looked excited, probably hoping it would lift my mood.

But my mind was somewhere else.

Tonight.

Tonight was the night Arzhel’s plans would be ruined after meeting the female lead.

“T-tonight?”

I suddenly felt drained.

“Yes, my lady! This is a party you should be excited about. Your father even gave you a necklace for tonight. It’s called the Tears of the White Dragon. It matches your dress perfectly.”

Then she clapped her hands.

“My lady, we should start preparing you now!”

I simply nodded.

Before I could react, she pushed me toward the bathroom.

She wanted to bathe me herself, but I insisted on doing it alone.

In the end, I won.

It was just too embarrassing to let someone bathe me.

Now that I was alone, my thoughts returned.

What should I do?

Should I stop Arzhel from meeting the female lead?

Or should I leave everything the way it happened in the novel?

I didn’t know anymore.

I stayed in the bath for several minutes, lost in thought.

When I heard Ciela calling my name outside, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel.

Soon after, she finished dressing me and began applying my makeup.

“Done, my lady. You look gorgeous.”

I turned to look at myself in the mirror.

Elyndra was truly beautiful.

Straight red hair that reached her waist.

Long lashes framing emerald-green eyes.

Smooth, pale skin.

Glossy red lips.

She had a delicate beauty—like a deer—innocent yet elegant.

“I can’t believe it…” I murmured softly.

For the first time in my life, I didn’t find my reflection in the mirror boring.

“She’s so beautiful,” I whispered.

“Yes, my lady. And she is you,” Ciela said happily. “I’m truly honored to serve you.”

She waved her hands excitedly in the air.

I couldn’t help giggling.

She was really adorable.

When I walked down the stairs, I saw Elyndra’s parents waiting for me.

As I approached them, the woman immediately hugged me and kissed my head.

“My baby is now a woman.”

I became flustered. I wasn’t used to such affection.

Then the man hugged me as well.

When I looked into his eyes, I could clearly see love and genuine care.

If I didn’t know the story of the novel, I would have believed he was a good person.

But I knew.

He was the main suspect in Arzhel’s sister’s death.

A heavy pain settled in my chest.

Even though I had only been here for two days, they already felt like family to me.

Soon, we walked toward the grand doors of the ballroom.

Music could already be heard from the other side.

When the doors opened, I saw a crowd of nobles dressed in elegant gowns and suits.

Everyone turned to look at us.

My eyes immediately searched the room for him.

But he wasn’t there.

Instead, I spotted the female lead standing with her parents.

She had curly pink hair and emerald eyes—just like mine.

Of course.

We were cousins.

She looked just as cute and sweet as the novel had described.

Then I noticed someone walking behind her.

Long straight hair.

But before I could see her face, she quickly moved toward the food table.

Soon, the female lead’s parents approached us.

“Good evening, Marquis Johnson. Your daughter is truly beautiful. Now that she has come of age, I’m sure many men will be lining up at your door.”

I felt uncomfortable with the way the man looked at me.

Fortunately, the woman beside him spoke.

“That’s right. Congratulations, young lady, on your coming of age.”

But I could see a hint of wariness in her eyes.

They were the parents of the female lead—Count Dylan and Countess Cecelia Lioren.

“Thank you, Countess. I hope you enjoy your time here,” I said politely, forcing a smile.

After a while, I excused myself.

The room suddenly felt suffocating.

I stepped out onto the balcony to get some fresh air.

The cold breeze brushed against my face.

For the first time since arriving in this world, my mind felt calm.

For a moment, the pain of losing my brother and the sadness I felt for Arzhel faded away.

Then suddenly—

I heard someone step onto the balcony.

I turned around.

And immediately recognized him.

Shiny silver hair.

Ocean-blue eyes.

He was tall, with a broad build.

He wore white clothes that resembled a priest’s robes, covering most of his body so that only part of his neck, his face, and his hands were visible.

My lips parted in shock as I looked at him.

I knew.

This was him.

Arzhel Ravendish.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***