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I Refuse to Be the Villainess

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I Refuse to Be the Villainess

Awakeking Of The Villainess

Prologue

The sky above the capital was painted crimson.

Whether it was the setting sun or the blood staining the palace steps, no one could tell.

Li Ruoxi knelt in the center of the courtyard.

Her once magnificent crimson robes were torn and stained with dirt. The noble lady who had once been admired throughout the empire now looked pitiful.

Around her stood countless officials, nobles, and servants.

Not one of them pitied her.

Not one.

"Li Ruoxi."

The cold voice echoed through the silent courtyard.

She slowly raised her head.

Standing before her was the man she had once loved with all her heart.

Shen Mochen.

His expression remained indifferent, as though she were nothing more than a stranger.

Li Ruoxi laughed bitterly.

"So this is how it ends."

No one answered.

Perhaps they all believed she deserved it.

The jealous villainess.

The woman who had stood in the way of true love.

The woman everyone wanted gone.

A familiar figure stepped forward from behind Shen Mochen.

Jiang Meilin.

Beautiful. Gentle. Beloved by all.

The heroine.

Seeing her, Li Ruoxi finally understood. No matter what she had done. No matter how hard she had tried. The ending had already been decided. She was merely the villainess.

And villainesses were never meant to have happy endings.

The wind swept across the courtyard.

A royal decree was unrolled.

The execution order.

The crowd lowered their heads.

Some were relieved.

Some were satisfied.

Others simply watched.

Li Ruoxi closed her eyes.

For the first time in years, she felt tired.

Very tired.

"If I had another chance..."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"...I would choose differently."

The decree was read.

The executioner's sword rose into the air.

And at that exact moment—

Li Ruoxi opened her eyes.

.............................................

The wind howled outside the carved wooden windows.

The wooden shutters rattled violently against the frame as if someone—or something—was trying to force its way into the room. Inside, red silk curtains danced in the darkness. The candlelight flickered wildly, casting strange shadows across the walls.

On a magnificent bed draped in embroidered silk, a young woman lay motionless.

Suddenly—

Her eyes snapped open.

Li Ruoxi sat upright.

A sharp breath escaped her lips as she stared ahead. For a moment, she couldn't understand what she was seeing.

An unfamiliar room.

An unfamiliar bed.

An unfamiliar ceiling decorated with golden phoenixes.

Her heart raced.

"What..."

The word died in her throat.

A loud crash sounded from the window. Startled, Ruoxi turned toward the noise. The shutters had swung open. Cold wind rushed into the room, sending papers and curtains flying.

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from outside. The door burst open.

"Your Highness!"

A young maid rushed inside. Without hesitation, she hurried toward the window and struggled to close it. After securing the shutters, she let out a relieved sigh.

"Thank goodness."

Only then did she turn around. The moment her eyes met Ruoxi's, she froze.

"Y-Your Highness?"

Ruoxi stared at her silently.

The maid looked familiar.

Yet unfamiliar at the same time.

The strange feeling sent a chill down her spine.

"Who are you?" Ruoxi asked.

The maid blinked.

Then her face turned pale.

"Your Highness..."

Her voice trembled.