"Love's initial harmony can be disrupted by a discordant twist of fate, leaving a lingering note of sorrow."

I was just an average teenager, content with my routine life and my love for novels. My sister, Sakura, often recommended books to me, though I rarely found her taste particularly stimulating. One evening, she handed me a novel titled "Eternal Love," her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"You should read this, Yuri. It's really sweet," she insisted.

I sighed deeply, already bracing myself for disappointment. "Is it another one of those cliché romance novels?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

Sakura nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, but it's so good! The hero and heroine get married and live happily ever after. You'll love it!"

"Boring!" I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Can't you find something with, I don't know, a little more drama? Or maybe some explosions?"

"You just don't get it, Yuri. Sometimes simplicity is beauty," Sakura replied with a smirk, undeterred by my sarcasm.

"Come on, Yuri, give this one a shot. It's different, I promise." Her eyes sparkled with hope.

Reluctantly, I agreed to read it, if only to appease her. "Alright, but if it's bad, you owe me ice cream for a week."

"Deal!" Sakura said, clapping her hands excitedly. "You're going to love it, trust me."

That night, I sat at the dinner table, the book propped open beside my plate, and began to read while munching on my favorite dish: ramen. I poked at the noodles, reading the first page with a skeptical frown.

"This is so predictable," I muttered between bites. "No suspense, no thrill, just… love." I dramatically flopped my hand in the air for emphasis, nearly knocking over my glass of water.

As I read on, I noticed the overly flowery language and the utterly predictable plot twists. "Oh, look, he's gazing into her eyes like she's the only person in the world. How original," I commented sarcastically to no one in particular.

I could almost guess what would happen next before turning the page. "Bet you five bucks they're about to kiss... aaand, there it is," I said with a sigh. Yet, something about the story began to draw me in, much to my own dismay.

"This dialogue is so cheesy," I grumbled, flipping another page. "Do people actually talk like this?"

Sakura, passing by, caught my comment. "Yes, they do! It's romantic, Yuri. You just don't appreciate the sentiment."

"Sentiment, schmentiment," I replied, wrinkling my nose. "Give me a plot twist or a dramatic showdown any day."

Sakura chuckled. "You’re hopeless. Just keep reading."

I rolled my eyes but continued reading. "If they start professing undying love on the second date, I'm done," I muttered.

"Oh, come on, it’s not that bad," Sakura teased. "You might even learn to enjoy it."

"Fat chance," I shot back, my tone dripping with skepticism.

Suddenly, a particularly long noodle slipped down my throat too quickly, and I began to choke. My vision blurred as I tried to cough it up, but my efforts were in vain.

Sakura, not realizing the severity of the situation, giggled at what she thought was an overdramatic reaction. "Stop being so dramatic, Yuri!" she laughed, waving a dismissive hand.

"Can't... breathe," I managed to gasp out, my face turning a shade of red that matched the book cover. I flailed my arms, knocking the book off the table. "Of all the ways to go, death by noodle wasn't on my bingo card," I thought grimly.

The world faded to black, and my thoughts were a mix of frustration and bemusement at the absurdity of it all. "Really? This is how I die? Choking on ramen while reading a cheesy romance novel?" The last thing I saw was my sister's smiling face as I toppled off my chair.

In the back of my mind, a small voice said, "I should have just watched TV tonight." I could almost hear my favorite show playing in the background, mocking my current predicament. "Great, now I'll never know how that cliffhanger ends."

As I drifted further into unconsciousness, random thoughts flickered through my mind. "I hope they find my secret stash of snacks under the bed," I mused. "And someone needs to clear my browser history, for the love of all things holy."

My vision narrowed to a tunnel, the edges darkening. "Note to self: don't eat and read at the same time. It's hazardous to your health," I thought, my sense of humor not entirely abandoning me even in this dire moment.

The last coherent thought I had was, "I wonder if they'll put 'death by noodle' on my tombstone." Then everything went dark, and I felt myself slipping away, hoping that wherever I ended up, there'd be better books to read.

Sakura, meanwhile, finally noticed that something was seriously wrong. "Yuri?" she asked, her voice tinged with panic. "Yuri, this isn't funny!"

But it was too late. My world had already faded to black, my final thoughts a jumble of annoyance, sarcasm, and a surprising appreciation for the absurdity of life. "At least I won't have to finish that book," I thought, a wry smile ghosting my lips as I succumbed to the darkness.

In a tale of sibling banter and reluctant reading, my evening took an unexpected turn when a harmless dinner and a romance novel collided in a choking hazard. As I struggled for breath, my thoughts wavered between irritation and amusement at the peculiar circumstances of my demise. Sakura, initially oblivious to the severity, soon realized the gravity of the situation, but by then, it was too late. My final moments were marked by a blend of exasperation and an ironic fondness for life's unpredictability.

Yuri opened her eyes to an opulent room, its decor distinctly ancient and lavish. She sat up, feeling disoriented, and noticed the clothes she wore were unfamiliar—a luxurious robe befitting nobility. Looking around, she tried to process her new reality.

“Young mistress, you’re awake!” a woman’s voice cried.

Yuri turned to see a maid rushing to her side, tears streaming down her face. The relief in the maid’s eyes only added to Yuri’s confusion.

“Who... who are you?” Yuri stammered.

The maid's eyes widened in surprise. “My lady, it’s me, Anna. Don’t you recognize your own maid?”

“No way,” Yuri whispered to herself. “I’ve been time traveled or reincarnated into the novel?”

“Young mistress, are you feeling alright?” Anna asked, her voice trembling with concern.

“Alright? I just woke up in a fancy dress that looks like it came straight out of a history book. I’d say I’m doing pretty well,” Yuri replied, her tone a mix of sarcasm and disbelief.

Anna blinked, clearly not understanding. “Would you like me to fetch the physician?”

“Unless he’s got a guidebook on ‘How to Handle Reincarnation,’ I think I’ll pass,” Yuri muttered.

Anna tilted her head, puzzled. “Do you need a cold compress, my lady? You seem to be talking nonsense.”

“Yeah, a cold compress will totally help with my existential crisis,” Yuri said, shaking her head. “Next, you’ll be telling me there’s a dragon in the backyard.”

Anna looked shocked. “The dragon is in the stables, young mistress, not the backyard!”

Yuri’s jaw dropped. “Wait, there’s actually a dragon? I was joking!”

“Of course, my lady. How else would you travel to the summer palace so quickly?” Anna said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Great,” Yuri said, flopping back onto the bed. “Next, you’ll tell me I have magical powers.”

Anna’s eyes sparkled. “You jest, my lady! Everyone knows the von Hearth family is renowned for their elemental magic.”

Yuri groaned, covering her face with her hands. “This is going to be a long, weird day.”

“Anyway, Anna, can I use magic?” Yuri asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Anna’s expression turned sorrowful. “No, young mistress, your mana is too low. Attempting to use magic could be fatal,” she replied sadly.

Yuri sighed deeply, feeling the weight of disappointment settle on her. “Great! I reincarnated into a novel, and I can’t even use magic, even though it’s real in this world,” she murmured, frustration evident in her voice.

She paused for a moment, lost in thought, and then a question popped into her mind. “But wait, what’s my name?” she wondered aloud. Turning to Anna, she asked, “Anna, what’s my name?”

“Your name is Leona von Hearth,” Anna answered.

Yuri nodded absently at first, but then a flicker of recognition sparked in her mind. “Wait, I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before. I read that name in a novel, but I can’t quite place it,” she said, furrowing her brow in concentration.

She racked her brain, trying to recall where she had encountered the name. Then, suddenly, the realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. “Oh no, this can’t be happening,” she muttered, eyes widening in shock. “I’m in the ‘Eternal Love’ novel that my sister gave me to read!”

The enormity of her situation started to sink in, and panic began to bubble up inside her. “But the worst part is, I’m the infamous villain in the story. The one who is destined to die at the hands of the male lead. This is unreal! What is going on?” Yuri exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and fear.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. “How am I supposed to survive in this world? If I follow the plot of the novel, my fate is sealed,” she thought, anxiety gnawing at her.

Anna watched her with concern, unsure of what had brought about this sudden change in her demeanor. “Is everything alright, young mistress?” she asked gently.

Yuri shook her head slowly, a grim determination settling over her. “No, everything is not alright, Anna. But I have to find a way to change my fate. I can’t let the story play out as it did in the book,” she declared, her voice steadying with resolve.

Anna looked at her with a mixture of confusion and worry, but she nodded, offering her support. “Whatever you need, young mistress, I am here to help,” she said earnestly.

“Thank you, Anna,” Yuri replied, feeling a small measure of comfort in her words. “I have a lot to figure out, and I’ll need all the help I can get.”

As she stood there, contemplating her next move, Yuri realized that her knowledge of the novel could be both a curse and a blessing. If she could remember the key events and characters, perhaps she could alter her destiny and avoid the tragic end that awaited her.

Yuri quickly realized the character she had become: Leona Von Hearth, the villainess of the story. Leona was infamous for her cruelty, particularly towards the female lead, Elena, whom she tortured mercilessly. Her ultimate fate was to be killed by the male lead, Duke Adrian Castlereagh.

Yuri, now Leona Von Hearth, decided she had to change her fate. She knew the plot of the novel too well to allow herself to be killed by Duke Adrian. She resolved to avoid the main characters, live quietly, and hopefully lead a long and peaceful life.

Leona muttered to herself, "Now I have to remember the key events. The novel I'm in is about a girl named Elena. She's a beautiful, fragile, delicate, and well-mannered girl. She was living in a village as an orphan when suddenly her father came to reclaim her, claiming that she's his illegitimate daughter. But the main reason was that they wanted the support of the Castlereagh family, the richest and most powerful lords of the kingdom. They wanted to marry off their daughter as a tool to gain support and power. That's how the love story begins. The Duke of Castlereagh falls for her, and she also becomes a love interest of the crown prince, Damian Nicholas Iceberg. And then there's me, Leona Von Hearth, the villainess and main antagonist who is bound to die. Ahhh," Leona was devastated to think that she was going to die twice—once in real life and once in the novel. "I have to hide from them and avoid them as much as possible," she said to herself.

As days turned into weeks, Leona carefully navigated her new world. She avoided any interaction with the heroine, Lady Elena, and kept her distance from Duke Adrian. However, her unusual behavior did not go unnoticed. Everyone was shocked to see the new Leona, who was once gloomy and exuded the aura of a villainess, now full of happiness.

The maids in the Von Hearth castle gossiped about Leona's behavior. "What's happening? Young Lady Leona has suddenly changed," one maid said.

"That's so true," another maid replied. "The hot-tempered Leona who loved to bully others has become a good person all of a sudden!"

Hearing this, Anna scolded them, "Do not speak behind your mistress's back. Get back to your work."

One day, Leona's father requested a family dinner. "Young mistress," Anna said, "the Lord of Von Hearth, your father, wants to have dinner with you."

Leona groaned. "Ah, Anna, I don't want to," she said. To herself, she thought, "Until I gather a good amount of money, I want to avoid people as much as possible. After that, I'll run away and live my life happily alone." She chuckled to herself in a way that made Anna shiver with fear. Seeing this, she quickly changed her expression.

Anna composed herself and insisted, "You have to. He is your father. No matter how strict he is, he is still your parent. He loves you."

Leona thought, "Come to think of it, in the novel, Leona's relationship with her father was not good and regarding her mother, I think she died after giving birth to Leona." As she pondered, she suddenly had a flashback of the original Leona's memories. In that memory, she saw a young Leona alone in solitude, sometimes crying and sometimes angry, yearning for her parents' love.

"Was that the original Leona's memory?" Leona wondered. "Even though she was a villainess, I feel pity for her." She sighed. "Okay, Anna, I will have a meal with my father."

Anna's relief was palpable. "Thank goodness," she thought to herself.

Leona reluctantly agreed to have dinner with her father. She entered the dining room, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. Her father, Lord Von Hearth, was already seated, his stern face softened slightly as Leona approached.

"Father," Leona greeted, bowing her head respectfully.

"Leona, it's been a while since we've had a meal together," her father said, motioning for her to sit. "I've been concerned about you."

Leona took her seat, feeling the weight of the original Leona's memories. "I apologize for my behavior in the past. I've been reflecting a lot lately."

Her father raised an eyebrow, surprised by the change in his daughter's demeanor. "You've certainly changed, Leona. What brought this about?"

Leona hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I realized that my actions were hurting not just others but myself as well. I want to be better, for everyone's sake."

Her father nodded slowly, a hint of approval in his eyes. "I'm glad to hear that. I've always believed in your potential, Leona. I know I may have been strict, but it was because I wanted the best for you."

Leona felt a pang of guilt. "I never understood that. I always thought you were just... disappointed in me."

Lord Von Hearth sighed deeply. "I was never disappointed in you, Leona. I was frustrated, yes, but only because I saw how much more you could be. You were hurting, and I didn't know how to reach you."

Leona looked down, a lump forming in her throat. "I'm sorry, Father. For all the trouble I caused."

"What's important is that you're trying to change now," her father said, his voice softening. "It's never too late to become the person you were meant to be."

Leona nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief. "Thank you, Father. I want to prove myself, not just to you, but to everyone."

They continued their meal in a rare moment of peace, the usual tension replaced by a newfound understanding. As the dinner concluded, Leona felt a growing resolve within her.

"Father," Leona said as they stood to leave, "I know I haven't given you much reason to trust me, but I promise I'll work hard to make things right."

Lord Von Hearth placed a hand on Leona's shoulder, his gaze steady. "I believe in you, Leona. Just remember, you don't have to do this alone. We're family, and we'll face whatever comes together."

Leona felt a warmth she hadn't known before. "Thank you, Father. That means more to me than you know."

As she left the dining room, Leona couldn't help but think of the original Leona. "If you can somehow see this, know that you were wrong. Everyone here loves you. If you had only tried to open up a little, you would have realized it too."

As weeks turned into months, Leona continued to build a new life for herself. She forged stronger bonds with her family, especially her father,and earned the respect of those around her. Despite the constant fear of her fate, she remained determined to carve out a different destiny.

One night, as she sat by the fireplace, Leona reflected on her journey. "I've come a long way," she thought. "But the story is far from over. I must stay vigilant and continue to change my path. Only then can I hope to escape the fate that was written for me."And so, with renewed determination, Leona Von Hearth embraced her new life, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that she held the power to rewrite her own story.