English is not my first language and will never will be so to don't judge my skills, and there will be typos and errors.

Cursing, blood and slightly sensitive topics will be mentioned, and if this triggers you I advise you not to read it. (future chapters)

Critism is allowed NOT bullying, there's a difference between the two, so i beg of you don't insult me, just be honest.

i am sorry if i'm very strict, this is just my rules for my novel and other future ones, and again thank you for reading 💞

Chapter 1: A New Dawn, A Bloodless Blade

The world dissolved in a blinding flash of white, a searing pain ripping through Soojin's chest. One moment, she was walking home, headphones blasting K-pop, the next, a stranger's face contorted in rage, a gun leveled at her. Then, nothing.

Now, she floated in an endless expanse of white. No floor, no ceiling, just pure, unadulterated white. Panic clawed at her throat. Was this the afterlife?

Suddenly, a voice, crisp and professional with an undercurrent of weary amusement, echoed around her. "Soojin, designation now Aurelia Vesper, welcome to your… revised existence."

She whirled around, searching for the source. "Revised existence? Is that like a deluxe edition of death?"

"Think of it as a… career opportunity. With a significantly reduced chance of boredom. And a slightly increased chance of being assassinated."

A translucent screen flickered into existence before her, shimmering with an ethereal glow. It was just like the system windows in those transmigration manhwas she devoured during her lunch breaks. Only, this one felt less like a game and more like a stern lecture.

[System Initializing. Please Exercise Patience.]

[Welcome, Aurelia Vesper. (Formerly Soojin)]

[Primary Objective: Neutralize Threat Designation: 'Villain'. Prevent Kingdom of Eldoria from entering Irreversible Societal Collapse.]

[Critical Restriction: Pacifist Protocol Engaged. Under no circumstances are you authorized to engage in physical violence. Violation will result in… consequences. Consider them highly unpleasant.]

Soojin – no, Aurelia – stared at the screen, her jaw slack. "Wait, I'm ten years old! How am I supposed to neutralize a villain? I can barely reach the top shelf!"

"Age is irrelevant. Influence is not. You have been placed in a position of… considerable advantage. Do not squander it."

"Advantage? I'm pretty sure 'notorious' and 'infamous' aren't exactly selling points on a resume. I'm basically the Regina George of Eldoria, except with less money and more questionable fashion choices."

The System sighed, a digital sound that somehow conveyed the weight of millennia. "The past is immutable. The future is not. You have been given a clean slate, a chance to rewrite your… reputation. And to save a kingdom in the process. Try to focus, Dubois."

"But how am I supposed to stop a villain without, you know, stopping them? With violence? That's like trying to win a chess match by setting the board on fire!"

The System's response was a clipped, but surprisingly informative, explanation: "Your strength lies not in brute force, but in manipulation. Exploit weaknesses, sow discord, turn allies against each other. Think of it as… strategic inconvenience. The goal is to render the villain incapable of enacting their plans, not to physically subdue them."

The white void began to swirl, the screen dissolving into a complex algorithm. "Data is being integrated. Prepare for… personality adjustments. Minor side effects may include an inexplicable craving for expensive pastries and a tendency to speak in withering sarcasm."

"Wait, personality adjustments? You're messing with my brain? That's not in the terms and conditions!"

The light intensified, engulfing her. A sensation of falling, of being compressed into a smaller, younger version of herself, overwhelmed her senses. Then, darkness.

Aurelia gasped, jolting awake. She was lying in a massive, four-poster bed, the silk sheets practically swallowing her whole. Sunlight streamed through the towering windows, illuminating a room that screamed "we have more money than sense." Tapestries depicting heroic battles, shelves overflowing with dusty tomes, and a collection of porcelain dolls that looked vaguely threatening filled the space. This wasn't her tiny, cramped apartment in Seoul. This was… a miniature Versailles.

She sat up, her head swimming. A wave of dizziness washed over her, followed by a flood of unfamiliar memories. Cruel pranks, petty rivalries, whispered insults, the cold, calculating gaze of her father, the Duke.

This was Aurelia Vesper's life. A spoiled, manipulative child with a reputation that preceded her like a bad smell. And now, apparently, it was her life too.

She swung her tiny legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet barely reaching the floor. As she stood, she caught sight of herself in the ornate mirror. A girl with piercing blue eyes, a cascade of unruly black curls, and a perpetual scowl stared back at her. This was Aurelia Vesper, and she looked like she was plotting someone's downfall.

But plotting wouldn't stop a villain. Plotting wouldn't save Eldoria.

The system screen flickered back into existence, hovering in her peripheral vision.

[Status Report]

Designation: Aurelia Vesper

Occupation: Heiress Apparent (Current Standing: Precarious)

Level: 1 (Potential for Growth: Significant)

Skills: Manipulation (Novice), Intimidation (Accidental), Sarcasm (Advanced)

Restrictions: Pacifist Protocol (Violation Unadvised. Seriously.)

Aurelia sighed. Manipulation, intimidation, and sarcasm? She was starting to see the System's point. Maybe she could pull this off. Maybe she could save Eldoria without throwing a single punch.

A knock on the door startled her. "Lady Aurelia? Your father requests your presence in the study. He says it's time for your… 're-education'."

Aurelia took a deep breath. Time to play the part. Time to learn the rules of this new world. And time to figure out how to stop a villain without getting grounded.

"Okay, System," she muttered under her breath. "Let's do this. But if I end up having to defeat the villain with a well-placed rumor, I expect a bonus."

The System's response was a terse, but oddly encouraging: [Commence Operation. And try not to get disinherited.]

This was going to be harder than surviving middle school.

Aurelia straightened her miniature silk gown, a garment that probably cost more than her old apartment in Seoul. "Right," she muttered, "time to face the music... or, more likely, a lecture on proper posture and the importance of marrying well."

The study was exactly as she remembered from the fragmented memories: a cavernous room filled with leather-bound books, antique weapons, and the distinct scent of old money and simmering resentment. Her father, Duke Vesper, stood by the window, his back ramrod straight, his gaze fixed on the manicured gardens below. He was a formidable figure, a man carved from granite and ambition.

"Aurelia," he said, his voice a low rumble. "You're late."

"Apologies, Father," she replied, carefully mimicking the formal tone she'd gleaned from her predecessor's memories. "I was… contemplating the intricacies of Eldorian politics."

He turned, his icy blue eyes narrowing. "Intricacies that are clearly beyond your grasp. Your behavior has been… unacceptable. Your reputation is in tatters. You are a Vesper, Aurelia. Act like one."

"I understand, Father," she said, lowering her gaze. "I will endeavor to improve."

The System chimed in, a small window appearing in her vision: [Opportunity Detected: Dialogue Branch Available. Option 1: Grovel Pathetically (Low Success Rate). Option 2: Feign Remorse (Moderate Success Rate). Option 3: Deploy Strategic Compliment (High Risk, High Reward).]

Aurelia suppressed a sigh. Strategic Compliment it was. "Father," she began, her voice carefully modulated, "I realize I have disappointed you. But I aspire to be a Vesper worthy of your name. I have been studying your strategies, your tactics… your brilliance in navigating the treacherous waters of the court. I hope, one day, to possess even a fraction of your… acumen."

The Duke's expression didn't change, but Aurelia detected a flicker of something in his eyes. Pride? Amusement? Hard to tell with a man who looked like he'd been born frowning.

"Acumen," he repeated, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "A useful quality. Perhaps there is hope for you yet, Aurelia. But remember this: power is not inherited. It is earned. And in this world, only the ruthless survive."

[Objective Updated: Gain Duke Vesper's Approval (Partial Success Required). Bonus Reward: Access to Family Library (Restricted Section). ]

Aurelia swallowed. Ruthless, huh? Well, she was about to find out just how ruthless a pacifist could be.