Hope’s body felt heavy, weighed down by an unfamiliar discomfort. Her head throbbed with a dull, aching pain as she slowly blinked her eyes open, her surroundings foreign and strange. A young girl hovered by her side, her expression filled with worry.

"Miss, you're awake!" the girl exclaimed, her voice trembling. "Someone, please fetch the physician!"

Hope tried to sit up, but her body protested with sharp aches. Where am I? she thought, panic tightening her chest. Who is this girl, and why is she calling me ‘Miss’?

Her mind raced with questions, but her throat felt dry, her voice lost. The pain was overwhelming, disorienting her further.

"Miss, are you alright?" the girl asked again, her maid’s uniform clearly indicating her role, though it only deepened Hope’s confusion.

Is this a dream? Hope wondered, her thoughts spinning. Some kind of elaborate joke?

But there was no hint of humor on the girl’s face, no sign that this was a prank. Panic surged through Hope’s veins. What’s going on?

Without another thought, she forced herself out of bed, fighting through the pain. Her legs wobbled beneath her, but she stumbled forward, determined to escape. She pushed open the door and found herself in a grand hallway. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, the floor lined with polished marble. Everything around her looked opulent, regal—and none of it made sense.

This can’t be real… She grasped at the remnants of her memory. She had been with friends at the market, crossing the street. A car. Yes, a car had hit me… After that, everything blurred into darkness.

“What happened to me?” she murmured, wandering aimlessly down the hallway. Eventually, she came across a massive, ornate mirror and froze. Her breath hitched as she took in the reflection.

It wasn’t her.

The woman staring back had long, glossy black hair that tumbled past her shoulders, framing a face with striking blue eyes. The unfamiliar yet beautiful face confirmed her worst fear. This isn’t my body…

Her heart pounded in her chest. Who is this woman? What happened to the real owner of this body?

Steeling herself, Hope turned back to the room, her mind buzzing with unanswered questions. When she re-entered, the maid stood there, visibly startled.

“Miss, I didn’t mean to upset you! I’m so sorry if I did something wrong,” the girl stammered, her face pale with worry.

Hope swallowed her confusion, trying to appear calm. "No, you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just… I’m having trouble remembering things. Can you remind me—who are you?"

The maid’s eyes filled with tears. "Miss… I’m Shiri, your personal maid. You fell ill suddenly two days ago, and you’ve been unconscious ever since." Her voice cracked as she added, “Now you don’t even remember me?”

Hope’s mind raced. So, this body has been unconscious for days… She took a deep breath, trying to think clearly.

“Shiri, I need you to help me,” Hope said, her voice firm but gentle. “I need you to tell me everything—everything you know about me.”

Shiri hesitated for a moment before nodding. “You are Miss Evelina Greystone, the eldest daughter of Duke Greystone. After the duchess passed away when you were young, you’ve had a difficult relationship with your family…”

Hope’s heart sank. I’ve taken over the body of a Duke’s daughter… The weight of the situation was beginning to settle in. She had read stories like this, but living it was something entirely different.

“Shiri,” she said quietly, “for now, I need you to keep this between us. Don’t tell anyone about… my condition.”

Shiri sniffled but nodded resolutely. “You can trust me, Miss. I won’t say a word.”

Before Hope could ask any more questions, a man entered the room—a physician, judging by the medical bag slung over his shoulder.

“How are you feeling, Miss?” he asked, examining her with practiced hands. “You’ve just recovered from an unknown illness. It was quite alarming—symptoms I’ve never seen before.”

“I see,” Hope replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

“I’ve prescribed some medicine to aid your recovery,” the physician continued. “Make sure to take it regularly and rest as much as possible.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, her thoughts distant.

Once the physician had left, Hope turned to Shiri. “I need to be alone for a while. Don’t let anyone disturb me.”

Shiri looked hesitant but nodded. “Of course, Miss.”

As the door closed behind her, Hope collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling. How long am I going to be stuck here?

Her thoughts drifted to the name Greystone. Evelina Greystone… Where have I heard that name before?

Suddenly, it clicked. Lovely Lady Selene! The fantasy romance novel she had once read. The villainess of that story was none other than Evelina Greystone, the elder sister of the main character, Selene Greystone.

Hope’s hands trembled as she gripped the blankets. This can’t be happening. I’ve actually transmigrated into the villainess of a novel.

She shook her head, slapping her cheeks lightly, trying to wake herself up from what felt like an impossible dream. But no matter how hard she tried, she remained in that grand, foreign room, in a body that wasn’t hers.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Hope whispered to herself, her voice shaky. “I’ve become Evelina Greystone…”

Exhausted by the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, Hope couldn’t fight the drowsiness that tugged at her. Despite her best efforts to stay awake, her body finally gave in, and she fell into a restless sleep.

Hope woke up the next day, still exhausted from the overwhelming realization that she had become Evelina. Her mind, clouded with disbelief, prompted her to pinch her own cheek, hoping the sting would prove this was just a dream.

"I can't believe this is real..." she muttered, wincing at the sharp sensation.

Her body felt foreign—sluggish and uncoordinated. Every movement lacked the natural grace Evelina must have possessed. It was as if she had been forced into a costume that didn’t quite fit.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," Hope responded instinctively, her voice carrying an unintended authority—one that belonged to Evelina, not her.

The door creaked open, revealing Shiri, Evelina’s personal maid. She entered with a soft smile, bowing slightly as she greeted her.

"Good morning, Miss. I’ve prepared your bath."

At that moment, Hope realized just how vastly different this world was from her own. Every task, no matter how small, was handled by servants. She didn’t have to lift a finger. The maids even bathed her, styled her hair, and dressed her as if she were a fragile porcelain doll.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Hope let out a small chuckle.

"Rich and beautiful… I guess I could not get used to this," she mused, before shaking her head.

But how long am I going to be here? she wondered. It’s not like I had much waiting for me back home, but… I still have my dear friends.

Shiri stepped forward hesitantly. "Miss, about breakfast…"

Hope pushed aside her thoughts and straightened her posture. "Bring it to my room. If anyone asks, tell them I’ve been advised to rest and won’t be leaving my bed today."

Shiri paused for a moment, as if weighing her response, before nodding. "Understood, Miss."

As the maid left, Hope’s expression darkened.

Evelina—no, she—had woken up from an illness, yet not a single family member had come to check on her. Not one.

She scoffed, leaning back against her chair. "I suppose I should be grateful. I wouldn’t even know how to act around them right now. Avoiding them seems like the safest option."

While the other maids moved around the room, tidying with practiced efficiency, Hope sat at the writing desk, trying to piece together her situation. She needed to understand where she was in the novel’s timeline.

Grabbing a quill, she began jotting down everything she remembered.

The novel’s setting rushed back to her: a world where supernatural beasts and monsters coexisted with humans. For years, humanity had been at a disadvantage until the gods bestowed special abilities upon them. From this blessing, the Bloomers were born—humans capable of wielding extraordinary powers through an energy source called Mana.

The strongest Bloomers were deemed fit to rule, and for generations, the empire’s emperors had all been powerful Bloomers. Nobles, with their ancient bloodlines, typically inherited the most potent forms of Mana, granting them high positions in the empire. Even commoners, if born with this gift, could rise to serve under the emperor.

The current emperor had five sons, and the most powerful among them was the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Caelum.

In the novel, he was beloved by the people. On one of his missions, he met the female lead—Evelina’s younger half-sister, Selene Greystone.

Evelina had an infamous crush on the Crown Prince. Everyone knew about it. She would follow him everywhere, bombard him with letters, and make grand gestures to gain his attention. But the Crown Prince never spared her a second glance.

Selene, the prodigy of the prestigious Greystone family, was a rare Bloomer blessed with extraordinary abilities. In contrast, Evelina, who had yet to "bloom," was deemed a failure. Consumed by jealousy over her sister’s popularity, she became the villainess of the story.

Her downfall was swift and merciless. After orchestrating multiple schemes against Selene, she was cast aside by her own father and married off to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. From that point, she all but disappeared from the narrative.

All of it had been written simply to add drama to the female lead’s struggles—to make Selene shine even brighter in the eyes of the Crown Prince.

But Evelina’s misdeeds didn’t end after marriage. Eventually, she was executed.

Hope sighed, resting her forehead against the desk.

"How do I get out of this mess?" she muttered. "There was never any mention of Evelina being sick. What does that mean for me? Am I ahead of the story? Or did something change?"

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock. Shiri had returned with breakfast, carefully balancing the tray in her hands.

"Miss," Shiri began hesitantly, her expression unsure.

Hope didn’t miss the maid’s nervous posture or the way she avoided eye contact.

Of course. Evelina had a reputation in this household. If even her personal maid was this wary of her, she could only imagine how terribly she must have treated the servants.

Hope let out a quiet, wry laugh.

"Just as I thought… this won’t be easy."

As evening settled in, the grand double doors of Evelina's quarters creaked open, and Duke Lucius Greystone stepped inside with an air of authority. His cold, calculating gaze swept across the room before settling on Evelina. Yet, instead of offering any words of concern for his daughter’s recent illness, he seated himself across from her with an impassive expression.

"Evelina," he said curtly, "how is your health?"

Hope, trapped in Evelina’s body, felt her heart pound under his piercing gaze. The fear of being discovered as an imposter sent a shiver down her spine. But even more unsettling was the lack of warmth from the man who was supposed to be her father.

She had never known parental love in her previous life, but seeing it absent here as well stirred something deep within her—a strange, aching sadness.

"Is this my chance?" she wondered. "If I apologize for Evelina's past mistakes, even though they weren’t mine, maybe I can change her reputation. If I can earn their trust, I might have a chance to survive this story."

Lucius’s voice cut through her thoughts like a blade. "Your younger sister, Selene, is praised across the empire for her remarkable abilities. She has proven herself invaluable, especially after assisting the Crown Prince in the recent monster outbreak." He leaned back slightly, his tone laced with disappointment. "And you? You were nothing but a hindrance. You slowed the prince down and returned home in disgrace, only to fall ill."

Hope clenched her fists beneath the table.

"What kind of father speaks to his daughter like this?" she thought bitterly.

She recalled the details of the novel—how Lucius had despised Evelina from the very beginning. Evelina’s mother, the previous Duchess, had died giving birth to her, and for that, Lucius never forgave her. He had cast her aside, treating her more as an obligation than as a daughter.

"If he had shown her even a fraction of kindness, maybe Evelina wouldn’t have turned out the way she did. He created the villain he despises."

Lucius studied her with an unreadable expression before speaking again. "Since you have little else to offer this family, I will begin searching for a suitable marriage alliance. You are of the right age. If you cannot bring honor through talent, you will strengthen our standing through marriage."

Hope's mind reeled.

"This is it—this is the part of the novel where Selene meets the Crown Prince for the first time. That means I have roughly a year left before I'm sent away to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom."

She swallowed hard, panic creeping in. She needed to act—quickly.

Before she could second-guess herself, she pushed her chair back and knelt before Lucius, her head bowed low.

"Father, I’ve wronged you." Her voice trembled, though the emotions behind it were genuine. "I sincerely apologize for the trouble I have caused you and the family."

Lucius’s eyes flickered with the slightest hint of surprise. It was the first time Evelina had ever uttered such words.

Hope continued, her voice steady despite the nervous thudding in her chest. "But I don’t wish to be married off just yet. Since waking up, I’ve come to realize how little I have contributed to this household. Please, give me a chance to prove myself first."

For the first time since the conversation began, Lucius hesitated. His sharp features betrayed no emotion, yet his silence spoke volumes.

Finally, he straightened his posture and exhaled. "Evelina, stand up. We are nobles. Kneeling like this is beneath you."

Hope obeyed, her legs shaking slightly as she rose to her feet.

Lucius studied her for a moment longer before turning toward the door. "We will discuss this matter another time."

With that, he exited the room without another word.

As the doors shut behind him, Hope felt her entire body sag with relief. She had managed to stall her fate—at least for now. But an unease still lingered in her chest.

"What if he starts paying closer attention? What if he finds out I’m not really Evelina?"

Lost in thought, she barely noticed Shiri approaching.

"Miss," Shiri said softly, her gaze filled with concern, "you look troubled. A walk in the garden might clear your mind."

Hope blinked, snapping out of her daze. She glanced at Shiri, noting how the maid's usual formality was tinged with quiet worry.

"She really knows how to read people."

Shiri had always been the only person Evelina trusted—an orphan she had taken in, a loyal companion who had followed her even after marriage.

Hope offered a small nod. "That sounds like a good idea."

Together, they stepped into the grand estate garden, where the evening air was crisp with the scent of blooming flowers. The sky had deepened into a rich indigo, scattered with stars twinkling like tiny jewels. Fireflies flickered amidst the bushes, their soft glow adding a dreamlike quality to the scenery.

Hope walked slowly, taking in the beauty around her. This place is breathtaking… The night view alone makes this world feel surreal.

She settled onto a stone bench near a bed of roses, exhaling deeply.

"I never took the time to appreciate this," she murmured.

Shiri, who stood beside her, hesitated before speaking. "Miss… You seem different today."

Hope turned to her, caught off guard. "Different?"

Shiri nodded. "You seem… calmer. Less troubled than before."

Hope smiled wryly. If only she knew.

"I suppose illness changes a person," she replied vaguely.

Shiri remained quiet for a moment, then softly said, "Whatever it is, I hope it brings you peace, Miss."

Hope studied her maid’s face—so young yet so perceptive.

"You’re a strange one, Shiri."

Shiri blinked in surprise. "Miss?"

Hope shook her head with a small laugh. "Nothing. Just… thank you."

A faint, genuine smile appeared on Shiri’s lips.

The night breeze picked up, sending a chill through the air. Before Hope could react, a small sneeze escaped her.

Shiri immediately stepped forward. "Miss, the breeze is getting cold. We should head inside."

Hope glanced at her, warmth filling her chest at the maid’s quiet attentiveness.

"Alright," she agreed.

As they walked back toward the estate, Hope noticed the subtle relief in Shiri’s expression. She had a feeling that, in this unfamiliar world, Shiri would be her one true ally.