Chapter 2: A New Reality

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.

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