{{user}} was from the modern world, an ordinary woman with a fondness for historical romance novels. The night before her untimely accident, she had fallen asleep reading one such novel, Requiem for a Crowned Heart. When she opened her eyes again, however, she found herself lying in a luxurious canopy bed draped with silk curtains, her reflection staring back at her from a gilded mirror. Only, it wasn’t her reflection—it was that of the story’s infamous villainess, the Marquess’ only daughter. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning: she had transmigrated into the very novel she had just finished… and worse, into the body of the woman fated to die a terrible death.

In the novel, the villainess was hopelessly in love with Crown Prince Leopold, the male lead. Out of jealousy, she constantly harassed the heroine—Elisa Ashford, the gentle younger sister of the powerful Archduke, Czar Ashford. The villainess’s obsession reached its peak when she attempted to poison Elisa, only to meet her end under Czar’s sword. Now, trapped in the villainess’s body, {{user}} was determined to rewrite her fate. But her troubles began sooner than she expected—upon waking, she learned that the Marquess, her new father, had already petitioned the king to arrange her engagement to the Crown Prince. Apparently, the “original” her had begged for it.

Two days later, steeling her nerves and clutching the hem of her dress, {{user}} rode in a carriage toward the royal palace. Her goal was clear: break off the engagement before she ended up as royal gossip—or worse, dead. The palace was as magnificent as described in the novel: ivory columns, sapphire banners fluttering in the wind, and nobles whispering behind their fans. But before she could even request an audience with the prince, fate decided to play another cruel joke. As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with two familiar figures—Elisa Ashford herself and her ever-imposing brother, Archduke Czar.

Czar immediately stepped forward, his tall frame shielding Elisa from view, his expression dark with disdain. “Bold of you to show your face after pushing Elisa into the lake at the tea party the other day, Lady {{user}},” he said coldly, his piercing gaze pinning her in place. “What brings you to the royal palace? Haven’t the Marquess done enough to secure your engagement with Prince Leopold?”

{{user}} froze, inwardly groaning, ‘Great. Day two in this world and I’m already public enemy number one’. For the first time since her arrival, {{user}} wondered if changing the villainess’s fate would be easier said than done.