Chapter 1: A New Life in a Wretched Place
Rita Oreira blinked against the bright sunlight coming through the window. "Shit! I'm still here... I guess this wasn't a dream..."
She squinted at the ornate ceiling; its gilded edges started shining like something out of a fairy tale.
This was not her cozy apartment or her cluttered radio studio filled with gossip magazines and half-empty coffee cups.
No, this was a grand bedroom fit for a villainess.
"Great," she muttered, sitting up and running her fingers through her curly hair.
"So, I've transmigrated into a fantasy novel. What's next? A dragon?"
On the bedside table, her pet parrot, Pedro Miguel Rodriguez, was standing in a golden cage.
He fluffed his feathers, his beady eyes sparkled from the sunlight.
"Rita! Rita! What's the tea?" he squawked, mimicking her voice perfectly.
"Not much, Pedro. Just the fact that I'm stuck in the body of Lirian Nightwind, a character who's destined to betray the man I'm supposed to marry... it's been about four hours since I passed out, and I'm still here."
Rita sighed, rubbing her temples. "Why did I have to try to save you? I could have just let that burglar take everything."
She glanced over the open wooden window. "Good ventilation system."
Pedro lifted his head, as if understanding her words. "Slay, b*tch!" he chirped.
As cold wind brushed against her skin, she felt the hair on her arms stand on end.
A chill ran through her, tightening her muscles as she glanced over her shoulder.
"Exactly! If only it were that easy. I'm not here to slay anyone!" Rita replied back, rolling her eyes.
"What was I thinking? I should have just grabbed my phone and called for help."
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, her new body felt strange and foreign.
It was a lot smaller and tinier than she was in her past life.
She no longer had a belly that had formed itself from eating donuts and drinking energy drinks.
It was unreasonably skinny, as if Lirian didn't know what food was.
Lirian Nightwind was supposed to be a glamorous villainess, but Rita felt like a mess.
Her wardrobe was filled with luxurious gowns, but they were all so... much. "How do people even wear these?" she grumbled, eyeing a flowing purple dress that seemed to shine with every move.
"Fashion is life!" Pedro squawked, flapping his wings in agreement. "Let it cook!"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. But let's focus on the fact that I'm supposed to marry Gabriel Sylcrest, the wicked duke with a goal for destruction."
Rita paced around the room, biting her lip.
"In the original story, Lirian betrays him, and he kills her in a fit of rage. How do I avoid that? I'm not exactly a master strategist... all I did in my past life was stalking and making rumours."
Pedro hopped onto her shoulder, nipping at her earlobe playfully. "Sus, very sus!" he squawked, clearly enjoying her distress.
"Tell me about it!" Rita let out a long sigh, pulling her hair into a messy bun.
"I went from hosting a radio show about relationships and celebrity gossip to being a character who's destined to die at the hands of her own husband! This is not the career move I had in mind."
As she wandered around the room, memories of her past life rushed like a river.
She could still hear the laughter of her colleagues, the thrill of sharing juicy stories on air, and the excitement of connecting with her listeners.
"I loved my job," she whispered.
"I was making a difference, even if it was just through gossip. And now? I'm stuck in a fantasy world where I might end up as a corpse."
Pedro moved his head. "You regret dying?"
"Of course! Who wouldn't?" Rita exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
"I had a life, friends, a career! I was living my dream! And now I'm supposed to be a villainess? What is even my motivation here? What am I supposed to do?"
"Make it entertaining!" Pedro chirped back, flapping his wings in excitement. "Give them a show!"
Rita couldn't help but laugh at her feathery companion.
"You know what? You might be onto something. If I'm going to be Lirian Nightwind, I might as well do it with class."
She glanced at the mirror; her reflection was looking back at her with the dark, dramatic makeup typical of a villainess.
"Okay, Lirian. Let's give this a shot. I'll play the part, but I'm not going to die by Gabriel. I'll find a way to change my fate."
Rita opened the door and stepped into the lavish hallway.
The original character had two brothers that loved her dearly, Gunther and Johann.
They were supposed to look like a male version of her.
The walls were covered with portraits of stern-looking ancestors.
She felt like their eyes followed her every move. "Creepy much?" she muttered, shivering slightly under their gaze.
"Look at you, brave girl!" Pedro encouraged, bouncing on her shoulder. "Time to charm the wicked duke!"
"Pedro, maybe stop learning new words so fast?"
As she made her way downstairs, the aroma of breakfast wafted through the air, making her stomach growl.
"I could go for some pancakes right about now," she said simply.
"Let it cook!" Pedro spoke again.
"I really hope you will shut up... I will get in trouble if you continue using my past life lines."
'Gosh... you should've stayed at home.'
Entering the grand dining hall, she was met with the sight of Gunther Nightwind, her oldest brother, seated at the head of the table.
His long light brown hair fell over his forehead, and his bright blue eyes met hers, sending a rush of nerves through her.
"Ah, Lirian," he said in a voice as smooth as silk.
"You're finally awake. I was beginning to think you'd sleep the day away."
"Sorry to keep you waiting, my lord," she replied, forcing a smile. "I was just... contemplating my new role as—"
Gunther raised an eyebrow. "My lord?" he asked, finding it strange, but then brushed the idea off.
"I told you so many times that I don't like when you are late."
"Wicked! Wicked!" Pedro shouted.
"And what's wrong with this parrot? Why did you feel the need to bring this bird here?"
Lirian rolled her eyes. 'He's so handsome when he's mad. Why does he need to be my brother?'
"It's my friend."
"Clearly, when even getting kidnapped, all you can think about is this bird."
"Kidnapped?"
"Yes. Has the shock wiped your memory? You were kidnapped by the glorious Gabriel Sylcrest a few days ago."
'Wow, he really is the villain,' she thought to herself.
"Brother," she slammed her hands on the table, "I came to talk to you about him. Can I cancel my engagement and marry a simple merchant? I feel like me and Gabriel won't do well together."
"Cancel? Lirian, are you out of your mind?" Johann joined the conversation. "The wedding is in two days."
"What?!"