LOGINPain was the last thing Evelina remembered. The blinding headlights of a truck, the screech of metal, and the cold silence of death.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer on a wet asphalt street. She was sitting in front of a grand vanity mirror dressed in a crimson silk gown. "Lady Evelina? Are you listening to me?" Evelina turned her head slowly. Standing beside her was a maid holding a bottle of perfume, looking at her with hidden disdain. A flood of memories rushed into Evelina’s mind. She looked at her reflection: sharp amber eyes, silver hair, and a face built for arrogance. She had not just died—she had been reborn as Evelina Rosenthal, the tragic villainess of a popular novel she had read in her past life. According to the original plot, Evelina was framed for poison, abandoned by her family, dumped by her fiance Prince Cedric, and executed by Duke Lucien Valemont. A foolish end for someone with this much wealth and beauty, Evelina thought, a sharp, dangerous smile spreading across her lips. Too bad for them. I don't play the victim. Suddenly, a cold, metallic sound rang inside her head. [SYSTEM ACTIVATED.] [Welcome, Host: Evelina Rosenthal.] [Main Mission: Change Your Fate.] [Failure Penalty: Permanent Death.] [Current Fate Level: 1% Survival Chance.] Evelina didn't panic. She raised an eyebrow in her mind. A system? Fine. Just make sure you don't get in my way. [Warning: Prince Cedric von Aethelgard has arrived to break the engagement. Side Quest Initiated: Accept the breakup with dignity or punish the Prince. Reward: +100 Intelligence Points.] Before the notification faded, the heavy wooden doors of her room slammed open. Prince Cedric walked in, wearing his polished gold-and-white imperial uniform. Behind him stood Princess Alice, wearing a white dress, looking like a fragile lamb hiding behind a lion. "Evelina," Cedric spoke coldly, crossing his arms. "Your endless jealousy toward Alice ends today. I am ending our engagement. You are no longer fit to be the future Empress." Alice stepped forward, tears pooling in her big, soft eyes. "Sister Evelina, please don't be mad at His Highness. It was all my fault... I didn't mean to steal his heart." In the original novel, the old Evelina would have screamed, cried, and begged on her knees, making herself look like a insane monster. Instead, the new Evelina casually leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and picked up a glass of wine from the table. She took a slow sip, her amber eyes scanning them like trash on the roadside. "Are you done talking?" Evelina asked softly, her voice cool and completely devoid of emotion. Cedric froze, caught off guard by her total lack of tears. "What?" "I said, are you done talking?" Evelina repeated, standing up gracefully. She walked up to Cedric, towering with her sharp posture. "You came into my private chambers without permission just to throw a childish tantrum." "Evelina! How dare you speak to the Prince like that!" Alice gasped. Evelina turned her cold gaze toward Alice. In one swift, deliberate movement, Evelina splashed her glass of red wine straight onto Alice’s pure white dress. Alice shrieked in horror. Cedric yelled, "Evelina! Have you lost your mind?!" "You wanted to play the martyr, didn't you, Alice?" Evelina smirked, tossing the empty glass onto the rug. "Now your dress matches your dirty personality. As for you, Cedric—keep the engagement ring. Consider it my charity donation to your poor judgment." [QUEST COMPLETED.] [Target Punished. Reward Granted: +100 Intelligence Points. Dark Magic Affinity Unlocked.] Cedric stared at her in total disbelief. This was not the weak, desperate woman who chased him for years. The eyes staring back at him were intelligent, dangerous, and completely out of his control. "You..... you will regret this, Evelina!" Cedric snarled, grabbing Alice’s hand and retreating out the door in frustration. Evelina wiped her hands with a clean napkin, her eyes cold. "Regret?" she whispered to the empty room. "I'm just getting started."Pain was the last thing Evelina remembered. The blinding headlights of a truck, the screech of metal, and the cold silence of death.When she opened her eyes, she was no longer on a wet asphalt street. She was sitting in front of a grand vanity mirror dressed in a crimson silk gown."Lady Evelina? Are you listening to me?"Evelina turned her head slowly. Standing beside her was a maid holding a bottle of perfume, looking at her with hidden disdain.A flood of memories rushed into Evelina’s mind. She looked at her reflection: sharp amber eyes, silver hair, and a face built for arrogance. She had not just died—she had been reborn as Evelina Rosenthal, the tragic villainess of a popular novel she had read in her past life.According to the original plot, Evelina was framed for poison, abandoned by her family, dumped by her fiance Prince Cedric, and executed by Duke Lucien Valemont.A foolish end for someone with this much wealth and beauty, Evelina thought, a sharp, dangerous smil
The news of Evelina Rosenthal’s broken engagement spread throughout the capital faster than anyone could have imagined.By the following morning, the noble circles were already drowning in gossip.Some said Evelina had been humiliated beyond repair. Others claimed she had lost her mind after discovering that Crown Prince Adrian had chosen Princess Alice over her. There were even rumors that the former fiancée had locked herself inside her bedroom and spent the entire night crying.But the rumors were wrong.Evelina had not cried.She had worked.Within forty-eight hours of breaking off her engagement, Evelina summoned every treasurer responsible for the Rosenthal family’s finances. She carefully reviewed years of financial records, contracts, inventories, and transaction reports.With the System’s analytical interface assisting her, suspicious figures immediately stood out.[SYSTEM ANALYSIS COMPLETE.][Irregular financial transactions detected.][Estimated stolen assets: 3,870,000 gol
Late that night, the Rosenthal estate had fallen into complete silence. The servants had already retired to their quarters, and the halls that were usually filled with footsteps and whispers were now illuminated only by the faint glow of moonlight. Inside her private study, Evelina sat behind a massive oak desk covered with maps, financial records, military reports, and documents concerning the noble families of the empire. Unlike the other ladies of her age, Evelina had no interest in jewelry, dances, or romantic gossip. Her attention was fixed entirely on survival.She leaned back in her chair and stared at the pile of documents before her. Everything she had accomplished during the past few days should have been enough to change her fate. She had broken her engagement with the Crown Prince, exposed corrupt treasurers, recovered millions of gold coins, and secured control over the Rosenthal family's finances. Yet something still bothered her.The System.It had been strangely quiet
The northern border was nothing like the capital.There were no glittering chandeliers, no music drifting through grand ballrooms, and no nobles hiding daggers behind polite smiles. Here, there was only darkness, mist, and the biting cold of the night.The wind swept across the abandoned watchtower, carrying the scent of snow and iron. Evelina stood at the edge of the ruined stone structure, her black fur-lined cloak wrapped tightly around her body. Loose strands of her hair danced against her cheeks, but she made no attempt to fix them.She had come alone.Exactly as the letter had demanded.Her amber eyes remained fixed on the mist below as a shadow slowly emerged from the darkness.Footsteps.Slow.Steady.Unhurried.Evelina's hand instinctively moved toward the dagger hidden beneath her cloak.Then the figure stepped into the pale moonlight.Duke Lucien Valemont.He wore dark armor beneath a long military coat, the metal plates catching faint silver reflections from the moon. A he
Two hours before dawn, the forest surrounding the eastern wing of the Rosenthal Estate was swallowed by darkness.The moon hung low behind a layer of clouds, casting only faint traces of silver light between the towering trees. The wind whispered through the branches, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine.Thirty royal knights moved silently through the forest.Or at least, they tried to.Their armor had been wrapped in cloth to muffle the sound of metal, while their horses were led carefully between the trees. Each man knew the importance of the mission. They were not there to fight.They were there to plant evidence.Several heavily guarded iron chests were being carried toward the Rosenthal vaults. Inside them were forbidden dark-magic artifacts—corrupted crystals, cursed remains, and objects that could easily be used as proof of treason.Once the evidence was discovered, the Rosenthal family would have nowhere to run.The captain raised one hand, bringing the group to a halt.
The Imperial Court had never felt so quiet.The usually restless hall was filled with an uncomfortable silence as the doors remained closed and the nobles sat stiffly in their seats. No one dared to whisper. No one wanted to be the first to attract the Emperor's attention.At the far end of the marble hall, the Emperor sat upon the golden throne.His expression was unreadable, but the anger in his eyes was impossible to miss.Below him stood thirty royal knights, their hands bound in heavy iron chains. Their armor was still stained with dirt from the forest, and several of them looked as though they had barely slept.Beside them were the opened iron chests.The contents were impossible to deny.Forbidden dark-magic artifacts.The sight alone was enough to make several nobles exchange uneasy glances.Prince Cedric stood in the center of the court, his face pale and his hands trembling slightly at his sides. Princess Alice stood beside him, desperately trying to maintain her composure.







