Chapter 3: The System’s Real Game

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 since her encounter with Duke Lucien Valemont.

Evelina tapped her fingers against the desk.

“System, open status window.”

A translucent blue screen immediately appeared before her eyes.

[HOST STATUS]

Name: Evelina Rosenthal

Role: Villainess

Intelligence: 250 (+100)

Magic Ability: Dark Magic — Level 1

Survival Rate: 12%

Evelina stared at the final number.

“Only twelve percent?”

Her eyebrows slowly drew together.

“Even after everything I've done?”

[System Response: The plot seeks balance, Host.]

Evelina's expression hardened.

“What does that mean?”

For a few seconds, the System remained silent.

Then another line appeared.

[Major Plot Event Detected.]

[Prince Cedric and Princess Alice are currently conspiring with the Imperial Guard.]

[Objective: Frame the Rosenthal Family for Treason.]

[Estimated Time Until Execution of Plan: 30 Days.]

Evelina's eyes became dangerously cold.

“So that's their next move.”

She slowly leaned back in her chair.

In her previous life, the Rosenthal family had fallen exactly this way. They had been accused of conspiring against the imperial family, their assets had been confiscated, and their titles had been stripped away. Evelina herself had been branded a traitor and eventually executed.

Back then, she had believed the accusation was unavoidable.

Now she knew better.

“They really don't learn, do they?”

A cold laugh escaped her lips.

She rose from her chair and walked toward the tall windows overlooking the capital. Thousands of lights glittered in the distance, making the city appear peaceful and beautiful.

But Evelina knew what existed beneath that beautiful surface.

Schemes.

Betrayals.

Greed.

And blood.

The original story had always been written to make the heroine and hero shine. The villainess had been deliberately portrayed as foolish, jealous, and incapable of defending herself. Every mistake she made pushed the main characters closer to their happy ending.

But Evelina was no longer that woman.

She was no longer willing to follow a script written by someone else.

“If the author gave me the role of the villainess…”

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

“Then I'll rewrite the ending.”

She raised one hand.

A small dark-purple flame suddenly appeared on her fingertips.

The flame was unlike ordinary fire. It did not produce smoke, nor did it burn the surrounding air. Instead, it twisted gracefully around her fingers like a living creature responding to her thoughts.

Evelina watched it carefully.

Dark magic.

The power granted to her by the System.

Her increased intelligence allowed her to understand its basic principles, but she could sense that Level 1 was only the beginning.

The flame disappeared into her palm.

Immediately, another notification appeared.

[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE.]

[Quest: Uncover the Royal Blood Conspiracy.]

[Reward: Absolute Control of the Rosenthal Estate.]

[Failure: Execution by Poison.]

Evelina stared at the final sentence.

Then she smiled.

“Execution?”

Her voice was almost amused.

“They can try.”

She turned away from the window.

“If they want to destroy my family, I'll destroy everything protecting them first.”

Before she could continue, a sudden flutter came from outside.

Evelina immediately looked toward the window.

A black raven landed gracefully on the stone windowsill. A small letter was attached to its leg, sealed with blue wax.

Evelina recognized the crest immediately.

The Valemont family.

Her eyes narrowed.

She opened the window and took the letter from the raven. After breaking the seal, she unfolded the paper.

There was only one sentence.

The prince is moving his pieces tonight. Meet me at the northern border if you want to flip the board.

—L.V.

Evelina read it twice.

Then she folded the letter carefully and placed it inside her sleeve.

A ruthless smile slowly appeared on her face.

“The Duke wants to play.”

She glanced toward the dark capital beyond the window.

“Very well.”

Her eyes gleamed with determination.

“Let's see who turns out to be the real villain.”