1. BEAST

Serena

"Catch her, thief!" the bookstore owner yelled, chasing me. I only giggled, knowing he was no match for me, running with the book in my arm.

I hadn't planned on stealing, but with everyone talking about the novel and the villainous cannon fodder having my name, I didn't have a choice.

The novel had been sold out for three weeks.

People fought over the last copies online.

Bookstores had waiting lists longer than university admission queues. Every review claimed the same thing.

"The villainess dies the most miserable death in romance history."

Normally, I wouldn't care.

But then someone spoiled the villainess's name.

Serena.

My name

Curiosity became obsession overnight. I skipped lunch, ignored my assignments, and visited every bookstore in town searching for one copy. Every time I arrived, the shelves were empty.

Then today...

One lonely copy sat on the display shelf like destiny itself.

The owner had refused to sell it because someone had reserved it.

So...

I borrowed it.

Without permission.

I'd return it after reading.

Probably.

Just a few more steps and I would be smiling in the bosom of this bestselling romance story.

I hugged the book tighter against my chest.

"So close..." I whispered with a grin.

Just a few more meters.

The bus stop was ahead.

Once I escaped, no one would ever catch me.

The old man behind me wheezed like he had already run a marathon.

I almost felt bad.

Almost.

Then—

SLIP! THUD!

I fell to the ground, a searing pain coursing through my bones.

I heard footsteps tapping against the floor as they drew closer to where I lay.

Warm liquid flowed beneath my head. I didn't want to stand up.

I couldn't.

The last thing I heard before completely blacking out was—

"Is she dead?"

"Heard she was running because she stole a book and was being chased."

"She deserves it."

"Poor her."

"What a disgraceful way to die."

"Ahh..." I groaned, rubbing my head that was sure to be cracked open.

"Wait..." I paused as the surroundings twisted before my eyes.

"Serena."

A voice growled from in front of me, making my head snap up.

A white-haired man, maybe the eldest, stood before me.

The room looked nothing like a hospital.

Instead of white walls and machines, polished wooden pillars stretched toward a high ceiling.

Thick velvet curtains framed enormous windows, allowing golden sunlight to spill across the floor.

The air smelled faintly of flowers and sandalwood.

Expensive.

Too expensive.

Either I'd been kidnapped by billionaires...

Or I'd hit my head much harder than I thought.

Beside him stood two other men and a girl.

Was that rabbit ears?

It had to be a prop.

Is this a costume party?

Wasn't I supposed to be in the hospital after falling down?

Which psychotic person would bring me here instead?

Come to think of it, I wasn't feeling any pain.

"Serena," he growled my name again.

"What?" I snapped, trying to think.

How did he even know my name?

"Big Brother, it isn't Sister's fault. Maybe she was framed," the girl said meekly, her rabbit ears drooping slightly.

I laughed.

"Framed?" I asked. "Framed for what? Falling?"

Everyone stared at me like I'd grown animal ears.

Maybe I had.

My ears twitched.

An ear was supposed to be by the sides of my head.

Mine was literally on top of my head.

I reached up with trembling fingers.

Soft fur brushed against my palm.

The ear twitched beneath my touch.

"Nope."

I touched it again.

It twitched again.

"Nope."

I slapped both cheeks.

The room stayed exactly the same.

"This is either the world's most committed prank..."

I looked at everyone.

"...or I'm officially insane."

And it was hairy.

"Bring out the cameras. You can't film me without my permission," I said, walking toward what seemed like the exit.

Footsteps rushed toward me before warmth covered my hand, holding me in place.

I looked down.

The rabbit girl was kneeling with teary eyes.

"Sis, don't make Big Brother more mad. Please, just get on your knees."

She clasped my hand between hers.

"Who is your sister?" I asked, pulling my hand away and making her fall.

"I don't do scripted plays."

I kept walking away, but suddenly my feet left the ground.

The brown-haired guy had picked me up and dropped me back in front of the scary-looking white-haired man.

"You son of a bitch," I groaned, standing up.

I stumbled two steps before catching my balance.

"Seriously?" I rubbed my aching shoulder and glared at him. "You could've at least warned me. Do all of you solve problems by throwing people around?"

The brown-haired man merely folded his arms, his expression unreadable.

"He's definitely the silent bodyguard type," I muttered.

The white-haired man's golden eyes never left me.

They weren't merely angry.

They were disappointed... almost as if he'd already given up on me long ago.

For some strange reason, that look made my chest tighten.

Wait... why am I feeling guilty? I don't even know these people.

"You are unrepentant and still as villainous as ever. You don't value your life, and I shall show no mercy."

"Spare me the theatrics."

"Brother, please..." the rabbit girl knelt beside me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Sister, I can't lose you. I have already lost enough.

Please don't leave me too," she whispered, clutching the hem of my robe.

Elara's rabbit ears drooped until they almost hid her face.

Tears gathered in her bright eyes.

"Sister," she whispered, "I know everyone blames you, but I don't. Please... just apologize once. Big Brother might forgive you."

She squeezed my fingers with trembling hands.

"I don't want to be alone again."

I stared at the crying girl.

She looked genuinely heartbroken.

There wasn't the slightest hint of acting.

Which only made everything worse.

Either these people deserve an Oscar... or I'm the one who's lost my mind.

"Tsk." I scoffed, folding my arms and looking away.

"Elara, stand up now. Don't waste your sympathy on this shameless woman," the fierce-looking orange-haired man said.

"Who even needs her sympathy?"

"If you guys aren't bringing out the cameras, let me leave," I sighed before adding, "I might be guilty of borrowing things without permission, but I'm certainly suing this dump of a place."

"From this day onward Serena has been......."

Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed inside my head.

[DING!]

Congratulations, Host. Guess what? Never mind, anyway.

You have successfully transmigrated and can now gleefully become part of the story you wholeheartedly stole.

I am your System. My name is System. Don't try to rename me.

Unfortunately, your new body is about to undergo stripping you of your title if that's even a word, banishment, defamation, execution... the list goes on.

Current Survival Rate: 0.8%

Emergency Protocol Initiated.

Complete your first mission within ten seconds or face a dramatic death.

At least it won't be as disgraceful as your first death.

Don't worry. Your first mission will be hot.

Emergency Detection Complete...

Host's IQ: Acceptable.

Host's Luck: Catastrophically Terrible.

Host's Mouth: Excessively Reckless.

Overall Evaluation...

Congratulations! You are perfectly qualified to become this world's most hated villainess.

"Excuse me?" I frowned.

Please save your complaints after surviving.

---

Mission begins in...

5..

"Wait."

4...

"You can't just start counting!"

3...

"I don't even know the mission!"

2..

Mission: Kiss the man who wants to execute you.

Failure = Death.