"Absolutely not."
I stared at the pile of dresses in horror.
The maids stared back in confusion.
"My lady," one of them said carefully, "these are the finest gowns prepared for the imperial banquet."
That was exactly the problem.
Every single dress looked aggressively expensive.
Gold embroidery.
Diamonds.
Layers upon layers of silk.
One of them literally sparkled under sunlight like it had its own magical effects.
"No," I repeated firmly. "These are too flashy."
The original Alexandra loved standing at the center of attention.
Unfortunately for her, that attention usually included public humiliation.
According to the novel, Alexandra wore an eye-catching crimson gown to the banquet in order to impress Crown Prince Cedric.
Meanwhile, Adeline arrived in a simple silver dress.
The prince immediately called Adeline "refreshing."
Alexandra got jealous.
And thus began the road to execution.
I crossed my arms confidently.
This time, things would be different.
"I want the simplest dress you have."
The maids looked genuinely distressed.
"My lady… House Raine cannot appear simple."
Right.
Forgot about noble pride.
"Fine," I sighed. "Then elegant. But not… peacock-level."
They clearly didn't understand my comparison, but thankfully they nodded anyway.
After nearly an hour of preparation, I finally stood before the mirror again.
A dark blue gown wrapped elegantly around my figure, decorated with silver embroidery resembling stars across the fabric.
It was beautiful.
Not overly dramatic.
Just enough to say "rich noble lady" without screaming "future criminal."
The head maid smiled softly.
"You look stunning, my lady."
I blinked awkwardly.
Compliments still felt strange.
Especially because in my previous life, the closest thing I got to praise was "your group project was acceptable."
"…Thank you."
The maids froze.
Again.
Right.
Original Alexandra probably didn't thank people either.
At this point, the servants definitely thought I had developed a personality disorder overnight.
A knock echoed through the room.
"The carriage is prepared."
My soul attempted to leave my body.
The banquet.
It was time.
I inhaled deeply before grabbing my skirt dramatically.
"Today," I whispered to myself, "we survive."
The imperial palace was enormous.
Actually, enormous still wasn't enough to describe it.
The palace looked like someone gathered every fantasy cliché possible and threw money at it.
Golden lights illuminated the massive ballroom while crystal chandeliers glittered overhead like stars.
Nobles dressed in extravagant outfits filled the room, laughing elegantly while orchestras played soft music in the background.
Meanwhile, I wanted to throw up.
The moment I entered beside Duke Raine, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Whispers spread across the ballroom.
"That's Lady Alexandra Raine…"
"She's even more beautiful in person…"
"I heard she's obsessed with the Crown Prince."
Excuse me?!
Could everyone stop exposing my character settings publicly?!
I forced myself to maintain a calm expression.
Nobles were terrifying.
Everyone smiled politely while secretly judging each other.
It felt exactly like social media except with diamonds.
Duke Raine glanced at me briefly.
"Stand properly."
I immediately straightened my posture.
"Yes, Father."
He paused.
"…Good."
Wow.
Another 0.1% emotional approval unlocked.
At this rate, maybe I'd receive a whole smile by chapter fifty.
The Duke soon disappeared to speak with other nobles, leaving me alone in the battlefield known as high society.
Several young ladies immediately approached me.
And unfortunately—
I recognized them.
Blonde curls.
Pink gown.
Annoying smile.
Lilia Valentine.
Beside her stood a tall brunette with sharp eyes.
Emily Everett.
Alexandra's original bullying squad.
Wonderful.
"Alexandra!" Lilia exclaimed dramatically. "You finally arrived."
Emily tilted her head suspiciously.
"You seem quieter today."
Because I'm trying not to become publicly executable.
"I'm simply tired," I answered smoothly.
Lilia linked arms with me immediately.
"Come. We heard the Crown Prince will arrive shortly."
Danger alert.
Danger alert.
I needed to avoid Cedric completely.
The less interaction I had with the male lead, the better my survival chances.
"I'd rather not," I said quickly.
Both girls froze.
"…What?" Emily asked.
"I have no interest in following the Crown Prince around."
The two girls looked at me as if I had suddenly declared war on the empire.
Lilia even touched my forehead.
"Alexandra… are you ill?"
Emotionally, yes.
Before I could answer, the grand doors opened.
The ballroom instantly fell silent.
Ah.
The male lead had arrived.
Crown Prince Cedric entered surrounded by knights and nobles.
Just like the novel described, he was absurdly handsome.
Tall.
Black hair.
Golden eyes.
The type of face artists on the internet would spend years obsessing over.
The women nearby sighed dreamily.
I, however, only saw danger.
That man was the main reason Alexandra lost her head.
Literally.
Cedric greeted the nobles politely, but his expression remained indifferent.
Cold.
Distant.
Honestly?
Kind of intimidating.
Then—
The ballroom doors opened again.
And everything changed.
A girl stepped inside quietly beside a middle-aged man.
Black shoulder-length hair.
Red eyes.
Simple silver gown.
Fair skin.
Adeline Augustus.
The heroine.
The entire ballroom seemed to pause for a second.
Even I forgot how to breathe.
Because—
"She's ridiculously pretty," I whispered unconsciously.
Lilia scoffed beside me.
"She looks ordinary."
ARE YOU BLIND?!
Ordinary?!
Adeline wasn't flashy like the other noble ladies.
She was elegant in a soft, natural way.
The kind of beauty that felt warm instead of overwhelming.
And unfortunately—
I immediately noticed Crown Prince Cedric staring at her.
Ah.
The plot had activated.
Adeline looked visibly nervous under the attention of the nobles.
Some ladies already whispered behind their fans mockingly.
"Baron Augustus' daughter?"
"Her dress is too plain."
"She doesn't belong here."
I felt my stomach sink.
Because in the original story…
this was where Alexandra joined the mockery.
Lilia smirked.
"Should we greet her?"
NO WE SHOULD NOT.
Every survival instinct inside me activated instantly.
If I approached Adeline now, the story would officially begin.
But before I could escape—
Lilia grabbed my wrist.
"Come on."
I was dragged across the ballroom like a kidnapped victim.
Please.
Please no.
Adeline noticed us approaching and stiffened nervously.
Up close, she looked even prettier.
This novel's author clearly had favorites.
Lilia smiled sweetly.
The fake noble smile.
The dangerous one.
"You must be Lady Adeline Augustus."
Adeline bowed politely.
"Yes. It's an honor to meet you."
Emily's eyes scanned Adeline's dress.
"How simple."
There it was.
The bullying dialogue had started.
Adeline lowered her gaze slightly.
"I apologize if my appearance disappoints you."
NOOOO.
Why did she sound so pitiful?!
I suddenly remembered why readers loved her.
She genuinely seemed kind.
Meanwhile, the original Alexandra acted like a rich disaster.
Lilia glanced toward me expectantly.
Waiting.
This was Alexandra's line in the novel.
The moment she insulted Adeline publicly for the first time.
The moment that started everything.
The ballroom seemed quieter somehow.
As if everyone was waiting for my reaction.
Even Crown Prince Cedric was watching from nearby.
Crap.
My brain screamed in panic.
Then suddenly—
I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"…Your dress is beautiful."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lilia's smile cracked instantly.
Emily looked horrified.
Adeline blinked in shock.
Even the nearby nobles stared at me like I'd gone insane.
Which honestly?
Fair.
Adeline looked completely caught off guard.
"…Thank you," she answered softly.
And for the first time since arriving in this world—
the story changed.