"No, no, no! I won't marry the Ice Queen! No, no, no!" I shouted as loud as I could while the guards dragged me back to my room.
I kept kicking and struggling, but they didn't care. Behind us, Akari followed quietly, looking worried.
When we finally got to my room, the guards let me go and left. I flopped onto my bed, my hair all messy from the dragging.
"Cousin Rin," Akari said softly, trying to calm me down, "please… I'm sure my father will reject Selene's proposal. He won't let this happen."
I sat up quickly, staring at her like she just said the dumbest thing ever.
"Are you sure?!" I snapped. "Because he was ready to give you away without blinking. What makes me so different, huh?"
My chest felt heavy, and my head was spinning. I couldn't believe this was happening to me.
I used to just be a side character — staying out of the way, letting the main characters shine.
All I ever wanted was to help Akari and Rei find their happy ending, and to make sure nobody died like in the original story.
But now? Now the villainess herself wanted to marry me. Me.
I fell flat on my bed, kicked my feet, and cried into my pillow like a spoiled little kid throwing a tantrum.
"No no no no no," I mumbled into the pillow, hitting it with my fists.
Then I peeked out of the pillow and saw Akari covering her mouth, trying so hard not to laugh.
I sat up and glared at her.
"Do you really think this is funny, Cousin Akari?!" I pointed at myself, then the door where the guards left. "I'm being treated like some item, handed off to the Ice Queen like a… like a free sample! And you're laughing?!"
Akari's shoulders shook, and she finally burst out laughing.
"Sorry, Cousin Rin," she said, wiping her eyes. "But the way you acted in the hall — and just now — was so funny. I couldn't help it!"
I crossed my arms, pouting.
"Ohhh, because you dodged the bullet, huh? Easy for you to laugh."
Then it hit me all over again, and I grabbed my head.
"Oh no, what am I going to do?" I cried out, flopping back onto the bed.
"I don't want to get married! I'm too young to be married! I don't even want to be married, ever!"
My voice cracked at the end, and I kept kicking my feet on the mattress like a frustrated child.
But then the door opened.
I froze.
Master Akarawa walked in, his expression cold and unreadable, and right behind him was Shion.
They both stopped just inside the room, staring at me as I sat there — red-faced, messy-haired, still crying into my pillow.
They didn't say anything at first. They just stood there like they wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come.
Akari quickly bowed her head to show respect, and I jumped off the bed, scrambled to her side, and bowed too, nodding awkwardly.
"Shion," Master Akarawa finally said.
"Yes, Father," Shion replied softly and bowed.
"Send a message to the Kisaragi clan," he said without looking at me. "Tell them their daughter is getting married."
Both Akari and I gasped so loudly the whole room felt heavy with it.
"Yes," Shion said right away, but her voice was tight. She turned to leave… then stopped halfway at the door.
She stood there for a moment, her hand resting on the frame, then slowly turned her head and looked at me.
And I understood.
Her eyes said everything.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to say no.
But she couldn't.
What would you do if the person you loved all your life was being taken from you, and you couldn't even open your mouth to fight for them?
That was Shion.
Unlike Akari, she didn't fight her father. She obeyed everything he said, even if it crushed her heart.
So she just swallowed it, clenched her jaw, and walked out.
After she was gone, Master Akarawa stepped closer.
I kept my head down, but I could feel the weight of his stare on me.
Then his hand rested on my shoulder.
"Rin," he said, his voice calm but heavy. "You've always been brave. I remember when your mother brought you to this household… you were just a little girl then. I took you in not as my niece, but as my daughter. You've grown strong… and you've always carried yourself with dignity."
I bit my lip hard to stop my tears, but it didn't work.
"This is an opportunity," he continued. "For you… for all of us. The Kisaragi name has been called powerless for generations. You can change that. You can bring honor and rank to your clan. Marrying the Ice Queen is a blessing for your family. My sister—your mother—would be proud of you."
I felt his hand squeeze my shoulder lightly before letting go.
His words burned inside my chest. My throat ached, and my heart felt like it was sinking lower and lower.
But this wasn't the story I wanted.
I didn't want to be anyone's hope.
I didn't want to carry anyone's name or honor.
I just wanted to help Akari and Rei find their happy ending — that was all.
Not… this political nonsense. Not this drama.
But all I could do was nod quietly.
Master Akarawa turned away, walking toward the door.
"Akari," he said without looking back. "Let's have a word. In your room."
"Yes, Father," Akari said softly, then followed him out.
When the door shut behind them, I finally let out the breath I'd been holding. My shoulders sank, heavy, like I'd been carrying the whole world on my back.
That's when I noticed something by the window.
I walked over and slowly slid it open… but there was no one there.
For a moment, I thought I imagined it.
Then I felt it — a chill running down my spine.
I turned around and froze.
Selene was standing right behind me.
Her long silver hair was already down, spilling all over the floor, shimmering faintly in the dim light.
"Hey, Kisaragi," she said, her voice calm but sharp.
My hands balled into fists. "Why are you doing this? How is this your biggest plan? What are you even trying to gain from all of this? Why?" I blurted, my words rushing out of me.
She tilted her head slightly, her icy-blue eyes locking on mine.
"Which question should I answer first?" she asked, her tone almost playful.
Then she stepped closer.
Closer.
So close I could feel the cold air around her.
"Rin Kisaragi… you're different from everyone else," she said, smiling faintly. "That night… I've never seen anyone like you."
"What?" I said, confused, my voice barely a whisper.
"You can't die," she murmured, her smile growing. "Which makes you… perfect for me. I'll make you mine."
Her words sent a shiver through my whole body.
What is happening? Why is she… saying things like this?
Why is the villainess acting like this?
"I'm not an item to be owned," I shot back, my voice shaky but firm.
She smiled again — a smile that was terrifying and beautiful at the same time.
Her silver hair shifted slightly as she leaned even closer.
"I don't belong to anyone," I added quickly, stepping back. "And I'll never let you own me. Never."
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't seem upset. In fact, her smile only deepened, and it sent a chill through me.
"Okay then, Kisaragi," she said softly. "Let's see… how long it takes before you break down your walls… and let me own all of you."
I swallowed hard, backing up until my legs hit the bed.
This is terrifying.
It feels like the author LeeDevil changed the whole story and made me the main character instead of just a side one.
But why?
Why is she doing this?