Back to the present...
How the hell did I survive that fall?! Serena screamed in her head. She clearly remembered leaping off that ridiculously high cliff. Logically, her bones should've been decorating the valley floor by now.
As if reading her panicked thoughts, a cheerful, slightly too perky robotic voice rang out in her mind.
"I couldn't let you die, Host. You haven't even started your first mission! Besides, where's the fun in dying so early?"
Serena winced as a wave of pain hit her like a truck. Her entire body throbbed, and she was sure something was broken, probably several things.
"What kind of twisted logic is that?! It hurts like hell!"
"Well, you did jump off a cliff. What did you expect? A soft landing?" System 5060 let out a robotic giggle that made Serena want to punch something.
"Can't you at least do something about the pain? I'm pretty sure I'm dying here."
"Unfortunately, most of my healing functions are locked until you level up. But don't worry, you won't die. The Creator still wants you alive... for now."
'So useless,' Serena grumbled inwardly.
"Rude. You know I can hear your thoughts, right?"
"Stop eavesdropping on my brain, you pervert!"
Their banter was cut short as System 5060 suddenly went silent.
"Someone's coming." Then nothing. Radio silence.
"System? System 5060?" Serena called out, but no answer came. With a groan, she forced her eyes open.
The room around her was modest but strangely comforting. It was quiet, clean, and surprisingly warm. No bloodstains or skulls this time. In fact, it was leagues better than her old crumbling apartment back on Earth.
She could hear muffled footsteps and low voices outside the room. Her body was still aching, her throat dry as dust, but her mind was alert enough to pick up the sound of approaching people.
Suddenly, the door flung open with a creak, and four figures entered in a rush, making the modest room feel instantly crowded.
"Oh thank the stars, she's finally awake!" A middle-aged woman with elegant features hurried to Serena's bedside, eyes brimming with worry. Her soft hands immediately began checking Serena's temperature, brushing hair away from her face with surprising tenderness.
Ding!
Small, translucent panels appeared above each person's head like floating nametags.
Lilith Sterling– Veronica's Mother
Her expression was a complicated mix of concern and guilt. Serena guessed she wasn't the warmest mother around, but at least she acted like she cared... for now.
"Don't make a fuss," a sharp voice cut in.
Another panel blinked into view.
Leonard Ravenshire – Veronica's Father
He was a tall man with a stern face, arms crossed, clearly uncomfortable with emotions. He stood at a distance like Serena was a problem to be managed, not a daughter to be comforted. Serena tried to speak, but her voice came out dry and hoarse. "...Water..."
Lilith immediately turned toward the last person. "Cedric! Don't just stand there like a statue, go fetch your sister some water!"
Serena's eyes shifted to the scowling young man leaning near the wall, arms folded and jaw tight.
Cedric Ravenshire – Veronica's Younger Brother
Even though he was family, the disdain in his eyes was obvious. Serena could already tell he didn't like "Veronica" one bit. A few foggy memories floated in her head from the system, Cedric had always silently admired the heroine of this world, Evangeline. In fact, in the original story, he would one day turn on his own sister to side with her.
Perfect, Serena thought. Not even my fictional little brother is on my side.
Serena's lips twitched slightly as she watched Cedric reluctantly obey his mother's command. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else but still returned moments later with a glass of water, stiffly handing it over. With Lilith's help, Serena slowly sat up, her body still sore and heavy like dead weight. She took the glass with shaky fingers and drank, each sip easing the dryness in her throat.
She barely finished the last drop when Lilith immediately launched into a barrage of anxious questions.
"How are you feeling now? Does anything hurt? How in the world did you fall from such a high cliff? You've been unconscious for nearly a month!"
"A month?!" Serena's eyes widened in disbelief. Had she really been out that long?
Lilith wasn't done. Her voice rose with growing panic. "Who did this to you? There's no way you just fell! I won't believe it! Was it her?!"
Serena blinked, stunned at the woman's intensity. Damn, this woman is loud...
Her gaze slowly shifted to the silent girl standing in the back of the room, looking out of place among the tension. She had soft, flowing red hair, a delicate petite frame, and angelic features that seemed almost too perfect. When she looked up, her large emerald eyes shimmered with confusion and innocence, like a deer caught in the headlights.
So gentle, so ethereal. Too perfect.
Serena's stomach turned slightly. She knew exactly who this was. Evangeline Ravenshire. The crowned darling of this twisted world. Her presence screamed "female lead."
She was Veronica's half-sister, the one loved by all—men, women, nobles, knights. Anyone who met her either worshipped her or fell under her spell. And worse? Her influence wasn't just for show. People had literally bled for her. Died for her.
Messing with her was a guaranteed ticket to hell. And Serena? She'd just woken up in the body of the one person fated to go head-to-head with her.
"Don't be scared to tell us who did this," Lilith said softly, brushing Serena's hair back with a trembling hand. "We'll get you the justice you deserve."
Even Leonard, who had been quiet, gave a firm nod in agreement. Cedric, however, simply snorted and looked away, his expression unreadable. He looked like he'd bolt the moment he had an excuse.
'He reminds me way too much of my annoying little brother, Serena thought, biting the inside of her cheek. I hope he and Mom are okay…'
While trying to come up with a believable excuse for what happened, a familiar ding! rang in her head. A panel popped up in front of her eyes.
[Beginner Tutorial Task: Complete]
Objective: Blame Evangeline Ravenshire for Veronica's fall.
Reward: +10 XP | Unlocks first system feature.
'WHAT?! I fell off that cliff by myself! There was no push, just a whole lot of bad decisions!' Serena panicked internally. 'System, explain this bullshit right now!'
System 5060, however, ghosted her. Not even a snarky comment. Just dead silence.
'Coward.' She gritted her teeth. 'There's no way I'm...'
And then it happened.
"It's her."
The words slipped from Serena's mouth like someone else had spoken them. Her finger pointed directly at Evangeline.
The room froze.
Even Serena's own brain crashed.
What the actual fuck?! Did I just...?!
Lilith gasped dramatically. "I knew it! She's always been jealous of my daughter's light! She just couldn't stand being second!"
Lady. Be serious. Veronica couldn't even shine if she dipped herself in glitter.
Cedric stepped forward, his expression stormy. "That's a lie! I was with Eva the entire time. You're just trying to shift the blame again!"
Serena looked at the glowing panel that flashed 'Task Complete' with fireworks. Her stomach twisted.
Great. Day one and I've already made the second strongest person in this world my mortal enemy. Way to go, Serena. Peak main character energy.
"Silence!" Lilith snapped, her voice sharp with fury. She turned to Leonard with wide, trembling eyes. "Please, my husband. Grant our daughter the justice she deserves! This is a serious accusation. If Veronica hadn't been blessed by the heavens, she would've died from that fall!"
Blessed by the heavens? Lady, it was called a system intervention, Serena thought, her eyelid twitching.
Leonard frowned, clearly uncomfortable. "Evangeline... is this true?" he asked calmly, though his tone carried doubt. He didn't want to believe it. Evangeline had always been his pride. Smart, graceful, powerful. The kind of daughter nobles bragged about. Unlike Veronica who was spoiled, short-tempered, and worst of all, completely magicless. A walking disgrace in a world where even toddlers could set things on fire with a sneeze.
Evangeline shook her head slowly, her expression a perfect mask of innocence and quiet confusion. "I don't know what Veronica is talking about, Father. I didn't push her," she said softly. Her voice sounded hurt, genuinely confused.
Leonard rubbed his temples. "Maybe Veronica's memory is still muddled from the fall. We'll look into this further. For now... Evangeline, go to your room."
"What?!" Lilithburst out. "You're choosing not to believe your own daughter?! You.."
A weak, deliberate cough interrupted her. Serena looked up with teary eyes and forced a tired voice. "I feel... really exhausted..."
Leonard immediately stood. "Enough. Let's allow her to rest. We'll discuss this later, once she has recovered."
As the room finally emptied, Serena flopped back against the pillows and groaned. "System, what the hell did you make me do back there?! I couldn't even control my mouth!"
System 5060's voice chimed sweetly in her head. "Oh? I didn't do anything. That was all you, Host."
"Bullshit," she muttered. "You hijacked my body like I'm some NPC."
"I prefer the term co-pilot. Don't be dramatic."
Serena glared at the ceiling. "I'm stuck in a magicless villainess's body in a death game of politics and sparkly monsters... Drama is survival."
She decided to ignore the system's nonsense for now and focused on absorbing everything she could about this strange new world. Slowly, she pieced together its rules, its hierarchy, and the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. Knowing the system might not have her best interests at heart, Serena relied on her own instincts to survive and plan her next move.