Aria walked slowly into the grand hall.
The room was bright with golden lights and quiet conversations. Servants moved around silently while several important guests stood talking near the center.
But Aria wasn't interested in any of that.
Her eyes immediately landed on the person she hated the most.
Luna.
Just like in the novel, Luna looked gentle and elegant. Her soft smile made people feel comfortable around her.
Anyone who didn't know the truth would think she was kind.
But Aria knew better.
"Ugh… seeing her in real life is even worse," Aria thought.
Beside Luna stood a tall man with warm features.
Chen.
The man Aria was supposed to love.
In the original story, Aria admired him for years, silently supporting him while he chased Luna.
But Ji-won wasn't the original Aria.
So when she looked at him now…
She felt absolutely nothing.
Actually—
She felt annoyed.
Chen noticed her standing nearby and smiled politely.
"Aria, it's been a while."
Aria stared at him for a moment.
Then she spoke in a flat voice.
"…Oh. It's you."
Chen blinked.
That was not the reaction he expected.
Normally Aria became shy and nervous around him.
But today she sounded completely uninterested.
Before he could say anything else—
Aria's gaze moved past them.
And suddenly she stopped walking.
Standing near the window was a tall man in a black suit.
His posture was straight and calm, his expression distant as if the entire room bored him.
Sharp eyes.
Cold aura.
Kim Min-jae.
The CEO.
The only character in the novel who had ever suspected Luna.
Aria stared at him for a second longer than she meant to.
"Okay… he actually looks cool," she thought.
Just then—
A mechanical voice echoed in her mind.
[System Task Issued.]
Aria almost jumped.
[Task 1: Sneak into Kim Min-jae's room tonight.]
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Excuse me??"
[Additional Objective: Expose two of Luna's lies in front of Chen and Kim Min-jae.]
Aria froze.
"Are you serious…?"
Across the room—
Kim Min-jae suddenly frowned.
He had heard that voice too.
But no one around him seemed to react.
Before he could think further—
Another voice appeared.
This time it sounded annoyed.
"What kind of crazy system gives a mission like this on the first day?"
Min-jae slowly lifted his head.
His gaze moved across the room…
Until it stopped on Aria.
Her lips hadn't moved.
Yet he had clearly heard her voice.
Aria crossed her arms in frustration.
"Sneak into his room? That CEO looks like he'd throw me out the window."
Min-jae's eyes narrowed slightly.
He could hear her thoughts.
For the first time in years, something actually surprised him.
Meanwhile Luna approached Aria with a gentle smile.
"Aria, it's nice to see you again."
Her voice was soft and friendly.
Exactly like the fake act she always used.
Aria looked at her calmly.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Oh really?"
Luna blinked slightly.
"Of course," Luna said sweetly. "I was worried about you. I heard you weren't feeling well recently."
Aria almost laughed.
"That's funny," she said.
Chen looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Aria looked directly at Luna.
"Because yesterday you told three people I was sick, but today you told the servants I was avoiding you."
The room became quiet.
Luna's smile froze.
Chen frowned.
"…What?"
Aria tilted her head slightly.
"And wasn't it you who said you had never met Chen before last month?"
Luna's eyes widened slightly.
Aria continued casually.
"But two weeks before that, you were already writing letters to him."
Chen looked at Luna in shock.
"Luna… is that true?"
Luna quickly forced a gentle smile.
"Aria must be misunderstanding—"
"Oh relax," Aria interrupted lazily.
"I'm just repeating what you said."
The tension in the room grew heavy.
Chen looked between the two girls, completely confused.
This was nothing like the usual Aria.
The Aria he knew would never talk like this.
And Luna—
For the first time—
Looked slightly nervous.
Across the room, Kim Min-jae watched everything silently.
And then he heard Aria's voice again.
"God she's even more fake up close."
Min-jae almost laughed.
"Look at that innocent face. If I didn't know the story I might believe her too."
His eyes sharpened.
Know the story?
Meanwhile Chen turned to Aria again.
"Why are you acting like this today?"
Aria looked at him blankly.
"Like what?"
"Rude."
She shrugged.
"Maybe I just stopped pretending."
Chen stared at her, stunned.
The girl who had liked him for years…
Was acting like she didn't care about him at all.
Luna watched the scene quietly, her mind racing.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Aria was supposed to be timid and easy to manipulate.
But the girl standing here now looked completely different.
And near the window—
Kim Min-jae was still staring at Aria.
Because another thought had just reached his mind.
"Anyway… tonight I have to sneak into that CEO's room."
Min-jae slowly crossed his arms.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because if she was planning to sneak into his room tonight—
Then he would be there waiting.
And he intended to find out one thing.
Who exactly Aria really was.