CHAPTER ONE: Rejection gone wrong.
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The garden was quiet. Not peaceful, not calm
Just too quiet
Celestine sat still, one hand folded neatly over her pale blue floral dress, the other wrapped around a porcelain teacup. The surface trembled slightly beneath her fingers, but her expression remained composed.
The scent of jasmine lingered in the air, sweet, almost suffocating.
"You asked for me?" Lucian broke the silence.
He sat across her, his posture straight and expression carved from stone.
Celestine lifted her gaze to meet his.
Only to be greeted with a cold gleam of his silver eyes, but she remained calm.
"Yes.." Celestine responded. Her lips curved into a grin. " I know why you are here."
Lucian's brow raised, but he stayed silent.
"And honestly," she continued, both hands now wrapped around her tea cup. " I feel the same way."
Lucian tilted his head slightly. What evil was she plotting now?
Her focus locked on him
"Let's cancel our engagement."
For a split second, shock flickered across Lucian's expression. Then he recovered.
"What game are you playing?" He asked, his tone sharp.
"None," she responded, taking a delicate sip. "I was a child, infatuated and…. foolish" She continued. "But I have grown, and after considering everything… I don't believe this arrangement serves either of us anymore."
Lucian remained silent, studying her.
She looked calm, like someone who had already decided everything.
Celestine added, "I think it is best we go our separate ways."
Lucian lips slowly curled, then took a small sip from his tea. " Of course," he said. " The engagement was always an arrangement." He continued. "If you hadn't called for me, I would have spoken to your father and requested he cancel it."
Lucian gently rose from his seat. "If that is all, I take my leave. Ensure the marquis is well informed."
Celestine stood as well, though a faint weariness crossed her face. " I would walk you out," holding a firm grip on the table , "but I am a bit tired."
Lucian didn't say anything. He gave a quick nod then walked out the garden leaving celestine behind.
Celestine didn't move, her feet still. As though frozen to the ground. Cold sweat broke loose down her chin.
"I did it…." her voice trembled softly.
She tried to take a step forward but fell to the ground. Pulling the table cloth as everything came crashing.
Celestine's maid who stood outside the garden pavilion rushed in. Quickly she covered her mouth in shock.
Celestine sat frozen on a pile of broken teacups. Her dress, stained and her hand burned from hot tea.
"My lady…" Gaia called out, kneeling beside her. "Are you okay?"she asked, yet no reaction.
As though she had been bewitched.
Then, Celestine's gaze slowly shifted towards Gaia.
Eyes red and a grin so wide across her lips.
"It's over." She said, grabbing Gaia by the face. "I will live."
"My lady? I don't understand." Gaia's hands shook.
DING DING DING
Celestine winced, clutching her head in pain.
This sound?
A blue translucent screen appeared before her. Her gaze widened in shock.
It has appeared again, but why?
WARNING: Story's deviation detected.
NEW MISSION UNLOCKED: Re-engage and marry the Duke of Northhill. Duke Lucian Valehale Iksander.
FAILURE TO COMPLY:
Death.
Celestine's heart seized.
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I didn't die.
I think…
I'm not sure I'm alive either. Or this might just be hell.
My name is Ray Degrassi.
Author of Weeping Hill.
A story everybody knew, but nobody loved.
They tore it apart.
Not because it was boring, but because I ruined it.
Unsolved mysteries. Plot holes I had ignored– pretending they were "open endings." And to fix my mistakes, I killed the one character everyone saw something in.
Something it took me far too long to see.
The villainess.
The backlash was instant.
Comments flooded in. Hate. Insults. They called me heartless, lazy, and talentless.
I tried to ignore it, but failed.
Soon, I sank.
Until the night everything went wrong. Attacked in my own home, by a masked man.
My bathroom, in ruins. Shattered glass everywhere. My blood spread across the floor.
Then darkness. Suddenly, a blue screen appeared. Floating.
SYSTEM INITIALIZING.
I remember thinking…..
This was either a concussion or those ridiculous videos on Mi‐tube were right, and reality was some kind of simulation.
The next time I opened my eyes.
I wasn't Ray anymore…
I was her.
Celestine Varondulf. The villainess of my own story.
At first I thought, this was a dream come true, living in a world I created.
Now I know, I'm trapped.
Tasked with the mission to "create a worthy ending" I had gone through four loops as Celestine, unable to do a thing. Just simply an observer.
Controlled by the plot
Not until now.
Finally…
I could leave this place, create a worthy ending. So i decided to end the very thing that destroyed Celestine's life.
The engagement with Lucian.
But it seems the system had other plans.
My vision flickered, as the room settled around me.
"And that's all…" the doctor said, pulling me from my thoughts. "Apply the ointment twice daily."
I stared down at my arm, reddened and stinging.
Right, I spilled hot tea earlier on myself.
"Are you sure that's all?" Elara asked. Her voice still laced with worry.
"Yes madam." The doctor bowed, "I will take my leave."
Elara watched the doctor leave, before turning to me. She crossed the room and sat beside me.
Then she pressed her temples tightly. "What am I going to do with you Celestine?"
"It's just a small bruise. I will be fine." I insisted.
She rose abruptly, a frown on her face.
"First you almost killed yourself by jumping into Moon Lake" she continued, "now this? I think the marquis would have to hear of this–"
Moon Lake
I had almost forgotten.
This wasn't the beginning. I didn't wake up at the start of the story like I usually do after my previous loop, but after Celestine had tried to kill herself.
Because a rumor had spread: Lucian had no intention of marrying her.
And now, the system wants me to marry him?
If the goal was a worthy ending, why force me to marry the one person who had led to Celestine's death?
Suddenly, a maid walked in. She inclined her head slightly, handing over a letter to Lady Elara.
"What is this?" Elara asked, then paused, her gaze fixed on the emblem. "A letter from The house of Vanlengh?"
My ears perked up.
Elara tore the letter open. She scanned the words quickly. Then folded it, handing it back to the maid.
"Inform them the lady is unwell." Elara said immediately. "She would not be joining them."
"Joining them?" I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Elara stared at me for a moment, then released a sigh. "The Vanlengh's have requested your presence for the ladies gathering." She added. "Since you are unwell, it's only fit if you don't go."
"Oh.." a smirk appeared across my face.
It was obvious.
The only reason Celestine was being invited was to see her in despair.
They spread the rumor. Of course they would want to see the damage for themselves.
Nanny Elara did the right thing, I have too much on my mind to be preoccupied with a tea gathering.
Suddenly Elara hissed. "This won't do.." She muttered. She walked over to the vanity pulling open the cabinet looking through for something.
She pulled out a bunch of things. Things I had forgotten Celestine owned.
A doll, hair pin, and something that caught my attention. A handkerchief.
My blood ran cold.
What was it doing here?
Elara soon found what she was looking for.
An ointment, as she quickly sat beside me to apply on my burn.
But I couldn't look away from the handkerchief, gently placed over the vanity.
"Why is that here?" I blurted out, catching Elara's focus. She turned her head following the direction I faced and her eyes fell on it.
Slowly she picked it up, a small smile curved her lips. "You remember? It was your mother's" Elara said as she stared at the handkerchief with longing.
"Your mother would have been so proud to see how grown you are now." She said, "and now, engaged."
I was still. My heart hammered within my chest.
It wasn't supposed to be here. Not with me.
In the original story, Celestine had given it to the female Lead. The one thing that weaved the entire love arch between Lucian and the female lead.
So why was it here?
Cold sweat trickled down my forehead, as my breathing became heavy.
Elara's brows furrowed" Are you okay my child?" one hand placed over my face.
"I think we need to call the doctor again."
She said, kicking on her feet and hurriedly headed for the door.
The Strange mission. Me waking in the middle of the story and not the beginning.
And now the handkerchief not with the female lead, but with me?
Nothing made sense.
Create a worthy ending, the system said. But what is its idea of a worthy ending?
I folded my fist tightly.
"Wait!" I called Elara, just about to ask a maid to request for the doctor again. "I am fine, just thinking of something."
"Are you sure?" She asked, her voice shaken.
"Yes, Nanny." I answered with a smile. " But please, inform the Vanlengh's. I will be attending the gathering."
Shock flickered across Elara's face. "You will not go"
"Have you forgotten? Refusing a noble invitation without cause…" I said lightly, "it's social suicide, isn't it?"
"Then I will provide a cause."
"That, I'm unwell?"
"But you are." She insisted.
I watched her, as she stared at me with fear. Love.
"Nanny…." I said softly. She paused. "If my mother were here…"
Her shoulders stiffened. That did it.
"She would attend in my place if she had to." I continued. "But she is not."
The silence was heavy. She stared intensely. "You remember that?"
I held her gaze. "She used to say," I added.
"A noble woman must never give society a reason to whisper."
There was a long pause.
Then–
"Very well," she folded her arms. " I will prepare your dress." Taking a quick bow, then walked out the room.
I may not know the ending the system has planned.
But I won't wait for death to claim me.
"And I will use this to my advantage." I said, clutching tightly onto the handkerchief
This time, I decide how this story will end.