Chapter 2: twisted fate

The golden light of the hallway shimmered faintly as Selena made her way home from the modest tea party. Her mind still buzzed with thoughts, but she carried herself with a grace that seemed almost instinctive now. The soft tap of her shoes against the marble floors echoed slightly through the wide, empty halls.

As she turned a corner, she found herself facing two familiar figures — her parents, Duke Ezekiel Valkrian and Duchess Dahlia Valkrian. Without hesitation, Selena smiled warmly, her eyes gleaming with genuine affection, and offered them a polite, graceful bow.

"Good evening, Father. Mother," she said, her voice soft but clear, as though the words came as naturally as breathing.

Both the Duke and Duchess halted, staring at her with evident surprise. Never before had Selena greeted them so warmly — the girl they knew had been cold, prideful, distant. For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and uncertain. But then, an almost imperceptible warmth flickered across their faces, a fragile but real sense of relief settling into their expressions.

Before any more words could be exchanged, the Duke cleared his throat and spoke, his deep voice steady but tinged with something almost unfamiliar — pride.

"Tomorrow," he said, "there will be a grand banquet held at the palace. The emperor himself will make an important announcement during the festivities. Make sure you are presentable, Selena."

She nodded obediently, her smile never faltering. "Of course, Father," she replied.

With a final glance, both parents continued down the hall, their conversation a low murmur as they walked away.

Selena stood still for a moment longer, collecting her swirling thoughts, before returning to her chambers. As she shut the heavy door behind her, she exhaled softly, leaning against the carved wood.

The ball... she mused, moving slowly toward the window where the last streaks of the sunset bathed the sky in crimson and gold.

"If I remember correctly, "Selena thought, her mind flickering back to the plot she had once read so carelessly in her old world, "it was during this exact banquet that the emperor announced my engagement to Raven Rukwick — the Grand Duke’s eldest son and heir."

A shiver ran down her spine, not from fear, but from the weight of knowing what fate awaited her if she strayed too far from her plans.

She pressed her forehead lightly against the cool glass pane, her thoughts tumbling onward.

"And it was at this banquet that Raven and the female lead first met, wasn't it? "she mused.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tried to piece the memory together.

"The female lead... who was she again?"

After a moment of strained silence, it clicked.

"Ah, Lady Miya — the daughter of the Marquess. Miya, with her golden hair like fields of wheat, and clear blue eyes that shimmered like a summer sky. An ethereal beauty, soft and refined, just like the goddess of spring herself — that's how Raven saw her, anyway."

She remembered now how Raven had been immediately taken with Miya’s elegance, while Miya thought of him as a good person. As the story went, they drew closer with each passing encounter, only raven had feelings for Miya while Miya thought of him as a brother.

Selena’s expression hardened.

"And me?" she thought bitterly.

The original Selena had been accused of poisoning Miya — an accusation no one ever truly questioned, because who would listen to a villainess where there were already rumours and her reputation in a ruined state? Even as she had cried and pleaded her innocence, she had been dragged away, sentenced without a trial. Her fate had been sealed by the blade of Raven himself, who executed her coldly, without hesitation.

"And Miya... Miya had known Selena’s innocence all along.

Yet, she had let it happen."

Selena’s fists clenched at her sides.

"Why was she even considered a heroine in the first place?" she wondered, bitterness lacing her thoughts. "A true heroine would have fought for justice — not sat quietly while an innocent girl was destroyed. After all raven was the second male lead after all. The real male lead was the crown prince"

For a long moment, Selena stared out into the twilight, letting the anger simmer in the depths of her chest before finally taking a deep breath and pushing it down.

"No", she thought resolutely. "Not this time. I won't play into their hands. I won't be the villain in someone else's story."

Determined, she straightened her posture and turned away from the window. It was time for dinner.

Gathering herself, she headed to the dining hall, joining her family for the evening meal. She ate quietly, neither too quickly nor too slowly, keeping her expressions calm and composed. Every move she made now was deliberate — every word and gesture carefully chosen.

By the time she returned to her chambers later that night, fatigue weighed heavy on her, but so did a steely determination. She prepared for bed and slipped beneath the covers, the silken sheets cool against her skin.

As she lay staring up at the intricately carved ceiling, her mind replayed everything — the tea party, the surprise on her parents' faces, the upcoming banquet, the cruel fate that awaited if she faltered.

"Tomorrow... the game truly begins."

And with that final thought, Selena Valkrian — once Lilith, now something entirely new — drifted into sleep, ready to carve her own destiny.

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