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.

Episodes
1 Chapter 1 : A new beginning
2 Chapter 2: twisted fate
3 Chapter 3 : Twist of destiny
4 Chapter 4: The Ties that bind
5 Chapter 5: A deal in the shadows
6 Chapter 6: Raven's pov
7 Chapter 7: Caught in his gaze
8 Chapter 8: Secrets in the dark
9 Chapter 9 : 2 characters,1 world
10 Chapter 10: The ring and the rumours
11 Chapter 11 :Who dare touch my kingdom
12 Chapter 12: The name that shined
13 Chapter 13- The wedding
14 Chapter: 14- Raven falling harder for her
15 Chapter 15: "The roles we play"
16 Chapter 16: The Villainess and Her husband
17 Chapter 17: Wildfires and Teacups
18 Chapter 18: A taste of danger
19 Chapter 19: Supposed Normal Day
20 Chapter 20: Caught the traitor
21 Chapter 21: Lady Miya's Obsession
22 Chapter 22: Delusional snake
23 Chapter 23: Report to the emperor
24 Chapter. 24: The Midnight Masquerade
25 Chapter 25: Aftermath scandal
26 Chapter 26: Miya's Engagement Announcement
27 Chapter 27: Poisoned Tea
28 Chapter 28: The game Viscount's son shouldn't have play
29 Chapter 29: The fire beneath the fire
30 Chapter 30: Selena flips the table completely
31 Chapter 31: Exposing time
32 Chapter 32: Anonymous love letters
33 Chapter 33: The Return of Rhya Vakariya
34 Chapter 34: Coins, contracts and secrets
35 Chapter 35: Phase 1 of realization
36 Chapter 36: "No, I said my wife"
37 Chapter 37: The confession she slept through
38 Chapter 38: The morning after the ball
39 Chapter 39: "I only want her,my wife. Not this stranger"
40 Chapter 40: Sneaking in and scandal
41 Chapter 41: Her fire
42 Chapter 42: Sarcastic her
43 Chapter 43: The midnight rose and the daylight mask
44 Chapter 44: A whisper of escape
45 Chapter 45: Plan Version 2.0
46 Chapter 46: The Grand duchess's declinations
47 Chapter 47: The devil speaked herself
48 Chapter 48: The Grand duchess and the finance
49 Chapter 49: Her plan Vs his careness
50 Chapter 50: Don't run away, princess
51 Chapter 51: 'Concubine'
52 Chapter 52: "Together?" "Yes, together!"
53 Chapter 53: The fate of both of them together
54 Chapter 54: "FIANCÉS?" "Yeah."
55 Chapter 55: "Jealous? No."
56 Chapter 56: Bouquet of delusions
57 Chapter 57: Date
Episodes

Updated 57 Episodes

1
Chapter 1 : A new beginning
2
Chapter 2: twisted fate
3
Chapter 3 : Twist of destiny
4
Chapter 4: The Ties that bind
5
Chapter 5: A deal in the shadows
6
Chapter 6: Raven's pov
7
Chapter 7: Caught in his gaze
8
Chapter 8: Secrets in the dark
9
Chapter 9 : 2 characters,1 world
10
Chapter 10: The ring and the rumours
11
Chapter 11 :Who dare touch my kingdom
12
Chapter 12: The name that shined
13
Chapter 13- The wedding
14
Chapter: 14- Raven falling harder for her
15
Chapter 15: "The roles we play"
16
Chapter 16: The Villainess and Her husband
17
Chapter 17: Wildfires and Teacups
18
Chapter 18: A taste of danger
19
Chapter 19: Supposed Normal Day
20
Chapter 20: Caught the traitor
21
Chapter 21: Lady Miya's Obsession
22
Chapter 22: Delusional snake
23
Chapter 23: Report to the emperor
24
Chapter. 24: The Midnight Masquerade
25
Chapter 25: Aftermath scandal
26
Chapter 26: Miya's Engagement Announcement
27
Chapter 27: Poisoned Tea
28
Chapter 28: The game Viscount's son shouldn't have play
29
Chapter 29: The fire beneath the fire
30
Chapter 30: Selena flips the table completely
31
Chapter 31: Exposing time
32
Chapter 32: Anonymous love letters
33
Chapter 33: The Return of Rhya Vakariya
34
Chapter 34: Coins, contracts and secrets
35
Chapter 35: Phase 1 of realization
36
Chapter 36: "No, I said my wife"
37
Chapter 37: The confession she slept through
38
Chapter 38: The morning after the ball
39
Chapter 39: "I only want her,my wife. Not this stranger"
40
Chapter 40: Sneaking in and scandal
41
Chapter 41: Her fire
42
Chapter 42: Sarcastic her
43
Chapter 43: The midnight rose and the daylight mask
44
Chapter 44: A whisper of escape
45
Chapter 45: Plan Version 2.0
46
Chapter 46: The Grand duchess's declinations
47
Chapter 47: The devil speaked herself
48
Chapter 48: The Grand duchess and the finance
49
Chapter 49: Her plan Vs his careness
50
Chapter 50: Don't run away, princess
51
Chapter 51: 'Concubine'
52
Chapter 52: "Together?" "Yes, together!"
53
Chapter 53: The fate of both of them together
54
Chapter 54: "FIANCÉS?" "Yeah."
55
Chapter 55: "Jealous? No."
56
Chapter 56: Bouquet of delusions
57
Chapter 57: Date

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