"Ugh, my head," Eliz complained as she held her head.
It was dark all around her, and she felt a weightless sensation that only worsened her nausea.
"Visitor detected. Initiating new cycle," she heard an electronic voice say.
She looked up just in time to witness the darkness dissipating.
The darkness vanished, revealing a lavishly adorned ballroom that seemed straight out of a fairy tale.
Eliz found herself floating near the ceiling beside a large crystal chandelier. Confusion filled her as she glanced around.
The hall teemed with people frozen in time. The ladies donned elegant, flamboyant, or intricately designed ball gowns, while the gentlemen wore tailored suits and tailcoats.
The noble guests stood in groups or solitude, focusing on the spectacle unfolding in the hall's center.
From the expressions on their faces, it was evident that they were thoroughly delighted. Some of the ladies concealed mischievous smiles behind their colorful fans, while others made no effort to hide their amusement. Men furrowed their brows, disguising the upward curl of their lips, or sipped from tall champagne glasses.
They all gazed at a single woman who knelt in the center of the dance floor, her eyes fixed upon the couple standing on the elevated stage.
The woman possessed a beauty akin to the midnight sky. Her ebony black hair cascaded down her back, and her slender figure exuded elegance. Clad in a stunning dark purple ball gown adorned with delicate embellishments, she possessed eyes of the same deep purple hue. With a graceful neck reminiscent of a swan and full lips accentuated by subtle lipstick, she seemed destined for whispers of endearment.
On the stage, two individuals captured the attention. A man held the hand of a young woman, both positioned above the crowd. The young man donned an expensive black suit with silver accents, emphasizing his military bearing, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. His robust forearms and large hands revealed his strength. His hair resembled white gold, while his steely eyes remained fixated on the woman in the purple gown.
In contrast to the woman in purple, the lady beside him embodied the charm of a fresh spring morning. Her shoulder-length hair gently cascaded in waves, resembling a field of wheat. Innocence radiated from her light green eyes, evoking a primal need for protection. Her pale pink lips revealed pearly teeth and lightly bitten lower lip. Despite her smaller stature, she exuded femininity, emphasized by a pale green dress adorned with a white neckline and intricately patterned skirt, portraying innocence and delicate femininity.
Eliz observed the frozen scene with confusion, finding it vaguely familiar.
Her attention was drawn to three other men standing at the stage's edge, their cold stares directed towards the man on stage as they pointed at the young woman in purple.
Each man possessed a distinct appearance but shared a military bearing, wearing similar suits that hinted at their possible military origin.
One man exhibited bright red hair cropped short and slicked back. Freckles lightly dotted his tanned skin, and his eyes matched the fiery hue of his hair.
The second man differed from the others, sporting an intellectual air. His long hair was tied in a short ponytail, reminiscent of the sea's color. Glasses with narrow golden frames rested on his nose, and his countenance exuded contempt and severity. His eyes shimmered with an amber hue.
The third man sported wild, spiked black hair, pale skin, and violet eyes that mirrored those of the woman they fixated on.
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They all shared one striking similarity - their incredibly handsome appearances. They could have easily been plucked from the pages of a supermodel fashion catalog.
"Opening scene set. Welcome, visitor number 257. You are now entering the story's opening scene, 'Everybody Loves Selene.' You will assume the role of the lead villainess, Elizabeth Von Roseblood, daughter of Duke Von Roseblood. Allow me to provide a summary of the situation for a smoother transition," announced an electronic, mechanical voice.
"Elizabeth is engaged to Gray, the son of the Duke of Ironhound, a close friend of her father. They have been betrothed since childhood. However, less than a year ago, Selene, the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Derevell, appeared and captured Gray's heart. With her sweetness, she won the affections of other prominent young men, including Elizabeth's twin brother, Eren. The upcoming scene entails Gray breaking off his engagement with Elizabeth, accusing her of committing numerous wicked acts against Selene out of jealousy."
As Eliz listened to the voice, her expression contorted further.
She gradually realized why the scene felt familiar. Eliz was acquainted with the story of 'Everybody Loves Selene'! It was a mediocre light novel she had recently read. Eliz hadn't progressed far into the narrative since it lacked depth. The main character, Selene, was weak, naive, and perpetually whiny, constantly requiring rescue. Moreover, it revolved around a reverse harem. While the male leads were decent, Eliz found it absurd that they would be so infatuated with Selene, who, in her opinion, wasn't worth all the trouble.
The portrayal of Elizabeth's character was equally disappointing. Although she initially appeared acceptable, her desperate attachment to her unfaithful fiancé was simply embarrassing.
Eliz abandoned the novel immediately upon reaching the point where Elizabeth was executed for attempting to murder Selene during her honeymoon with Gray. While she still held some interest in the war plot, the author's incompetence became evident. The entire conflict with the neighboring kingdom felt nonsensical and poorly depicted. Gray, now a newly promoted colonel, triumphed over all obstacles with the assistance of the Reverse Harem—a concept Eliz found repulsive.
These thoughts passed through Eliz's mind casually, for another matter consumed her attention entirely.
"What on earth is happening?"
Her last memory was closing the reading app and removing that trashy novel from her reading list as she commuted home from work. Then, it was as if everything shut down, and Eliz found herself in this bewildering scenario. Could she have fallen asleep? That was highly unlikely, even when she was utterly exhausted.
"That concludes the introduction. Please prepare yourself to assume your role."
Main Quest: Survive the first sequence
Reward: 1x Revive
Failure: Death
Note: If you die in the story without Revive, your death is permanent and irreversible.
Secondary Quest: Reveal the truth about the story of Everybody Loves Selene
Reward: End of cycle
Failure: Restart the cycle
Second Sidequest: Get a follower
Reward: Roseblood Estate in the Eastern Province
Failure: Send to Exile
Eliz blinked her violet eyes and fixed her gaze upon the ballroom floor.
A voice, sharp as an icy blade, sliced through the air above her.
"Elizabeth Von Roseblood, I hereby break off our engagement for all the wickedness you have committed! I could never share my life with someone as despicable as you!"
Elizabeth knelt on the floor, her eyes directed downwards, and her hair cascaded, obscuring her expression from view.
Whispers filled the air among the spectators, carrying mocking remarks, concealed insults, or feigned astonishment.
"Don't you have anything to say? Will you not deny all your malicious deeds against Selene Derevell?" Gray Ironhound persisted, receiving no response from Elizabeth.
At this remark, Elizabeth finally stirred and rose gracefully from the floor.
As she stood, it seemed like a dark swan unfurled its wings.
Elizabeth lifted her chin with pride, allowing her purple gaze to wander the hall before ultimately settling on the couple on stage.
"So what?" Eliz declared.