After her parents left the room, Selena sat alone in the suffocating silence.
Her hands trembled slightly as she pressed them against her temples, trying to steady her spiraling thoughts.
"I have to do something," she whispered to herself. "Otherwise, my death is certain."
In the original novel, the villainess — the Selena before her — had died a miserable death after being falsely accused of poisoning the female lead's food. No one had believed her pleas of innocence. Why would they?
The original Selena had spent her life humiliating others, stepping on reputations as if they were dirt. No one wanted to hear the truth from the mouth of a known villainess.
And worst of all, the person who had sealed her fate was Raven Rukwick, the Grand Duke's eldest son.
One accusation — and he had struck her down without hesitation.
"Wait... who was the female lead again?" Selena thought, furrowing her brow.
After a moment, it clicked.
"Ah. Lady Miya, the Marquess's daughter."
Selena scoffed aloud. "How ironic... Miya was the heroine, yet she never even tried to clear Selena's name."
In the novel, Miya had simply stood by, delicate and tragic, as Raven took vengeance into his own hands.
Selena crossed her arms, the memories of the story playing in her mind.
Raven and Miya had met at the Emperor's grand ball — a cliched love-at-first-sight encounter.
Raven had thought Miya resembled a goddess of spring, with her golden hair, sky-blue eyes, and angelic smile.
Miya, in turn, had likened Raven to a god of war, towering and invincible.
"How funny," Selena thought bitterly. "Two people meeting by chance, thinking each other divine, and yet their love meant someone else's death."
That night, Selena barely touched her dinner. Her appetite had disappeared, smothered by anxiety and cold anger. She forced herself to eat just enough to quiet her maid's worries before retreating to bed.
She needed rest. Tomorrow would decide everything.
---
The next day, at noon.
Selena sat before her vanity, allowing her maids to arrange her hair in elegant braids woven with pearls. She wore a deep violet dress, modest but dignified — a statement of her new self.
At exactly one o'clock, she arrived at the imperial palace, escorted by her family's knights.
Inside the throne room, she bowed respectfully to the Emperor, who sat atop his golden dais.
Beside her stood a young man with cold red eyes and an expression carved from stone — Raven Rukwick.
"So this is him," Selena thought, keeping her face perfectly composed.
The Emperor raised his hand, signaling for them both to rise.
"You know why you are here," he said without preamble. "This meeting concerns the arrangement between your two families — a marriage to ensure our empire's strength."
Raven stepped forward, his voice low but firm.
"And if I refuse this marriage?"
The Emperor's smile did not reach his eyes.
"Then you refuse me. And that, Lord Raven, is not an option."
Selena stayed silent for a moment, carefully considering her next move. Then she spoke, her voice soft but clear.
"Your Majesty, may I ask — is this marriage truly necessary for harmony? The empire already thrives in peace."
Raven turned his head slightly, glancing at her with a flicker of curiosity.
"She's sharp," he thought, studying her profile.
The Emperor gave a short laugh.
"Even so, it is decided."
Selena pressed on, bowing slightly.
"Then surely, Your Majesty, you would not object to sharing the reason for such urgency? Without understanding the purpose, a political marriage might breed resentment rather than unity."
For a heartbeat, the throne room went still.
Selena felt the Emperor's gaze bore into her like a blade.
"Why must I explain myself to a mere duchess, Lady Selena?" he said finally, his voice sharp.
Selena smiled politely, though inside she seethed.
"This old fox has a sharp tongue," she thought grimly.
Still, she would not back down so easily.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I merely wish for the empire's best interests to be preserved."
She lowered her head just enough to show deference, while still pressing the challenge.
The Emperor tapped the armrest of his throne impatiently.
"There will be no reconsideration. My mind is made up."
His voice left no room for argument.
Selena clenched her hands at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
"I have to do something," she thought desperately.
"The marriage is to take place next month," the Emperor concluded. "You are dismissed."
Bowing stiffly, Selena turned and left the throne room.
As she made her way to her carriage, she could no longer contain her frustration.
She stomped her foot against the marble steps, muttering furiously under her breath,
"If His Majesty insists on doing things this way, then so be it. I'll have to go with my own plan."
Unbeknownst to her, Raven lingered for a moment longer, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"This girl," he mused, "she's not what I expected. She's planning something. I'm sure of it."
With a curt nod to his waiting guards, Raven climbed into his own carriage and disappeared down the palace road.
Meanwhile, Selena rode home, her mind ablaze with possibilities.
She had no intention of playing the role of a tragic villainess ever again.
This time, she would be the one writing the end.