COARV Chapter 2

One week earlier, on a chilly winter afternoon just days before my wedding to Kallis Haneton.

I sat drowsing in my bedroom when I suddenly dreamed.

Seria, the empire's greatest wastrel villainess, screamed.

"So what? I wanted you!"

The voice filled with rage no longer belonged to a noble lady. Jealousy, envy, fury... Seria's hands were already stained with blood.

"That damned Lina, Lina!"

The saint called Lina. From the moment she descended, she monopolized the attention of everyone Seria desired. So beloved. Seria found the inferiority Lina inflicted on her unbearable—detested her to the core.

"What about Lina? My only regret is not slicing that woman's throat and throwing her in the lake!"

Flash.

A sharp blade cut clean through Seria's throat. Blood flooded out. Lina couldn't bear to watch the scene and squeezed her eyes shut.

"Huk!"

I jerked awake, startled. My body trembled. The original scene surfaced whenever I nearly forgot it.

'Damn it. That scene again.'

Terrifying.

Life was terrifying...

Since opening my eyes as Seria, I'd often dreamed of dying according to the original work. Anyone would, really. If you learned this was actually inside a novel and you were the villainess destined for a cruel death, you'd suffer nightmares too.

Besides, with Lina's appearance, the original work had slowly begun.

I clutched the thick shawl draped over my shoulders. Through the large bedroom window, I looked outside. The winter's desolate garden filled my vision. Suddenly I remembered Kallis removing his jacket for Lina out there, and something uncomfortable settled in my chest.

I didn't have long to dwell on it.

For an absurd reason.

"Miss Seria! There you are!"

"What is it?"

The maid attending me came running, stamping her feet urgently.

"Designer Begonia has arrived!"

"Begonia? Already?"

"Yes!"

Slightly flustered, I rose from the sofa.

Begonia was currently the Gleick Empire's most popular designer—a meteoric newcomer who'd debuted less than three years ago. Begonia was so popular not only due to her skill, but because her grandmother was an imperial princess.

In other words, she had royal blood. With noble bloodlines and talent combined, her rise was inevitable. Commissioning a dress from Designer Begonia required not just money but proper status.

My fiancé Kallis Haneton had commissioned the wedding dress and suit from Begonia.

'Come to think of it, in the original work Lina had some trouble over Begonia's dress.'

In any case, I couldn't keep someone waiting, so I hurried over. Even while rushing, the graceful gait ingrained in Seria's body didn't abandon me—honestly, I was impressed.

Even after barely arriving, I couldn't burst through the door. Begonia, befitting someone with royal blood, greatly valued aristocratic bearing. She believed anything less wouldn't suit her clothes.

I quickly checked my face in the hand mirror the maid offered.

Bangs perfect. No disheveled parts.

"Miss! You look most beautiful today too."

At the maid's clumsy flattery, I chuckled. Well, she wasn't wrong. Though Seria was an insane villainess, her beauty was insane too.

I cleared my throat and entered through the door the maid opened.

Supremely aristocratic, in a style that would appeal to Begonia... but inside the room sat Designer Begonia and the original work's female lead, Lina.

'Huh?'

Though momentarily flustered, since Begonia was watching I crafted my most aristocratic smile.

"Designer Begonia. I'm a bit late, aren't I?"

"Not at all. I arrived earlier than scheduled."

Though Begonia smiled as she spoke, I could tell.

'Her expression looks off.'

My ability to read others' expressions so well was naturally the result of a year's desperate struggle to survive. Constantly reading expressions and groveling so as not to upset the male lead or sub-male leads even slightly—now I could easily discern emotions from others' faces.

A survival method of sorts.

Should I call it good... or bad... Damn it...

Just as I was about to feel slightly sad, a hand suddenly grabbed my chin. My eyes widened in surprise.

"Wow, Kallis's fiancée!"

Smiling brightly, eyes sparkling—it was her.

Lina had suddenly grabbed my hand.

'More importantly.'

Had Kallis already given her permission to use his name? F*ck, it took me eleven months to get permission to use just his name. The sub-male lead's nature truly doesn't change, does it?

Lina's eyes sparkled as she spoke.

"I'm Lina! Embarrassingly, I'm also called a saint...!"

Was there anyone in this empire—no, the entire continent—who didn't know Lina was a saint? I gently pushed away Lina's hand.

"Of course I know, Saint."

Lina looked around the sitting room without a care.

"I heard you're fitting a wedding dress today! Is that right?"

"That's correct."

"Amazing! A wedding dress from another world! Everyone here only wears dresses, so I've been really curious!"

Lina's eyes sparkled as she asked.

"Can I watch?"

'Watch?'

An oddly phrased question.

First of all, trying on a wedding dress wasn't something you shared with just anyone. Only attending servants, close relatives, or very dear friends were invited. Lina was obviously none of those three. Before I could speak, Begonia opened her mouth first.

"Saint, I apologize, but a wedding dress fitting is not a spectacle."

"Oh."

Lina immediately looked surprised and clasped her hands together quietly. Well, even in the original work she wasn't exactly tactless.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I don't know this world well..."

'Don't know this world well.' Right, Lina was a saint sent by the gods. Begonia seemed to remember this fact too, as she smiled gently again.

"Of course. However, could you step out for now?"

"Pardon? But..."

"I can't work when outsiders are present during my process, so I hope you'll understand, Saint."

"I see..."

Lina left with a dejected expression. She looked back several times with lingering glances, but Begonia remained cold. She even murmured quietly once Lina closed the door behind her.

"No refinement."

In that moment, I recalled the original work I'd read in my previous life.

Designer Begonia was a woman with great pride in her royal heritage. In some ways, her disposition bordered on arrogance. Begonia had politely told Marquess Kallis Haneton, who came to commission a dress as a gift for Lina:

"The saint is beautiful. However, she lacks the refinement I require. Without inspiration, I cannot create a dress for her."

So in the original work, Lina had been deeply hurt. She'd fallen for Begonia's dresses at first sight, only to hear such words. Eventually an angry Kallis pressured Begonia's salon from behind. Since the largest trading company importing silk belonged to Kallis, Begonia ultimately backed down and surrendered.

'Come to think of it, Begonia also appeared as a minor villainess-type designer.'

Though no villainess matched Seria Stern. Hahaha, when I was reading it felt refreshing like drinking soda, but now that I've become the villainess, only tears flow.

"Oh my! Miss Seria, I thought this white would suit you best because of your eye color! This part, and this part—I'll redo the stitching..."

'In any case...'

When I emerged from the fitting, Begonia's face brightened. Satisfied that I met her standards, she said:

"I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage to Marquess Kallis Haneton, Miss Seria."

"Thank you. Begonia's dress is the most beautiful I've ever seen."

"Oh my. Ahaha!"

Now Kallis wouldn't have occasion to gift Lina a dress. Even if Begonia's a bit arrogant, I'm glad this kind-hearted woman toward me won't face hardship.

I truly loved the wedding dress Begonia created.

"Seria!"

Crash—the bedroom door flew open and I looked up, startled.

"Kallis?"

The tall man strode in. Kallis shifted his gaze to the wedding dress hanging neatly on the mannequin in my bedroom. He tilted his head.

"This is the wedding dress?"

"Yes."

"Hmm..."

Kallis examined the dress carefully. Did something displease him?

"What's wrong?"

"No. It's just a bit too..."

After hesitating, he spoke.

"It doesn't seem to illuminate my fiancée's beauty."

"Pardon?"

"The color is rather dull, and it feels like too few jewels."

"But Designer Begonia said that's fashionable now."

'Wait? Just now Kallis's expression...'

His expression changed for a moment. But soon Kallis wore his characteristic warm smile.

"Seria, you're not just any noble lady. You're a Stern, no less. So I want to give you the most perfect wedding dress."

Sweet words on the surface. But I was a villainess who'd groveled for a year, scrutinizing the sub-male lead's moods to avoid death.

I could tell just from his expression. Right now, Kallis was displeased.

So. About what?

I asked directly, "Kallis. Does the dress displease you?"

"You truly can't be deceived."

"Then I'll summon Begonia again. She's busy, but she has a strong sense of responsibility for her work..."

The wedding was in just days. As I immediately reached for the bell pull, Kallis stopped me.

"What about a different designer instead of Begonia?"

"...Not Begonia?"

What nonsense was this? Reading my expression, Kallis looked slightly awkward. When I pressed him, he sighed.

"No matter how I think about it, I don't like my precious bride wearing that arrogant designer's dress."

"Arrogant?"

"Yes."

The moment I heard those words, understanding dawned. But I hoped I was wrong.

"Is this because of the saint?"