At The Carriage
The Cordelia family's carriage slowed to a halt in front of the palace gates, the towering building glowing under hundreds of magical lanterns. Inside the carriage, Clarenz practically squashed his nose against the window.
"I think you're drooling," Eufelilya said dryly, flicking invisible dust off her dress.
"Am not!" Clarenz yelped, spinning around. "I'm just —taking it all in!"
Their father gave them both a look. "Remember where we are."
Clarenz straightened immediately, folding his hands like a model son. Eufelilya just muttered under her breath, "Show-off."
Outside, the footman approached and opened the carriage door. A rush of warm music and golden light poured in.
Eufelilya stared out at the glittering entrance, feeling the weight of a hundred invisible eyes already waiting beyond those doors. Her palms went clammy.
Slowly, she lifted one slippered foot toward the carriage steps..—then immediately yanked it back.
"Nope. Nah, man. I can't. I'm so anxious, omg omg omg," she muttered, panic flashing across her face.
Clarenz blinked at her, confused. "What's 'omg'? Are you speaking something slang now?"
She glared at him. "I'm having a crisis, Clarenz. Respect it."
Her mother chuckled softly. "You'll be fine, darling."
Eufelilya squeezed her eyes shut for a second, breathing in through her nose. Get it together. You're Eufelilya Cordelia. You survived math exams. You can survive a ball.
Finally, she squared her shoulders, plastered a serene, noble smile onto her face, and after one dramatic sigh stepped down onto the palace steps.
Let the madness begin.
Arrived At The Ball
The grand ballroom shimmered with gold light, chandeliers dangling like frozen stars. Music floated around, laughter and conversation buzzing in the air.
Eufelilya stuck close to her parents as they entered, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Breathe, Lily. You're not gonna pass out. Probably.
Duchess Cordelia smiled and turned to Clarenz. "Come, dear. Let's greet the other families first."
Clarenz obediently nodded and followed their mother through the bustling crowd.
Meanwhile, Duke Alexander leaned down slightly and murmured to Lily, "There's someone important you should meet. Your second cousin who has almost the same white shade of my hair and your two younger siblings—the twins, Selene and Estiana. This hair color is rare in our world. It means she has a very high energy field."
Eufelilya's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded, keeping her composure. Before she could ask, Alexander added,
"And ah yes, Hysteria Soheila."
Wait... Hysteria?
The name jolted through her like a zap of lightning.
Pfft that wasn't a normal name. Not for nobility. Not for anyone, really.
Trying to keep her face neutral, Eufelilya followed her father through the maze of glittering gowns and sharp suits.
Then she saw her.
A girl a little taller than Eufelilya stood across the room, her long hair a breathtaking color—soft light blue fading into white at the ends, like frost melting into snow. Her posture was elegant but relaxed, her eyes sharp and curious.
Definitely beautiful. Definitely graceful.
But then—
As soon as Eufelilya curtsied politely, the girl casually blurted, "Man, this place is way fancier than I expected."
Eufelilya blinked.
What?
No noble girl in Alderia would ever speak like that at a royal ball.
That casual, half-sarcastic tone... It hit Lily in the chest like a truck.
The girl gave a small, mischievous smile. "You can call me Ria."
It wasn't just the nickname. It was the way she said it like a secret only they understood.
And just like that, Eufelilya knew.
Without thinking, she whispered under her breath, voice shaking slightly,
"...Mikayla?"
The girl's grin widened.
"Bingo, France."
A Private Talk
Eufelilya blinked, startled by the teasing nickname from her previous life. Hysteria grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction, then took her hand a subtle gesture that conveyed both familiarity and warmth.
"His Grace, Duke Alexander, may I please excuse Eufelilya? We'll just play in the garden," Hysteria said with perfect manners.
"Uhm, alright, but be inside later when the party is about to start," Alexander replied with a smile, adding, "I guess you two already like each other."
Eufelilya and Hysteria smiled.
"Let's catch up," Hysteria whispered once they were free. "There's much to discuss."
Eufelilya's eyes lit up, full of hope. It was real. Ria—no, Mikayla—was really here too.
Hysteria turned to her father with a cheeky grin. "Dad, wait for me later. I'll just be with Eufelilya. Don't get lost, Father."
The man gave her a long-suffering sigh. "Ah… this child," he muttered before wandering off to mingle with the other nobles.
The girls moved to a quieter corner of the ballroom, away from curious eyes and prying ears.
"Do you remember anything from our previous lives?" Hysteria asked softly, her voice laced with meaning.
Eufelilya hesitated only for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Bits and pieces. We've been reincarnated here. It's all so familiar, isn't it?"
"It certainly feels that way," Hysteria replied. "I think Narina is here too. Let's try to find her!"
Eufelilya gave her a look. "Bruh, are you that confidently crazy? How are we going to find her? By guts?"
Hysteria blinked, then burst into laughter.
"Okay, fair point. I didn't think that far." She chuckled at herself, clearly amused by her own impulse.
Eufelilya scoffed under her breath. "Airhead."
"I HEARD THAT, YOU—!" Hysteria whirled around, pointing dramatically.
"Fine, fine! I'm sorry!" Eufelilya laughed, nearly doubling over.
Hysteria crossed her arms. "Hmph. Be like that. I'll go talk to someone my age to find her."
"Wait—HAHAHA wait, I'll search with you!"
The two girls weaved through the glittering crowd, their hearts full of hope and determination.
For a moment, the world around them the music, the noises around, the nobility faded into the background.
Eufelilya's gaze wandered, and she froze when her eyes caught a particular figure across the ballroom. Prince Aizer Aldridge stood surrounded by dignitaries, his presence impossible to ignore.
He's even more striking in person… I bet he's even more handsome when grown up.
Their eyes met for the briefest moment. A strange current passed between them. Eufelilya quickly looked away, her heart pounding.
"Eufelilya, are you alright?" Hysteria asked, raising a brow.
Eufelilya snapped out of it. "No! No! I'm fine. Let's find Narina."
The two continued their search, steps lighter than before. As they moved through the ballroom, Eufelilya couldn't help but reflect on their new reality, and the past that now seemed like a distant memory.
The threads of destiny had tangled once. This time, they would weave their own path.
Encounter with Seraphina (the og female lead)
As the girls weaved through the crowd, their light chatter faded when they noticed a commotion near the front door.
A petite girl with soft light brown hair stood near the wall, visibly shaken. Before her stood a striking redhead arms crossed, lips pressed tight, and eyes flashing with annoyance.
Eufelilya froze mid-step.
Her gaze locked on the girl trembling slightly under the weight of the redhead's stare. That face, that demeanor—it was unmistakable.
Seraphina Devereux.
She looked exactly like the story described delicate, beautiful, almost ethereal.
But inside Eufelilya, something twisted.
That girl… ruined everything in Eufelilya's life.
In the book, she was the beloved heroine, the glowing heart of the tale.
But the one I rooted for? The so-called villainess… was me.
Eufelilya Cordelia.
And the truth? She never did anything wrong. She wasn't wicked. She wasn't cruel. All she wanted was to be seen. To be loved by her brother Clarenz, and by her crush, Aizer.
Ah… now I remember, I cant believe i forgot an important information. Clarenz was the one who killed me.
It happened after Eufelilya's maid slapped Seraphina.
The villain was so misunderstood. Even that part—I got so curious back then why they never showed the reason why Eufelilya's maid even slapped Seraphina. It just happened. No context. No justice. Just a beautiful girl crying, and then a blade swinging.
A vivid flash from the book pierced her mind.
And Clarenz—he didn't even wait for an explanation. No mercy. No hesitation. He ended Eufelilya's life right there.
His sister. Slain by his own hands.
Eufelilya's throat tightened as her eyes stung with heat. She turned sharply away, teeth clenched.
So why am I the villain, again?
On the other side of the room, Hysteria struggled, her dress caught on the sharp edge of a decorative rock.
"Hey, Lily, help! I'm stuck at the rock!" she called out, frustration clear in her voice.
But Hysteria's voice still didn't quite reach Eufelilya—not because it wasn't loud enough, but because Lily was somewhere else. Lost in thought. Her vision was clear, but her mind was a storm. The ballroom blurred. Everything blurred.
Hysteria tugged at her dress once more, glancing toward Lily's direction.
That's when she noticed her.
The red-haired girl.
She looked exactly like Narina.
Her heart skipped.
Then, louder—sharper—her voice sliced through the air like a signal flare.
"PARTY! ARTIST! FALL! DIED!"
The redhead flinched.
Their eyes met—and in that instant, the tension cracked. A flicker of recognition sparked behind the redhead's sharp glare. She blinked, stiffened, and then slowly stepped back.
Not a threat. Not a stranger.
It was her. Hysteria finally understood.
Then Lily began to walk off, her steps quick, as though trying to outrun the past.
"Eufelilya, wait!" Hysteria called, catching the storm brewing in her friend's eyes.
A tug at her arm snapped Eufelilya back.
"Hey! Hello? Earth to Lily," Hysteria said, breathless. "You were just standing there like a haunted doll."
Eufelilya blinked, startled. "Wha—what?"
"I've been yelling your name for two damn minutes while trying to get my dress unstuck from a stupid decorative rock. I was struggling for my life here at your SIDE!. The rock and I have almost have bonded now." Hysteria huffed, yanking at the lace caught at her hip.
Eufelilya stared. "How did you even get stuck there?"
"I don't know! Ask the rock," Hysteria muttered dramatically.
Eufelilya sighed, crouching down. "You idiot. Hold still."
With a few careful tugs, she freed the fabric.
"Thank the stars," Hysteria mumbled.
"Now, can we please leave before Seraphina starts another tragic act?" Lily also mumbled.
Just then, a familiar voice piped up behind them.
"Hi, guys."
They both turned.
A redhead stood there, silver ribbon in her hair, hands clasped awkwardly in front of her.
But before she could speak again, Eufelilya's eyes widened. "Wait—weren't you the one arguing with Seraphina?"
The redhead tilted her head, almost bored. "Oh, her? Yeah. I left her by the wall. Said she wasn't worth the energy anyway."
She gave a little shrug, then added dryly,
"She ran toward the ballroom acting like a scared rabbit after that. Tch. Waste of time."
Eufelilya squinted. "By the way… who even are you?"
"Lily," Hysteria deadpanned. "Dumbass. That's Narina—"
The redhead rolled her eyes. "Im Cleori Ashford, Nice to see you two still bickering."
Eufelilya's face changed as realization dawned. "Oh."
Cleori raised an eyebrow. "You were about to cry over her" she jerked a thumb toward (seraphina) the ballroom"and you don't remember me?"
"Fair enough," Lily muttered. "Let's go somewhere quieter before someone else pops out of the plot."
"I agree," Cleori said. "Garden?"
"Garden," Hysteria echoed.
The three girls turned and headed toward the ivy-draped door.
Outside, under the silver moonlight, the air was cooler and quieter. The hum of the ballroom faded behind them.
Between the flowering walls and dew-kissed paths, the garden felt like another world entirely. Here, away from watching eyes, they could finally talk.
And for a moment, it felt like time folded in on itself.
A miracle.
Because it was Narina. Truly, unmistakably her.
The silver ribbon. The sarcasm. The eyes that always saw too much and said too little. She looked exactly like Narina from the book but it wasn't just looks. It was her.
Hysteria exhaled in relief. "It's really you."
"It is," Cleori said softly, the edge in her voice softening.
Eufelilya felt a warmth bloom in her chest. "The gods… must really be on our side."
And for the first time since being pulled into this world, all three girls smiled.
They were together again.