Time was ticking, and she had already wasted two full weeks recovering in bed. Luckily, her body was finally cooperating she could now stand without collapsing, and most of her strength had returned. One thing was for sure... trying to die in a fantasy world with a system? Big mistake. Lesson learned.
"It's Lady Veronica. Quick, move!" Some passing servants spotted her and instantly stiffened. Their eyes widened in panic before they scurried off like mice. Serena...No, Veronica couldn't even get a word in before they vanished. Her lips twitched. Classic villainess moment.
Right, she had to remember… she wasn't Serena anymore. Not until she completed this insane mission. For now, she was Veronica Noire Ravenshire, the girl everyone feared, hated, and gossiped about.
Apparently, Veronica had done an excellent job of cultivating the worst possible reputation. People flinched at her name alone.
The Ravenshire family, while not nobility, were slightly more well-off than the average human household. Her father, Leonard Ravenshire, was a skilled blacksmith who, by sheer luck and talent, caught the attention of a higher noble and received backing to open a shop that supplied enchanted weapons to the elite.
In this world, humans were seen as weak, short-lived, and easy to control. Most were relegated to hard labor or servitude. Only a rare few, like the Ravenshires, managed to rise slightly above the dirt, usually through talent, politics, or dumb luck.
Stretching her limbs, Veronica began walking through the estate, memorizing paths and key places. She couldn't afford to be idle anymore. The plot hadn't started yet, but that only made her nervous. Something big was coming… and she needed to be ready.
While she wandered aimlessly through the estate, lost in her thoughts, someone suddenly leapt out in front of her.
It was Cedric.
He didn't say a word, just stood there, arms crossed, staring her down with that trademark scowl of his.
Veronica stopped walking and blinked at him. "Seriously?" she muttered under her breath. Great. The female lead's loyal little puppy had come to avenge his dear master.
She tried to sidestep him, but Cedric moved in perfect sync, blocking her again. Left, right, again every time she changed direction, he followed, like a well-trained shadow.
Finally, fed up, Veronica stopped and groaned. "Are we really doing this?"
"You think this is a game?" Cedric snapped, his voice shaking with anger. "Is your heart made of stone?! How could you lie like that? Eva's getting punished right now because of you!"
His words were sharp, his eyes blazing with fury. If looks could kill, she would be on the floor by now.
Veronica raised an eyebrow. So dramatic. Of course, she already knew where this was going. In the original story, Cedric adored Evangeline. He always believed she could do no wrong while Veronica? She was the wicked sister, the heartless villainess in every chapter.
Still, she couldn't exactly tell him the truth now: "Sorry, your beloved Eva's life is just a plot device, and I got possessed by a system." Yeah, no.
A massive fireball suddenly ignited in Cedric's palm, swirling with intense heat and rage. "You will pay for what you did to Eva!" he roared, his magic crackling in the air.
Veronica's stomach dropped.
Wait... this wasn't in the original webtoon, was it?!
Sure, Cedric had tried to harm Veronica a few times in the story but it was always minor stuff: injuries, threats, humiliation. He never actually tried to kill her this early. That was supposed to happen much later... when he joined forces with the obsessive male leads to destroy her completely.
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
What the hell kind of family is this?! She stared at her brother in disbelief. Sure, Veronica was a spoiled troublemaker with a cruel streak, but this was her own flesh and blood. Was she really so hated that even her younger brother wanted her dead?
"Whoa, whoa! Chill!" Veronica raised her hands and started backing away, cold sweat dripping down her neck. "What are you trying to do? Turn me into roast meat?!"
The fireball grew larger.
Yup. He really means it.
She cursed internally. 'System! Now would be a great time to give me a defense spell or some cheat item! Hello?!'
But as usual... silence. Not a single ding, beep, or annoying robotic voice. The system had clearly decided to play dead again.
"Are you kidding me right now?!" Veronica hissed under her breath. This wasn't a game! That fireball in Cedric's hand looked ready to send her flying through a wall.
"Cedric, I'm your older sister! Your actual blood sister, don't you remember?!" Veronica pleaded, her voice strained as she took a shaky step back. This was her last resort, guilt-tripping him. Not even that scam of a system store filled with useless, low-level junk could save her now.
Cedric's eyes burned with fury as he scoffed. "So what?" he snapped. "Did you remember she was our sister when you pointed fingers and framed her?"
Veronica flinched. That hit hard.
He continued, voice cracking slightly, "Eva's the one who always bailed you out when you messed up! She even defended you in front of Father, again and again. Why do you hate her so much?!"
That was true. In the original webtoon, no matter how many times Veronica caused chaos, Evangeline, saint-like and soft-spoken, still pulled her out of trouble, never turning her back. The perfect female lead to the bitter end.
"Now look at what you've done!" Cedric's fists clenched, trembling with emotion. "She's locked away like a criminal, her magic sealed, all because of a lie!"
It wasn't that bad… right? Veronica scratched her head, trying to convince herself. Eva was just grounded for a few days. Her magic would be unsealed soon. No big deal. Right?
Wrong.
"Get ready to feel the same pain Eva's going through!" Cedric growled, raising his hand. A fireball crackled to life, growing brighter with his fury.
Not good. Definitely not good.
Veronica's heart dropped. "System, now would be a really great time to show up!" she screamed internally, panic rising. Her current body was still weak, still recovering. There was no way she could dodge that attack in time!
No battle skills. No armor. Not even a cheap dodge-boosting potion from that pathetic level one store.
"Damn useless system!" She cursed under her breath. Why give her a system if it ghosted her in life or death situations?!