~Love Conquers~
The popular dating simulator that's been a hit among female audiences since its initial release; it's been topping charts and breaking records, quickly becoming a classic of the genre. Revered for its compelling characters and gripping plot, the story follows the player who plays Lucinda, a young orphan from the empire, Eresia, who was raised in the church after her parents tragically perished in a terrible fire when she was just a child.
After the widow Baroness Boisduval happened upon Lucinda's calibre for magic, a revered genetic trait within the country, one day, she decides to take her in as her ward, thus beginning her life as the latest member welcomed into royal society. In this new role, Lucinda faces all kinds of challenges as she rises through the ranks of court life, forming alliances and defeating enemies while also uncovering the darker, evil powers at work.
And as the game progresses, Lucinda also encounters various romantic suitors who determine the flow of the rest of the story depending on who the players choose to pursue. Navigating through the different routes, avoiding the bad endings while trying to achieve the good ones, is the main focus of Love Conquers. However, this is only one of the draws that have appealed to fans.
Another feature that has captured the attention of players revolves around the characterization of the game's villainess: Ophelia Nymphalis. The popularity of this particular character was unexpected but not exactly unwarranted. Fans were immediately intrigued by the character's complexity and morally gray nature. Going against the typical mold of what is expected of a villainess, Ophelia was introduced as someone, not necessarily vicious, but who was used to having to battle to keep her station and reputation afloat.
Born as the only child to the duke, Julian Nymphalis, and his wife, Griselda, Ophelia was raised in an affluent lifestyle with little to no hardship, but due to unfortunate circumstances, she fell into a coma when she was only five years old. It wouldn't be another ten years until she would open her eyes again. Having lost such a large chunk of her childhood, Ophelia entered society with little to her name except her title. Being the only heir to her family title, Ophelia was desperate to make a name for herself and maintain good standing with the royal family. As a result, she forced herself to become ruthless in her pursuit of status, showing no mercy to whomever stood in her way. In a mere couple of years, everyone knew her as an esteemed socialite whom no one dared to cross, lest they risk losing their own standing among the court. But everything changed when Lucinda came along.
They first came across each other during the celebration banquet held for the crowned prince's 20th birthday. Up until then, Ophelia had only heard talk of the mysterious commoner who had suddenly appeared among society after somehow tricking the baroness's kind heart into taking her in as a ward. But after encountering her at the ball, Ophelia was taken aback by Lucinda's kind and innocent nature, which compelled her to take her under her wing and teach her the inner workings of society. And despite their opposing dispositions, to the surprise of everyone around them, the two became close friends.
However, as Lucinda's position in society gradually grew and she became more beloved among the court, their friendship began to hit a threshold. And as time went on, things only took a turn for the worse. As bitterness and grudges began to fester under the surface, it wasn't long until Ophelia finally had enough.
"I'm sorry things had to end this way, Lucinda. But as it stands, you've taken something very precious from me, and I can't forgive you."
After that day, Ophelia positioned herself as Lucinda's rival, becoming the ultimate boss of the game by interfering with the player's romantic pursuits at every turn, determined to keep Lucinda from achieving true love at any cost.
And it wouldn't end there.
Ophelia's resentment only continued to build up as Lucinda thwarted her schemes every time. Eventually, it was that very malice that left her soul vulnerable to being corrupted by an evil spirit that had been spreading animosity throughout the kingdom since the beginning of the game. Completely brainwashed by the spirit, Ophelia went on a murderous rampage, taking down everyone in her path with dark magic she had never been capable of before due to her weakened health from previously being in a coma.
Left with no other choice, Lucinda was forced to face her former friend in a life-or-death battle in order to save everyone. Taking place in the climax of the story, it looked like Lucinda was about to be defeated by Ophelia, until it's then revealed that she was, in fact, the chosen patron saint of the sacred goddess, Tharos, and was finally able to unleash her full magical potential, taking down Ophelia at the very last second, and thus, tragically ending the villainess's life.
And that is who I am.
Born as Ophelia Nymphalis, I've just woken up from a three-year coma that I first fell into when I was just five years old. And during that period of time, I dreamt up an entire life where I was Moon So-hee, a young woman born in Seoul, South Korea, who tragically lost her life at age 37 after trying to save someone from a moving truck.
And now I'm back, forced to reckon with the fact that the last 37 years of my life weren't real; simply conjured up in my mind as three years in reality slowly passed me by.
The house staff immediately called upon the doctor the moment I woke up. And less than an hour later, he was at my bedside, making sure everything was in order.
"Extraordinary… just extraordinary… " he mutters under his breath as he tests my joints. He turns to Antonia, my dearest handmaid who's raised me since I left the womb, and who hasn't stopped crying since I first opened my eyes. "And the master of the house is not here at the moment, you say?"
"No doctor… he's away on business," Antonia answers tearfully. "But we've already sent word out, so he should be here in a few days."
"I see. Well, everything here already seems to be in order. But I must say, this is truly an unusual case. I've never seen the likes of it." I feel like I'm under observation as he looks at me with that curious glint in his eyes.
"I mean, she certainly doesn't seem like a girl who's been unconscious for three years." In fact, she seems much too collected for someone of her circumstances… I could see his expression say. "How do you feel, my girl?"
Like, I don't know who I am anymore. "...I feel fine, I suppose."
"Are you sure? You've only been awake a few hours, but I'm sure it's been quite an adjustment. I wouldn't put it past you if you've been finding it all disorienting."
He had a point. But would he even understand if I tried to explain what I had just woken up from? To everyone else, I was only an eight-year-old girl who hadn't seen the world since I was five. But inside, I felt like a grown woman, trying to understand just who she was. "Well, the truth is…"
"Hm?"
"Up until now, it's just been one long dream for me," I begin to explain, keeping my gaze downcast, not meeting anyone's eyes.
How do I even begin to explain when I barely understand myself? Why was it that even when I was living a different life in my dream, my actual life somehow manifested itself as some video game that I played with my friends? I think I once heard about how, when the human brain is shutting down, it begins spurting out random bits of information to signal a near-death experience in order to cope. Like your life flashing before your eyes.
But how do I even know that's even real when it's something I learned back when I was Moon So-hee? What if it's just my brain making something up? What can I even believe in anymore?
And even if it was my brain helping me cope with being in a coma, it didn't make sense to place myself in the role of the villainess. Not only that, but it was set years into a future that never even happened. So how do I make sense of it all?
"And I remember it all so clearly. But now, it feels like my memories are all jumbled up. I can't tell anything apart anymore. I even remember things that I know couldn't have happened. Like things that… happen in the future. Doctor, is this unusual?"
***
She's surprisingly articulate for someone her age, the doctor thinks, looking at Ophelia in wonder. Even more so for someone who hasn't spoken to another living being for some time.
***
"Well… It's hard to say, but I wouldn't call it unusual exactly." The doctor leans back in his chair, considering for a moment. "After waking up, many coma patients have often testified to being able to recall all sorts of things. Sometimes they were able to hear what was being said to them while they were unconscious. Other times, they've mentioned dreaming about living life as usual. Some have even gone as far as to claim to have visions about who they were in a past life. In your case… well, the Nymphalis family has always been particularly susceptible to magical visions. Perhaps what you dreamed about was exactly what you thought it was: a small glimpse into the future. I wouldn't mind it too much."
But in my dream, Ophelia doesn't come out of her coma until she's fifteen, I think to myself. And if this so-called vision has any truth to it, doesn't it mean I'm set to die when I'm eighteen? But despite this, the doctor's words brought me some solace. So I wasn't going completely mad. The rest I would just have to figure out for myself.
"If that's all, then I think I'll be on my way," the doctor says, packing up his things. "Please take care, Miss Ophelia. I'll be back to check on you again, but in the meantime, I suggest you begin working on rebuilding your strength. We've been able to maintain your current body as it is using magic these past few years, but lying dormant for an extended period of time still remains detrimental to your muscle health. Stretch frequently and go on walks, and I'm sure you'll be back to normal in no time."
"So she truly is alright?" Antonia said frantically. "We don't have to worry about anything terrible happening to her, do we?"
"As far as I see, she's in peak health," the doctor assures, offering Antonia a kind smile to relieve her worry. "Just make sure she gets regular exercise during her recovery. And keep a fine diet for her as well. Take care, Miss Ophelia. And I forgot the say this earlier, but it's been a relief to see you again."
"Thank you, doctor. I appreciate what you've done for me."
As soon as he left, the rest of the house staff were all over me, prepared to accommodate me for every need. Antonia was particularly fussy, refusing to leave my side for a moment.
"How are you feeling, my lady? Is the bed comfortable enough? Are you still hungry? I could send for some shaved ice. You always loved shaved ice, didn't you? Oh! Or I could get the kitchen to whip up a parfait… "
She fluffs up the pillows positioned behind my back as she speaks, and I can't help but smile. It's nice, being taken care of like this. I can picture how Antonia must've stayed diligently by my side these past three years, fulfilling her duty as my loyal handmaid, all while I remained unresponsive, and my chest blooms with appreciation.
If nothing else, I'm glad to see her again, at least.
"I'm fine, Antonia, really," I assure her. "I'd just like to rest for now."
"Oh! Yes, of course. How silly of me not to notice," she said, quickly pulling up the covers. She turns to the rest of the servants who had been patiently waiting in the room, waving them out. "Come now! Let's not bother the mistress anymore. Please, miss, call me if you need anything at all!"
"I will, thank you, Antonia."
Everyone leaves, and I'm at last alone. I slump down against my pillows, sighing and looking up at the ceiling, contemplating.
So I have finally returned to my original life as Ophelia Nymphalis. What now? Do I simply move on, forgetting all about my life as Moon So-hee?
But how could I? How could I forget the life I had worked so hard to build for myself, even if it was all in my head? The job that I've grown to love, with students I hold as dearly as I would my own children. The friends who've been by my side through thick and thin, who I've laughed and cried with, who've seen me at my worst and celebrated me at my best? The warm, lived-in apartment that I could always return to after a long day, where I could be myself, away from prying eyes. That intimate, personal space that I eventually came to share with…
How could I just leave that all behind?
Not only that, how could I see my current reality the same way anymore, when I've just seen it all unfold under the guise of some silly dating game?
I groan out loud, stretching out my arms to get some feeling back into my limbs. Maybe this reality wasn't even real; maybe I really was a character in a game who just happened to have a dream that she was a human in the real world. I'm sure there've been stories like that, although how would I know? Everything I've supposedly read was all in my —
My thoughts stop dead in their tracks as my eyes spot something on the left wrist of my outstretched arms. A mark. No, not a mark. A tattoo.
I bring my wrist closer for me to inspect, and just like I thought, it was the familiar ink tracing of half a butterfly's wing that had been there since I first got it during a drunken night out in my twenties.
Da-young squealed, the pink flush of alcohol still bright on her cheeks. She held out her right wrist and held it against my left one, bringing our freshly-drawn tattoos together as one whole butterfly. "There, now we match!"
"Isn't this a bit much?" I said sheepishly, having never done anything so bold before. Not until I met Da-young, anyway.
She shook her head at once. "No! It's perfect, don't you think? From now on, these tattoos will commemorate our undying friendship!"
And despite my previous reservations, I drunkenly giggle. She hugs my arm tightly as we continue to admire this symbol of our close bond.
I don't know how long I stared at that tattoo, thoughts running a million miles per minute, but by the time I finally stepped out of it, I could determine one thing:
It was all real.