The darkness was so dense that she couldn't tell whether her eyes were open or closed.
Then the blackness split apart, pierced by a cold white light hanging from a strange ceiling.
She blinked slowly.
She lay still for a few seconds, trying to understand where she was—why the ceiling wasn't her bedroom ceiling, and why her body felt so unbearably heavy.
She suddenly pushed herself up.
Clack.
Her head struck something metallic nearby.
She froze, then rubbed her forehead with irritated defiance, lips pressed tight.
When she lifted her gaze, she saw a woman bent near the bed, a tray in her hands and a damp towel hanging from its edge.
The maid was trembling.
Not the tremor of worry… but real terror.
Her face was so pale it looked as though the blood had been drained from it, her eyes wide like those of a trapped animal.
In the next moment, she dropped to her knees.
She bowed so fast her forehead slammed into the floor.
"L–Lady… please… the fever… I didn't mean to, I swear—"
Her words shattered into broken sobs.
"My lady, I didn't do anything, please have mercy… punish me however you wish, just don't—"
She didn't finish.
The girl on the bed cut her off with an annoyed tone, her brows raised as if she were watching a poorly acted play.
"Who are you? And what are you doing in my house? Are you filming a scene without my permission?"
The maid choked on her saliva, the sound of her swallow echoing in the silence.
As for her, she slowly turned to look around.
The room wasn't just a room.
It was the size of an entire house.
Heavy furniture, European carvings, thick curtains, dark polished wood gleaming under the light.
She froze for a moment.
"Damn it… this isn't my house."
A far uglier thought leapt into her mind.
Kidnapping?
"Where the hell am I?"
She suddenly reached out, grabbed the maid by the collar, and yanked her up roughly.
"I've had enough. No matter how much you bully me, I won't tolerate kidnapping and trying to make me look stupid in some cheap play."
Shock split across the maid's face.
Her pallor deepened, and her voice came out fragile, like a thread about to snap.
"Who would dare… to bully the Ruler of the West and the East…?"
Her lips trembled.
"Mercy… please."
—
Ruler of the West and the East.
The title hit her head like a stone.
She froze.
Her grip loosened without her realizing it, and the maid collapsed to the floor.
Something cold seeped into her chest.
A name… a title… a story—
The game.
She lifted her head abruptly and rushed toward the nearest window.
The glass was clouded by the darkness outside, yet it reflected her image clearly, like a black mirror.
Her breath caught.
The face staring back at her was not her own.
Sharp features, beautiful in an unsettling way.
A cold… almost demonic beauty.
Fine dark shadows beneath long lashes framed almond-shaped eyes, sharp as blades.
Golden eyes with narrow pupils, like a wolf's.
Pale skin, and black hair flowing over her shoulders, its tips tinged with silver.
She raised a hand and touched her cheek slowly, then harshly, as if to confirm the skin was real.
"Is—this…"
Her voice broke off.
"Have I finally gone insane…?"
—
The maid approached cautiously.
"My lady… are you—"
She didn't finish.
The girl lunged at her, grabbing both of her wrists tightly.
Her golden eyes narrowed.
"You."
Her voice this time was low… dangerous.
"What is the name of this empire?"
The maid looked at her as if she were witnessing a catastrophe taking shape.
Her voice shook.
"M–My lady… it is… the Empire of the Black Crown."
The girl crouched down on the cold floor, her arms wrapped around her legs as if trying to contain her confusion. She bit her nails unconsciously, her eyes roaming the room with anxiety she couldn't explain.
Damn it…
I was just about to start my favorite game.
Another thought surfaced—far more terrifying.
What is happening? And why am I… in Kairen's body? What kind of delusion is this?
Nearby, the young maid stood stiffly, her face pale and hands clasped in tension. She looked as though she had no idea what to do in front of her "lady," who was acting so strangely.
She hesitated, then an idea flickered in her mind.
She picked up a glass pitcher engraved with a preservation spell and poured from it into a silver cup. A thick red liquid flowed out—so dark it was almost black.
She stepped forward cautiously.
"M–My lady… you must be… craving some blood."
The girl froze.
Blood?!
Her eyes widened, and something she had once read rushed back into her memory.
Right… Kairen fed on human blood.
She covered her mouth in an exaggerated motion, real nausea washing over her this time.
"I'm done for…"
Her body swayed as if she were about to lose consciousness.
"My lady!!"
The maid screamed in panic and rushed to catch her before she fell.
Inside, the girl was swinging between hysterical joy, suffocating fear, and utter disbelief—as if she were witnessing a nightmare… the beautiful, terrifying kind.
And suddenly—
Time stopped.
The air stilled. Sounds froze.
And before her, in the empty space, a glowing translucent panel appeared.
"W–What is this?"
She looked around in confusion, then back at the panel.
Is this… a game system screen?
Words began to form, line by line.
[Incarnation process confirmed]
[Current identity: Kairen Valdez]
[Rank: Tyrant Empress — classified as "Main Villain"]
[Welcome, Player]
[You have been granted the chance to play your favorite game]
She stepped closer slowly, staring at the words as if afraid they might vanish.
Am I really inside the game? Is this a blessing… or a curse?
New lines appeared.
[??]
[Perhaps both]
Her body stiffened.
"…Did it answer me?"
She swallowed, then muttered with genuine irritation:
"Why did you bring me here, you bastard? I have graduation exams tomorrow."
[There are no more exams]
[This is your world from today onward]
[Live… or die]
Her limbs went cold instantly.
Is it joking with me?
New instructions appeared.
[Your role is to change Kairen's fate at any cost]
[On the condition that you do not act out of character]
Her breath caught.
[Failure = Death]
Her throat trembled as she swallowed at that final word.
And yet…
There was something small, dangerous, and thrilling flickering inside her.
"And how is failure determined?"
[When your points reach zero]
[Total Life Points: 50]
[You may increase them by following Kairen's behavior]
[Any action out of character will deduct twice what you would have gained]
She rubbed beneath her nose with a confident motion, tinged with arrogance.
"Alright… this doesn't sound so bad."
She lifted her chin slightly.
"I just follow Kairen's personality—and she's insane—and I'll live peacefully. Easy."
The screen shifted.
[Do not be overconfident]
[Six before you failed to change the game's ending]
[They all died]
[Death here… is final]
[You will not return to your world]
The glint of confidence in her eyes froze.
[But if you succeed]
[You may live here as you wish]
[With no interference from the system]
A heavy silence settled.
And deep within her chest—
Fear mixed with exhilaration.
As if a dangerous door had been opened.
And for the first time since she woke up—
She truly understood:
She was not in a dream.
She was inside a game…
And the game shows no mercy.