Episode 3. D-day 99(1)
Sienna Liata. The formidable villainess from the game [Victorian Love].’
She had striking crimson hair and clear emerald green eyes, making her a beauty with distinct features.
‘I think it said she’s twenty this year. Or maybe it said she’s twenty-one.’
Her gently blushing cheeks were as flawless as freshly bloomed roses.
And when she applied all sorts of skincare products to her skin and gently massaged them in, it seemed to radiate its own glow.
I tapped the face that had now become my own as I looked in the mirror.
‘Ah, I really look pretty, don’t I?’
It was incredible how this beautiful face was now mine. Even after looking in the mirror again, I didn’t get tired of it.
‘It would be great as long as I don’t die in 100 days!’
Ironically, thanks to that thought, I snapped out of my daze as I stared at the mirror.
‘That’s right! I don’t have time for this!’
I only had 100 days left. No, I wasted a day, so it’s now 99 days. Even though it seems like plenty of time, it’s not easy to make a quick escape when I can’t choose my lines or actions as I please.
‘I have to go to Count Bohan’s today, even if it’s just for show.’
With that in mind, I finally emerged from my lace slip. I reluctantly let the maids dress me in the uncomfortable corset and petticoat, then placed the dress on top of them.
They also brought me necklaces and earrings that felt quite different from the maids.
‘These seem like higher-ranking people?’
The maids were wearing personal clothes, not uniforms, and I could tell they were maids by the brooches on their chests. What was impressive was that they didn’t say a word to me.
‘Are they ignoring Sienna? Or are they intentionally remaining emotionless in response to Sienna’s mischievous behavior?’
I was curious about the reason, but I didn’t want to risk making a mistake, so I didn’t initiate a conversation.
‘I haven’t sent a messenger yet.’
Should I send one now? I was contemplating when I quickly changed my mind.
‘It wouldn’t be very villain-like to enter abruptly without notice.’
If I arrived at Count Bohan’s and the heroine was there, it might be a good idea for me to bring her out. Of course, if I brought the heroine to the palace, it could completely change the course of the game.
‘Regardless, I have to go to resolve this.’
Having finished dressing, I confidently opened the door and stepped into the corridor. I didn’t need to wander around aimlessly because the system was guiding me with arrows, showing me where to go.
I raised my head. A faint breeze lightly brushed against my neck.
‘It’s a hot country here.’
I thought it would be like this since they dressed me in a thin, airy dress, but stepping outside made it even more evident.
‘A corridor for a ceremony? I can’t imagine such a structure unless it’s summer all year round.’
It felt like I had gone on a long journey. As I looked around, I furrowed my brows slightly.
‘Ugh, but these shoes are so uncomfortable.’
Was it Sienna’s usual preference?
The dress and jewelry were put on without hesitation or inquiry. The same went for the shoes. Although I didn’t choose them, the high heels they put on my feet felt precarious, as if my ankles might snap.
I don’t understand why they make me wear heels when I’m already tall and slender.
‘I wish I could ask them to switch to flats.’
But if I said that, I’d probably get a status message like “Villainesses don’t wear flats.” Frustrated, I let out a sigh through my nose.
‘Huh?’
A tall, handsome man walked toward me from across the hall. I gasped because he was incredibly good-looking.
‘Who is this guy? A living person can’t shine this brightly.’
The man had soft, golden hair. His lips were firmly sealed, but his indifferent, crimson eyes were unique.
“…,”
I was speechless, staring at him as if I were enchanted.
‘If you put such a handsome character in the game, why isn’t he a target? What were the game developers thinking?’
They should have definitely featured this face on the cover and advertised it. He was that handsome.
His beauty was so radiant that it felt like the scenery around him was pixelated.
As I stood there in a daze, he approached me and politely took my hand to greet me.
“I am honored to meet Princess Sienna.”
His voice matched his appearance, a fantastic baritone.
I didn’t even have a chance to make a dumbfounded expression from being captivated by his voice when his broad shoulders gently dipped…
-Chu…
With a light sound, warmth touched the back of my hand and then retreated.
‘Kyaa, he kissed my hand!’
I think I possessed a game for this one kiss.
‘Why didn’t he appear from the prologue! If this guy were the male protagonist, I would have enthusiastically chased after him!’
Damn Daniel Bohan for appearing, did I really curse him that hard? As a result, I ended up reincarnated as the villainess in the game.
‘Unfair! It’s unfair!’
While having such thoughts, the man slowly stood up and locked eyes with me. Suddenly, he furrowed his brow.
“…?”
His face was mostly expressionless, so it wasn’t very clear, but it was definitely a somewhat puzzled expression.
“Why is he making that expression? Did I do something wrong?”
I hadn’t even said a word yet. When I tilted my head, the man opened his lips, but the voice seemed to come from behind him.
“Once again, You did something splendid today.”
It was a voice filled with enmity towards me. As I turned in that direction, my face contorted.
‘What’s with this squid?’
Standing there was a handsome man with black hair and gray eyes, giving off a dark vibe. When you looked at him separately, he had a handsome face, but facing such a dazzling beauty, he seemed like a lonely squid.
‘Your face looks familiar.’
I replied in a sarcastic tone.
“Your manner of speech is as ugly as your looks.”
And right after that single sentence, a strange silence fell among the three of us.
“…?”
“…?!”
“!!”
The words I had only thought about suddenly burst out of my mouth! I was so surprised that I pursed my lips.
‘No, why aren’t there any dialogue options this time? Why are words coming out?’
What kind of mistake is this to make in front of such a handsome man? I awkwardly laughed and tried to recover.
“Ho-ho-ho, this is…”
As I was about to say, ‘I misspoke,’ something different came out of my mouth.
▶ Sir Daniel, I want you to know your place.
▶ How dare you talk back to me?
…Why are the dialogue options acting up again?
‘Is it either this or that? It’s all personality destruction!’
Is this the best you can do? System master, come out and explain quickly!
It was when I was internally squeezing my tears. As I looked closely, the dialogue options seemed a bit strange.
‘Wait… Sir Daniel?’
If it’s Daniel, it’s that guy.
The target of the heroine’s conquest, the real male protagonist of this game. Princess Sienna’s fiancé.
Daniel Bohan.
‘Now that I think about it, it does look like that face.’
Is this guy really him?
Since all the targets of conquest in “[Victorian Love]” are people related to Count Bohan, men with jet-black hair have been appearing from the opening. But what’s so unusual about black hair? Black hair is a basic feature for Koreans. Besides, the playtime is short, so they weren’t familiar to me.
‘In terms of graphics, he seemed better-looking. Is it the difference between 2D and 3D?’
As I blinked, Daniel, perhaps thinking that my silence was a disregard of him, twisted his face in annoyance.
“I suppose you don’t even acknowledge your fiancé in front of others now. It’s probably for the best. There’s no point in hearing a repulsive woman like you greet me warmly.”
What did you say!
‘Your words are too harsh.’
I don’t really know much about the relationship between my villainess sister and this man.
‘But there’s no reason for me to take insults to my face like this!’
Because.
“Even though you have a fiancée, you’re playing around with other women. Do you have anything to say, Sir?”
You’re a real bad guy, especially in the eyes of my villainess sister!
Thinking like that scared me, but Daniel’s face turned bright red. He let out a huff.
“What are you talking about? Are you trying to ruin my reputation now?”
“….!!”
Thanks to that, I realized one thing too.
‘I was just thinking about it this time, but it came out of my mouth!’
It seems like there’s no consistency in the dialogue constraints, doesn’t it?
***
I’ve played several games where I’ve conquered targets. Suddenly, when the dialogue options disappeared, and my voice came out freely, I had a feeling.
There is a pattern in the dialogue of this game.
‘System told me that I’m playing the role of the villainess in this game.’
I thought seriously. System said that if I deviated from my identity as a villainess, my existence might be annihilated.
‘And in reality, I’ve been constrained by dialogue options all along. But after meeting Daniel, several times, thoughts I had just come up with suddenly came out. There’s definitely a pattern.’
The problem is, what is that pattern? I furrowed my brow and made a groaning sound.
I might remember it if I think a little longer.
“Answer me, Princess! Are you insulting me, your fiancé, right now?”
The situation wouldn’t leave me alone.
‘Why is this guy so noisy?’
“What did you just say?”
Oops. It seems like my thoughts slipped out again.
‘Ah, I’m really going crazy.’
I had this feeling that even after escaping the bad ending, I wouldn’t be able to contain my frustration and might die.
“Princess Sienna.”
A cold voice that felt like a snake slithering, quietly echoed in the corridor.
“Her Majesty is summoning you.”
A maid with an expression as blank as her voice called me.
