This was bad.

This was very, very bad.

As I blinked at my reflection in the mirror, I brought my hands up to my face. A face I didn't recognize—a face that didn't belong to me. With soft porcelain skin and flowing blonde hair, the piercing blue eyes that stared back at me were far different than my hazel ones and short auburn hair.

How? How did I end up here, in the body of a seventeen year old girl, with all this knowledge and information about the world swirling into my head?

I, Tamara Park, had died. I lived in a tiny one room apartment, with no family, no significant others, overworked at my job, and nothing to look forward to. My one hope in life was my best friend, Julia, and her constant updates about the novel she was writing, which I was an editor of. Since we were in elementary school, I'd been helping her craft her own world and lore, from knights and dragons to princes and princesses, with her latest work being a sweet romance prequel called "Flowers Bloom in the Spring."

Julia... as the memories flooded back, tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't fight them, rather I refused to acknowledge their presence as I trembled in front of the mirror. When I heard she'd taken her own life, I was overcome by extreme guilt and grief. After returning drunk one night and missing the bus, I'd been hit by a speeding car on my way home. What a fitting way to end my sad, miserable existence.

This can't be real. I had just been making the final edits to this book, the prequel to the beloved series she had spent years creating. The one that told the love story of the parents who would have a child that saved the continent. The one where the heroine, Katia, won the love of the Prince Roland, and the villainess, Rosaria, was utterly destroyed by the end.

Before I could even process that horrifying realization, a knock echoed against the heavy wooden door.

"Lady Rosaria, breakfast is ready. Will you be joining his grace today?"

I was frozen for a moment. Here I was, standing in the body of one of Julia's most beloved characters. However I knew that I, Rosaria Leeland, the daughter of Duke Leeland, was fated to perish at the blade of the Crown Prince.

But I'm not Rosaria. There's no way I'll make the same mistakes as her. The feeling of dread in my gut slowly shifted as I realized the opportunity I'd just been given. Once a poor woman at the end of her prime barely scraping by to make ends meet, I was now a rich young socialite. I didn't have to work, and I could more or less spend my money however I wanted. A life of luxury awaited me!

Taking a shaky breath, I straightened my posture and smiled. If I play my cards right, maybe I could change my fate.

"Tell my father I'll be there shortly," I called back, barely recognizing the elegant lilt in my voice.

If I was going to survive, I had to be careful. No reckless outbursts, no obvious attempts to change the story too quickly. I had to be smart.

Because in this world, villainesses didn't get second chances.

___

As I followed the servant down to the hall, my heels clicked on the polished marble floor. I wore an extravagant purple dress, much like the ones Rosaria typically wore, but this was one of her more milder dresses. Blast this medieval era and its cumbersome dresses, I thought wryly. If it were up to me I would have worn pants, but I didn't want to shock anyone too much or make them suspect me, especially if I suddenly changed my wardrobe. If father thought I was possessed, he'd take me to be exorcised and who knew what would happen to me then.

Rosaria, being the spoiled brat of a villainess she was, didn't have the most upstanding reputation. Servants tiptoed around me and spoke in hushed tones, afraid that I might find something unsatisfactory and lash out at them. I'm going to have to change that, I sighed. It's nice, but it's uncomfortable being treated like nobility.

My face was still red at the thought of having servants help me change into clothes. I wasn't used to such luxurious treatment—but I could definitely get used to it. They styled my hair, massaged lotion into my skin, and I barely had to lift a finger.

While we walked, my mind flipped through the events of Julia's novel. Looks like the novel hasn't started yet, but I don't have much time to prepare. Most of the major plotlines took place at the palace, within the capital city, or at balls during the social season, and there were only a few scenes at the Duke's manor. He was briefly mentioned once or twice, but I created this kingdom with Julia. I knew exactly what kind of person he was.

Duke Leeland is not cruel, but he is a fool. A kind, warm-hearted fool who had unknowingly let vipers into his court. And those vipers were the ones who slowly influenced Rosaria to change from an innocent spoiled young girl into a self-assured, arrogant villainess.

He wasn't corrupt, but he was surrounded by people who were. And he was completely, blissfully unaware of it. I glanced around me at the staff of the manor, wondering if each one was really, truly loyal to the dukedom or if they had some ulterior motive. Looks like I've got some weeding to do, I thought, as I entered the dining hall.

Duke Leeland was smiling warmly, at the head of the table, his bright blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he waved me over enthusiastically. "Rosaria! My darling girl!"

Before I could react, I was enveloped in a crushing embrace.

"F-Father—!"

Leeland pulled back just enough to cup my face in both hands, his blue eyes shimmering with emotion. "Look at you! Oh, my poor, precious little star! You should still be resting! What were the maids thinking, letting you out of bed after such a horrific accident?!"

I blinked, momentarily thrown off. Oh. Right. The accident.

I had noticed the bandages this morning while the maids helped me change them, and I experienced a dull soreness and a light headache. When I asked, the maids informed me of what transpired. Just yesterday, Rosaria had fallen from her horse while out riding, resulting in a minor head injury and some scrapes. I could use this to my advantage... I thought.

Duke Leeland, of course, had completely overreacted to the whole thing.

"I'm fine, Father," I assured him, carefully prying his hands away. "It was just a fall."

"Just a fall?" he repeated, horrified. "You were unconscious for three hours! I nearly ordered half the royal physicians to our estate!"

"You should have," Julian muttered from his seat. "I would have liked to see the Prince's reaction to that."

I turned to see Julian, my younger brother, lazily cutting into his breakfast. He was sharp-witted and far more observant than our father, but since he had been overshadowed his whole life, no one ever listened to him.

Which is a shame, because he was usually right.

He mentioned the prince, because the original Rosaria was so obsessed with him. Though she'd never actually formally met the prince, it was her dream to be the crown princess, but he hadn't taken a fiance yet. He will soon.

I regarded Julian curiously, realizing that not much had been written about him. When Julia created him, he was a minor side character. He ended up dying as a result of Rosaria's crazed plans, which eventually led to her own death.

Duke Leeland finally let go of me and ushered me toward the table. "Come, sit! Eat! You need strength!" He turned to a servant. "Fetch the softest bread! And the freshest fruits! And—oh!—perhaps some of that honeyed milk she likes so much!"

I resisted the urge to bury my face in my hands.

"Father," I said patiently, "I don't need honeyed milk."

"Nonsense! You need proper nourishment!" He gestured wildly at the table. "Why, when I was a boy, I once fell from a tree and my mother made me drink warm milk with honey every day for a week! Best thing for healing!"

Julian raised an eyebrow. "And remind me, Father—wasn't that also the time you got food poisoning?"

Leeland paused.

"...Well, yes, but that was from the fish, not the milk!"

I bit back a laugh. How did this man ever survive court politics? He was the air-headed type who always loved to tell the same stories over and over again, but it was one of the things I appreciated about his character. He is one of the few truly good men in Bakner's corrupt nobility. He adored his children, showered them with affection, and ruled his duchy with warmth and generosity.

He looked at me like I was his entire world, I thought. He was somewhat different from the fool I expected, and his eyes were sharper and keener than I imagined. But he was also painfully naive, so trusting that he couldn't see the snakes he had let into his own court. He, too, met a tragic end.

As breakfast continued, Leeland prattled on about absolutely everything except politics. He gushed over how the flower garden was finally blooming again after the gardener's unfortunate mishap with the fertilizer. He lamented that during his last meeting with the vassals he had to wear his "unbearably stiff formal coat." And, for a solid five minutes, he debated aloud whether or not it was possible to befriend a swan.

"Father," Julian said flatly, "the last time you tried, it nearly took your eye out."

Leeland waved a dismissive hand. "That was one swan! You can't judge an entire species based on one bad experience, Julian. Besides, one would look great swimming around in our fountain by the garden, don't you think?"

Julian sighed, looking so incredibly done with this conversation that I had to suppress a smile. Then, just as I was finishing my tea, Leeland clapped his hands together.

"Now, Rosaria, my darling, I have fantastic news!"

I immediately tensed. "Oh?"

He beamed. "Chancellor Veltin has extended an invitation to the palace on behalf of the king!"

I nearly dropped my teacup. "What?" This is too soon.

"As you know, there's talk of finding a fitting match for the Crown Prince. The King has issued a list of eligible young ladies to visit the palace, and you're one of them, isn't that wonderful?" He clasped his hands together cheerfully. "You are to meet with Crown Prince Roland. You'll dazzle him, I just know it! After all, how could he not be completely enchanted by my precious, beautiful daughter?"

I swallowed hard. I hadn't expected the beginning of the novel to be so soon—I thought I had at least several months to prepare. This was it. The beginning of everything. Rosaria had always been hungry for the position of Crown Princess. If I were the real Rosaria right now, I'd be jumping at this opportunity. But right now, all that was in my stomach was lead.

The moment where, in the original story, Rosaria's downfall would begin. I carefully set my teacup down and took a deep breath. Not this time.

This time, I would change my fate. And maybe—just maybe—I could save Julian and the Duke from their horrible ends.