I wasn’t sure how long I sat on the floor feeling sorry for myself, but I knew doing nothing wasn’t going to help anything.

I pushed off the floor and crossed to the old desk, touching the dusty surface. Did Kyla never actually use it? Granted, it looked nearly impossible to use. I pulled out the chair and sat – praying it didn’t give under my weight.

I sat – back stiff – waiting with bated breath. It groaned and creaked a few times before the noises dissipated entirely.

“Thank god.” I exhaled, eyeing the desk. That’s one problem solved.

I bent over – keeping my spine ridged in case the legs snapped – and opened the top drawer. The context was a mess, and that was putting it nicely. Envelopes and papers lay in a scattered mess. Damn, Kyla. Ever heard of organization?

I reached in, riffling through the mess. Need to find a piece that’s not completely covered in ink. Several minutes later, I found a fresh sheet of paper, along with a quill and a bottle of dark red ink.

I set the paper down and popped off the lid of the ink – before dipping in the quill.

“Let’s see,” I mused, tapping the feather against my chin. “What do I actually remember from the novel itself?”

The plot drifted through my mind in fragmented pieces – disorienting and mildly confusing. I shook my head, pushing the ideas aside. Until this brain fog dissipates, I need to focus on something simple.

“The main character should suffice.” I lowered the pen, scribbling down what I could recall.

Female Lead: Paulita Vance. Mysterious past before being adopted by Viscount Vance at age ten. Bubbly, outgoing, air head. Dull personality at the start of the story.

Male Lead: Cassius Helios. Crown Prince of the Helinta Empire. Cruel, short tempered, arrogant, violent. Twisted personality with a strong hatred toward humanity. Only softens when he falls in love with Paulita.

2nd Male Lead: Page Westwood. A knight of the Helinta Empire. Stoic, upright, a bit of a stick in the mud. Met Paulita when they were twelve. Fell in love with her at first sight. Completely blind in regard to Paulita. Basically a love is blind fool.

3rd Male Lead: Tyrine Magno. Loosely a male lead. Rude, arrogant, prickly. Cousin to the crown prince on his mother’s side. Court mage who works under Cassius. Falls in love with Paulita, but doesn’t act on his feelings. Bullied mercilessly by Kyla before she was brought to the Duke’s estate.

I paused for a minute considering if I should bother writing Kyla down. Why not? I shrugged. It wouldn’t hurt.
Villainess: Kyla Thornevale. Arrogant, tried to kill Paulita more than once. Not much is known about her life before entering the house – only that she bullied the mage due to references from Tyrine during one of the chapters. Loses her head. Bastard child of the Duke and a lowly maid.
I set the quill down and skimmed the list again. There were other characters I was leaving out of course, but these five were the main drivers of the plot. Yeah, until Kyla was killed off at the end of the first novel.

“He’s the main problem I have to watch out for.” I mumbled, laying the paper back down and placing a star next to Cassius’s name.

The day Kyla was executed flashed through my mind – bright and vivid. Apparently even after coming to this world, the memory was still intact. Of course it is. I sighed, twisting the cap back on the inkwell. The scene was so detailed, how could I forget it?

Nearing the conclusion of the first novel, Kyla took it upon herself to devise a strange plan to ruin and “hopefully” kill Paulita. I couldn’t remember for sure how she did it – but somehow Kyla convinced both Tyrine and Page that Paulita was the reincarnation of some Dark Mage named Svetta.

As expected of the villainess, her schemes didn’t work out. She eventually got caught and out of sheer desperation – or stupidity – Kyla had attacked Paulita with a dagger on the day of her engagement ceremony to Cassius.

I lifted the quill back up, opened the ink once again, and scribbled down what I had remembered.

Kyla walked into the room Paulita was getting dressed in, pulled out a blood red dagger, and tried to sink it into Paulita’s chest. Where did the dagger come from???

“Strange.” I set down the quill and leaned back in my seat. “Where did she even get the dagger from?”

Am I forgetting something? It wasn’t mentioned in the novel, that much I remembered, but there’s something Paulita said when Kyla pulled it out. What was it she-

A sharp stab at my temple ceased all thoughts and I gasped, cradling my head in my hands. “What the hell?” I swore, squeezing my eyes shut. “What was that?”

Slowly the pain began to ease. I tried thinking about it again – only to have the same exact result. Shit, this is pointless.

I stood up abruptly, knocking over the chair. It thunked loudly against the ground and one of the legs splintered off. I sighed, grabbed the paper, and slid it into the drawer. I had no idea if they could read the language I had used to write it, but I had no intention of leaving it out in the open.

I slapped the drawer closed and walked toward the mirror, eyeing the foreign body I had entered once again. She’s so pretty, and yet she chose to be a problem. Too bad her personality was garbage.

I scanned her quickly, pausing at the thin night gown – if it could be called that – that I was wearing. It was tattered and frayed around the edges and had more holes than Swiss cheese. Based on her attire alone, I could assume with some confidence that I was early on in the story – relatively anyway.

I remembered faintly that Kyla’s vanity never allowed her to leave the house without dressing up in the full noble get up. Hair, makeup, outfit, jewelry etc. That only happened after she first laid eyes on the crown prince.

“The ball must have not happened yet.” I thought, tapping a finger against her – my cheek.

Everything began to unravel during the ball Paulita and Kyla first appeared in after coming of age. The novel would kick off in full force then. Judging by my estimate of Kyla’s age range – the ball was going to happen very soon.

Should I try to run away before then? I had no desire to take on the villainess roll and get my head severed off my body. Running away might actually not work – not yet at least. The best option right now would simply be not attending the ball.

The sound of a door knob turning stopped my thoughts and a man dressed in a butler outfit appeared in the door frame – looking irritated.

Is there a condition, that to work in the mansion, everyone has to have a permanent scowl on their face?

“What do you want?” I snapped, annoyed too, that he hadn’t even bothered to knock.

“The Duke is requesting your presence.” He said as if I hadn’t spoken at all.

“And?”

He blinked a few times, surprised or annoyed by my attitude. “You must go this minute to see him.”

“I’m not even dressed.” I pointed out, motioning to my outfit. He didn’t say anything – just stared down his nose at me like he was looking at a bug. “Fine.” I walked over to him, suppressing the urge to kick his shin. “Let’s go.”

He scuffed and turned on his heel, not bothering to see if I followed after him. I did of course – I had no other option but to trail behind him like a lost puppy. As we made our way down the long corridor and the spiraling stairs – I couldn’t help but wince at the sheer expanse of the building.

It was too vast for a small family of three. Why do novels always go for grandeur? Not only was it a waste of resources to keep up, heating it in the winter must be a nightmare.

I was so lost in thought that I hadn’t realized the butler stopped. I almost ran into him – catching myself at the last second. He glared down at me, tsk’d, and turned toward a set of large dark mahogany doors.

What? I thought, rolling my eyes. You stopped so fast that anyone would have ran into you.

He raised a hand, knocking gently on the door. “Your Grace,” he called. “I have brought Kyla.”

“Enter.” A deep, exasperated voice, called out.

This is going to be fun. I thought sarcastically. I didn’t know much about Kyla’s family, but I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good.

The butler pulled open the door and nudged me inside. I stepped in seconds before the door closed behind me.

“Kyla.” The Duke said coldly, setting down his quill. “Come over here. Now.”

I took a step forward, feeling a strange cold sweat prickle my skin. How odd. Why am I sweating?

The man didn’t look that intimidating. He was short and stocky, graying around the temples. Deep lines were etched into his chiseled features. Although he looked past his prime, as a younger man – he would have been handsome. That is – if his face didn’t have the tell signs of someone who frowned more than smiled.

What stood out to me the most was the lack of resemblance between Kyla and her father. Where Kyla was a red-blond, the man had dark brown hair. Where her features were dainty, his were hard. If it had not been for the uncanny violet eyes they shared – I would have never guessed they were related.

“Would you care to explain why you did it?” He asked as I stopped before the desk.

“I’m sorry?” I asked, confused. “What are you referring to, your Grace?”

“Do not play dumb with me.” He snapped. “I know you left the house this morning with the late Duchess Ursela’s jewels and pawned them off to a swindler.”

Really? Kyla did that? That could explain why she was outside, but it didn’t explain the outfit. Why would she meet someone in basically nothing?

“I did do that,” I said slowly, feeling my hands start to shake. “Your Grace.”

Why am I talking so formally? Why am I shaking like a leaf?

“Why do you vex me so?” He slammed his hands on the desk, rattling it.

I flinched – something I normally never would have done. This must not be my reaction. I thought, suppressing the urge to groan. Why is she so afraid of him?

“Was it not enough that I brought you into my home? Was it not enough that I fed you – even though you are nothing more than a stain on my reputation?”

“Your Grace, I…” The words died on my lips, choked back as my heart rate spiked.

“I am sick and tired of your antics.” The Duke bit out. “You will be married off– and gods willing– you will become someone else’s problem.”

What a prick. I thought, sighing. I want to talk back to him, but I know this damn body is going to freeze up again.

When I didn’t respond, he sat back down, lifting up his quill. “You will be attending the ball next week after all.” He grunted, casting his eyes down to the desk. “We will find you a suitor this season and you will not cause any more problems. If you understand me, then leave.”

“Yes, your Grace.” I offered an awkward bow and turned – leaving the office without another word.

Good luck marry me off, you troll. I thought bitterly.

No one ever wants to be tied to the Villainess.