A woman dressed in flowing white, her long green hair cascading down her back and her piercing blue eyes calm yet curious, stood outside the room and gently knocked on the door.
"Zara! Wake up, dear. It's already morning—you need to get ready for your journey to the celestia academy!"
Her mother's voice pierced through the wooden door like a war horn. Zara groaned, rolling over and burying her face into the pillow.
"Five more minutes..." she mumbled.
A sharp sigh followed, then the rhythmic tap of nails on wood.
"How many times must I tell you? Stop acting like a this! And no more 'five minutes'—get up!"
With a dramatic groan, Zara forced herself upright. Her golden-blond hair flopped in a tangled mess over her shoulder. Sky-blue eyes blinked at the sunlight trickling through the curtains. She yawned, stretched, and shuffled into the dressing room.
"I'm getting dressed! I'm coming!"
Before the mirror, she frowned at her reflection: tall, athletic, with a sharp gaze. Her mother often complained she looked too 'wild'—but Zara didn't care. She preferred running and sparring to embroidery.
After a quick wash and slipping into her academy uniform, she descended the stairs. The scent of toasted bread and eggs greeted her warmly.
"Eat quickly. The carriage will be here soon," her mother said, arranging plates on the table.
Zara dropped into her chair and reached for the bread.
"Feet off the table, young lady!"
She froze mid-reach. Pouting as she correct herself.
"Jeez, Mom, it's just breakfast, not some royal banquet."
"Act like a lady, Zara you are marquis daughter. and behave in academy Nobles from all over the empire will be at the academy. Even the royal family don't get yourself killed there. You don't need to form alliances. Just stay out of trouble. Focus on your studies."
"You've said that like a hundred times mom.
Zara groan then look around and tilt her head toward her mother.
"Where's Dad mom?"
Her mother hands paused, setting her teacup down before walking over. With a light flick to Zara's forehead, she replied:
"At the palace. The Emperor summoned him this morning."
"Ow! What was that for?"
"For acting like a tomboy and slouching again."
"You told me to focus on myself, not act like a porcelain doll!"
"Confidence is good. Sitting like a monkey isn't."
Despite her grumbling, Zara finished eating quickly. As she stood to leave, her mother pulled her into a firm hug.
"Zara... I'll miss you. Study well, and don't slack off."
Zara softened. "I'll miss you too, Mom. I promise—I'll work hard."
Stepping into the sun, she climbed into the waiting carriage. Her journey to the prestigious Royal Celestia Academy had begun.
The carriage rolled through lush valleys and glowing forests, guarded by mounted escorts. Hours passed peacefully—until the road twisted into the mountains.
Suddenly, the carriage jerked to a halt.
Zara peeked out the window. "What's happening?"
A guard approached, tense. "Miss, stay inside. Bandits. We'll handle it."
He turned sharply. "Protect Lady Zara! Hold formation!"
Hooves thundered. Swords clashed. Screams rang out as bandits burst from the trees. Magic flared. Blood spilled.
Zara clenched her fists as she here screams outside, she open the carriage window and took a deep breath.
I've trained for this. Just focus... like Dad taught me.
But before she could finish casting her spell—
Boom! The carriage door exploded. the bandit sneer seeing her and swing his club slamming into her temple.
Darkness swallowed her as she fall down.
"We did it, boys! Look at this—some noble brat!" one bandit jeered.
Another reached for Zara's unconscious form— his hands near her chest.
Shing!
His head hit the floor before his body.
"Disgusting scum," growled the guard captain, sword dripping. "Protect Lady Zara Leave none of bandit alive!"
Battle raged. One by one, the bandits fell to their death. None survived as knight kill them.
inside the broken carriage, something no one could see stirred.
A wisp of black mist slithered from the shadows entering carriage. It hovered over Zara's chest, searching.
Then—burst!
A surge of blue-white light erupted from her body. The mist screamed silently and disintegrated into nothing.
Moments later.
Zara woke inside a warm tent, her head hurting badly.
"Ugh... what happened...?"
She clutched her temple as something surged in her head—memories that weren't hers flooded her brain.
Metal machines. Cars. Screens. City skylines. Otome games.
"What... what's a car? Some kind of carriage?"
Then the memory shifted showing otome game, came names. Stats. Routes. Villainesses. A girl named Zara.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"No… no way…"
She sat up, pale and trembling.
"This… this is a game world. An Otome game."
She whispered the final crushing realization came as her face become pale.
"And I'm the one who will die…"
She stared into the distance, horrified.
"I have the smalest magic talent… I'm not even a love interest. Well thats good. I don't want to be someone's romance option anyway."
A smirk tugged at her lips.
"This might actually be the best part."
Her eyes gleamed as she clenched her fist.
"I'll rewrite my life because I know what will happen i i can survive and become strong, so my life will not be at risk"