Rosie was lying on the bed giddily. She ignored a doctor who was checking the pulse in her hand. The doctor spoke briefly with a handsome man who claimed to be her older brother named Howland Villier.
Her mind was blank. She didn't know what to do.
Hahahaha… She also wanted to laugh. A sorrowful laugh, to be exact.
Of the millions of book titles scattered around the world. How could she fall into a romance tragedy novel?
Of course, that was why the names felt so familiar.
Howland Villiers was a male lead who committed suicide following the death of the female lead. And she, Roseanne Villiers, was just an extra who appeared three times throughout the story.
First, when Howland introduced Savannah, the name of the main female lead, to their family and when she looked after the woman while in the palace.
Second, when Savannah began to doubt her feelings for Howland, Roseanne appeared to convince Savy that the woman loved Howland. Hereafter, it was said that Rosie married a Duke who also happened to be an old friend of hers, and her whereabouts were not mentioned until the last chapter…
The third appearance… the scene where Roseanne was brutally murdered by the troops of Duke Aslan Montgomery. Roseanne, who happened to come to visit the palace to meet her father, became a victim of the cruelty of a man named Aslan.
Rosie. Roseanne Meyer and Roseanne Villiers. Did God bring her back to life just because they just happened to have the same name?
The girl shook her head in disbelief. Why should she enter this stupidly tragic book? The story of Barbie was far more exciting!!
Rosie turned to Howland, who was looking at her in confusion.
"My poor child. What bad luck for you," she muttered dejectedly, remembering how the story she had read ended.
When she was still alive, Rosie always wanted to hug Howland and Savy. The two of them were a very beautiful, fictional couple. Their relationship was healthy. Howland was a true gentleman and a mature Savy was the perfect match for him.
Rosie had never felt so close to the main leads of the novels she always read as she felt toward them. Maybe it's because Rosie always read mafia stories, dark romances, and CEOs, whose male characters were sometimes very dominant and toxic.
So once she read a story with a super-duper of good main leads, it felt like Rosie wanted to hug them.
And here she was now… sitting opposite Howland Villiers. Her favorite male lead from the book she hated the most because its ending was too tragic.
"Howland," Rosie called with a soft voice.
"Yes?"
"May I hug you? You know, I really love you. I want the best for you."
Howland chuckled and sat on the side of his sister's empty bed. The man wrapped his arms and Rosie returned the hug very tightly. The doctor who had checked Rosie's condition was allowed to leave the room.
"I don't know what happened to you, Rosie. You are very strange, but I also love you very much."
Rosie shook her head as she felt tears start to fall on her cheeks.
"I've been through a lot of tough things, Howland. And I don't want to lose you either. You are the best brother in the universe."
Howland patted Rosie's back affectionately.
"Oh, dear. I'm not going anywhere. I will never leave my sister alone again. You don't have to worry."
'But you will die at a very young age,' replied Rosie in her heart.
She had been through a lot. She had come back to life in a fictional world. Roseanne Meyer had died from being hit by a truck and now she lived as Roseanne Villiers.
Rosie pushed Howland's body to wipe her tears away. Howland, who saw his sister crying, was also sad. He also helped wipe the remaining tears from his sister's face.
No. Rosie realized she didn't have time to cry. Mourning her fate wouldn't change anything and made her live longer. Rosie had to take action.
She had the advantage because she knew the storyline. It could be used for her needs. She was grateful to have read the cursed book till the end.
Although the book didn't really describe who Roseanne Villers was, at least Rosie knew the three important characters. Howland, her brother. Savannah Talitha or Savy, the female lead who would appear on the night of the masquerade party. And finally… the villain, Duke Aslan Montgomery.
Howland said they were at Duke Aslan's manor, so the event had not started yet. Howland and Aslan had been close friends since they entered the academy. Their friendship would fall apart because of a misunderstanding later on.
Their relationship grew cold. The atmosphere was heated because Duke Aslan deliberately detained Savy in his manor because Savy's family owed his family a lot.
Duke Aslan did it after he found out Howland liked the girl but didn't dare to express his feelings. Savy was only allowed to return after her family managed to pay off their debt.
Savy came from a lowly noble family whose existence was not very prominent. They couldn't do much either. They sent Savy without asking her opinion. Savy stayed for several months at Duke Aslan's manor.
Duke Aslan, who initially detained Savy to anger Howland, finally fell in love with the girl. Howland did his best to pay off all the debts belonging to Savy's family. The night before Savy returned to meet Howland, a drunken Duke Aslan forced his will on Savy.
Feeling that she had been tainted, Savvy committed suicide and stated that she would always love Howland no matter what. And the tragedy continued...
The heartbroken Howland decided to follow his lover to heaven while Duke Aslan became out of control and massacred the entire Villiers' family because he thought they were the cause of Savy's death.
If Howland was in the Duke's manor, then the misunderstanding had not yet occurred. Rosie still had time to prevent the misunderstanding between the two of them.
She was certain she could change the storyline. Rosie didn't want to die a second time as an extra.
Rosie smiled at this handsome man who was shining so brightly in front of her. She didn't want to die young in vain.
Rosie gripped Howland's hand tightly, making the man confused by his sister's stark change in attitude.
"Howland!" Rosie called to him in a firm voice.
"Y-yes, my dear?" replied the man, who was nervous because his sister looked very fiery.
"Let's live happily! I promise to be your number one protector!" said the girl with determination in her eyes.
Before Howland could reply, the bedroom door opened, and another handsome man appeared. He was wearing all black.
"Sorry for my impudence. I heard the news that Princess Roseanne had fallen into the river. I came here to apologize for the negligence of the maids and bodyguards here," he said with a blank expression on his face.
Rosie looked at the man in confusion. Who was he? Judging from his formal attire, he seemed to be one of the noblemen. The man's face was very handsome, even though not as handsome as her brother, Howland. Rosie looked at the man from head to toe, looking for a clue to the stranger's identity.
"Oh, Duke Aslan! You're back from the hunting party?" Howland greeted the man cheerfully.
The girl's eyes opened wide when she heard that. Who? Duke Aslan? That handsome man with a dark aura, standing in front of her now was Duke Aslan Montgomery?
The man who would kill her?
Rosie's throat suddenly felt very dry. In front of her stood the man who was going to hurt her brother and Savy. The man Rosie had to tame before he went crazy and killed everyone. The main villain that Rosie must keep as far away from Savannah!
"Sorry, Princess. Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something wrong with my face?" asked Duke Aslan, who was uncomfortable with Rosie's intense gaze.
The girl shook her head quickly. "No. Nothing. It's just that you're more handsome than I imagined."
Duke Aslan's brows arched. Howland furrowed his brows.
"I'm sorry, Duke Aslan. Ever since her head hit a rock in the river. My sister was behaving a little differently than usual."