Note From The Author: this is the longest chapter I've ever written on his app, hope you people love and kindly please, support me
Vivian stared at the beautiful garden outside from the window of her lavish bedroom, her mind spinning with the vivid memory that had been forcefully implanted into her consciousness.
The events she had experienced through the original Vivian's eyes felt alarmingly real, so much so that if it weren't for the faint, persistent memory of her life on Earth, she might have been convinced that she was the original Vivian.
The sights, the emotions, and even the thoughts of the former host of this body, the original Vivian had woven themselves into her psyche like a well-spun thread, leaving her grappling with the eerie sensation of living two lives.
"Transmigration is terrifying," she muttered, breaking the silence in the room. Despite her words, there was no trace of fear on her face. Instead, her lips curved into a sly smile, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Terrifying? Maybe. But it's also exciting.
Here, in this magical world brimming with possibilities, she was no longer bound by the constraints of her former life on Earth, a life riddled with restrictions. Back there, she had been constantly monitored, her diet meticulously controlled, her choices limited by society's expectations and her family's overprotectiveness.
But here? Here, she was free. She could taste the delicacies of this fantastical world, pastries dripping with sweetness, exotic dishes that Earth could only dream of. She was eager to immerse herself in all of it.
Vivian sat up abruptly, brushing her flamboyant red hair over her shoulders as her smile widened. She couldn't afford to waste time reminiscing about the original Vivian's life or brooding over the flaws of the original story she had read.
This was her reality now, and she intended to live it to the fullest. Her first order of business? Filing for a divorce at the imperial court.
She reached for the bell at her bedside and rang it. Moments later, her maids appeared, their heads bowed respectfully as they awaited her instructions. "Prepare my attire," she said confidently. "Something dignified yet striking. I have errands to run today."
The maids scurried off to fulfill her request, leaving Vivian to her thoughts. The original Vivian had been meek, allowing herself to be overshadowed by the female lead's cunning schemes.
But not this Vivian. She had no intention of playing the role of a pitiful side character. If she was going to live in this world, she would rewrite her story.
Her plans didn't stop at the divorce. After filing the paperwork, she also has to visit the temple and request an audience with the pope to officially dissolve her marriage with the duke.
The thought of meeting Priest Alexander, one of the novel's male leads, sent a spark of amusement through her. Alexander had been one of her favorite characters in the story, not because of his piety or supposed righteousness, but because of the intriguing duality of his character.
Despite his image as a holy priest, Alexander was a playboy through and through. Few knew of his true nature, as he carefully selected his targets to avoid scandal. His beauty was legendary, snow-white skin, sky-blue eyes that seemed to pierce through one's soul, and long, silver hair that shimmered under moonlight.
Women across the empire were enamored with him, but Alexander had cultivated an untouchable aura, shielding himself from their advances to maintain his holy image.
Yet beneath his flawless facade lay a darker truth. Alexander was not merely a priest, he was also the leader of one of the most powerful and feared cults in the kingdom. This secret identity was unknown to everyone, even his closest followers, as he concealed his true self behind a mask of divinity.
Vivian couldn't help but smirk as she recalled the details from the novel. Alexander's charm had always intrigued her, but it was his villainous streak that made him truly fascinating. Of all the female protagonist's love interests, he had been the most rational and cunning, a true manipulator who played the games be it of love or power with precision.
The other love interests were equally formidable. Leonard, the aloof Duke, was secretly the head of the Magic Tower, wielding unparalleled magical power.
Damian, the captain of the White Knight Order, controlled the empire's largest underground information network. Together, they formed an elite trifecta of dangerous men, each with secrets that could topple kingdoms.
Yet the female protagonist had managed to ensnare them all with her delicate facade. In the original story, she was portrayed as a strong and virtuous woman, but Vivian who had always had the benefit of hindsight, saw the female lead for what she truly was, a selfish, cunning opportunist.
The female protagonist had mastered the art of manipulation, accepting gifts and favors from all who vied for her attention. Nobles, merchants, knights, none were safe from her schemes. She played the role of the innocent maiden to perfection, stringing along her admirers while reaping the rewards of their devotion.
Vivian couldn't help but scoff at the hypocrisy. The female lead was no innocent angel; she was a gold digger with a calculating mind.
As Vivian continued to pace, she couldn't help but recall one of the more infuriating aspects of the original novel, the female protagonist's obsession with the imperial family, particularly the crown prince.
Although it was never explicitly stated, Vivian was certain that the female lead's real ambition had always been the crown prince.
After all, the crown prince was the empire's most powerful figure, second only to the emperor himself. And not only is he the next in line to the throne, but he is also single without being promised or engaged to any, His return from the battlefield would inevitably set the stage for a power struggle that the female lead clearly wanted to exploit.
The scenes in the novel where she tried to ingratiate herself with the royal family, especially the empress and princess, weren't about love or respect. They were calculated moves to position herself closer to the imperial throne.
The female protagonist's schemes had been painfully obvious to the royal family, who were no strangers to political manipulation. The empress, a woman of immense wisdom and experience, had seen through her ploys instantly, while the princess had dismissed her as a petty schemer.
Yet, the novel had painted the empress and princess with the rest of the imperial family as villains, jealous, spiteful people who couldn't stand to see the female protagonist's "pure" love with the male lead.
Vivian almost laughed aloud at the absurdity of it all. The author had twisted reality to fit a shallow narrative, portraying the female lead as a saintly figure misunderstood by everyone. But the truth was glaringly obvious: the female protagonist was a social climber, using men as stepping stones to achieve her ultimate goal.
What frustrated Vivian the most was how the female lead had tried to drive a wedge between the original Vivian and the princess. In the novel, the female protagonist had attempted to create the illusion of animosity between them, thinking the princess would resent Vivian for her popularity and influence. But her childish schemes had backfired spectacularly.
The royal family had only grown more disgusted with her antics, yet the author had spun this as the royal family being unfair and angry by her "true love" with the duke, who is Vivian's husband because Vivian is their family member.
"True love, my foot," Vivian muttered, shaking her head. "The only thing she loves is power."
But now that Vivian had taken over, things were going to change. If the female protagonist thought she could continue her rise unchecked, she was in for a rude awakening.
Vivian has no interest in competing for the love of the novel's male leads even though she lusts for them, to her, only the sexual relationship matters and if it does not work out with them, she is sure that she will find some handsome obedient man somewhere, they could do as they pleased.
Her focus was on dismantling the female protagonist's plans and exposing her to the manipulative gold digger she truly was.
That being said, the crown prince her so-called cousin himself really intrigued Vivian. He was the only major figure in the novel whom the female lead had yet to ensnare, likely because he was stationed at the border, commanding the empire's forces in a grueling war.
Vivian suspected that the female lead was biding her time, waiting for his return to make her move. Her attempts to gather information about him in the novel had been subtle but persistent, disguised as harmless curiosity.
Vivian wondered what the crown prince would think of the female protagonist's antics. From what she remembered of the novel, he was a cold, calculating man with little patience for deceit.
His sharp mind and strategic brilliance on the battlefield had earned him the respect of allies and enemies alike. He wasn't the type to be swayed by superficial charm or empty words.
A smirk tugged at Vivian's lips. If the female protagonist truly thought she could manipulate the crown prince, she was delusional. And if Vivian ever crossed paths with this cousin of hers after his return from the battlefield, She intended to ensure that he saw through the female lead's facade immediately just so that he would also not fall into the trap of female protagonist Halo.
"Perhaps I should pay more attention to my cousin's return, the original host's father and brother will also probably be back with him" Vivian mused. "He might be the perfect ally to turn this story on its head considering the fact that he also likes and cherishes his cousin the original host a lot"
What angered Vivian the most was how the original author had portrayed these events. The royal family, for instance, had seen through the female protagonist's schemes early on.
And had been wary of her intentions, recognizing her attempts to sow discord. Yet the novel twisted the narrative, painting the royal family as jealous and power-drunk villains that abuse their powers and the female lead as a misunderstood heroine. It was absurd
"The author's brain must've been kicked by a donkey, and it's funny the fact that I used to like this trashy novel with millions of other fans" Vivian muttered under her breath as she paced the room. The more she thought about the original story, the more determined she became to destroy it and all the female protagonist's plans
She had no intention of letting the female protagonist continue her charade. If the original Vivian had been a victim, this new Vivian would be her reckoning. The female lead might have fooled the men around her, but Vivian had no such weakness.
She would expose the protagonist's hypocrisy, dismantle her schemes, and take control of her own destiny.
As she prepared to step into the day's plans, her excitement grew. This world, with all its magic and intrigue, was a blank canvas waiting for her to leave her mark. She would not be a mere spectator or side character in someone else's tale. She would be the author of her own story, shaping it into something extraordinary.
And if that meant toppling the female protagonist from her pedestal and dismantling the love interests' carefully crafted facades? So be it. This was her world now, and she intended to make it better, one calculated move at a time.
With that thought, a surge of excitement coursed through her. This wasn't just about settling scores or rewriting a flawed story, it was about creating a world where authenticity triumphed over deceit and getting revenge for the original host, and also giving the fans something more realistic and enjoyable to read if they can still read it.
Her maids returned, carefully laying out her chosen attire. A rich emerald gown with gold embroidery caught Vivian's eye, its elegance and boldness reflecting her newfound determination. She allowed them to help her get ready for the day, her mind racing with possibilities.
Vivian wasn't sure what the future held, but one thing was certain: she wasn't here to play by the rules of the original novel. If the female protagonist thought she could climb her way to the top unchecked, she had another thing coming.