After Anna left the room to fetch tea, Vivian exhaled deeply, gripping the silky fabric of her gown. She needed to come up with an explanation, quickly. Anna was no fool. The only reason she hadn't started questioning her mistress yet was that there were still maids in the room, busy cleaning up the room after last night's dramatic scene and this morning's unusual silence.
But as soon as they were done and the room emptied, Vivian knew there would be no avoiding Anna's scrutiny.
"She's already suspicious," Vivian muttered under her breath, pacing the room anxiously after the maids finally left the room. "She's probably just waiting for the maids to leave before she starts interrogating me."
It wasn't an unfounded fear. If anyone in this world knew the original Vivian like the back of their hand, it was Anna. The bond between them was unbreakable, closer than that of mere mistress and lady in waiting.
When the original Vivian's father and brother were too busy traveling around the world for their business and her uncle and his family were busy with their imperial duties, it was Anna that was there for her every morning when she woke up, when she ate, plays, and goes to sleep.
Anna had practically raised her, cared for her, and shielded her from the world when no one else would. She was more than a loyal servant; she was a sister in every way that mattered.
And now?
Now Anna was seeing a version of her mistress that was completely foreign of course she was bound to be suspicious.
Vivian groaned, dragging a hand down her face. Last night, she had been so caught up in her excitement that she'd completely forgotten to act like the original Vivian.
It wasn't as though she'd planned to blow her cover in less than a day, but the moment she had realized she was inside her favorite novel, inhabiting the body of her beloved favorite character, she had let her emotions get the best of her.
All she could think about at that moment was vengeance and show them what it truly means to be a villainess.
For months now, she had devoured every page of this story, feeling the agony of the original Vivian as she was trampled over by those around her.
A duchess with all the power in the world, yet so painfully fragile, naïve, and hopelessly in love with a man who never cared for her. She had spent her entire life devoted to her husband, Duke Leonard, even when he openly favored another woman.
Isla, the female protagonist of the original novel, is that scheming, manipulative woman who plays the role of the innocent victim while orchestrating Vivian's downfall.
And the original Vivian had just taken it, accepting her fate, almost believing herself to be unworthy of love or happiness if not for Anna.
It had driven her crazy while reading the novel. She had wanted to shake Vivian, to scream at her to fight back, to open her eyes and see that she was being used.
And now she had the chance to fix everything.
She hadn't held back last night. She had confronted the Duke and Isla, tearing through their carefully woven façade, humiliating Isla in front of the nobles at the ball, and making it clear that she would no longer tolerate being treated like a doormat.
It had felt exhilarating. Finally, justice. Finally, revenge. Finally, the proper way of using power.
But now, in the light of morning, the consequences of her actions loomed over her like a dark cloud.
Vivian winced, rubbing her temples as the beginnings of a headache set in. She had gone too far.
Not only had she publicly shamed Isla, but she had also declared her intention to divorce the Duke, a man the original Vivian had been hopelessly devoted to. A man she had spent years pining over, willing to endure any humiliation just to remain by his side.
Anna would notice the change. She already had, everyone did.
Vivian slumped onto a nearby chair, feeling utterly drained. "Why can't these original hosts in novels just be normal?" she grumbled under her breath. "Why do they always have to be too kind, too weak, too naïve, or too evil? Why can't they just be ordinary people who act rationally? It makes things so much harder for transmigrators like me!"
Now she was stuck with the impossible task of explaining why the meek, lovesick Vivian had suddenly turned into a calculating, vengeful duchess overnight.
Anna would never believe it.
Vivian sighed heavily, staring at her reflection in the polished mirror across the room. The woman staring back at her was undeniably beautiful with long, wavy flamboyant red hair cascading over her shoulders, piercing red eyes that shimmered under the morning light, and delicate features that exuded both elegance and vulnerability. This was the face of the original Vivian.
Same face as her but the red eyes and hair were there to remind her that they were different, A woman who had lived a life of heartbreak and loneliness, desperately seeking love from a man who never spared her a second glance that was who the original Vivian is.
A woman who no longer existed.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
If Anna discovered that another soul had replaced her beloved mistress…
Vivian swallowed hard.
"She wouldn't kill me," she murmured to herself, voice uncertain. "Not when I'm still in her mistress's body."
But that didn't mean she would accept it.
No, if Anna realized the truth, she wouldn't stop until she figured out a way to fix it. And in this world, there was more than one place where such unnatural phenomena could be studied, the Mage Tower in the Archduke's territory or the one in the imperial city, and both that Anna has access to due to the original Vivian identity.
Vivian shuddered at the thought. Spending the rest of her life locked away in a tower, experimented on like some kind of specimen? No, she couldn't let that happen.
She had already made one mistake by acting too rashly last night. Now, she needed to fix it.
Somehow, she had to convince Anna that this was still the same Vivian.
The only problem was… how?
Vivian bit her lip, trying to think of a solution. The original Vivian had never been the type to raise her voice, let alone humiliate someone in public. If Anna questioned her, what possible excuse could she give?
She could claim she had simply had enough. That after years of suffering in silence, she had finally reached her breaking point. It wasn't entirely untrue. If the original Vivian had possessed even a fraction of self-respect, she would have snapped at some point.
But would Anna believe that?
Vivian groaned, burying her face in her hands.
This was just too hard.
She had always dreamed of being in a healthy body and had always envied the bond between the original Vivian and Anna because she had someone who was always by her side, But now that she was actually here, she realized just how much responsibility came with it.
This wasn't a game. This wasn't just a novel where she could turn the pages and watch events unfold.
This was real.
The people around her were real.
And if she made the wrong move, there would be consequences.
A sudden knock at the door made her jolt upright.
"Milady," a soft voice called from the other side. "May I enter?"
Vivian's heart pounded in her chest.
It was Anna.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down. This was it. She had to act carefully, and choose her words wisely. One misstep, and everything could fall apart.
"Come in," she said, schooling her expression into one of composed elegance.
The door opened, and Anna stepped inside, carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups. Her golden-brown eyes, usually warm and gentle, were filled with barely concealed worry.
She placed the tray on the table and turned to face Vivian, lips pressed together in a tight line.
"Milady…" Anna hesitated for a moment before taking a step closer. "Are you alright?"
Vivian smiled, hoping it looked natural. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
Anna studied her carefully. "Because… last night…" She trailed off, her eyes searching Vivian's face as if looking for something familiar. "And also You were different this morning."
Vivian's fingers twitched, but she kept her expression calm. "I simply realized that I've been living my life all wrong," she said smoothly. "I've been too blind, too foolish. That changes now."
Anna's frown deepened. "But… you love the Duke. You always have."
Vivian's smile didn't falter, but inside, she was panicking.
Think. Think.
"Perhaps," she said softly, reaching for the teacup and lifting it to her lips. "But love should never come at the cost of one's dignity."
Anna's breath hitched, her hands clenching into fists.
Vivian set the cup down gracefully, meeting Anna's gaze with unwavering determination.
"I will no longer be the weak woman everyone expects me to be."
Anna's eyes widened.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then, slowly, she nodded.
Vivian exhaled in relief.
The first step had been taken.
But this was only the beginning.