The blaring sound of a car horn was the last thing Amelia heard before everything went dark. She didn't even have time to process the pain, the fear, or the regret. One moment she was crossing the street on her way to her favorite bookstore; the next, she was floating in an endless void.
Amelia's thoughts spiraled as flashes of her life appeared before her eyes. She had always dreamed of being an author but never had the courage to pursue it. Instead, she spent her days stuck at a boring office job, daydreaming about fictional worlds she could never create.
"Is this it?" she thought bitterly. "Is this how it ends?"
But the darkness didn't last long. A sudden, blinding light enveloped her, forcing her eyes open. Instead of finding herself in a hospital or some afterlife, she was greeted by an opulent canopy bed, silk curtains, and a room thatscreamed extravagance.
"What the…?" she muttered, sitting up. Her voice sounded... different. Softer.
Amelia's confusion deepened as she caught a glimpse of herself in a gilded mirror across the room. Gone was her plain face and messy brown hair. Instead, she saw a stunning young woman with porcelain skin, golden locks, and piercing blue eyes.
Before she could process what was happening, a sharp knock sounded at the door, and a maid entered, bowing deeply.
"Good morning, Lady Seraphina. The Duke is waiting for you in the drawing room."
Amelia froze. Lady Seraphina? Duke? The pieces clicked into place like a thunderbolt. She had read thisscenario before.
"No, no, no… This can't be real!" she whispered, her heart racing.
Lady Seraphina was the infamous villainess from The Duke's Eternal Rose, a romance novel Amelia had read just weeks ago. In the story, Seraphina was engaged to the cold and handsome Duke Cedric, only to meet a tragic end when she tried to ruin the love between him and the heroine, Rose.
Amelia scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over her silk nightgown. She grabbed the mirror with trembling hands, staring at her reflection. It wasundeniable. She wasn't Amelia anymore. She was Seraphina.
Her breaths came in shallow gasps as the reality set in. If she truly was Seraphina, then her days were numbered. In the novel, Seraphina's jealousy and schemes led to her downfall—exiled, disgraced, and eventually killed.
"I refuse to die like that!" Amelia thought, clenching her fists. If she had been given a second chance, she wouldn't waste it by following the villainess's doomed path.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture. If she was going to survive in this world, she needed to play her cards right.
"Tell the Duke I'll be there shortly," she said to the maid, who nodded and left.
Amelia turned back to the mirror, determination blazing in her eyes.