Selene's eyelids fluttered open to the soft rays of sunlight streaming into an unfamiliar room. Groggily, she sat up, her body sinking into the soft, cloud-like bed. Her fingers brushed over the silken sheets, far too luxurious to be hers. She blinked, her brown hair falling into her face as she looked around.

The walls were stone, adorned with tapestries depicting fantastical scenes of knights and battles. Arched windows let in a gentle breeze, carrying the faint scent of roses. Outside, spires from towering castles glinted in the sunlight.

Where am I?

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her bare feet meeting the cool floor. This wasn't her cramped apartment. There was no peeling wallpaper, no distant hum of cars outside. Panic bubbled in her chest.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed directly in her mind, sharp and cold.

"Welcome, Selene. You have been chosen as the Savior of Everdawn. This world is in a state of collapse. Your mission: restore the characters' paths to their rightful trajectories. Failure to comply will result in the destruction of both this world and your own."

Selene froze, her pulse racing. "What? What are you talking about? Who are you?" she stammered aloud, her voice echoing in the quiet room.

The voice ignored her questions.

"You are in a novel world, Everdawn. The characters have gone haywire due to abandonment by their creator. As the Savior, it is your responsibility to correct their fates. Begin immediately. The timeline cannot stabilize until you act."

A chill ran down her spine. A novel world? The name tickled at her memory. "Everdawn…" she murmured, her brows furrowing. Slowly, pieces began to click together. She had read Everdawn when she was younger—a fantasy romance about a brave heroine and a dashing prince who were fated to save the kingdom together.

But if that was true, why was she here? And what did the voice mean by "haywire"?

"Wait, what happened to the prince and the heroine?" she asked aloud, her voice rising. But no answer came. Only silence.

Her mind raced. She hadn't even finished the novel back then, but she vaguely remembered the main plot: the heroine, Lady Seraphina, was destined to meet Prince Alaric at the Royal Academy. Their love would blossom there, leading them to unite their strengths and defeat the dark forces threatening the kingdom. It was a classic love story. But… if the characters were "off track," what did that mean?

Selene didn't have long to dwell on it before a soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Selene, are you awake?" a gentle voice called. "There's good news for you!"

Selene blinked. Selene? So that's my name here too? Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and a woman with warm hazel eyes and wavy chestnut hair stepped in. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant gown, her expression brimming with excitement.

It took Selene a moment to register. Mother?

"Yes, I'm awake," Selene replied hesitantly. "What's the good news?"

Her mother, Esther, beamed as she held out an envelope embossed with a golden seal. "It's a letter from the Royal Academy! You've been accepted!"

Selene's stomach dropped. The Royal Academy? If her memory of Everdawn was correct, that was where the main characters met and their romance began. This wasn't just good news—it was her first step toward untangling the mess the voice had warned her about.

Esther continued, her excitement uncontainable. "Not only that, but you've been selected for the Special Class!"

Selene frowned. "Special Class? What's that?"

Her mother gasped, as if Selene had asked the most absurd question in the world. "The Special Class is where the royal family and the highest-ranking nobles study! For someone from our Count family to be selected—it's an incredible honor!"

Esther clasped her hands together, her eyes shining with pride. "Your father will be overjoyed. We should celebrate tonight. Oh, Selene, I'm so proud of you!"

Selene forced a smile. "Thank you," she murmured, though her mind was elsewhere.

Special Class? The same one as the prince and heroine? It was too much of a coincidence. The voice had called her the "Savior." Clearly, she was being placed directly into the heart of the story.

As Esther bustled out of the room to prepare for the celebration, Selene collapsed back onto the bed, her mind whirling.

What am I supposed to do? Push the prince toward Seraphina? But how? She didn't know the first thing about matchmaking, let alone in a world she barely remembered. Worse still, there was an ominous feeling in the pit of her stomach, as though her mere presence here was already throwing things out of balance.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a deep, booming voice.

"Selene! Look at this!"

She turned to see a tall man with graying hair and a broad frame step into the room. He was wearing an outfit that resembled… a dinosaur?

Selene stared. "Uh… Father? What are you wearing?"

Her father, James, grinned sheepishly, tugging at the strange costume. "Your mother said we should celebrate, and I thought I'd bring some fun! What do you think?"

Selene couldn't help but laugh despite the tension coiled in her chest. "I think it's… memorable."

The family spent the evening celebrating, the joy in the air almost enough to distract Selene from the weight of her mission. But as the festivities wound down, the reality of what awaited her loomed large in her mind.

---

The next morning, Selene stood at the gates of her family's estate, a small trunk of belongings by her side. A sleek carriage awaited her, its polished wood gleaming in the morning sun.

Her mother fussed over her, straightening her collar and brushing invisible dust off her skirt. "You'll do wonderfully, Selene," Esther said with a bright smile. "The capital is a grand place, and the Royal Academy… well, it's the chance of a lifetime."

Selene nodded, swallowing her nerves. The capital meant meeting the prince, Seraphina, and countless other key figures from the story. She had no idea how she would navigate this, but there was no turning back now.

As the carriage began its journey, Selene stared out the window, watching the rolling hills and bustling villages pass by. The voice in her head had been silent since yesterday, but its message was clear.

She was heading straight into the heart of Everdawn. Her mission had begun.

When the towering walls of the capital came into view, Selene took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead.