Mina Suzuki blinked, her vision swimming as she opened her eyes. The sunlight streaming through the tall windows of the room was unlike anything she'd seen back in her old life. The golden rays bathed the elegant chamber in a soft glow, highlighting the ornate furniture and rich tapestries hanging on the walls. A gentle breeze ruffled the curtains, and the scent of lavender filled the air.
Her heart raced. This wasn't her room—this wasn't her world.
Panic surged through her as she quickly sat up, her hands fumbling at the unfamiliar sheets. A soft, white gown clung to her body, and the moment she touched her face, she realized that she wasn't in her teenage body anymore. The smoothness of her skin felt unfamiliar, and her long, auburn hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves. She looked down at her outfit—a simple maid uniform with a frilly apron.
Mina's breath caught in her throat. She wasn't in Japan anymore. She was somewhere else entirely.
Wait, wait… this is impossible.
She'd been playing an otome game—no, wait, she had been obsessed with it. An otome game where the protagonist was a princess, courted by three handsome princes. She had spent hours analyzing the routes, watching the story unfold, and even wishing she could be a part of it. But the reality of this world was far different from the fantasy she had envisioned.
Mina stood up shakily, stumbling to a mirror placed in the corner of the room. Her reflection confirmed her worst fears: she had been reincarnated into the very game she had spent so much time playing. The maid standing in the reflection was none other than an insignificant NPC, a background character in a world of royal intrigue and romantic drama.
"No way…" she whispered, clutching the edge of the vanity as if it could anchor her to reality. "This… can't be real. It's just a game, right?"
She tried to think back, but her memories of how she had arrived here were hazy. One moment, she had been lying in bed, scrolling through her phone, and the next thing she knew, she was waking up in a palace bedroom. The transition was jarring, and her mind refused to make sense of it.
As she paced the room in disbelief, a nagging thought began to claw at her. In the game, the protagonist, Princess Elara, was the centerpiece of the kingdom, surrounded by three princes vying for her affection. But Mina was not the princess. She wasn't even a character worth noting in the grand scheme of things. She was just a maid. An NPC with no personality, no backstory, no choice.
A cold shiver ran down her spine as she thought of the game's plot—the princess, Elara, would eventually be forced into a romantic relationship with one of the princes. The game had been predictable, and Mina had loathed it. It was always the same: a love triangle, a dramatic final choice, and the usual cliches of falling in love and living happily ever after. She had always thought it was cute, but deep down, she had known it was more of a fantasy—a world where women were reduced to mere trophies, existing to be courted and won over.
But now… now she was in this world. A world where she had no control over her fate.
"Not again," Mina muttered, running a hand through her hair. "I'm not going to play along with this."
Mina's eyes narrowed as she took in her surroundings. She might be stuck in an otome game world, but that didn't mean she had to follow the script. No, she would rewrite her fate, starting from this moment. She wasn't going to stand by and watch her life unfold as some background character, hidden away in the shadows while the plotline focused on everyone else.
"I refuse," she said firmly, clenching her fists at her sides. "This story is boring. I don't want to be some servant girl who just fades into the background. I'm going to take control."
Mina walked over to the window, staring out at the expansive grounds beyond the palace. The kingdom looked beautiful—lush gardens, towering spires, and the distant mountains rising in the horizon. But it all felt so fake, like a gilded cage meant to keep everyone in their place.
She turned back to the room, her mind working through her options. She could play along, be the dutiful maid, serve the princess, and fade into obscurity. Or she could do something completely different. She could stop this game from playing out as intended.
But how?
Mina's eyes landed on the ornate dress hanging on a nearby wardrobe, something that appeared to be for a formal event. She stepped over and reached for the dress. Maybe she would need to stand out, make a statement. If she were going to change things, she would have to be bold. She wouldn't be the passive character anymore. Mina Suzuki was going to rewrite this world.
---
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and before she could respond, the door creaked open. A young maid entered, bowing low.
"Miss Mina, His Highness, Prince Alden, has requested your presence in the royal garden. The princess would also like you to prepare her tea for the afternoon meeting," the maid said, her voice polite and professional, but there was an edge of something… mechanical. Like the maid was simply following the script of the world.
Mina raised an eyebrow. Prince Alden? One of the game's handsome princes. He was the noble and kind-hearted older prince, adored by the people. Of course, he would be the one to summon her.
But Mina wasn't interested in being a passive bystander anymore. She needed to change things, and perhaps starting with Alden was a good idea. She could use his presence to her advantage. This could be her first step in breaking free from the constraints of the game's story.
"Tell Prince Alden I'll be there shortly," Mina said, her voice steady as she glanced at the maid with newfound determination. "And don't worry about the princess's tea. I'll handle it myself."
The maid looked surprised but nodded, a faint flicker of confusion in her eyes before she bowed again and left.
Mina looked down at the dress she had chosen, then back at the mirror. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure of how she would be received by the prince. Would he follow the game's script? Would he act as though he were falling in love with her just because that's what the game expected?
She shook her head. It didn't matter. This wasn't the game anymore. This was her life, and she was going to take control of it, no matter what.
She changed into the dress, a deep shade of blue that hugged her figure but was still modest enough to reflect her station as a maid. She smoothed the fabric, feeling a rush of adrenaline as she prepared to face the prince.
The game's plot was about to be disrupted—and Mina Suzuki was going to be the one to do it.
---
As she stepped into the royal garden, Mina felt a strange sense of purpose. The flowers were in full bloom, and the air was thick with the scent of roses and jasmine. Prince Alden stood by a fountain, his back to her. He was everything the game had portrayed him as—tall, handsome, and regal, with a kind, if somewhat distant, expression.
"Miss Mina, I'm glad you could join me," Alden said, turning as she approached. His smile was warm, but there was a glint of something in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps? Or was it just the way the game had programmed him to act?
"Your Highness," Mina replied, bowing slightly. "What can I do for you?"
Alden's expression softened as he studied her. "I've been meaning to speak with you. I've noticed you seem… different from the other maids. More independent, perhaps?"
Mina held his gaze, feeling a flicker of something deep within her. This was it—her chance to make the first move.
"Yes, Your Highness," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of defiance. "I'm not content to play the role I've been given. I think it's time we all questioned the story we've been forced to follow."
Alden's eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if trying to comprehend her words. Mina felt the weight of his gaze on her, but she didn't look away.
It was time to change the game.