The cold water pressed in from all sides, suffocating her. Her lungs burned, desperate for air as she sank deeper into the darkness. The weight of her soaked gown dragged her down, every frantic thrash of her arms proving futile.
Her long blonde hair billowed around her like a golden halo, stark against the dark, murky depths. Her wide blue eyes stared upward, unblinking, locked on the faint, flickering light above—fragile, distant, and just out of reach.
Her vision blurred as the burning in her chest became unbearable. She tried to scream, but the water swallowed her voice, leaving only silence in its wake.
Above, the faintest ripples of light teased her with the illusion of escape, mocking her fading hope.
'Emilio... I can't swim, but I jumped in for you... You love me now, right?'
As the last flicker of life slipped away, something stirred—a foreign presence, powerful and consuming. It surged into her lifeless body, filling the empty spaces where her soul had once been.
Her body, still sinking into the cold depths, trembled slightly, as though responding to the unfamiliar occupant now within.
And as her mind began to fade completely, the new soul inhabiting her form took its first breath—one that wasn't hers.
Wait... Huh? I'm drowning... But I thought I died in a plane crash!
Disoriented, confusion swirled around her as icy water filled her lungs. But then, a strange clarity washed over her, sharp and sudden. It was disorienting, yes, but her new form felt different—stronger, somehow.
What? Drowning? No way. Not me. I'm a top swimming champion!
Instinctively, she willed her arms to move. Slow at first, then faster, as the foreign soul took control. Muscles strained, legs kicked, and newfound strength surged through her limbs. She forced herself upward, breaking the surface with a powerful gasp for air.
Her long, wet blonde hair clung to her face like strands of gold, but her eyes—those wide blue eyes—now held a sharp, focused intensity that hadn't been there before.
Shivering, she pulled herself from the water's grasp, her hands scraping against the boat's edge. She looked up and immediately locked eyes with a young man—his violet gaze unnervingly intense, as though seeing straight through her.
For a moment, she froze, her heart leaping in her chest.
Shit! That scared me!
In her shock, she let go of the boat and almost sank again before frantically grabbing it with a death grip.
Who the hell is this? And why is his face so close to mine?
She furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes, scanning the young man before her. His noble outfit caught her attention, and a thought flickered in her mind.
Eh? Did I crash into some drama?
The man tilted his head slightly, his gaze unrelenting, and asked in disbelief, "Claudia... you swam out? How did you do that? I thought you couldn't swim."
Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in horror.
Claudia... as in Claudia Barberini? The youngest daughter of Duke Antonius Barberini? Claudia—the worthless side villainess who dies because of a worthless piece of—
She stopped mid-thought, taking in her surroundings and the man before her. Black hair. Piercing violet eyes. It all clicked.
The asshole himself.
Lord Emilio di Castiglione.
He was right in front of her.
'Ah, I didn't just crash into some drama...'
A sickening realization washed over her. She wasn't just Claudia Barberini; she was now living her doomed fate in "A Withering Flower's Heart."
He smiled and extended a hand toward her. The unexpected warmth of his smile startled Claudia, making her heart skip a beat. She immediately clutched her chest, shaking her head internally.
No! Absolutely not. I refuse to be swayed by his looks, no matter how the original Claudia felt about him.
"It is true, then," he murmured, his voice low and rich, with a disarming sincerity. "I believe you now. You truly love me."
Without waiting for her response, he pulled her onto the boat with surprising strength and, to her dismay, enveloped her in a firm embrace.
The proximity was suffocating, but the look on her face betrayed nothing but revulsion. Her stomach churned as she caught his scent—a mixture of sea salt and something faintly metallic.
Suddenly, The whispers crawled into her mind, faint but insistent, like echoes in a cavern she couldn't escape, unnerving her.
The whispers were faint at first, like an echo from the depths of the sea, but they grew sharper, louder. "I truly hoped she had perished, yet she survives. How terribly inconvenient."
Claudia stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she glanced up at him. What in God's name?
She stared at Emilio, who wore a dark smile—cold and calculating, utterly not aligning with the tenderness of his earlier words.
Her breath hitched. That wasn't spoken—it was thought. The original Claudia could read minds! But was this how the original Claudia had lived? Or was it worse, drowning in the voices of everyone around her?
A sharp pain flared in her temple as fragmented memories surged forward—pieces of another life, another soul. The original Claudia's life, filled with humiliation, rejection, and a desperate, unrequited love for this very man.
Her breaths came in shallow gasps as the flood of memories overwhelmed her.
"Claudia," Emilio's voice pierced the haze, laced with feigned concern. "You've been unusually quiet. Is something the matter?"
Her vision blurred as the pounding in her head grew unbearable. She clutched her temples, her fingers trembling. "I... I don't think... I'm feeling well..."
Her voice wavered, soft as a whisper, before her body gave way. Darkness consumed her as she slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing she saw being Emilio's violet eyes, gleaming with an intense malice.
Her final thought before darkness consumed her was as sharp as it was desperate: 'Ah, I'm doomed. But I'll be damned if I go down without a fight.'
Claudia slowly opened her eyes, the golden rays of the sun creeping through the sheer curtains. The soft warmth danced on her skin as her gaze wandered across the unfamiliar surroundings.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"A king-sized bed? A princess-like room?" she muttered under her breath, sitting up abruptly—only to regret it as a sharp pain shot through her temples.
Groaning, she cradled her head in her hands, her thoughts muddled as the onslaught of memories from her new body overwhelmed her.
So I've become Claudia Barberini… she thought with a groan, dragging her hands down her face. Typical. Just too typical. If I had to transmigrate into someone, couldn't it at least be the main villainess? Not this brainless wretch who blindly loved a freaking jackass.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. The chill of the room pricked at her skin as she pushed herself upright, wobbling slightly before steadying herself.
The sight of a gilded, floor-length mirror caught her attention. Drawn to it, she crossed the room, the soft silk of her nightgown brushing against her legs.
"Even the mirror is luxurious," she muttered, stopping before it.
Her breath hitched as her reflection came into view.
Wide, piercing blue eyes framed by long lashes stared back at her. Waves of golden blonde hair cascaded past her shoulders, shimmering like sunlight. Her fair complexion was radiant, her features delicate yet striking—a face straight out of a fairy tale.
She covered her mouth with both hands, a muffled gasp escaping her lips.
"What kind of side character is this beautiful?" she whispered, her eyes scanning every inch of her reflection. "Oh my…"
She leaned closer, her hands dropping to her sides. Her lips parted in awe. This… this is my face now?
Her heart swelled with excitement. I'm gorgeous!
But the thrill was short-lived. Her brow furrowed, and her expression twisted into a grimace, her excitement evaporating as an unwelcome realization crept in.
What good is this beauty when everyone knows what a shitty personality you have?
She stared at her reflection with a mix of exasperation and mockery, her nose wrinkling. They even like the main villainess more than you! Sure, people respect Claudia Barberini, but only because her father is a dignified duke with a spotless reputation who's practically carried the empire on his back—and let's not forget, he's filthy rich.
She rolled her eyes. She had no actual friends. Not a single one. Why? Because she was too busy throwing yourself at Emilio like a love-starved puppy.
Her lips curled into a sneer. Emilio. That jackass.
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. Claudia's memories came rushing back, weaving a bittersweet picture. Her family loved her—truly, deeply loved her. She wasn't mistreated or neglected. Her father and mother doted on her, her older brother adored her, and as the youngest child and only daughter, she'd been the jewel of the Barberini household.
And yet…
Why was she so fixated on Emilio's love?
She tilted her head, scrutinizing the girl in the mirror as though seeking an answer. Was it because she'd been loved unconditionally her entire life? Did she think that love was something to be expected, something owed to her?
Her lips tightened. Is that why she couldn't handle loving someone who didn't love her back?
The thought lingered like a bitter aftertaste. The Claudia Barberini of before had everything—wealth, beauty, a loving family—yet she'd thrown it all aside to pursue the love of a man who'd never even spared her a second glance.
Claudia clenched her fists, the tightness in her grip matching the surge of frustration inside her. She bit her lip, exhaling sharply through her nose, but the irritation in her chest refused to fade.
'I've always wondered... how could Claudia read minds and still love that bastard?' she thought bitterly. 'She could hear his thoughts clearly—'every' twisted, shallow thought—and yet she kept falling deeper for him, never once realizing what a fool she was.'
Her hands trembled as she let out a resigned sigh, her gaze drifting towards the window.
"Well, screw this world," she muttered under her breath, her voice thick with determination. "I'm out of here."
With a swift movement, she strode across the room, her fingers gripping the windowsill. The outside air hit her skin, cold and biting, but she didn't hesitate. The height was high enough to end everything in one swift fall.
'This height is perfect,' she thought with a twisted sense of satisfaction. 'I'd rather be in hell than live in this world any longer.'
She took one last glance back at the room, her chest tight as her heart pounded. The future felt suffocating, every breath a reminder of the life that had been thrust upon her. The betrayal, the unrequited love, the foolishness of it all.
But before she could take the final step, the door to her room opened but she didn't notice.
"My lady, are you—"
The maid's voice faltered as her gaze landed on Claudia.
"MY LADY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" the maid screamed, her voice high with panic, echoing in the room.
The scream interrupted Claudia's thoughts, piercing the stillness of the room.
Claudia whirled around, startled, but in that instant, her foot slipped from the ledge. Her body lurched, the ground below rushing up to meet her as her heart skipped a beat.
Time seemed to slow as her arms flailed instinctively, but the wind wasn't enough to steady her.
And then—
Claudia's vision blurred, a rush of air and dizziness overwhelming her senses as she plummeted downward, unable to catch herself.
'This is it,' she thought in her final moments, a strange calmness settling over her as she closed her eyes. 'Goodbye, to this world.'
But then—nothing.
There was no crash, no pain. Instead, everything went silent, and the only thing Claudia felt was a sudden, inexplicable warmth surrounding her body, as though the very air had changed.
Instead of the cold embrace of the ground, she felt herself floating in midair, It was as if something—or someone—had caught her.
Her breath hitched as she tried to make sense of what had happened.
'What the hell?'