"I'm from a different world—well, from another world. I'm just a regular university student... but I guess you wouldn't understand. I can't quite remember my name, so for now, call me A-ko."
The voice in Gloria's mind, the one that believed it was Gloria's body but not her consciousness, answered the question without hesitation.
It seemed like the entity was open to talking.
"What...?" Gloria quickly asked the voice inside her mind.
What is a university student?
What is this other world?
Why is she inside Gloria's body?
Images of unfamiliar places filled her mind, vanishing as quickly as they appeared.
Earth, Japan, global affairs, economics, and history. What is this other world? What is a university student?
Moving images on a glowing screen. She recognized it as something called a tablet, a machine, and learned about common knowledge like "electronic devices," and even the concept of otome games.
She recalled the various routes and endings of the game, the prince candidates who were the romantic interests.
She recalled the role of the character, Gloria von Caldwell, but still didn't know why she had reincarnated into her.
Instead of relying on A-ko's confused explanation, Gloria focused on the fleeting images that appeared in her mind to try and piece together the situation.
"So... basically, I reincarnated as a villainess! If I end up engaged to Edward, I'll be executed for sure! What a terrible way to die after reincarnating!"
In Gloria's body, A-ko clenched her fists in determination.
With fiery resolve, she imagined her future vividly in her mind.
"I have to establish a good relationship with Gloria's dad so he won't just throw me away! And I'll be a good older sister to Alan, the younger 'puppy' brother, and treat Kate like an equal to prevent betrayal!"
Edward was someone she had met as a child. She could talk to the other candidates and allies who were with him, and if she got to know them well, she wouldn't be hated for no reason.
Once she built a good relationship with everyone, she'd ask them to remove her from the engagement.
At school, she promised never to bully the commoners. After all, how could she, someone with the mindset of a commoner, bully anyone?
And hurting the heroine? Never.
In the game, she had liked the heroine, and if possible, she wanted to be her friend.
That's it! Even if she did end up engaged to Edward, if the heroine ended up with him, she could easily break the engagement and live as a commoner.
She could open a bakery, using the baking skills she had from her previous life, and live a strong and happy life.
"It's going to be okay! I'll make sure everything works out! This is my second chance at life..."
As A-ko began reflecting on her past life, Gloria couldn't help but feel disgusted by the irritating thoughts flooding her mind.
She was so appalled that she somehow managed to free her eyes.
The violet eyes in the mirror stared at the vision with contempt, as though looking at trash.
It was only natural. She had no qualms about regarding the woman who had possessed her body as worthless.
"Why?"
A-ko, the voice of the other world, looked at the mirror, speaking in disbelief.
"I'm trying to help Gloria, so why are you looking at me with such cold eyes?"
The voice was full of naive confusion, like a child who didn't understand.
"Pathetic."
As the another world woman continued to question her, Gloria, overcome with anger, finally spoke.
But in doing so, she felt the entity, A-ko, relinquish control of the body to her.
The foolish expression on the face that had once been foreign now slowly transformed into one she recognized. With a scowl, Gloria glared at the reflection in the mirror.
"Why do you assume you have the right to determine my future simply because you control my body?"
(Don't you want to avoid being sentenced? Don't you...)
"I don't care about your feelings."
With a sharp dismissal, Gloria huffed in disdain.
"No matter how many times I am reborn, unless I choose to assert my consciousness, this is my body, not yours. Otome game? Villainess? I couldn't care less. Even if this world is a story, it gives you no right to possess my body."
And with a cruel smile, Gloria's reflection spoke.
"Your life ended miserably in a corner of Japan, and you didn't reincarnate at all."
Gloria thought of A-ko's dull, unremarkable end—far more tragic than her own—and continued.
"You are nothing but a vile ghost haunting the body of Gloria von Caldwell."