Chapter 1: The Villainess Returns
Celia Everhart gasped as her eyes snapped open, her chest rising and falling in sharp, panicked breaths. The stifling smell of ash and the cold, unyielding stone floor of the dungeons were gone. Instead, she found herself in an impossibly familiar place—her own bed, bathed in the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the ornate windows of her estate.
Her trembling hands gripped the silk sheets. "No… this can't be right. I was… I was executed!" The memories were vivid: the crowd jeering, the guillotine's blade glinting in the harsh sunlight, and the accusing glare of Prince Adrien, who had condemned her.
She bolted upright, her heart pounding as her mind raced. This room, this bed—this was her past. But how? Why?
Her panicked thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, cheery chime in her head.
"Welcome to the Redemption Program! Your current progress: 0/1000 points. Fail to reach 1000, and you'll face permanent erasure from the timeline. Good luck!"
Celia froze. "What…?"
Before she could process the absurd voice, a translucent blue screen popped up in front of her, floating in midair.
---
Name: Celia Everhart
Role: Villainess
Objective: Redeem yourself and avoid all death flags.
Penalty for Failure: Eternal obliteration.
Mandatory Starter Quest: Avoid spilling wine on the Duke of Redgrave's daughter at the royal ball. Reward: +100 points.
---
The screen vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving Celia slack-jawed and bewildered. "A system? Like in one of those novels?" she muttered. She rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of the insanity. First, she'd been executed, and now she had some kind of redemption program forcing her to rewrite her life.
But one thing was clear: she had gone back in time—three years before her tragic downfall. Back to when she was still the infamous villainess of high society, reviled by nobles and peasants alike.
As much as she wanted to scream or curl into a ball and cry, she forced herself to focus. This was a second chance. An opportunity to fix everything.
Or, at the very least, survive.
---
The day passed in a blur as Celia tried to gather her bearings. She greeted her maids, careful to suppress her usual haughty demeanor. In her previous life, she had treated them coldly, dismissing their hard work as if it were her birthright. But now, as she saw their startled expressions when she thanked them for their service, guilt twisted in her chest.
"Miss Everhart," one of her maids stammered, "you're… in good spirits today."
Celia forced a smile, though it felt awkward. "I simply realized that I've been neglecting the people who care for me. I'll try to be better from now on."
The maid's eyes widened, and Celia wondered if her change in attitude was too abrupt. But she couldn't afford to let her pride ruin things again. If she was going to survive this timeline, she needed allies—no matter how small their roles seemed.
---
That evening, as Celia prepared for the upcoming royal ball, the system chimed again.
"Reminder: The royal ball is tonight. Failure to avoid spilling wine will result in raising a death flag. Bonus quest: Secure a dance with Prince Adrien. Reward: +200 points."
Celia nearly choked. "Dance with Adrien?" she hissed, glaring at the invisible screen. "Are you insane? He hates me!"
The system didn't reply, of course. It simply hovered ominously in her mind, mocking her with its silence.
Celia groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. In her previous life, Adrien had been the one to uncover the "evidence" of her alleged poisoning scheme. His cold, ruthless demeanor had been terrifying, and she knew better than to cross him.
But if the system demanded it, she didn't have much choice.
---
The grand ballroom of the royal palace was as breathtaking as ever, with glittering chandeliers casting warm light over the sea of nobles in their finest attire. Celia stepped inside, her heart pounding as she scanned the crowd. Every face was familiar, a haunting reminder of the life she'd left behind.
She spotted the Duke of Redgrave's daughter near the refreshment table, laughing with a group of ladies. The memory of their past altercation made Celia's stomach churn. She had accidentally spilled wine on the girl's gown during this very ball, sparking a chain reaction of rumors and scandals that had tarnished her reputation.
"Not this time," Celia muttered, clutching her fan tightly. She carefully maneuvered through the crowd, keeping a wide berth from the refreshment table.
But fate had other plans.
"Lady Everhart."
The voice was cold, sharp, and unmistakable. Celia turned slowly, her breath catching as she met the piercing silver eyes of Prince Adrien.
He stood a few feet away, dressed in dark, tailored attire that only emphasized his commanding presence. His expression was unreadable, but the faint tension in his jaw suggested he wasn't thrilled to see her.
"Your Highness," Celia said, forcing a polite smile. She curtsied, ignoring the way her heart raced.
Adrien's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke. "I'm surprised you're here. I thought you preferred to avoid events like this."
Celia's mind scrambled for a response. In her previous life, she had avoided balls, but that was because she couldn't stand the whispers and judgmental stares. Now, she couldn't afford to shy away.
"I thought a change of pace might do me good," she said smoothly.
Adrien raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "A change of pace? Or perhaps a change in strategy?"
The accusation in his tone stung, but Celia bit back a retort. Arguing with him would only make things worse.
"I assure you, Your Highness, I'm simply here to enjoy the evening," she said.
His eyes narrowed, as if he didn't believe her. Before he could say more, a commotion near the refreshment table caught their attention.
Celia's stomach dropped as she saw a servant carrying a tray of wine stumble, the glasses tilting precariously. Time seemed to slow as the tray tipped, its contents flying toward the Duke's daughter.
Without thinking, Celia darted forward, grabbing a nearby napkin. She intercepted the wine mid-air, catching most of it with the napkin and letting the rest spill harmlessly onto the floor.
The room fell silent, all eyes on her.
The Duke's daughter stared at her, wide-eyed. "Lady Everhart… you…"
Celia forced a shaky smile. "I apologize for the clumsy servant. I hope your gown isn't ruined."
The girl blinked, clearly stunned. Then, to Celia's relief, she smiled faintly. "No, it's… fine. Thank you."
A soft chime echoed in Celia's mind.
"Quest complete! +100 points."
She exhaled, relief flooding her. But her moment of triumph was short-lived.
"Quick reflexes," Adrien said, his tone unreadable. "But I wonder—was that truly an accident?"
Celia stiffened, her heart sinking. Of course, he'd find a way to twist her actions into something sinister.
"I have no idea what you mean," she said, keeping her voice calm.
Adrien stepped closer, his gaze boring into hers. "I'll be watching you, Lady Everhart. Don't think for a moment that I've forgotten who you are."
As he turned and walked away, Celia's hands trembled. The room buzzed with conversation again, but she barely noticed.
The system chimed one last time: "Bonus quest failed: No dance with Prince Adrien. Penalty: None, but opportunity lost."
Celia sighed, exhaustion washing over her. This was going to be a long, grueling redemption journey.
But she wasn't about to give up. Not when her very existence depended on it.