Ruth Alessia di Camellia, in my own perception, was a living contradiction. I have said this before, but her overall appearance was calming to look at.

With her bluish white hair and cerulean eyes, she was like a being born from the sea and the skies.

But just as she was beautiful, Lady Camellia was also deadly like the sea that swallows ships and the skies that bring storms. She was dangerous.

"You also came from another world, didn't you?"

But this was a whole new level of dangerous.

In a span of mere seconds, my mind gave birth to a lot of questions. Is she a transmigrator like me? Does she know that this is the world of a novel?

Also. That word alone hints about the villainess being a transmigrator like I am. Since when did she start inhabiting the body of Lady Camellia?

Despite my qualms, I chose to be mendacious and played dumb. "I don't quite understand, my lady."

She's a notorious villainess. A lady with the beauty of an angel and the wits of a devil. I don't trust her words. There's no reason for me to admit being a transmigrator, so I should deny it for my safety.

"Mm, you dare lie to me?" Her eyes flickered with amusement. "Your face gives you away, though."

The fear must have been palpable on my face.

"Sure, play dumb all you want." Lady Camellia grinned knowingly. "But at this point, I'm rather convinced that you're a transmigrator like me."

She crossed her arms with an air of confidence.

"I do not remember any blondie hanging around Grand Duke Averill in the story. He's supposed to be a loner at this point of time." she pointed out.

I kept my eyes glued on the marbled floor.

"Moreover, it was you who were supposed to die at the night of the banquet." Lady Camellia said with emphasis. "However, a different girl was murdered and you seemed distraught about it. That means you knew about the future, too."

My fists clutched onto the hem of my dress.

"The only reason for a mere extra to act so out of character would be the presence of a transmigrator. You can't fool me, Isabelle."

I guess there's no point in denying it. No matter what I say now, it seems she's convinced by her own theory. I should come clean to avoid conflict.

"You're right." I lifted my gaze to her. "I did come from another world, my lady. What about you?"

The lady smiled. "I'm the same as you."

"If I may ask, how long have you been here?"

"Let's see," She smirked. "Seventeen years?"

My eyes widened at her answer. I don't know her exact age, but she doesn't look older than twenty. That means she spent her whole life in this world!

"Do you understand, Isabelle?" Lady Camellia got up from her seat. "I've been here my entire life, planning how to prevent the demise of this body."

I whimpered when she forcefully held my chin.

"You see, I'm desperate. That's why I designed an intricate plan to save my ass." Her nails dug onto my skin. "But an unknown variable like you might interfere with my plans if you keep doing as you please. So, tell me... Whose side will you be on?"

I wanted to beat the shit out of her, but I held back. Transmigrator or not, she's now the lady of the Camellia duchy. I'll be executed if I even scratch that pretty face of hers. I can't do that.

"Do I really need to pick a side, my lady?"

"It seems that you're not aware of the laws of this novel." She finally let go of my face and returned to her seat. "Major plot points such as death can't be prevented, but they can still be manipulated."

I listened attentively to her explanation.

"You are supposed to be dead, but somebody else died on your behalf. That means your roles have also swapped." Lady Camellia shook her head. "In case you don't know, Leila was an extra with a lot of importance behind the scenes. Do you get it?"

I stared at her absentmindedly. Do I get it? Yes, kinda. Am I happy about it? No, I don't think so.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

"Somebody will need to fulfill her role. That would be you, since your positions have been switched." The villainess explained nonchalantly. "Whether you like it or not, you'll be part of this story arc."

I massaged my temples. All I wanted was to live, but now I will be caught up in this whole mess.

"How much of the novel do you know, Isabelle?"

"Actually, I can only recall random bits of it."

"I shall say it, then. The Crown Princess Selection will be vicious, and I will surely be pitted against the female lead." Lady Camellia stated in a fierce tone. "It's inevitable. I'm the villainess, after all."

There wasn't a hint of fear or worry on her face. Rather, she looked calm and collected, like a true mastermind who's imperturbable by anything.

"Ingrid will seek you out one of these days. She's going to ask you to be her personal maid during the whole selection process. By then, make your decision on which side you will be on, Isabelle."

I stared at her. "And if I choose the heroine?"

"I will consider you an enemy, then." A devilish smile tugged on her lips. "And I never spare my enemies, Isabelle. So you should think carefully."

Before she dismissed me, a certain question that the villainess asked kept ringing inside my head.

"Would you rather serve someone whose head is only filled with flowers, or someone whose heart is steeled by the will to live? It is all up to you."

---

After my esoteric conversation with the villainess, I was on my toes during the next few days. From what I understood, Leila was a significant extra, and now I'll have to fill in the shoes that she left.

Lady Camellia told me that I have to pick a side, but it was too hard for me to choose a master.

I feel like a pokemon who's torn between these two trainers, when in the end they're both just going to use me in battle however they like.

Also, it's not like I'm a legendary pokemon. I'm not Rayquaza, Groudon, or Kyogre. If anything, I'm just Magikarp. Do I really need to choose? Would it even make much difference if I'm by their side?

After days of dreading, it finally happened just as Lady Camellia said. The heroine, Ingrid, called for me in her quarters. Please spare this Magikarp...

Her pink hair and green eyes go so well together, giving her a resplendent image. If the villainess reminded me of the sea and the skies, the heroine was comparable to spring, like Sakura flowers.

"G-Good day." She seemed a bit nervous. "I'm sorry for calling you on a short notice. You're Isabelle, right? I heard about you from Sir Edward."

I shot her a horrified look. Jesus, don't tell me...

"He said that you would let the emperor spank you all day, but you refuse to be harassed by a viscount who's not even your own master." Ingrid stated.

I screamed internally. He's still not done with that shit?! Dude, stop spreading it like the word of God!

"Sir Edward also said that you're someone quick-witted who doesn't get fazed by status."

The female lead smiled shyly to me.

"The Crown Princess Selection will begin soon, so I called you here to ask if you would be willing to be my personal maid during the whole process?"

Ingrid kept fidgeting on her seat. She looked down on the floor with a bit of a pensive countenance.

"The truth is, I only became a noble recently. Lord Camino of the Marchetti county took me in as an adopted daughter. I have no allies in the capital."

She looked up to me with a sheepish smile.

"So I wanted to start by choosing a competent maid by my side. Can you help me, Isabelle?"

At that moment, a slice of disappointment cut through my heart. That won't do, Ingrid. If you really wanted my loyalty, you should have given me the order to serve you right here and now.

After all, you've now become a noblewoman and a candidate for the Crown Princess position. If you had given me the order, I would've had no choice.

The villainess didn't do it, but that's because she had options other than me. She didn't need me.

But it's different for you. Right now, you're in the lowest spot of the caste system, a commoner dressed as a noblewoman. You should be doing everything to solidify your position in high society.

Yet look at you, relying on sympathy and goodwill.

Seriously, what a pathetic character.

Still, my heart burned with envy. Lady Camellia was right - she's an idiot whose head was only filled with flowers. Even so, she doesn't need to worry about dying because she's the heroine.

Ingrid has the male lead who will protect her.

And the law of this novel will keep her alive.

Meanwhile, I need to die just for you lot to get your happy ending. That was my fate as an extra. I wouldn't have mind if it was just once, but my hunch tells me that I'd have to die many times.

It felt like the gods were just throwing my soul away and recycling it for future chapters.

How infuriating.

"I am truly sorry, Lady Marchetti." I got down on my knees then humbly lowered my head. "I am honoured that you considered this lowly servant, but I already pledged my loyalty to another lady."

No hard feelings, our dear heroine.

"Ah, is that so?" She seemed flustered. "It's alright. My apologies, I didn't consider the idea that you might've promised your service to someone else."

I do not hate you. In fact, I'm rooting for you.

But if I were to serve you, that'd mean protecting you as well. And I don't have the heart to protect someone weak like you, because I'm even more helpless than you. At least you have the male lead.

What I need is someone powerful and wise.

Someone who turns weakness into opportunity, someone who doesn't falter at the original plot.

As soon as I was done meeting the female lead, I went straight into the chambers of the villainess.

The servants immediately let me in when they informed her of my arrival. There, I found her seated calmly and playing chess by herself.

"It seems you have made up your mind." Her blue eyes squinted in bliss. "Tell me, Isabelle. Whose side have you decided to choose, my dear?"

Without even asking for permission, I walked closer to her and knelt down on my knees.

"I shall follow you, my lady." I took her hand and planted a soft kiss on it. "I am at your disposal."

Her lips curled into a devilish smirk.

"You lost, Ingrid." Her sinister laugh filled the room. "This is my first victory against you."

I might regret this in the future, but I wanted to deviate from the plot. And so, that's how I decided to walk with the villainess down her thorny path.

---

Hello! Thank you so much for reading my story.

Stay safe and happy reading, everyone!

Yours Truly,
Aomine-san