Evelin gathered her hair into a loose twist in front of the mirror while two maids moved expertly around her, tightening the silhouette of her dress. That morning, she was to explore the entire city, so she had asked for something more "comfortable"... which, in that world, still meant a corset that crushed her ribs and a heavy gown that swished with every step.
The neckline, of course, was generous. The fabric clung to her curves with provocative elegance, exposing her smooth shoulders and just enough cleavage to make heads turn. It accentuated the kind of fantasy-heroine body she had once drawn as a mangaka in her former life. Now she had to wear it—and it wasn't nearly as fun as she had imagined when she sketched it.
"Who was the idiot who designed this bombshell body? Oh, right… me," she muttered, just as one of the maids pulled the corset strings tight enough to make her gasp.
Her ample chest rose with each breath, straining against the corset like it had its own agenda. Evelin rolled her eyes; what once had seemed like charming fanservice now felt like daily torture. Every movement shifted her center of gravity, and the worst part was… her reflection was undeniably gorgeous. If she were a man, she'd stare too.
Still, there was no time for complaints. Today was crucial. She had found Urano. This was her third story, her third world. She couldn't afford to mess it up.
With a flick of her fingers, she summoned the system interface. A manga-style floating screen popped up, displaying her stats and goals with animated flourishes. She quickly tapped into her skill section:
Author Level: 3Acquired Skills:
Basic Physical Endurance: Enhances stamina in any narrative. (Scales with growth)Dark Charm: Increases the likelihood of your lies being believed, especially with malicious intent.Basic Recovery: Minor wounds heal faster. (Passive)
Evelin frowned. She needed to boost her Dark Charm to survive what was coming. Only a few points remained, but this was too important. From her inventory, she pulled a shimmering cookie she had bought from the system and bit into it. Sweet flavor, bitter guilt. She still hadn't told Urano she had access to this advantage.
Dark Charm enhanced for 10 hours.
Your lies will be nearly undetectable.Low-perception characters will believe anything you say.Intelligent characters may feel something is off... but won't question it immediately.
"Perfect," she whispered, closing the screen with a gloved finger.
She stepped into the hallway with natural elegance—enhanced by the corset and the sculpted curves of her dress. Across the corridor, leaning against the wall like a model mid-pose, stood Urano. He wore formal noble attire: dark leather trousers, a crisp white shirt with golden embroidery slightly open at the collar, and a royal blue velvet coat that made his skin glow in the morning light.
Evelin's eyes flicked down and back up. He looked different here—more refined. More dangerous. More… tempting.
Beside him stood the cat-eared maid, silent and watchful.
"Ready?" Urano asked with a half-smile.
Evelin nodded, keeping her poise. There was a quiet tension between them now. Subtle, but electric. Today would be unforgettable.
Minutes later, the carriage rolled down cobbled streets, heading for the city square. Evelin and Urano sat across from one another. She toyed with a pendant on her dress while he watched her with veiled amusement.
"Hehe… ready to live through the most humiliating moment of your life?" Urano teased, elbow propped casually against the window.
Evelin puffed her cheeks in protest. "This should be the other way around! It's not fair that I have to propose!"
Her character, Zoe, was the dramatic heiress of a powerful duchy—hopelessly in love with the prince to the point of obsession. The plan? Evelin would confess her love in public and propose. Then, in a twist of impulsive romance, they'd marry on the spot—without royal permission.
She swallowed. She'd need every ounce of resolve.
It was the kind of scene any mangaka dreamed of writing: raw emotion, dramatic tension, romance under the spotlight. But beyond the performance, it was strategic.
Her objective was to complete the side mission the system had assigned: Marry the third prince in less than a month.
Normally, noble weddings required three months of ceremony and paperwork. Evelin would cut through that with pure scandal.
The political climate was in flames: A pandemic had ravaged the kingdom. To contain it, the royal family burned entire villages. It had been "necessary," but the people saw only death and cruelty. Hunger and grief bred hatred.
The so-called Hero of the original story weaponized that rage, spreading pamphlets of rebellion, corruption, and injustice. Evelin knew this world's plot intimately.
The only way to disrupt it? Give the people a juicier story to talk about.
A noble woman on her knees, proposing to the prince in the middle of the capital square? Outrageous. Impossible.
Perfect.
Even if the plan had holes, Evelin trusted one thing above all: the people's imagination. Gossip would fill in the gaps.
"You sure I can't be the one proposing?" Evelin grumbled.
Urano chuckled, eyes on the window. "You said it yourself: if we want shock value, it has to be this way. No woman has ever proposed—especially not in public. This will be all anyone talks about for a month."
His tone was light, but his expression—soft, distant—hinted at something else. Evelin studied him. His profile glowed in the morning light. He looked calm. But his hands, resting on his knees, were tense.
When the carriage stopped, he seemed to stiffen.
"Don't like crowds?" she asked gently.
"What artist does?" he replied, stepping out like a cat walking into a lion's den. Then offered his hand. "Coming?"
Evelin took it.
They walked the commercial district. Evelin bought everything from jewelry to decorative weapons, drawing attention like a queen on parade. Servants struggled with the weight of her purchases. Whispered curiosity followed them:
"Who is that lady?" "Is she the prince's fiancée?" "She's stunning!"
Exactly as planned.
At last, they reached the square.
The air shifted. Evelin inhaled deeply. Her heart pounded.
She stepped forward… and knelt.
A collective gasp swept through the plaza.
Her dress's neckline plunged with the movement, revealing more than just bravery. Several onlookers turned red. But Evelin didn't notice. She had entered performance mode.
She opened a small wooden box, raised her eyes to Urano, and declared with trembling voice:
"Oh, my dearest Yuan… I know this may seem sudden—we barely know each other—but I love you! From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were the one. My love burns for you like a thousand suns!"
Urano froze. That… was not in the script.
Evelin looked up sweetly. "Will you marry me?"
He blinked. "Y-yes…" he whispered, horrified.
"Sorry, didn't catch that?"
Her teasing smile was too innocent to be trusted. Urano grit his teeth, took a breath, and shouted: "YES! I ACCEPT!"
Applause. Laughter. Cheers.
The crowd lost its mind. Even Evelin flushed—she hadn't expected him to shout.
At the back of the square, the cat-eared maid dropped everything she held. Her face drained of color.
The nearest priest was dragged into officiating by the crowd and a touch of Dark Charm. Legally, by the laws of the Kingdom of Galicia, they were now husband and wife.
📜 System Notification: ✅ Side Mission Complete: Marry the third prince in under one month. 🎁 Reward: +5 points ✨ Narrative Alteration Bonus: +20 points ⚠️ Penalty for major divergence: -10 pointsTotal: +15 points
As a final act, Evelin and Urano distributed gifts to the crowd—tokens of their love story. Nothing too valuable, but enough that, if sold, could feed families for a month.
It was a celebration.
And the perfect distraction.
While the city cheered, they slipped away through a side alley, laughing breathlessly. Beneath a stone arch, they stopped.
"How did you even hide that backpack under your dress?" Urano asked, panting.
Evelin winked. "Feminine secrets."
"Disturbing," he muttered, trying not to smile.
They turned to change clothes. A scream broke the silence.
Urano whirled—just in time to get a furry rat in the face.
"AAAHH!" he yelled, throwing it off.
But when he looked back… he froze.
Evelin was now in a plain skirt and a loose shirt, the top half unbuttoned. Her skin gleamed in the orange light, and her curves were impossible to ignore.
She saw him staring. Blushed. Didn't look away.
For a heartbeat, nothing moved.
Then she noticed his chest—bare, sculpted, smooth. Not the body of a fighter, but one molded by quiet strength.
She bit her lip.
They dressed in silence.
"Did you leave the note with your maid?" Urano finally asked.
"Yes. It says we ran away for love, are on a honeymoon, and will return in twenty days. Think they'll buy it?"
Urano gave a humorless smile. "It won't be a search. It'll be a hunt. And soon, your family will be involved."
Evelin swallowed. "Then we need to leave the city. Now."
He nodded.
They ran.
As the wind pulled at their clothes and the cheers of the crowd faded, Urano mentally reviewed the second phase of their plan.
Just thinking about it made his skin crawl.
What came next… was something he never thought he'd do.
Now… they had to commit a murder.