"Zara! Wake up, dear. It's already morning—you need to get ready for your journey to the academy!"
Her mother's voice echoed through the wooden door like a war horn. Zara groaned and rolled over in bed, burying her face into the pillow.
"Okay, Mom... just five more minutes," she mumbled sleepily.
Outside the room, her mother let out an audible sigh, followed by the sound of something tapping against the door—probably her nails.
"How many times do I have to say it? Stop acting like a boy! And no more 'five minutes.' Get up—now!"
With a dramatic grunt, Zara forced herself upright. Her golden-blond hair flopped over her shoulder in a tangled mess. She yawned, stretched, and shuffled toward the dressing room.
"I'm getting dressed, okay! I'm coming!"
In front of the mirror, she blinked at her reflection. Sky-blue eyes. Wavy hair. An athletic frame that her mother constantly scolded her for, saying it made her look too 'wild'. She didn't care much. She liked running more than sewing anyway.
After a quick freshen-up and uniform change, Zara clomped downstairs where the smell of toast and eggs hit her nose like a spell.
"Eat quickly, dear. The carriage will arrive any moment now," her mother said without looking up, busy placing plates on the table.
Zara sat down and reached for the bread. Her mother gave her a pointed look.
"Feet off the table, young lady!"
Zara froze mid-reach, pouting as she corrected herself.
"Jeez, Mom, it's just bread, not a royal banquet."
"Act like a lady for once. Nobles from all over the empire will be at the academy—including the royal family. You don't need to worry about forming connections, just focus on yourself. That's enough."
Zara rolled her eyes as she took a bite. "You've said that a hundred times already... Where's Dad?"
Her mother paused mid-sip of tea, then calmly stood up and walked over to her. With a light flick to Zara's forehead, she replied:
"In the palace. Emperor Lucas summoned him this morning."
"Ow! What was that for!?"
"For acting like a tomboy and slouching at the table again."
"You told me to focus on myself, not behave like a doll!"
"Confidence is one thing. Sitting like a monkey is another."
Zara grumbled under her breath but finished her breakfast quickly. Just as she stood up to head outside, her mother pulled her into a tight hug from behind.
"Zara, I'll miss you, my daughter. Promise me you'll study seriously and not fool around."
Zara turned around and hugged her back, her voice softening."I'll miss you too, Mom. And don't worry—I'll work hard. I promise."
With that, she stepped out into the sunlight and climbed into the waiting carriage. Her journey to the Royal Virelia Academy had officially begun.
The carriage rolled smoothly over dirt roads, guarded by a small convoy of armed escorts on horseback. They moved through lush valleys, forests with glowing leaves, and quiet villages. Hours passed in peace—until the road began to climb into the mountains.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted and came to a stop.
Zara leaned forward and peeked out the window. "What's going on?"
One of the guards approached, voice tense."Miss, please remain inside. Bandits are approaching. We'll handle this quickly."
He turned and raised his sword. "Protect the lady! Hold the line!"
Hooves thundered. Screams echoed. The trees burst with movement as dozens of bandits emerged from all directions, clashing with the guards.
Zara clenched her fists. Her father had trained her in magic—not much, but enough.
"Focus… channel it like he taught you..." she whispered.
But before she could finish the spell, the carriage door creaked loudly. Then—boom! It exploded inward. A thick club slammed into her temple.
Everything went black.
"We did it, brothers! Look what we got—a noble girl!" a voice sneered, disgusting and loud.
One of the bandits stepped toward Zara's unconscious form, grinning. But just as he reached for her—
Shiiing!
His head hit the ground before his body did.
"Disgusting scum." The guard captain stood over the body, sword dripping. "Protect Lady Zara! Kill them all!"
The guards surged forward. Steel clashed. Magic lit the battlefield. One by one, the bandits fell. None of them would leave alive.
Unseen by anyone, deep within the carriage, something else was happening.
A wisp of black mist coiled above Zara's still body. It pulsed—hungry, searching—and reached for her chest. But the moment it touched her, a blue-white light burst out. The mist screamed silently, then vanished into nothing.
Zara awoke inside a warm tent. The world was spinning.
"Ugh... what happened?"
She clutched her head as memories came flooding back—but not just hers. Foreign memories. Strange things. A metal machine called a car. Blinking screens. Bright cities. Otome games.
"What… what is a car?" she mumbled, confused. "Is it some kind of carriage?"
More memories followed. Names. Stats. Love interests. A villainess. And her.
Her breath caught. "No… no way..."
She sat up, pale, trembling.
"This... this is a game world. An Otome game. And I... I'm the cannon fodder?!"
Zara stared into the distance, horrified.
"I have the worst magic talent, I'm not even a main character, and I get expelled by Chapter 10! This is a nightmare!"