Viella Pov

Finally, the torturous meeting ended. Praise the heavens.

But just when I thought I could breathe again, I found myself trapped in the same space as Lucian, Dante, and Alina- all seated at one table for lunch. Great. Absolutely suffocating. The tension could slice steak.

Even the poor waiter was trembling. His hands shook while pouring water, and I mentally whispered to him, I feel you, man. I feel you.

Alina ordered something mild and gentle. Of course. Her food matched her personality. Simple. Sweet. Soft.

When it was my turn, I smiled sweetly and rattled off a full royal feast.

Everyone turned to stare.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, "Weren’t you on a diet?"

"If you keep eating like that, you’ll soon need one."

I gave him a look. "And if you keep talking like that, you’ll soon need dental insurance."

He ignored

When the food arrived, I was in heaven. Shoveling it down like I hadn’t eaten since reincarnation. I didn’t notice Dante staring until halfway through stuffing my face with shrimp.

I glanced up just in time to-choke.

cough cough

Both Dante and Lucian leaned forward with water. I took Lucian’s without a thought, only to realize-Dante was offering his to...from my direction to Alina.

The way I blinked at him, and he turned to her like I was air.

Okay. Petty. Noted.

But then-I saw him.

That waiter. The same one I’d seen before. My brain screamed!

He moved quickly toward the back, whispering to someone I couldn’t fully see.

My heart sped up.

Was that him? The closet guy? The one who helped me escape and knew about the bracelet?

I excused myself under the classic washroom excuse and silently followed.

My head suddenly ached. Like something wanted to push through-memories maybe? My vision blurred. By the time I steadied myself, he was gone.

No no no-he can’t just vanish!

I ran ahead, desperately turning corners... until-

Crash.

I slammed into someone, sending papers flying everywhere.

"I’m so sorry!" I blurted, dropping down to pick them up.

"There’s no need. It’s fine," came a calm voice.

I paused.

Looked up.

And nearly forgot the English language.

Tall, broad shoulders, charming smile, and jawline carved by destiny. Who the hell is this? No side character had the right to look this hot. Did the author sneak someone in from a romance arc I missed??

He knelt to help. Our hands nearly touched.

After gathering the files he stood up.

"Ah, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself." The man offered his hand with an effortless charm, voice smooth. "I’m Elias. And who might this gorgeous lady be?"

My brain short-circuited.

Me? Gorgeous? Wait-focus.

I let out a nervous laugh, blinking at him. There was something about this guy... Familiar. Dangerous. I knew that name. Elias. Elias Noir-!

I was just about to take his hand and say my name when-

Snap.

Dante grabbed Elias’s hand mid-air.

Another hand snaked around my waist, pulling me back.

"Ah, Mr. Dante," Elias greeted smoothly, not flinching at all. "What a pleasant surprise to see you."

Dante didn’t return the smile. Instead, his voice was calm-too calm. "Do you have any business with my fiancée, Mr. Elias?"

Wait-?!

Elias raised a brow. "Your fiancée? Wait... You’re lady Viella?" His eyes glinted with amusement. "Oh my."

I stood there like a confused goldfish. What the hell is happening?

Elias Noir. The hidden route character. The masked man who never officially appeared in the main plot. Only shown in post-story ’bad endings.’ WHY is he here? And WHY does Dante know him?!

Elias gave a smirk that screamed secrets. "Ahh, so this is the infamous Miss Viella. You’re quite famous. I couldn’t recognize you at all."

"I try my best," I said automatically, laughing awkwardly while Dante’s grip on my waist tightened. Yup. I’m famous. For slapping peoples and setting curtains on fire. Thanks OG Viella.

"I’m honored you remember me," I added, trying to stay calm even as Dante’s aura darkened like a thundercloud.

Elias’s gaze didn’t move from mine. "I remember much more than just your name."

Dante cut in, voice sharp. "Memories are tricky. Best not to dwell on them."

The tension between them was thick.

Just when I was about to say something absolutely stupid like "Do you two need alone time?"-

Dante said coldly, "If you’ll excuse us, everyone’s waiting at the table."

Then he dragged me away by the wrist before I could even wave goodbye.

"What the-!" I stumbled beside him. "Dante!"

He didn’t even look back.

I looked at his hand gripping mine and raised a brow. "Isn’t ’my fiancée’ becoming your favorite word lately?"

"Why? Is there a problem?" he asked, voice like steel-wrapped silk. "We are engaged afterall."

I narrowed my eyes. "Yeah, but weren’t you the one who hated that and always called me Viella in the most annoyed voice ever?"

He didn’t reply.

Just walked faster.

We turned the corner near the grand hallway, only to find Alina beaming and Lucian sipping from a glass of wine with all the flair of a drama-loving elder sibling.

"Miss Viella," Alina chirped sweetly, "we were waiting for you!"

"Were you doing your solo concert in the washroom again?" Lucian asked.

Then, slowly, he pointedly looked at Dante’s possessive grip on me.

Dante blinked, realized he was still holding me, and let go.

I rubbed my wrist and gave Lucian a deadpan stare.

"Maybe" I said flatly.

"Hmm, seemed more like a duet," Lucian muttered, eyes still on Dante, who now looked two seconds away from punching a wall. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

No one noticed how Alina’s mood changed

________________

By the time we reached home, I was this close to lose my mind.

What was going on?!

First, the mysterious waiter who looked like he knew something about the Closet guy. Then I nearly fainted chasing him. And then BAM-Elias, the supposed hidden character from the novel, appeared. On top of that, Dante suddenly turned into the possessive fiancé I thought only existed in Alina’s soft romance dreams.

What’s going on? Why is this book updating its plotline without consulting me first?

I plopped down on the overly luxurious couch.

"This isn’t right. This is so not right."

Everything was changing. The plot had a perfectly fine pacing before-Alina smiles, Dante simps, I get executed. But now? Dante was glaring holes through Elias. Lucian looked like he knew something but wouldn’t say it. And Elias? He had this unsettling smile like he knew me... like he knew something I didn’t.

Was he another isekai’d soul?! Was he watching me this whole time? Is he... Dante’s rival?

I didn’t have time to process any of it because Lucian the Tyrant decided to enter

"Still alive, huh?" he said casually.

"Unfortunately," I replied, slumped over.

"Good. Then you can help with something." He dumped what felt like half the national archive onto my lap. Stacks and stacks of thick paper files. I swear I heard my spine crack.

"What the actual hell is this?" I blinked at the folders. "Are you trying to make me rewrite your whole existence?"

Lucian raised an elegant brow. "These need to be organized and placed in my workroom. Alphabetically."

"Lucian. Be serious. These are so muchhh," I whined.

"Don’t forget to finish the rest of the tasks too, my little maid." He smirked and patted my head.

"You do know I am your sister right? Like a real sister. Not just cosplay."

"Sure. Now go be useful. Chop-chop," he said, sauntering off.

Tsk.

Whatever.

As long as I don’t die.

That’s the whole plan. Survive. Stay alive. Avoid the grave.

I dragged myself toward Lucian’s massive study, arms aching from the weight of the files.

"I’m not even being paid for this," I mumbled bitterly. "Should’ve at least negotiated healthcare."

As I passed the grand hallway mirror, I caught my own reflection. My cheeks were flushed from running earlier, my hair slightly messy, and... was that a faint handprint on my waist?

I blinked. Right. Dante’s hand.

I touched the spot lightly, confused. Why did he grab me like that in front of Elias? What did he mean "Isn’t it rude to talk to someone’s fiancée"?

Since when do you care? You spent the last ten Chapters hating me.

And what was with that look when I laughed at Elias’s compliments? Was that jealousy?

No, no. That couldn’t be. Could it?

Dante never liked me. He liked Alina. I was the villainess. The obstacle. The fiancé he tolerated out of necessity.

...Right?

But that glare. That tight jaw. The way he interrupted before I could even shake Elias’s hand...

My thoughts spiraled again. I needed answers. About Elias. About that waiter. About this entire freaking plot.

But for now, I had Lucian’s files, a shifting story, and a very confusing Dante.

I flopped onto Lucian’s workroom floor like a soggy pancake, arms spread, glaring up at the chandelier.

"Dear author of this damn novel," I whispered to the ceiling, "can you stop doing surprise updates and patch notes while I’m playing the game?"

No response. Of course.

All I could do was brace myself. Because something told me this story was far from over.

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TO BE CONTINUED