Saving The Villainous Monster From The Male Lead

Eleanore sat before the ornate dressing table she had nearly destroyed in a fit of rage the previous day, her reflection casting a wary look back at her. She was dressed in a navy blue gown—the very one ordered from Stella's boutique and the one the original owner of the body wore in her character image.

This dress is the one wearing which Eleanore Sinclair dies in the novel. Its rich, luxurious fabric clung elegantly, contrasting beautifully with her pale skin and giving her an almost ethereal quality. The shimmer of the fabric mirrored the cold gleam in her ruby eyes as she stared at herself.

Marina stepped forward with a delicate diamond necklace that sparkled in the candlelight. A single ruby lay in its center, catching the same intense red as Eleanore's eyes. Marina fastened it around her neck with practiced care, stepping back to observe her handiwork, after helping Eleanore wearing long matching earrings.

Eleanore's gaze flickered back to her reflection. 'Who am I?' she mused, a chill crawling up her spine. 'Am I Eleanore, who died in a traffic accident hours ago in another world, or am I this Eleanore—the foolish one who's destined to die for her own stupidity?' The questions haunted her, an unfamiliar weight pressing against her chest.

"My lady?— My lady, can you hear me?" Marina's voice pulled her back from the dark thoughts clouding her mind. She turned, her face a blank mask that only seemed to concern the young maid. "You're ready, my lady. The Duke is waiting for you downstairs. It's time to depart for the banquet."

Eleanore blinked, forcing a smile to her lips. "Ah—yes," she murmured, standing and smoothing out a nonexistent wrinkle on her dress. She started for the door but hesitated halfway, then turned back, a genuine warmth breaking through her composed demeanor. "Thank you, Marina."

The maid's eyes widened. She barely managed a nod, visibly startled by Eleanore's expression. To Eleanore, it was a simple, sincere smile. But to Marina, who was accustomed to her lady's haughty arrogance, it looked almost… unnatural, even sinister.

Downstairs, Hael stood waiting, glancing at his golden pocket watch, which was framed with a distinctive blue stone around its edge. The watch was an heirloom, a symbol of his high status, and one he treasured deeply. Hearing the rhythmic click of heels, he looked up to see his sister descending the staircase. In his eyes, she looked like a peerless vision from a storybook, an image of elegance and grace.

Others in the room, however, saw something quite contrasting to that image. To them, Eleanore looked like a typical villainess—a beautiful yet heartless noblewoman, shrouded in an aura of aloof superiority. Whispers ran through the crowd as they watched her step down.

When she reached the bottom of the staircase, Hael offered his gloved hand, a courteous smile gracing his features. Eleanore accepted it, and he led her toward the carriage waiting outside.

"I apologize for everything that happened, Elle," Hael said gently. "But don't worry. I'll make sure you make a grand entrance in the ballroom tonight."

Eleanore chuckled, although it sounded hollow to her own ears. "Brother, I mean it when I say… I'm not interested in the Grand Duke anymore." Her tone was calm, confident, and unwavering. "I do not need a grand entrance."

Hael's eyes softened at her words. He had watched his sister's reckless obsession with Caelestis for years and hoped, perhaps even prayed, for the day she would let go of that jackass.

They climbed into the carriage together, and as it started moving, Eleanore turned to him with a faint smile. "You look particularly charming tonight, brother."

The compliment was simple, but it brought a broad smile to Hael's face. They rode in silence, but a familiar, unspoken bond lingered between them. Eleanore had no intention of being the woman the original-owner-of-the-body had been before—the foolish, infatuated noble. Now that she is Eleanore Sinclair, she would forge her own path, away from the self-destructive impulses of the original-owner-of-the-body.

But her thoughts turned dark as she remembered what her death would mean for this world. She had read it all in the novel that described her fate. When she—the original Eleanore—died, the friendship between Caelestis and Hael shattered like brittle glass, sparking a civil war that would bring ruin to the Seraphine Kingdom.

The White Knights, a noble organization devoted to the kingdom, was split in half, each faction led by one of the former friends. This fractured order had once been the pride of Seraphine, with a lineage spanning for centuries.

In the chaos of betrayal and bloodshed, the kingdom itself would be torn into ashes. The monarchy would fall, and in its place, Caelestis Lancaster would rise as a dictator, a ruler whose iron grip would suffocate Seraphine's people.

'I won't let that happen', she vowed to herself. 'If I want to save the Kingdom, I must prevent my death and the darkening of Caelestis Lancaster.'

The carriage slowed to a halt outside the grand palace, its marble columns towering under the moonlight. Stepping out, Eleanore took Hael's arm, and they ascended the wide staircase together. As they neared the ballroom, a royal knight announced, "Presenting His Grace, the Duke of Sinclair, and the Lady Eleanore Sinclair!"

Guests whispered among themselves as she entered, eyes following her every move. It was customary for the nobility to arrive in order of rank, and as third in line, the Sinclairs commanded an impressive presence. But Eleanore hardly noticed; her gaze had already found Caelestis across the room.

***

||Chapter 1: Stella Belongs To Caelestis

Caelestis Lancaster, one of the pillars of the Seraphine Empire, grows obsessed with his best friend, Stella. During the Crown Prince's 20th birthday banquet, he confesses his love to Stella, who rejects him in front of the entire court. Furious, Caelestis kidnaps her from the party.

Eleanore Sinclair plays a crucial role in setting up Stella's kidnapping by Duke Caelestis Lancaster, under the guise of "recovering" at his mansion.

Quest 1: Prevent Stella's Kidnapping.

Do you accept this quest?

Yes| No ||