Chapter 17: The Heroine Has Entered the Chat
—CELIA—
I slowly looked up at Sebastian again, and for the first ti since waking up inside this cursed novel, I felt genuine hope.
The male leads had not t Cynthia yet.
That explained everything.
I was early.
The actual plot had not fully started.
’Oh my gosh,’ I whispered internally.
I almost wanted to laugh.
No, actually, I wanted to grab sobody and shake them violently out of relief.
This changed everything.
The original Aria ruined herself because she antagonized the heroine from the very beginning. She bullied Cynthia, humiliated her publicly, spread rumors about her, and basically treated emotional destruction as a competitive hobby.
Naturally, every male lead slowly united under the shared mission of "Protect Cynthia From This Psychopath."
And eventually? It ended up in a very dramatic public execution.
My sister even added rain during the scene.
Because apparently trauma beca more artistic when people suffered while wet.
But now?
Now I still had ti.
Ti to fix my image.
Ti to avoid becoming a villainess.
Ti to peacefully disappear from this story before everyone started emotionally malfunctioning.
I nearly sorsaulted internally.
’I CAN STILL SURVIVE THIS,’ I scread inside my head.
Honestly, I deserved congratulations.
Most people would have collapsed emotionally by now, but I was adapting magnificently.
Was I panicking just earlier?
Yes.
But I was panicking productively.
That was character growth.
I beca so overwheld with relief that I almost forgot Sebastian was still standing in front of looking guilty and emotionally complicated for absolutely no reason.
Seriously.
What was wrong with this man?
Five minutes ago he looked offended that I wanted to end the engagent. Then he grabbed my arm dramatically. Then I cried loudly enough to summon half the estate. Then he hugged in public like we were starring in a forbidden romance adaptation.
None of this was in the original novel.
My sister was going off script.
Actually no.
I was going off script.
I cautiously looked up at Sebastian again.
His brows were slightly furrowed, and he still looked concerned.
I lightly cleared my throat and gently pushed against his chest.
"Your Grace," I said carefully, "I believe I have recovered sufficiently from my emotional collapse just now."
His gaze lowered slightly. "Emotional collapse."
"Yes," I answered solemnly. "It was very serious."
One of the nearby maids sniffled quietly again.
Please stop encouraging this.
I was about to continue speaking when suddenly...
"Aria...?"
I froze.
Every single thought in my brain stopped functioning imdiately.
That voice.
That soft, gentle, and sweet-enough-to-lower-blood-pressure voice
I slowly turned around.
And there she was.
Cynthia.
The heroine herself stood a short distance away holding a small basket with both hands. Her expression was filled with concern and confusion, her soft brown hair catching the sunlight behind her in the most cinematic way possible.
No.
No no no no.
WHY NOW?!
I had literally just realized I still had ti to survive this novel.
I had not even celebrated properly yet!
This story truly operated on hatred and bad timing.
I stared at Cynthia in horror while my brain automatically replayed the descriptions from the novel against my will.
"Her eyes carried the gentleness of spring after winter, warm enough to soften even the coldest silence."
I almost threw up.
Why did my sister write it like that?
Who describes eyeballs seasonally?
And unfortunately...
The descriptions were accurate.
Cynthia really did look absurdly lovable.
Not that she looked like a glamorous noblewoman.
She simply looked warm.
Like a person who apologized to furniture after accidentally bumping into it.
And then...
Oh no.
OH NO.
Sebastian slowly tilted to see her.
The very mont his eyes landed on Cynthia, the atmosphere changed so dramatically that I almost heard background music.
I stared at him in disbelief.
Sir.
Control yourself.
It was subtle, but I saw it happen.
That brief pause.
That tiny shift in his expression.
That quiet mont of attention.
I knew exactly what this was because I had already suffered through several edited drafts of this nightmare romance.
This was the beginning.
The male lead had spotted the heroine.
The butterflies were activating.
The sparkles were loading.
Emotionally constipated nobleman.exe had started running.
And the worst part?
My brain supplied the narration automatically.
"For a fleeting mont, the noise around him faded into nothing as sunlight wrapped gently around her figure."
I wanted compensation for this emotional damage.
No wonder I hated reading my sister’s drafts.
I was literally standing inside one now.
This was horrifying.
Cynthia blinked softly while looking between the two of us.
"Did sothing happen?" she asked gently.
My survival instincts activated instantly.
Before Sebastian could answer, I imdiately stepped away from him so quickly it almost looked aggressive.
"Yes!" I blurted out.
The corridor went silent.
Sebastian slowly looked at .
Cynthia blinked in confusion.
Even the servants looked startled.
I froze.
"...No," I corrected imdiately. "I an no. Nothing happened. Everything is completely fine."
Nobody looked convinced.
I laughed awkwardly. "His Grace and I were rely having a very civilized discussion."
Sebastian stared at .
"...Civilized."
"Yes," I repeated firmly.
The servants suddenly beca very interested in the floor.
Cowards.
Cynthia’s gaze slowly drifted toward my slightly reddened arm.
I imdiately hid my arm behind my back so fast it probably looked suspicious.
"Very civilized," I repeated again.
Sebastian closed his eyes briefly like he was developing a headache.
Honestly, understandable.
Cynthia looked uncertain for a mont before stepping closer carefully, still holding the basket against her chest. "I have co to live in your household for a year to continue my studies," she said softly. "I hope I shall not beco an inconvenience to you."
Then she smiled.
Oh dear.
There it was, that warm, innocent heroine smile that probably caused emotional collapse in n within a ten-mile radius.
"I also brought gifts and souvenirs," she added gently.
As she spoke, my mind suddenly stopped listening.
Because another thought had violently crashed into my brain.
Matchmaker.
My eyes widened.
Right.
RIGHT.
Why was I overcomplicating this?
If the original story wanted Sebastian and Cynthia together anyway, then why not help it happen peacefully and early?
That solved everything.
If Sebastian fell in love with Cynthia quickly, then my engagent problem would disappear naturally.
No dramatic breakup.
No emotional confusion.
No suspicious behavior.
And most importantly...
No execution!
I nearly wanted to salute my own intelligence.
’Celia,’ I thought proudly, ’you are a genius under pressure!’
anwhile, Cynthia was still standing there politely like a soft watercolor painting while Sebastian remained unnaturally quiet beside .
I looked at him briefly.
Yep.
He was definitely staring.
The butterflies had entered the battlefield.
I imdiately smiled brightly.
"Cynthia!" I called enthusiastically despite the fact that she was standing less than a foot away from .
Everyone looked slightly startled.
"You are so pretty!" I declared.
Cynthia blinked in surprise while Sebastian slowly looked at again like I had beco concerning.
"And do not worry about anything," I continued cheerfully. "I shall support you with all my heart!"
That part was true.
Very true.
Because if Cynthia remained happy, then I remained alive.
Our futures were now connected whether she knew it or not.
Cynthia looked visibly touched. "Lady Aria..."
"No formalities between cousins!" I interrupted before she could continue sounding adorable.
Then I imdiately took the gifts from her hands before she could protest.
Honestly, I had no idea what was inside the basket.
Could have been tea.
Could have been poison.
At this point, I was operating entirely on survival instinct.
Then, like the brilliant strategist I was...
I stepped backward until I stood beside Sebastian.
I looked between the two of them then slowly smiled.
Oh yes.
This was perfect.
"This," I announced grandly while gesturing toward Kaelen, "is my friend, duke Sebastian Blackwood."
Sebastian’s brows furrowed slightly.
anwhile Cynthia looked slightly surprised, lowering her gaze politely. "It is an honor to et Your Grace."
I imdiately lifted my brows repeatedly while looking at Sebastian.
"Sebastian," I continued sweetly, "this is my beautiful cousin, Cynthia."
But Sebastian looked at strangely.
I widened my eyes slightly at him.
LOOK AT HER.
ROMANTICALLY.
DO THE NOVEL THING.
Cynthia looked increasingly confused while I silently attempted to force destiny together through aggressive eye contact.
Honestly, matchmaking was exhausting already.
"Yes!" I said suddenly.
Neither of them had asked a question.
I ignored that too.
"Please take good care of her," I told Sebastian while subtly nudging his arm with my elbow.
His expression sohow beca even more complicated.
anwhile, Cynthia looked embarrassed enough to lt into the floor.
Perfect!
The romantic tension is excellent!
"I shall give the two of you space to talk!" I declared brightly.
Then before anyone could stop , I ran with all my might.
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