By the time my heartbeat stopped trying to escape my chest, Nina was back.
She entered quietly with two other maids trailing behind her, all of them carrying fabrics so delicate I was afraid my old, broke-student aura would stain them just by looking.
The other maids wouldn't even raise their heads. Just quick, nervous glances before their gazes snapped to the floor.
Yeah, I thought. The original Rose was definitely a problem.
"I have brought your clothes, Lady Rose," Nina said, bowing her head.
"What… kind of clothes?" I asked cautiously.
"Your usual morning attire," she replied. "And… one simpler dress, as requested."
That last part sounded like it almost hurt her throat to say.
I stood up from the bed a bit more gracefully this time, Body Control automatically compensating so I didn't topple over like a newborn deer.
"Let's go with the simple one," I said.
Nina nodded and stepped forward, holding out a dress.
It was "simple" by noble villainess standards, meaning it was still nicer than anything I'd ever seen in my past life: soft cream fabric with faint pink embroidery along the hem, off-shoulder sleeves, and a fitted bodice that promised to do… things… to my new chest.
Behind her, the two silent maids laid out some undergarments on a chair.
I stared at the undergarments. They stared back. Menacingly.
"…Those look dangerous," I muttered.
"Pardon?" Nina blinked.
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just… uh, help me change? I feel like I'll break this body if I try alone."
The other maids tensed, clearly expecting shouting, maybe a slap.
Instead, I let them help.
It was… humiliating.
Not because of them—because of me.
Being stripped out of the thin nightgown, seeing my reflection in the mirror wearing almost nothing, watching unfamiliar curves and soft skin bared under someone else's hands—
If I hadn't had Body Control on, I probably would've tripped over my own shame.
"System," I whispered in my head. "Can Body Control… mute physical embarrassment?"
SYSTEM:
Yes.
Do you wish to temporarily suppress non-essential physical reactions?
"Yes. Absolutely."
SYSTEM:
…Done.
A strange numbness washed over me—not dead, just… dulled. Like someone had turned the volume knob down on my body's more dramatic responses.
"This is so weird," I muttered as Nina tightened the laces on my corset. "But also, thank you."
SYSTEM:
You're welcome.
With three maids working in practiced silence, it didn't take long.
Layers of soft fabric wrapped around me. The corset cinched my waist. The dress settled into place, cool and smooth over my skin. A pair of flat shoes (bless Nina) slid onto my feet.
When they stepped back, I turned to the mirror again.
Rose Vixelle stared back—this time fully dressed.
The gown hugged my upper body, then flowed down in gentle folds. The off-shoulder sleeves revealed smooth shoulders and a long, delicate neck. My hair had been brushed out and tied half-up with a pale ribbon, making my fox-like eyes look even larger.
I looked… like I'd stepped out of one of those fantasy manhwa panels where readers flood the comments with "SHE'S SO PRETTY WTF."
Except this time, it was me.
I exhaled slowly.
This is the skin I have to wear now.
"Beautiful as always, Lady Rose," Nina said softly.
The other maids echoed, "Yes, my lady," heads still bowed.
"Thank you," I said. The words felt strange—but right. "You all did a good job."
Three pairs of shoulders visibly flinched, like they'd been hit, but… in reverse. Then, shyly, the other two murmured, "T-thank you, my lady," before scurrying out at Nina's gesture.
Only Nina remained.
"Do you wish to take breakfast in your room?" she asked. "Or in the garden, as usual?"
Garden.
I remembered: in the novel, Rose liked to sit in the sun and watch others train while she sipped tea like a boss-level NPC.
"First," I said, "show me the view from the balcony."
Nina seemed surprised, but quickly nodded.
"This way, my lady."
She led me to a set of tall glass doors on one side of the room. When she pulled them open, warm air rushed in—fresh, carrying the smell of earth and something wild.
I stepped out onto the balcony.
And my breath caught.
Below us, the Beast Kingdom's manor grounds spread out like something drawn in full-color splash pages.
Stone paths wound between trimmed gardens and towering trees. Sunlight flashed off the surface of a large training field, where figures were already moving—sparring, running drills, carrying weapons.
Beastmen.
Not all as extreme as Karl, but clearly not human.
A tall man with wolf ears, tail swishing behind him, barked orders at a squad. A woman with deer horns and soft spots on her neck walked with a basket of herbs. A pair of children with fluffy dog ears chased each other, laughing, while a birdman with sharp, black wings shouted at them to be careful.
Different tribes, different features—ears, tails, horns, scales, wings.
A living bestiary.
My heart thudded.
This is really another world…
DING!
SIDE QUEST COMPLETE: "First Glance at the Beast Kingdom"
– You have observed the world outside and accepted its reality.
Reward: +2 Body Stability
Body Stability: 28% → 30%
I snorted softly.
"So I get points for just… looking outside?"
SYSTEM:
For not collapsing and screaming that it's all a dream?
Yes. You get points.
"Fair."
Nina watched my expression from the corner of her eye, clearly confused.
"Is something… wrong with the view, my lady?" she asked cautiously.
"No," I said. "It's… pretty amazing, actually."
Her eyes widened just a little.
"In my last life, the only view I had was a moldy apartment and a broken streetlight," I added under my breath.
"What was that, my lady?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Nina, tell me something. What is Karl's position exactly? In the kingdom."
She straightened, reciting automatically.
"Lord Karl is Major Karl Velenhart, commander of the Third Beast Legion and one of the Ten Pillars of the Beast Kingdom," she said. "His Majesty relies heavily on him for matters of war and defense. He also governs this territory in the king's name."
"So… basically a top general and local lord," I summarized. "And me?"
"Lady Rose Vixelle," Nina replied. "Daughter of House Vixelle. Officially, you are the first wife of the Pillar of the East—Lord Karl. Due to your… rarity, your marriage was of great political importance."
Rarity.
I remembered the status screen.
Species: Human (Female) – Rarity: EXTINCT
"In this world," I asked, "how many human women are there?"
Nina hesitated.
"…You are the only one, my lady," she said quietly. "As far as anyone knows."
The weight of that settled on my shoulders.
In my old world, I'd been just another guy no one wanted.
Here, I was something like a mythical creature.
"Humans… aren't supposed to exist anymore," Nina went on. "At least, not pure ones. That is why your presence caused… great commotion. Some saw you as a blessing. Some as… a threat."
"And Rose?" I asked. "What do they see when they look at me now?"
Nina's gaze flickered toward the training field, then back at me.
"…They see the 'Pink Fox' of the East," she said at last. "Beautiful. Dangerous. Unpredictable."
"Pink Fox," I repeated, glancing at my reflection in the glass. "Because of the hair and eyes?"
"And because foxes are… cunning," she added.
In the original story, that had been a compliment and an insult at the same time.
"I see."
I leaned on the balcony railing, watching a young tiger‑striped soldier flinch when he accidentally looked up at my tower. His friend elbowed him and whispered something urgently, and they both snapped their gazes away.
Fear.
Respect. But mostly fear.
The optional quest popped back into my mind.
Unlock first affectionate interaction with any husband within 24 hours.
"How long until Karl comes back?" I asked.
"I am not sure, my lady," Nina said. "If the council meeting is brief, he may return by evening. If not…" She trailed off. "It could be tomorrow."
"Of course," I sighed. "Why would the tutorial be easy?"
SYSTEM:
Time remaining on optional objective:
22 hours 17 minutes
"Thank you, countdown anxiety," I muttered. "Very helpful."
SYSTEM:
I aim to serve.
I rolled my eyes.
"Nina," I said. "Before breakfast… can you tell me what happened yesterday? Honestly."
The question clearly scared her.
"I—yesterday…" she stammered. "You… argued with Lord Karl. About his absence from your chambers. You accused him of neglecting you. There were… harsh words. And then you—"
She swallowed hard.
"Then?" I pressed gently.
"You ordered him," she whispered, "to prove that you were still his priority. You said if he refused, you would… spend your night elsewhere."
Jealous villainess move. Very on-brand.
"And did he prove it?" I asked, already knowing the answer, given where I'd woken up.
Nina's cheeks flushed faintly. "Lord Karl… stayed, my lady. All night."
I stared out at the training grounds, jaw clenched.
"So I dropped into this world," I summarized, "right after a very dramatic, slightly unhinged version of myself seduced a lion war general out of spite. And now I have to build affection with him without letting him realize I'm a completely different person."
SYSTEM:
Correct.
"Love that for me."
Nina shifted awkwardly. "Should I prepare your breakfast inside or outside, my lady?"
"Inside," I said automatically. Then I paused. "No. Garden."
If Rose usually went to the garden, then staying in my room might raise suspicions. I couldn't afford that. Not yet.
"Garden," I repeated. "And tell the kitchen… nothing too heavy. Just fruit. And tea."
"Yes, my lady." Nina bowed. "I will arrange it."
She slipped back inside.
Left alone on the balcony, I let myself slump a little.
"I used to skip breakfast to save money," I murmured. "Now I'm worrying if my tea order is in-character for a noble villainess. What even is my life?"
I turned to re-enter the room—
"—Lady Rose."
The deep, low voice came from below.
I froze and looked down.
On the stone path directly under my balcony stood a tall figure in black armor accented with dark blue. His eyes were cool, focused, a piercing shade of silver-gray under tousled black hair. Two curved, dark horns swept back from his temples, and a faint shimmer of scales traced along his neck and jaw.
His aura screamed danger. And control.
Joe.
My breath caught.
The Silent Killer of the army. One of my future problems. One of my future husbands.
And he was already here.
He bowed just enough to be polite, without a trace of warmth.
"I was informed that you were awake," he said. "I came to confirm your condition."
His gaze flicked over me, clinical and assessing. Unlike Karl, there was no softness here. Just calculation.
My mouth went dry.
Optional quest: affection interaction with any husband.
System, does this count?
SYSTEM:
Husband Candidate Detected: Joe Varyn
Interactions can contribute to optional objective.
But tread carefully. His suspicion level is high.
Great.
I gripped the railing a little tighter to hide the tremor in my fingers.
"I'm…" I forced Rose's practiced lazy smile onto my lips. "Better than expected."
His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"In better health, yet less dramatic," he said. "Interesting."
Ouch.
In the novel, Rose and Joe had a… complicated relationship. She liked provoking him because his calmness annoyed her. He tolerated her because of politics and obligation.
Underneath that, there had been… something. Respect? Lust? Frustration?
Right now, all I saw was wary distance.
"Did Karl send you to check on me?" I asked lightly.
"I was already summoned to the palace," he replied. "Our paths crossed. He mentioned your… episode."
Episode.
I wanted to crawl under the bed and stay there for three days.
"Tell him I'm not planning to die today," I said. "He still owes me a proper apology."
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Very Rose-coded. Sharp, a little self-centered, but playful.
Joe's eyes flickered.
"Apology?" he repeated.
"For ignoring his wife," I said, tilting my head. "You know how he is. Always with his soldiers. Never with me."
Too much? I wondered. Too little?
His lips twitched—the barest hint of something that wasn't a frown.
"At least your temper survived the night," he said. "That will reassure him."
He turned slightly, as if to leave, then paused.
His gaze rose to meet mine directly for the first time.
"Rose," he said. "You should not lean so far over the railing."
I blinked.
"You looked like you might fall," he added simply. "And His Majesty would be… displeased if his only human collapsed from a balcony instead of assassins or war."
It was concern. Dry. Buried. But real.
My throat tightened unexpectedly.
"I'll be careful," I said, a little more softly than I intended. "I… don't plan on going anywhere yet."
For a split second, something unreadable flashed in his eyes.
Then it was gone.
"Good," he said, turning away. "Stay alive, then."
And just like that, he walked off, cloak rippling behind him, horns catching the light.
DING—
OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE UPDATE:
First affectionate interaction (minor) registered.
Joe's Concern +1
Body Stability: 30% → 33%
Affection Meter (Locked): 1/10 threshold reached. Remaining: 9
I stared after his retreating back.
"That… counted?" I whispered. "That was affection?"
SYSTEM:
For a creature like Joe, telling you not to fall is equivalent to
'I don't want you dead.'
In this world, that's affection.
I snorted despite myself.
"Standards are low, huh?"
SYSTEM:
You chose a world of emotionally constipated beastmen.
Live with it.
I looked out over the grounds again, then back into the room where silk sheets and a terrifying reputation waited.
Karl at the palace.
Joe on his way there.
Three more husbands I hadn't even seen yet.
And me, caught in the middle with a ticking clock and a body that wasn't mine.
I straightened up, smoothing the skirt of my dress.
"All right," I said quietly. "Karl, Joe, Beast Kingdom, System… bring it on."
If I had to play the villainess to survive—
Then I'd be the kind of villainess who rewrote the story entirely.
And I was just getting started.