Okay, so let me get this right. I'm in my favourite novel? Like, living in my favourite novel. And I'm getting married to the villain??
Part of her still believed it was a dream. Even despite the cottage that took her to whatever event that awaited her kept on galloping and her shoulder bumping into the walls of the cottage. She still felt she was in a dream. The last time she checked, she was on the bench of a park, homeless and hopeless, Romance In The Five Empyrean Cities in her grip. So, how come...?
"This is madness..." she thought aloud, unable to bottle up her thoughts any longer.
None of what was happening made sense. How was she a character from a novel? How was she going to be the wife of a novel character she despised.
She laughed again, for the umpteenth time that night.
"Okay, " she breathed. "This is a dream. I will be waking up in that Park in the morning." She said.
Although, they were two other figures seated across her in the cottage—one, her lady-in-waiting, Amaris and the woman who had woken her up, Liora—she pretended as though she was alone.
And, it had been going on since the maids prepared her bath and got her dressed. Oh right. The dress. She didn't even get the chance to check it out but she recalled whispering in her mind that it looked familiar.
The cottage finally crawled to a stop. Amari skips out of the cottage first, looking decent in her burgundy dress with silver intricate. Her jet black straight and smooth hair is styled with an elaborate red bow that matches the color of her dress.
She had one of the sharpest jaw Daphne had ever since and she was incredibly beautiful. Was it because she was sketched? Sketched to perfection...
Amari helps Daphne out, who almost steps on her dress but was saved by Amaris in the last minute. Everything felt foreign. Of course, it does. Although, she loved webtoon and engrossed herself in many of it whenever she was less busy, she didn't think living it was a possibility even if it were a dream or parody. Or, acting.
Wait. Maybe, they were on a set. She looked around. Where were the cameras?
"Ama, please look after My Lady. She does not seem to be in her right senses."
Liora spoke from the cottage. Amaris nods, taking Daphne by her hand.
The door to the cottage shut close and continued on its way.
Daphne turned to Amaris. "Is she not coming with us?"
"No, My Lady. She is not your chaperone, I am. Now, Liora has said you are drunk. What exactly did you drink?"
Daphne ignored her question, distracted by the way the area was scanty. A building loomed before them, neat marble steps leading towards its entrance.
"Why is this place so scanty?" Daphne asked, gazing around her.
"That is because we are late. Everyone is inside." She takes her hand. "Let's go."
They matched up the stairs, arriving at the heavy double doors of the building entrance. A guard appeared from the corner, clad in a red and black uniform. He bowed to both of them and jerked the double doors, showing them in. "Welcome, My Lady."
Amaris nods and leads Daphne in.
Massive chandelier dangling off the ceiling was the first thing she noticed. Then, the figure on the second floor. They looked like someone she knew but his back was turned to her. Soft music played as some danced with their partners, while the others stayed by the corner, chatting in twos and threes.
The moment they stepped further in, majority of the people in the hall turned their heads, about five men came rushing to her, all giving her looks of admiration.
Daphne is taken aback by this attention.
Amaris leans in to whisper. "They are not aware that you have been engaged so, just play along for now."
Daphne swallowed, her stomach twisting. All of it were looking real. She no longer had the decency to laugh or call any of these a dream. Because a dream shouldn't appear this detailed or real.
She turned slowly, facing a small glass that had her reflection. The dress is beautiful. It is a layered ballgown primarily in shades of deep to light blue. It features an off-the-shoulder neckline with ruffles and a fitted, corset-style bodice. The skirt is full, voluminous, and made up of multiple tiers, accented with lace, intricate patterns.
She ran her hand down the pattern. It felt real. Too real.
Someone tapped her and she turned to catch Amaris standing with two filled champagne flutes and a small card.
She hands the champagne flute to her. "Here is your drink. And this is your card." She slipped the small card into her fingers.
Daphne looked down at the card. It was numbered 1 to 5 and they were filled with names.
"Noran Hale, Ezra Wolfe—what is this?" Daphne frowned at the names on the card.
"They are names of the men that would dance with you, My Lady. You know this. Just how much are you drunk?" She paused. "Maybe I shouldn't give you more drink." She says, reaching out to collect the drink back but Daphne quickly took it out of her reach.
"No," Daphne says. "I believe I need to get drunk for real. I can't process any of this with a sane mind."
She immediately gulps down the whole content of champagne in its flute.
Few minutes later, Daphne is dancing with the first name on her card, to an unfamiliar rhythm, in an unfamiliar place, with an unfamiliar identity, in an unfamiliar world.
The first man was Noran Hale. He introduces himself as the son of the Left Chancellor of Astrelle City, the fourth Empyrean City. He had the perfect height, a round face and broad shoulders. He was respectful but when Daphne failed to answer some questions he asked, he dropped the honorifics.
The second was Ezra Wolfe, a senator of Tenebria City, the second Empyrean City. He looked familiar. Probably from the webtoon. Although, she tried not to think about the madness going on, but she couldn't stop herself from connecting her reality to the webtoon. She gazed around quite often, in hope of finding a familiar face but she had seen none. Until...
She froze when he walked up to her with that familiar lopsided grin.
He is just as sketched on the screen and through those sheets. His short black hair and reddish-pink eyes. His slender height, sharp jaws. His attire is a black suit featuring a patterned vest, a tie, and a dark jacket or coat draped over his shoulders. He wears several accessories, including earrings, a belt, and what appears to be a watch or bracelet.
Varyn Nightbourne, the main lead of her favourite novel.