The morning sun streamed through the luxurious bedroom as Milena Valentia's eyes slowly opened. Rose-colored decorations reflected on the ceiling. A ceiling she'd seen before, yet couldn't quite remember. She pushed herself upright and gazed at her hands. Something was wrong. The skin tone, the shape of her hands, the nails—nothing belonged to her. Her heartbeat quickened. Milena gripped the edge of the bed with one hand, steadying herself. She moved toward the mirror on the right side. Even the sensation of her feet touching the ground, the very act of walking, felt unnatural. The mirror reflected not a woman with short black hair, but a beautiful girl with long, flowing blonde locks and deep blue eyes. "…What?" Milena's voice came out shrill. That voice wasn't hers either. The girl in the mirror stared back with a face twisted in terror. Memories—yes, memories were flooding in. Sitting in front of a computer in that room, playing an otome game late into the night. *The Rose Princess and the Knights*. A game she'd played countless times since its release three years ago. She'd been particularly obsessed with Julius Vandersroot, the second prince. The story was deep, the choices complex, and she'd replayed it over and over. And among the characters, one of the most tragic—Milena Valentia. "No…" Milena's hands trembled. On her left shoulder, reflected in the mirror, was a white rose-shaped crest. Rose-mark sorcery—proof of this world's unique magical system. In the game, she was the one who relentlessly trapped the heroine, obsessed over the prince, and ultimately faced destruction. Exile ending, imprisonment ending, social death—no matter which route was chosen, Milena Valentia was doomed. "This has to be a joke." Milena fell to her knees before the mirror. Her past-life memories and current situation collided violently in her mind. A Japanese person who loved games. And now, reborn into that game's world as a villainess. "Miss. It's time for your morning preparations." A knock sounded at the door. A maid's voice. Milena switched her expression instantly. She clenched her trembling hands, took a deep breath, and stood. "Please come in." Her voice was calm, refined. Not the voice of her former self, but Milena Valentia's voice. The maid entered—a woman in her forties who had served this household for years. Mercedes. A character who appeared several times in the game. "Today is the academy entrance ceremony, is it not? I shall prepare your attire." Mercedes bowed gracefully. Her movements, her manner of speech—everything was that of a perfect maid. Milena observed her carefully. Wariness, affection, professional duty. All mixed together. "Indeed." Milena smiled. A perfect smile befitting an upper-class noble. But internally, she was drowning in chaos. Once Mercedes left the room, Milena returned to the mirror. She gazed at her face once more. Then slowly, she began practicing her smile. The angle of her lips—the angle she'd seen in the game's affection events. The sparkle in her eyes—the gaze angle needed to look at someone with kindness. The tone of her voice—the way of speaking that balanced grace with elegance. She calculated everything, constructing the "perfect lady." "…This is good." Milena nodded with that smile. Hours later, a carriage departed from the Valentia ducal residence. Its destination: the Royal Tirian Academy. This was the center of the story. Where she'd meet the heroine. Where she'd meet the prince. And where Milena's destruction would begin. The scenery visible through the window was somewhere between imagination and reality. The streets of Elfene. In the central commercial district, she could see the "Jade Vase," a high-class tea house. In this place, rumors among noble ladies were born, lost, and led to ruin. Inside the carriage, Milena began organizing her thoughts. Game knowledge. Reality. And survival strategy. "In the original story…" Milena whispered to herself. First Prince Gottfried Vandersroot—perfect, elegant, loved by all. His appearance frequency in the game was low. Milena didn't actively engage with him. Second Prince Julius Vandersroot—cold, emotionless, closed off to everyone. But he changes when he meets the heroine. The most popular route. And it's on this route that Milena becomes most obsessed, most destroyed. Knight Commander Alex Jensen—the first prince's aide, with the queen's deep trust. His influence is immeasurable. And the heroine. Her name could be changed freely in the game, but she's usually called "Rosalia." Commoner-born, with high aptitude for rose-mark sorcery. She enters the royal academy and eventually becomes recognized as the "Rose Princess." "Don't approach the heroine. Don't involve myself with the prince. Never show my true self to anyone." Milena made a vow to herself. "I'll survive through calculation and analysis alone. I'll abandon emotion. I'll accept loneliness. I'll wear a mask forever." The carriage arrived at the academy's main gate. The moment Milena stepped out, all eyes converged on her. The daughter of Duke Valentia. One of the most watched figures in high society. Deep brown eyes, lustrous black hair, a 170-centimeter frame dressed in a refined white shirt and black slacks. On her left shoulder, a white rose crest glowed. The Royal Tirian Academy's main gate was dominated by a solemn white stone building. The grounds were vast, with colorful roses blooming in the gardens. Five hundred meters east to west, four hundred meters north to south. Besides the main building, there were four male dormitories, four female dormitories, a great dining hall, training grounds, a greenhouse garden called "Moonlight Garden," and a library tower called "The Rose of Wisdom." About six hundred students were enrolled at this academy. All of them had gathered for today. Milena maintained her perfect smile as she walked toward the entrance ceremony venue. The ceremony was held in the "White Rose Grand Hall" at the academy's center. High ceilings, a vast hall that could accommodate over three hundred. About six hundred students and their guardians had gathered. Milena searched the guardian section for her father's face. Duke Victor Valentia. An influential member of the Five Flower Council. Currently, as one of the Five Great Ducal Houses, he wielded significant influence over the kingdom's politics. But her mother's figure was absent. She was frail and undergoing treatment. The duke noticed his daughter and gave a slight nod. The movement was so small no one else would notice. That was his way. Milena took her assigned seat. Front row of the student section. A natural place for a ducal daughter. But she felt the surrounding gazes. To her left sat a silver-haired noble lady. Perhaps from the Ashleyn Marquis House. To her right was a girl with chestnut-colored hair. Her crest was— "…Pink rose." Milena stared at that crest for a moment. And she realized. It was "Rosalia"—the heroine. Just as described in the game, she was commoner-born but had high aptitude for rose-mark sorcery. Her crest was beautiful, radiant. It hinted at the path to becoming the "Rose Princess." Rosalia hadn't noticed Milena yet. She faced forward, waiting for the ceremony. Her expression was filled with tension and anticipation. "…" Milena turned her face forward. She must not make eye contact with Rosalia. In the game, hostility arose from their very first meeting. Headmistress Lizetta Morven, Countess, took the stage. Fifty-eight years old. Stern but fair. Her voice was clear and filled with authority. "Welcome to the Royal Tirian Academy, new students." Her voice resonated throughout the hall. "Here, you will learn the mysteries of rose-mark sorcery. The crests born with you and the flowers are your very souls. By refining your crests, you can draw out your power to its fullest." Milena listened to the headmistress while simultaneously observing. The reactions around her. Rosalia's expression. The presence or absence of the prince or knight commander members behind her. A male figure appeared in her peripheral vision. Tall, fluid movements. Hair gleaming silver. (The prince? At the entrance ceremony?) Milena moved only her eyes to confirm the figure's full appearance. Second Prince Julius Vandersroot. Azure eyes. Dressed in a white uniform, he ascended the stage with perfect posture. Beside him stood Knight Commander Alex Jensen. For a moment, the hall's murmuring grew louder. Royal attendance was rare. But the headmistress remained unmoved. "Now then, we are honored by the royal family's presence. Let us hear the words of the Second Prince." Julius bowed to the headmistress and gazed across the entire hall. His eyes were cold, expressionless, revealing nothing. "You will spend the next three years here." Julius's voice was low, ruthless. Exactly as described in the game. "This academy is the kingdom's highest institution of learning. What you learn here will determine the course of your lives. Mastery of rose-mark sorcery, navigation of high society, building human relationships. All are crucial." Julius's gaze moved across the hall. Toward the front row. Toward Milena. In that moment, Milena's heart leaped. The prince's gaze had captured her. (Dangerous. I mustn't meet his eyes.) Milena slightly averted her gaze. She crafted the perfect expression of a bashful lady. "Do your best." Julius descended the stage. (What was that gaze?) Milena suppressed her turmoil in that moment. Only a perfect smile remained on her surface. After the entrance ceremony ended, students scattered throughout the academy. Milena headed alone to the library tower, "The Rose of Wisdom." The tower stood five stories tall on the academy's north side. Forty thousand volumes. One of the academy's most important facilities. Librarian Philia Northgreen quietly organized books. Thirty-two years old. Commoner-born, but possessed abnormal talent for memory. She appeared infrequently in the game, but Milena occasionally saw her when visiting the library tower. "Are you looking for something?" Philia's voice was calm, somehow distant. "Information on the history of rose-mark sorcery." Milena answered. Philia nodded quietly and moved toward the bookshelves. Her movements were efficient, almost dance-like. Seconds later, she returned with several books. "Here you are." Milena took them and began reading in the silence. *Rose-Mark Sorcery and the Royal Lineage*—Five hundred years ago, the first queen Elvira systematized rose-mark sorcery. Using flower crests as catalysts to exercise magical power. The crest's shape and radiance were determined by bloodline and individual aptitude. *The Thorn War and Its Aftermath*—One hundred twenty years ago, the royal family's twins started a civil war over the succession of rose-mark sorcery. The three-year conflict devastated the northern regions. As a result, primogeniture became absolute, and a system of knight commander oversight of royal authority was established. *The White Rose Oath and the Marriage Edict*—Enacted ninety years ago. Noble ladies of ducal rank and above must obtain a marriage partner approved by the royal family by age eighteen, or lose their territorial management rights. A system for the royal family to control political marriages. Milena calculated. She was currently seventeen. One year until eighteen. One year to find a fiancé, or lose the Valentia Duchy's territorial management rights. In the game, this system was the source of Milena's obsession. Seeking a marriage contract with the prince, she became obsessed with the heroine and ultimately faced destruction. "…" Milena slowly closed the book. The evening sun streamed through the library tower's windows, bathing the bookshelves in gold. Silence. Air. And the faint sound of something echoing. Milena confirmed her mental state. Fear. Anxiety. Loneliness. And a faint reso