The grand audience chamber of the royal palace in Philaster, the Silver Capital. Light streamed through the high ceiling, illuminating the luxurious stone floor. About fifty nobles gathered, filling every inch of that floor. Selene Valmond stood alone among them. Her lustrous black bob caught the light, casting deep reflections. Her amber eyes gazed intently at the figures on the dais. An elegant dress of crimson and black draped her graceful 170-centimeter frame. On her left wrist, a faint pattern resembling a star-vein seal glowed softly—a mark that only appeared after repeated use of magic. It was proof that Selene was a "talented young lady." Standing on the dais was Prince Elios, the empire's next imperial heir. Twenty-one years old. His appearance embodied the perfect bloodline of royalty—golden hair and azure eyes. Beside him stood Queen Irene, wearing an elegant smile. "Selene Valmond." Prince Elios's voice was cold and clear. A low, dignified tone stripped of all emotion—the kind only royal men possessed. "I cannot recognize your qualifications as my fiancée. Therefore, I dissolve our engagement." A faint gasp echoed through the audience chamber. The nobles surrounding Selene began to murmur all at once. Shock and ridicule. She felt their gazes intensely. Yet her expression remained composed. She didn't even let her smile falter. "As you wish, Your Highness." Selene bowed with perfect grace. The hem of her dress spread beautifully across the floor. The motion was flawless. No screams, no protests—only quiet submission. That's what it appeared to be. But in Selene's mind, another world played out. Her previous life. Another existence. Every night since reincarnating at eighteen, she remembered it. Under the glow of a smartphone screen, the game display showed the young lady Selene. Her destruction route. The engagement-breaking event. Normally, she would protest through tears, disgrace herself before everyone, lose her title three days later, and be completely expelled from high society a week after that—that was how the scenario was supposed to unfold. But. (No. I need to recalculate.) Selene stood. In that moment, her gaze wasn't directed at the dais—it was fixed on Queen Irene. The Queen's smile hadn't changed. But for just an instant, something flickered in her eyes—surprise, and the light of scheming. Selene didn't miss it. (The engagement dissolution isn't a mere emotional decision. This is a setup.) Selene understood immediately. Queen Irene's true target was the star-vein node "Moonspring" managed by the Valmond ducal house. A calculated conspiracy to seize its rights. By breaking the engagement, Selene's family would lose their connection to the prince. They would weaken. Then, with pressure from the Queen's faction, the node's control could be seized. If she resisted emotionally, she'd be stripped of her title for "disrespect." If she accepted calmly, she'd be isolated from high society as a "worthless young lady." Either way led to destruction. —But Selene had knowledge from her previous life. This world was the stage of the otome game "Stellar Luminacion." In that game she'd played, after the engagement broke, the heroine met five capture targets. Azure Sky Knight Commander Walter, Star-Weaving Academy Headmaster Ashley, childhood friend Kyle, mysterious swordsman Luke, and—Prince Elios. In the game, these five men competed for the heroine's affection, and a romantic drama unfolded. But Selene had thought of a different use for them. (If I make them my protectors and allies, I can crush the Queen's schemes.) Selene kept her head bowed as she quietly left the audience chamber. Inside the carriage. Selene gazed out at the imperial capital. Buildings gleaming silver-white. The blue flow of the Silver Thread River. And far off, in the southeastern hills, the seven research towers of Star-Weaving Academy. (In a few hours, night will fall. If I'm to contact Walter, night is optimal.) That's what Selene thought. Knight Commander Walter publicly remained neutral—neither pro-Queen nor anti-Queen. Precisely because of that neutrality, approaching him was the priority. If she could secure him, Ashley might follow. The carriage arrived at the Valmond ducal residence. Selene's private chambers. Third floor, east wing. From the window, she could see the moonlit jade orchids in the garden. That rare flower carried the power of star-veins. It was the white, radiant flower that symbolized the Valmond house. Beside it, Selene sat at her desk. She gripped a quill pen. Her hand didn't tremble at all. "Walter Schleich. Star-vein aptitude: A-rank. Azure Sky Knight Commander. Age twenty-eight. From a fallen baronial house. Achieved his position through ability alone." Selene wrote it down. From her previous life's memories, she extracted all information about him. "Poor emotional expression. However, he shows obsession with those of high star-vein aptitude. In episode three, he teaches the protagonist combat training, and under the guise of close instruction, begins touching her body." Selene reread that line. (Poor emotional expression—meaning he won't move based on calculation. There's some deeper purpose.) Selene began writing on a different sheet. This time, not Walter's profile, but an operational plan. "1. Contact the Azure Sky Knight Commander. Request training under the pretext of my star-vein aptitude." "2. Build trust through training. Simultaneously, discern his true objective." "3. Approach Star-Weaving Academy Headmaster Ashley. Use magical research cooperation as a pretext." "4. Obtain protection oaths from both. Prevent isolation from high society." "5. Turn the Queen's conspiracy against her." Selene reread the plan. Then she added one final line. "5. Turn the Queen's conspiracy against her." Night deepened. Moonlight illuminated Selene's chamber. She rose from her desk and walked to the window. The moonlit jade orchids in the garden glowed white under the lunar rays. Gazing at those flowers, Selene whispered. "I won't follow the game's scenario. I'm not a villainess—I'm a lady who survives." Her amber eyes gleamed coldly. But deep within them lay something else—fear of abandonment, an unbearable dread of solitude—lurking in the depths. Selene didn't acknowledge it. Or perhaps she refused to. Tomorrow, her new life would begin. Contact with Walter. Approach to Ashley. Securing protection oaths. Breaking through Queen Irene's encirclement. Everything built on calculation. Logic alone, not emotion. From beyond the imperial capital, a carriage approached. Inside sat Kyle Melvis, Earl's son and Selene's childhood friend. Having heard rumors of the engagement's dissolution, he'd rushed back from his northern territories. His eyes were amber too. The same color as Selene's. He too was heading toward Philaster, thinking of Selene. Selene didn't yet know of his approach. She only gazed at the moonlit jade orchids, confirming her resolve. And so the night deepened, moving toward dawn.