House of Garland

didn’t take long for Aeris’ triumph to be interrupted by a knock on her door. The grand halls of the Garland estate echoed with the sounds of distant servants and the low hum of conversation. Aeris tensed. She knew what came next—the part of the game she hated most: her family.

She steeled herself, already hearing the heavy footsteps approaching.

The door creaked open to reveal her father, Lord Thaddeus Garland. He towered over her, his figure as imposing as ever, dressed in an extravagant military uniform adorned with medals. His cold eyes bore into hers, devoid of warmth or affection. Thaddeus had never been a kind man, and Aeris had learned that the hard way.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice sharp and judgmental. “Finally done hiding away in your chambers, Aeris?”

Aeris clenched her fists. Thaddeus had always viewed her as a tool for political gain, nothing more.

A daughter to marry off, or worse, to sacrifice if the situation demanded it.

“I wasn’t hiding,” Aeris replied, her tone now filled with an icy calm. She would not cower before him anymore.

Thaddeus sneered, clearly unimpressed.

“Hmph. Do not think you can avoid your responsibilities. Your marriage to the Crown Prince must still proceed as planned, no matter what schemes you’ve concocted.”

Aeris said nothing, but her mind whirred. The marriage to the Crown Prince was one of the pivotal moments in the game—a union meant to cement the Garlands’ power. But in the original timeline, it had only led to her downfall.

Her father left without another word, leaving Aeris with a lingering sense of disgust. As the door closed, she sighed, only for it to open again, revealing the next member of the family.

Her brother, Lucien Garland, strode in with a smirk. Lucien was the family’s pride, the golden son.

But behind his charming facade lay a cunning mind that schemed at every opportunity.

He’d betrayed her once before, and she had no doubt he would do it again if it suited him.

“Sister,” Lucien said smoothly, “I hope you’ve come to your senses. After all, our family’s future rests on your actions.”

Aeris gave him a cold smile, masking her loathing. “Of course, Lucien. I’m more aware of that than ever.”

He raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, leaving her alone once again.

Finally, the last member of the Garland family entered—the only person Aeris truly cared for: her little sister, Lilia Garland.

Lilia was the opposite of everyone else in the family. Sweet, innocent, and naive.

Her bright eyes sparkled as she rushed toward Aeris, wrapping her arms around her in a hug.

“Sister! You’re awake!” Lilia’s voice was filled with joy. “I was so worried.”

Aeris softened, resting a hand on Lilia’s head. Lilia was the one bright spot in this dark world. If there was anything worth protecting in this life, it was her.

“I’m fine, Lilia,” Aeris said gently. “Don’t worry.”

As her sister pulled away, Aeris’ mind shifted back to her plan. The Garlands were a family of schemers, each with their own agendas.

She would play the part they expected of her, but this time, she would control the game.

The carriage creaked as it rolled down the highroad, flanked by tall, imposing trees on either side. The sky was overcast, casting a muted, grayish light over the path. Aeris sat inside the lavish carriage, her eyes half-closed as she pretended to be engrossed in the book on her lap. In truth, her thoughts were elsewhere—on the Academy, on the schemes brewing around her, and on the System that had changed her life.

Esther, her personal maid, sat across from her, nervously wringing her hands. Esther had served the Garlands for as long as Aeris could remember, a timid thing who rarely spoke unless spoken to. Two Garland soldiers rode alongside the carriage, their stern faces betraying no emotion as they scanned the horizon for danger.

Aeris let out a quiet breath. She knew what was coming. This stretch of road was infamous for attacks by bandits and creatures alike, and in the game’s original timeline, it was a pivotal event. But this time, she wasn’t going to let it catch her off-guard.

The journey to Priscilla Academy, the most prestigious school for the elite of the kingdom, was supposed to be the start of Aeris’ downfall in the game. She would be humiliated, mocked, and eventually driven to her execution. But not this time.

A sound in the distance caught her attention. The horses neighed nervously, and the soldiers tensed. Aeris calmly closed her book, her senses sharp. She glanced at Esther, who had paled considerably, sensing something was wrong.

“We’re being watched,” Aeris murmured, her voice cold and detached.

moment later, the attack came.

From the dense underbrush on both sides of the road, a volley of arrows rained down upon them. The first soldier barely had time to react before an arrow pierced his throat, sending him toppling off his horse in a spray of blood. The second soldier fared no better; he raised his shield but was quickly overwhelmed by a swarm of goblins—vile, green-skinned creatures armed with crude spears, short swords, and bows. They tore him apart in seconds, his screams cut short by a spear through the gut.

Esther shrieked in terror, clutching onto Aeris’ arm. “M-My lady! What do we do?!” she cried, her voice shaking with panic. She pressed herself against Aeris, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Aeris felt nothing but disgust.

The goblins, about twenty in total, circled the carriage, their beady eyes gleaming with malice as they prepared to unleash another volley of arrows. Esther’s grip tightened, her fingers digging into Aeris’ sleeve as she cowered beside her.

For a split second, Aeris considered her options. She could fight, of course—she had the power now. But then a different thought crossed her mind. An opportunity.

She turned her cold gaze to Esther, her maid’s terrified face inches from her own. Without a word, Aeris shoved Esther in front of her, using the girl’s body as a human shield just as the next wave of arrows came flying toward them.

Esther’s scream pierced the air as the arrows tore into her flesh. Blood splattered across Aeris’ gown as Esther’s body convulsed, the life draining from her eyes. She slumped forward, her trembling hands still clutching at Aeris’ dress, blood staining the hem of her pristine white leggings.

“P-Please…” Esther whimpered, barely conscious, her fingers weakly grabbing at Aeris’ legs. Her bloodied face pressed against Aeris’ shoes, leaving streaks of red on the polished leather.

Aeris felt nothing.

With a detached, almost clinical precision, she lifted her leg and brought her heel down on Esther’s throat, silencing her pathetic gasps with a sickening crunch. The maid’s body twitched once before going still.

Aeris stared down at the lifeless form beneath her heel. Esther had served her for years, but in the end, she was nothing more than a tool. And now that tool had served its purpose.