The worst player now is the villain.

Sunlight filtered through the window. I hadn’t realized it was already so late; I had stayed up all night playing an otome game called _**Artichi: It’s Love.**_

I spent the entire night trying to unlock a route, and it was the only one I had managed to complete so far. When I checked the time, it was already three in the morning.

The light of the screen illuminated my face. I was so exhausted that the moment I closed my eyes, I fell asleep.

However, when I opened them, I was no longer in my room. I found myself in a completely different place.

I was lying down, staring at the ceiling: a golden chandelier with several candles hung above me, crafted in a distinctly Western style.

While I tried to grasp what was happening, I heard someone knocking on the door.

“Miss Sadine, are you awake?” a voice asked from the other side.

I fell off the bed when I heard that name. Sadine was one of the villains from the only route I had managed to complete.

“Miss?” the voice insisted.

The door opened, and a maid walked in.

“Miss, are you all right?”

“I think so…” I replied, still trying to understand what was going on.

“Ah, miss, you’re a complete mess.”

The maid helped me sit up, and at that moment I noticed even my body felt smaller.

“We were all terrified when you fell off the horse,” she said.

“Fell off the horse?” I repeated, confused. Now that I thought about it, I did recall something like that being mentioned in the game.

At that moment, I had no doubts left: I had reincarnated as one of the villains from my otome game. I was now Sadine Schutter.

“Yes, did you forget? You nearly gave Lord Hurd a heart attack with your antics.”

In the game, Hurd was Sadine’s father. It was said he never managed to make his daughter obey him.

“I see…” I murmured. The shock of having reincarnated wouldn’t fade so easily.

“Miss, you should listen to your father more often. He only wants what’s best for you,” the maid said while brushing my long white hair. “Besides, if anything were to happen to you, he would be utterly devastated.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then, will you behave better?”

“I suppose so.”

When I looked at myself in the mirror, I confirmed that I was indeed Sadine Schutter, although younger than she appeared in the game. I was around eight years old.

My appearance was unmistakable: long, silky white hair; dark blue eyes; and very pale skin.

Once the maid finished brushing my hair, I stood up immediately and walked toward the door.

“Miss, where are you going?” she asked, alarmed.

“To the garden.”

I left without listening to her reply. There was something very important I needed to do.

In the game, it was said that the Schutter family was cursed. The heroine broke the curse by destroying the ice tree, but when she did, the Schutters lost their gift.

“Incredible,” I whispered as I stood before that tree.

Its trunk glowed with a bright blue hue, and its leaves were white like snow. From it came the ice power that flowed through the family’s bloodline.

“If it’s destroyed, we’ll all die…”

In the game, the destruction of the tree triggered a chain reaction that led the villagers to wipe out all the nobles.

“I won’t allow it,” I said, bending down to pick up a white rose from the ground. “I must survive. No matter what… I must avoid the five events.”

I returned to my room, and placed the white rose I had picked beside my window.

“What should I do with it?” a voice said from outside my room.

I approached the door to hear better. “Am I a bad father? I’ve done everything I could, but she keeps doing whatever she wants.”

“Sir, that’s not true. You are not a bad father.” The voice responding to him belonged to the maid.

“So you’re saying the problem is my daughter? She’s the one at fault?”

“I cannot give you an answer to that.”

I opened the door slightly. I had never heard a conversation like this in the game, nor did I know Sadine’s father suffered that way.

“I don’t need answers, I need solutions,” my father said, his tone exhausted.

“Forcing her will only make things worse,” the maid replied. “She’s searching for something. If you listen to her, you may understand.”

There was a long silence. I could picture him rubbing his face. I didn’t know why the maid said that, just as I knew nothing about what was truly happening in this game.

“I’m losing my daughter, aren’t I?”

The maid took a deep breath.

“You will only lose her if you decide to stop trying to reach her.”

I heard footsteps moving away. I closed the door before they discovered me and looked at the white rose by the window. I knew I shouldn’t be worrying about that; right now, my concern was avoiding the events.

I sat on the bed and thought about what I had heard, while also planning how to escape my fate—mine and the entire Schutter family’s. Then a reckless idea came to mind.

“I just have to make the heroine choose another route.” I smiled. The plan was simple, but effective. “Now the problem is that I know nothing about the other routes.”

I took a deep breath. The initial excitement faded quickly, replaced by an uncomfortable certainty: I couldn’t move forward blindly.

I stood up and walked to the desk, pulled out a notebook—Sadine’s diary, and now that I had her body, I supposed it belonged to me. In it, I wrote down the scenes I knew.

“There must be clues… someone, something, a key person,” I murmured.

Then I remembered. There was a route considered the easiest to achieve. I had never played it because the love interest never appealed to me, so I knew nothing about him, but I knew where the answer would be.

In the family library, where the kingdom’s social archive was kept—invitations, records, old letters. And the history of this world. There, I could find information to help me create an alternative route.

I stood up. I knew that leaving my room would likely worry my father, and he might not allow me into the library, but waiting any longer was worse.

And at that moment, I remembered one of Sadine’s lines: “A Schutter never survived by staying still.”

“If the heroine doesn’t see me, she won’t be able to choose me as the antagonist,” I said, determined. “And if she chooses someone else, the tragedy will shift.”

I opened the door carefully. The hallway was still empty—this was the moment to act.

I left, believing nothing could go wrong, and began running. But when I turned the corner, there was my father, as if he had been waiting for me.

“Sadine.” His voice was cold and harsh. “May I know where you’re going?”

“I was heading to the library.”

“And what disaster are you planning to cause in the library?” He stepped closer to me; he was taller than I was.

“I just want to study a little. Am I not allowed to?”

“Study? Do you think I’m an idiot? And is that any way to speak to your father? Where did your manners go?”

“My manners are right where they’ve always been,” I answered without thinking, and I didn’t even know why I did it. “I’m not your prisoner.”

I saw his jaw tighten as he took another step, blocking my path.

“In this house, you do as I command.”

“I’m only going to the library. Is it really that terrible?”

“If it weren’t you, it wouldn’t be…”

“What a great show,” a voice interrupted us. “And all this just to go to a library? I love being part of this family—so entertaining.”

I recognized him immediately when I saw him. It was Ehal Schutter, Sadine’s cousin and one of the romantic interests in Artichi. In the game, for some unexplained reason, he was always by his cousin’s side.

While he was a flirt who tried to approach the heroine just to tease her, his cousin—being one of the villains of that route—always tried to push him away. His route was also notoriously difficult, since a single wrong choice could make him disappear from the game entirely.

Though younger now, he seemed to have just entered adolescence—perhaps twelve or thirteen years old.

“So, uncle, why don’t you let Sadine go to the library?”

“That’s none of your concern, Ehal. Your only priority should be finding a wife,” my father said, and that reminded me of the other villain in that route.

Then I thought—what if he never gets a fiancée? That could change the game’s route and alter the ending that awaited me.

“Oh, I know—what if cousin Ehal accompanies me to the library?” I said, trying to convince my father. “That way you can confirm I’ll behave properly.”

“And why should I do that?” Ehal exclaimed. He would be a problem too; if his personality matched the game, he would only accept if it were a direct order.

“Father,” I said, even changing my tone of voice, “not only would you be able to monitor my behavior, but you could also teach cousin Ehal responsibility. Two birds with one stone.”

“I refuse,” my father replied. “If an irresponsible boy pairs with a disobedient girl, neither will learn anything.”

He was right, but I couldn’t give up—convincing him was essential. “True, there’s no way either of us would learn. But taking care of me is a great responsibility, so regardless of how irresponsible Ehal is, he’ll still have to look after my well-being.”

“No matter how you phrase it, you’ll never convince me.”

“I know. But I can’t give up. A noble must not surrender even when they know they’ll fail. We must persist and disobey if it means bringing peace to our people.”

I had finally managed to convince my father and reached the library. But I had another problem—Ehal wouldn’t let me move.

He searched for a large cardboard box—no idea where he got it from—and then put me inside it. I would’ve liked to stop him, but this body was too weak.

While I was trapped in the box, Ehal sat nearby, reading a book and drinking coffee, not paying attention to me. It was the perfect moment to escape.

Very quietly and carefully, I began slipping out.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Ehal said, setting aside the book he had been reading and getting up.

“To read a book. That’s why I came here.”

“Too bad. As long as you’re under my watch, you’ll stay in my box.”

He reached to pick me up, but this time I wouldn’t allow it. When his hand got close, I bit it in revenge.

“You little bitch!” he shouted, grabbing his hand. “I’m going to kill you.”

“Too bad you can’t. My family is the main branch, and yours is the secondary one. If you hurt me, they’ll send you to the gallows.”

“Maybe I can’t kill you, but I can put you back in the box,” he said, grabbing the box and dropping it over me again.

While trapped in the darkness of the box, I wondered why I ever chose his route in the game. Originally, it was because he was very handsome, but now that I’m seeing his personality up close, I feel like I wasted my time.

“Ehal, let me out already!”

“Let me think… no.” When he finished speaking, I heard him laugh.

“At least give me a book.”

“But you already have one. It’s on top of the box.”

“Let me out!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Don’t you have manners? We’re in a library. Be quiet.”

“Never!”

“Be quiet.”

“Come shut me up!”

The moment I said that, it seemed I angered him enough for him to lift the box, and of course, I took advantage of the motion—I slipped under his legs and bolted toward the central aisle.

He needed a second to react, but when he saw me running, he growled and chased after me. I couldn’t help laughing at how easy it had been to escape that box.

We zigzagged between shelves; we were alone, so every step echoed like a scandal. All I could hear was his quickened breathing behind me.

In a desperate attempt to get away, I turned toward the encyclopedia section, but I slipped on a poorly placed rug and fell on my back, sending up a cloud of dust.

He appeared a second later, panting, trying not to laugh or yell at me.

“You really are a nuisance. Now, back to the box,” he said with a smile, still catching his breath.

“I don’t want to.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want to read. Is that too much to ask?”

“Fine, read for a while. I need a break—you're surprisingly fast.”

As soon as he said that, I jumped to my feet, grabbed one of the encyclopedias, and started reading. I spent several hours there; even Ehal seemed surprised at how focused I was while reading.

Eventually, I fell asleep—I didn’t even notice when it happened. But when I opened my eyes, I was back in my room.

That same day, my father summoned me. I wondered why, and even had a bad feeling. I hoped it wasn’t anything serious.

I headed to his room, which was even more decorated than mine, though it was far too dark, and the curtains were closed.

“Daughter, I made a decision I never thought I would make.”

I remained silent. What had he decided? Was he going to abandon me? Send me abroad? Although, thinking about it, if he did, I wouldn’t meet the protagonist and I’d be saved.

“You see, starting today, you’ll be cared for by your cousin Ehal. That way I eliminate your rebellion and teach him responsibility—two birds with one stone.”

“Wouldn’t you rather abandon me?”

“No, and why would you say that?”

“What about sending me abroad?”

“Also no.”

“Disinherit me?”

“Are you serious? Was that idea yours, or did you already forget what you said yesterday? From now on, you and Ehal will look after each other, until the day he marries his fiancée.”

“Wait, have I already found a fiancée?”

“No, we still haven't found anyone he likes. That boy is something else… but that's not important. “You may go now.”

I left my father’s room. In the end, I couldn’t change the story, and if things continue like this, the game will start without any differences. I must stop it, somehow.

I returned to the library, once again with Ehal, who once more placed me inside the box. At least this time he let me keep the book I had been reading.

The book dealt with the history of this world. I am not sure whether the game ever explained it properly; I rarely paid attention to the lore.

I flipped through the pages quickly, searching for anything that might help me escape my situation, but all I found were dates, dead kings, and dull drawings of castles.

Ehal was sprawled on a sofa. He asked where I had gotten the book from, one arm dangling over the edge and an open volume resting on his chest. He was not truly reading; he merely turned a page occasionally to appear occupied.

Suddenly, he murmured,

“What are you reading now?”

“History,” I replied curtly.

“Ah.”

A long silence followed. Only the rustle of paper could be heard until he spoke again:

“Did you find anything interesting?”

“No, honestly, it’s all quite boring,” I said, being more candid than usual.

“Fine.” After a pause to turn another page, he continued, “Why are you reading such heavy material now?”

“Because I have to…” I could not tell him the truth; I doubted he would believe me.

“Aha,” he interrupted. “How dull. You should read something more interesting.”

“Such as?”

“Porn…” I shouted to cut him off.

“What are you saying?! I’m only eight…!” I felt my face turn as red as a tomato.

He burst into laughter; I had never heard anyone laugh so loudly.

“I was referring to the Porniflorum Liber,” he explained between fits of laughter, “an ancient treatise on flowers and their medicinal properties. What did you think, you little pervert?”

I felt utterly foolish. My knowledge from the other world had betrayed me. I needed to be more careful; I could not keep revealing what truly occupied my secret thoughts.

He continued laughing, and with each moment I felt more humiliated. But one day, I swear I will get my revenge.

“It’s not funny!” I protested, crossing my arms as I tried to regain my composure. “You just… caught me off guard.”

He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye.

“Relax, I’m not judging you. But if you’re so interested in the Porniflorum Liber, I can lend it to you… so you can study the ‘flowers’ in detail.”

“Shut up already. Just pass me another book, will you?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to read the Porniflorum Liber?”

“No, of course I don’t want to read it.”

He stood up to fetch another book, leaving me alone for a moment before tossing one directly at my head.

“There you go. Don’t ask for more.”

I caught it and opened it. This one was about magic. I knew that magic existed in this world, but it was not like fairy tales. Using magic was rare, few could do it, and it came at a great cost.

“Ehal, would you teach me magic?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

“Yes, that would be very interesting…”

“I figured you would refuse… Wait, what?”

I climbed out of the box to look at him more clearly.

“Yes, I will teach you magic. You need to learn it anyway, so I’m doing you a favor.”

In that moment, I remembered why I had chosen his route in Artichi—those glimpses of clarity and selfless affection. Though I could not dwell on such thoughts now; his older sister was present, and I had to behave accordingly.

Thus, the following day I began learning the fundamentals of magic, with Ehal as my instructor.

“Magic is a pact with nature itself, which is divided into sixteen branches. Our family controls ice.” Ehal’s voice was unusually serious, a rarity for him. “The tree in our courtyard is the _**Frozen Tree.**_ The roses that grow beside it represent individuals who possess magical abilities.”

“I already know that,” I replied. This conversation had repeated itself many times in Artichi.

“And do you also know about the effects of magic?”

“Yes, I know. If you have magic, magic will impose an effect upon you. If you control fire, you feel heat; if you control ice, you feel cold…”

“No, it is not that simple,” Ehal interrupted. “The effects of magic are capable of altering your personality and even leading you to desire death. The cold you will feel when wielding the power of ice is so profound that your very bones will freeze. Afterward, your expression will remain fixed forever, and it will be exceedingly difficult to change.”

Ehal pointed to the collar around his neck. It was red and glowed faintly, an element that stood in stark contrast to his entirely white attire.

“This collar is the Collar of Ahron, the god of the rainbow, of rebirth, and of ashes. Surely you know of him.”

“No, I have no idea who that is…” I answered without much thought, barely paying attention.

“Seriously?”

A full minute of silence passed before Ehal spoke again.

“Ahron was the god who took pity on our family and blessed us with a feather. Each year, a feather falls from the sky and is used to counteract the curse of ice.”

“And what happens if we do not use the feather?”

Ehal touched the collar with two fingers; it shone briefly.

“Without the feather… the cold prevails. It reaches a point where the heart beats so slowly that it seems to stop entirely.”

“That is horrible…” I said, covering my face. I did not recall the game ever mentioning this.

“Yes, it is. But never mind that. Let us begin learning magic.” Ehal sat on the ground. “Place your palm facing upward.”

I did so, keeping my arm straight and my palm open. I felt nothing—perhaps only a trace of fatigue.

“Concentrate on the cold in the environment,” he continued. “Do not seek it within yourself. The human body is warm by nature. That is why we must draw the ice from the surroundings.”

“And how do I do that?” I asked.

“Simply visualize something. It does not matter what you do or what you think; each person masters it differently.”

I closed my eyes and attempted to visualize. I imagined a thin, silver, frozen thread.

As I pictured it, I began to feel it move. A tingling sensation appeared in the center of my palm, accompanied by a cold that spread through my body, making me shiver.

“Good. I see you have it,” Ehal murmured—likely with a smile. “Now exhale slowly and allow it to enter.”

I opened my eyes and released my breath. Before my palm appeared a small cloud of frost, fine as icy smoke. It hovered for a second before dissipating into tiny crystals that drifted to the ground.

“Not bad,” he commented, “but that was nothing. Even a baby can do as much. Now direct it. Choose a fixed point. Freeze the air at that exact spot.”

I repeated the process. The cold thread flowed down my arm once more. This time I pushed it forward. A small sphere of ice formed, the size of a walnut, and floated for several seconds.

“Not bad at all. Rest for a minute,” Ehal said. “The cold accumulates. If you force it, it remains inside you and does not leave easily.”

I rubbed my hand against my dress; the warmth of the fabric helped restore some sensation.

“What is next?” I asked.

“Now freeze something solid. Take this stone.” He tossed me a smooth pebble he had taken from his pocket; it nearly struck me in the head. “Cover it completely with ice, but without cracking it. If you break it, you will have to start over.”

After saying that, he left, giving only a slight wave of his hand in farewell.

I took the stone, which felt warm to the touch. I placed it in my palm and repeated the same process, though the ice that formed immediately melted.

“What is happening?” I muttered, examining it more closely. It was a reddish rock that remained persistently warm—undoubtedly magical.

I spent the entire afternoon attempting to freeze the rock. As the sun began to set, I finally succeeded.

Ehal returned and clapped slowly.

“Not bad at all. You froze a phoenix stone in a single afternoon. It took me an entire day.” He approached, took the rock, and shattered the ice with a touch. “It is still fragile, but you did very well. Keep going.”