Chapter One

I stand up and walk to the balcony, observing the world I'm currently in. It's like I'm on the 4th floor or so of this palace. I can see a pile of trees from the distance that I know for sure is much bigger than normal, surrounded by different flowers below me and few knights roaming around. 

I will surely leave a one-star rate for this scum system! 

"Ehem! Isn't this world fascinating enough for you?" The system greets me

"Fck off." It immediately shut its mouth up. 

"Is it necessary to find a body that has the same name as mine?" 

"No comment." 

Although it's not bad that this body has the same name like mine, I can't help but silently gritted my teeth because of its answer.

"Hey, don't I have any beginner's package bonus? This is my first time and you already brought me to the world of Gods. I know for sure that this is not just a Class B or C world, right?" I'm glad I can talk to it in my head, or else the maid beside me will surely think I'm mad.

"T-that... well, at least you came to a perfect timing before the plot even began!" I rolled my eyes at him and can't help but release a sneer. "Lady Selene?"

I turn to look at the side, keeping my eyes warm and not letting them see that something's wrong with me, then give her a polite smile. "Yes?" She blushed and I swear, I saw her eyes sparkling. 

"His grace, the Duke tells you to start preparing for the ball," Amelia says. She's one of Selene's most trusted maidservants. 

"I understand. Then, please let the attendants and seamstress enter." She bows and silently answers me before walking away quickly. 

Today is the celebration of this body's Selene's birthday. Also, the same day when the prophet talks about the Monarch's fated woman.

"You scared her, Host." Nonsense.

I walk inside again and gesture to the ladies on my side to do what they're supposed to do.

I tried to recollect Selene's character and attitude. She's a very influential woman. She advocates a lot of charity works in the kingdom. A perfect daughter for her parents. A sweetheart for all the young men and women. But in my opinion, she looks innocent and sometimes acted naively from her experience. She's usually quiet, maybe that's why she's easy to get bullied by the other woman of the Ruler before. 

"Can I act differently from her character?" I need to make sure if I can at least act like my normal self for a better job.

"Except for those who already know the body's character, you can act freely in front of anyone." Okay, that's cool, I thought.

"For the first time, you said something great."

It's just a ball but I swear I can imagine it pouting its non-existent lips. 

"Can you tell me what my tasks are in this world?"

"Sure!"

Red Strings of Fate

World of Gods and Immortals

Grade Level: S+

Main Tasks:

• Protect the Aphelion's family (35,000)

• Prevent being one of the Ruler's Women (50,000) 

• Make the Monarch's blackened status zero (100,000)

Core Mission: Prevent the war and the world from collapsing (***,000)

Warning: No one should notice that you're not the real owner of the body. 

Note: Side tasks including the hidden ones can only be trigger if you wander on an important plot, meet a significant character, or encounter an unexpected incident. 

The maidservant leads me to enter a large hall for a bath. I feel like it's such a disrespectful claim if I just call it a bathroom. 

Even if the world consists of Gods, the tasks were pretty much decent for a beginner like me, or that's what I thought. I was kinda confused that it didn't include revenge on the Ruler of God and his wives. If it were me I will make them suffer from two times fold of pain. Maybe that task will appear once I met them. It's kinda troublesome and understandable at the same time that I need to meet necessary people and events first before I can learn what my tasks are. 

The points in each of them are pretty high and that comforts me a little. Looks like the one million points is not impossible to reach at all. 

"What's with that blackened status?"

The maidservants took my dress off and even if I find it kinda awkward, I know that Selene used to like them serving her like this.

"Due to the high blackened status of the Monarch in the past life, it also accelerated the speed of the world's collapse, that's why we need to turn it into zero!"

I think that's much harder than the main task. I keep on talking to the system as I acted normal in front of the people around me. I lean against the corner of this luxurious bathtub. 

"What's his current status?" And then it gave me a whole update 

"Target lead's blackened status: 95%

Target lead's affection status: 0%

Task's completion status: 0%

World's chance of collapsing: 60%"

That almost freaks me out. What kind of statuses are those? Can I even change them back to zero? I secretly rolled my eyes

Guess the Monarch's reason for declaring the war from the past was not because of Selene's death. Maybe he only used that reason to start a war. Maybe he knew their plots from the very beginning but tolerate it 'till the end to use her death or maybe -

I can't help but to shivers even If I'm in a hot tub. I knew these tasks are not as simple as it sounds. I feel so cheated right now, I want to go back.

I hold the black ball in my consciousness and squeeze it hard.

"W-what are you doing? How can you hold me?! Let me go!" that so-called system says. "No. After giving me that piece of shit, you've lost your right to reason me" I put all my frustrations into squeezing him, hoping it can lessen the nervousness I'm feeling right now. 

"Why is this world's level unknown?" It stays silent like a damn stuffed toy before it said, "The question is beyond the system's knowledge. I beg for your understanding." I already guess it to say something like that

I shut it off of my head and focus on taking a bath. Some of them even personally assisted me. After that, they started dressing me up. The only thing I need to do is to sit upright like a good doll I am. Be pretty and stay calm which I'm good at.

Hours later and we're done. I'm glad this body is used to this kind of treatment that it still feels comfortable after all that hours of not moving unnecessarily.

"Lady, you're so gorgeous as ever."

"You're more beautiful than the moon, my lady"

"Hope you enjoy your night, Young lady"

I look in the mirror as their praises shower within me. At least this body looks beautiful, I can even see a resemblance from my real body. Nevertheless, it's such outstanding beauty, the kind that's hard to forget the moment you saw. I've seen a lot of beautiful actresses from my world but this quality of beauty is a lot higher than that. Guess this is one of the perks of transmigrating. I mean, no one dislikes pretty faces, neither I. 

Bright purple and almond-shaped eyes are my most favorite part of this body. It stands out more because of how light and shiny my silver hair is which is styled in a classic bun. I'm wearing a floor-length rose gold gown that perfectly shaped my top figure. It has an off-shoulder style with low décolletage that shows a little peek of my cleavage. A little crown on my head with crystals shades of purple on it. 

"Lady, Her Grace the Duchess is here"

My mother? Not long after, A woman in a light silver gown enters my room. She looks lovely and doesn't look that old at all. She also smiles beautifully at me. 

"You look fascinating, my dear", "The same to you mother, you look even prettier than me" She laughed my comment off as she kisses the back of my palm

"Now, come tell your dear mother, don't you have anyone you like yet?" She giggled and I also smile at her teasing. "What are you talking about? I'm still young"

"What young? I met your father when I was 10 years old, love him the same day, and decisively wanted to marry him at the age of 15. And you're here, still acting like our baby" I pouted and act rejected in her arms. "You don't want me anymore? Then, don't come at me if I ever met a man I want."

"Oh sure my dear, bring him to us" I was stiff after her comment and she laugh even more when she felt it. "I will surely find a man for me!"

"I will wait for that." She took my arms and touches my cheeks. "You don't need to rush things up. We're always here to support you. With your father, your older brothers, we're here for you. You don't need to force yourself, okay?" I teared up and nod to her while I also hold her hand tighter. She comforted me and after a while asks me if I'm ready

"Are you ready to go downstairs?" I only answer her with my confident smile, "Then, let's go. I heard his Majesty's and the other Royal family are already here, let's not make them wait any longer, shall we?"

With the help of the maidservants and some lady-in-waiting, we start walking down the hall. Silently and without anyone looking, I pull out the emotions on my face.

Being an actress is not that easy. You don't only need to convince others with your acting but you also need to convince and immerse yourself with your character.

I recollect the information from the system about Selene's family. They're supportive and lovable, it's also the reason why they decided to choose a substitute for their daughter as they believed that being the Monarch's woman will only make their daughter suffer for a lifetime. 

They died in the past life. The Ruler's side put the blamed on their family and as a way to satisfy the Monarch, they killed their whole clan. But the Monarch was ruthless enough to declare an all-out war even after the Ruler's action.

From this distance, I can hear the classic music inside. I push all that I'm thinking right now to the back of my head. I need to put an all-night show tonight. I have to observe more because the information from the system sounds unreliable and incomplete.

I know that the moment we reach the banquet hall is the real beginning of my mission. I'm now Selene from this world. Daughter of the Duke of the Archaic Kingdom. I'll try my best to prevent the world from collapsing and if I can't, then ouch.