Heroine Netori

After spending half my life in the hospital with an incurable disease, reading web novels became my only joy. In those stories, the characters loved and were loved in place of me, enjoying the ordinary yet extraordinary everyday life I had dreamed of. I comforted myself by inserting myself into their lives, loving and being loved in their stead. But the end was always a painful emptiness. So, I prayed.

"God... please make me the protagonist in a novel in my next life."

With those words, I died.

And then... I truly entered into the world of a novel.

"Why am I Luina?! Why! Is this some kind of joke?!"

I became not the protagonist, but a villainess with an incurable disease.

*****

Luina Ober. The youngest daughter of a prestigious family, she was a girl with an unreal beauty. She monopolized the love of the male leads and was envied by many readers. She was a fake protagonist.

The author, perhaps disliking her, gave Luina an incurable disease and a prickly personality, distancing her from the male leads. Then came the real protagonist, Aria Melts. Naturally, the male leads shifted their affection from Luina to Aria.

Consumed by jealousy, Luina harassed Aria, but each time, the male leads would appear to protect Aria and hurt Luina in return. Furious, Luina tried to have Aria expelled from the academy, but her plan backfired, and she was the one who got expelled. Losing the will to live, Luina moved to a remote area and died painfully from her disease.

I felt so sad seeing Luina. It was painful to see her lose everything and die just like me, added to the story for such suffering. Initially, readers cursed the author, but later they cursed Luina, and it felt like they were cursing me.

But now I had become that Luina. I learned something.

God does exist, and he enjoys watching humans suffer.

*****

Please stop...

"Luina... I will always protect you. I won't let you cry anymore. You just need to trust me."

Don't lie. You're going to leave. You'll ignore my trust.

"Oh my... I heard that the youngest daughter of the Ober family was pretty, but I didn't know she was this beautiful. Hmm! May I have the honor of dancing with you?"

Don't lie. You're going to abandon me. You won't even look at me.

"Don’t get too close to the prince. It will only make you suffer. But... I can see why the prince likes you..."

Don’t lie. You don’t understand. You’re going to torment me.

"Prince, I was the one who promised to escort her today. You should have come earlier. It’s ungentlemanly to keep a lady waiting."

"Don't... don't do this to me... making me hope like this..." Why are you being so nice? Why are you making me so happy? How much do you want to hurt me? How much do you want to cause me pain...

"Luina... I like you. Ah, I wasn’t expecting an answer! I just... wanted to let you know my feelings. Well then, I’ll be off!"

"Luina! That guy confessed, didn’t he? It made me realize that I like you too. You need to choose wisely. Though, in the end, it’ll be me you choose."

"Luina Ober... I’ve heard about it. You’ll make a wise decision. You're that kind of woman. But you haven’t excluded me from your choices, have you?"

Liars... Why do you make it so hard for me? Eventually, you'll disappear when she appears. That’s... our fate...

*****

I knew it, but I pretended not to know. The first happiness I've experienced in two lifetimes was too enjoyable. Being loved was such a delightful thing. Every day was exciting, my heart raced, and smiles came naturally.

While internally denying them, I couldn't refuse the sweetness they offered. Deceived by that sweetness, I indulged in vain delusions.

"Maybe I’ve entered the original setup of the novel? No incurable disease and a lifetime of happiness for Luina."

"Yes, that must be it. It’s already different from the original. I received confessions even before entering the academy!"

But it was merely a sweet dream.

"...Elise Lintz has died. I must go now. Sorry, Luina, you go to sleep first tonight, okay?"

"Honey, I feel so sorry for that child... She was supposed to have only happy days left... why... even God is indifferent."

Elise Lintz had died. Hearing that news, my head started to hurt, and my stomach churned. I dropped the spoon I was holding and collapsed under the table.

The day Elise Lintz died, it meant two things. One was the day the 'witch' awakened.

And the other was...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

The day Luina Ober contracted an incurable disease. Once again, I became terminally ill.

*****

"Wow... how can she be so beautiful? It’s not the dresses that are wings, but Cecilia herself; she looks good in anything."

Well, I am my father's daughter. It’s only natural.

"Ria... you... this is dangerous. Madam, what if men who fell in love at first sight rush at her?"

Don't worry, father. The only man who can rush at me is you.

After dressing up and finishing the preparations, everyone praised me. But I was more pleased that it shocked my father. Hehe, he won’t think of me as just a little girl anymore.

I could feel my father’s heart racing as he escorted me. Ah... he’s aware of me, isn’t he? How could I be so happy... It would be so romantic to elope with father in love. But that's just a dream.

So, what comes next is important. I have to meet many people.

To find a suitable match for my father. After all, it’s for my debut in society.

*****

To put it simply, the debutante ball was a success. Thanks to the support from the Godmother, those who were hostile to me did not attend, and many were captivated by my beauty, regardless of their gender.

There were a few who took an excessive liking to me, but I made sure they wouldn't think of me again. It was a bit annoying, but I didn’t show it as usual.

However, unfortunately, I couldn't find a suitable match for my father. If someone had a decent appearance, their status was low, or if their status was high, their appearance was just average.

There was no one quite like Luina Ober. Father certainly admired Miss Ober's beauty that day. I almost got jealous, but I managed to control myself.

It's decided then; it has to be Miss Ober. With her looks, lineage, abilities, and talents, she will surely satisfy my father.

To achieve this, I need to enter the academy. Although I wasn't particularly eager, it's a necessary step for the happiness of both my father and myself. Fortunately, it means I can meet my father at the academy.

Hehe, I’m quite looking forward to it.

===

Finally, I've enrolled! The royal academy of my dreams! And now I'm a student here! Surely, splendid and happy days will repeat, right?

"Kyaa!" Oh no! I got so excited that I caused a scene. I bumped into a senior. What if I get scolded?

"Who is it!" Oh no, this is big trouble! He seems really angry! I shouldn't have started my first day like this... Maybe I should've just stayed quietly in the corner as my father said…

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!"@@novelbin@@

Quickly bowing and apologizing repeatedly, fortunately, the senior forgave me.

"What, a freshman?"

"Yes, yes! I'm Aria Melts, I enrolled today!"

"Ah... nothing I can say about that. Just be more careful."

"Thank you!"

It was such a relief. He was good-looking and kind-hearted. My heart is racing. Is this what love feels like? Maybe, hehe!

Suppressing my excitement, I entered the dormitory, and there was a really cute and pretty girl there. To think she's my roommate! I must be really lucky.

"Hehe, hello? I'm Cecilia Asil. Nice to meet you."

"Hello! I'm Aria Melts! Nice to meet you too!"

Cecilia seemed to have a lovely personality as well. Such a bright smile! I thought I should learn from her.

"But Melts, I know it's a bit forward since we just met, but could you take off your clothes?"

"What, what?! No?"

Uh...? My roommate, despite how she looks, is a pervert? I never expected her to ask me to strip all of a sudden...

"Hmm... your breasts are really big. I'm jealous. Now that you're undressed, could you also spread your legs?"

"What have you been saying all this time!"

This is serious! She's not just a pervert, she's a huge pervert! What should I do? Should I tell the dorm supervisor…

"Everything looks clean. You even have your hymen. Haven’t you tried masturbating?"

"Of course not! Uh, what? Why am I...?"

Uh... why am I naked? Why am I spreading my legs in front of someone I just met...?

"Your family is a bit lacking, but you'll do fine as a concubine. Put your clothes back on and forget what happened just now."

"Ah...uh..."

Me? What? Huh?

"Hehe, hello? I'm Cecilia Asil. Nice to meet you."

…Ah, right, I should greet my roommate.

"Hello! I'm Aria Melts! Nice to meet you too!"