Chapter 4: It’s the Fate of a Villainess to Get Her Hair Grabbed
She said something that made no sense—like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I was left speechless by the Administrator’s words.
“So… all the ridiculous ways I’ve died up until now were…”
【Administrator: Yup. Every time you tried to follow the original heroine’s route, the original protection system activated and caused your regression.】
【Administrator: (•‘ٮ’•)】
“The original protection system?”
【Administrator: If you follow the heroine’s route exactly, it creates narrative gaps that lead to fatal errors in the story.】
【Administrator: So, the protection system prevents anyone from accessing the original heroine’s route! ( ˙▿˙ )/】
【Administrator: You need to carve out a different path and find a unique villainess route.】
Narrative gaps. Original protection system…
Those incomprehensible words left my mind in a whirlwind.
“So you’re telling me that all those absurd deaths happened because I tried to follow the heroine’s storyline?”
Which means… if I, the villainess, want a happy ending, I must do so without infringing upon the original plot.
【Administrator: Ding ding ding! Correct! ⸜(ˊᗜˋ)⸝】
【Administrator: What a sharp mind—just what I’d expect from someone destined for transmigration.】
【Administrator: ( •⌄-)ᓂ―♥】
【Administrator: Now that you know the win conditions, go challenge that happy ending with renewed spirit!】
Despite the Administrator’s excessive praise, I wasn’t happy at all.
In fact, I felt worse.
So all my failures happened because I kept trying to take the original heroine’s path?
There wasn’t even any anger left in me.
I didn’t have the energy to berate the Administrator for hiding such a critical truth until now.
All I felt was crushing defeat, knowing all my efforts so far had been in vain.
In a calm tone, I confessed my true feelings to the Administrator.
“I don’t know what to do anymore.”
【Administrator: Huh???】
“Finding a villainess-specific happy ending. It sounds simple, but it’s beyond what I’m capable of.”
I had already failed countless times.
Even if I hadn’t known the clue about avoiding the heroine’s route.
Repeating such powerless deaths had planted resignation deep inside me.
I was exhausted. Tired. Broken.
No matter how hard I tried, I was just swept away helplessly by the grand tide of fate.
“What’s the point of trying any harder?”
Instead of struggling, I just wanted to rest now.
As I finished speaking, I closed my eyes.
But—
【Administrator: Wait wait wait!!!】
“?”
Bbyorong, bbyorong, bbyorong.
Urgent notification sounds rang in my ears.
When I blocked my vision, the Administrator sent a voice message instead.
The mechanical voice sounded desperate.
【Administrator: I’m sorry, I’ll take full responsibility.】
【Administrator: I can’t compensate for all the lives you’ve lost, but this time—I’ll help.】
【Administrator: So don’t give up, possessor. (╥﹏╥)】
From the darkness, a bright light began to shine.
My eyes opened wide without me realizing it.
【SYSTEM: The Administrator’s Favor is now focused on Villainess Roselia.】
[You have a chance to receive a “Luck” buff.]
[Roselia Certeia’s primary keyword has changed to “#MaxLuck.”]
[The “Lucky Roulette” has been activated.]
【TIP! Use your ‘Luck’ to reach a happy ending ♥】
‘…Administrator’s Favor? Max Luck?’
I could only blink dumbly at the notification window.
The Administrator sounded smug.
【Administrator: Impressed? Pretty amazing, right? ヽ(´▽`)ﾉ】
【Administrator: Omnipotence is kinda my thing.】
【Administrator: Favoring a single possessor is a piece of cake. (･◡･)♡】
“Oh, now you play favorites? After working me to the bone?”
I scoffed, but the Administrator just laughed it off.
【Administrator: Aww~ But hey, you’re feeling more motivated now, right? I know everything~ ٩(˘◡˘)۶】
【Administrator: You’re totally itching to go for that happy ending, right? Right???】
I didn’t answer, but the Administrator must’ve taken my silence as agreement.
His voice became even more excited.
【Administrator: Ooh, look over there.】
【Administrator: Looks like someone noticed you’re awake!】
【Administrator: Alright, I’m off now! Good luck in Life Attempt #7! (ˊᗜˋ)♥】
【Administrator: Call me if you need anything! ( ´ 3 `)ﾉ】
With a cheerful farewell, the system window disappeared from my sight.
When I blinked again, I was back in my familiar room.
‘What a dramatic guy.’
At first, I’d thought, What kind of ridiculous Administrator is this?
But after spending time with such an overly cheerful presence, my sunken mood had lifted—just a little.
‘Most of all… it seems like he’s on my side.’
Though I still wasn’t sure how to feel about that favor.
“Good heavens, Lady Roselia…!”
I didn’t even have time to reflect on the Administrator’s words.
“My lady, are you awake?”
The maids had noticed I was up, and now gathered around me one by one.
I rolled my eyes to scan the room.
Lace curtains fluttered by the bedside.
The ceiling bore sculptures from a famous artist in all their grandeur.
At the foot of the bed, servants of the ducal household stood in neat rows.
‘As expected… I’m back on my bed again.’
Every time I died, I returned to this very moment—
The day Roselia barely survived a sudden, severe fever.
“Ugh.”
A weak moan escaped my throat.
My entire body ached like it had been beaten, with muscle soreness and a lingering fever.
After days of not eating or drinking properly, my mouth was dry and my throat burned from thirst.
‘Am I really being favored by the Administrator?’
Nothing felt different from before.
If I truly had “Max Luck,” shouldn’t something dramatically good have happened right after regression?
But the system gave no response to my doubts.
Just then, the butler William spoke to a maid.
“Since the lady has awakened, go and fetch Lady Petunia at once.”
“Yes, Head Butler.”
The maid briskly exited the room.
Aunt Petunia.
Just hearing the name made my heart pound in dread.
My body went cold, and my fingertips trembled ever so slightly.
It was a fear that had been branded into my flesh from all the regressions.
Soon, the maid returned with Aunt Petunia.
Tap, tap, tap.
Elegant footsteps approached the room.
Then came a shrill voice—sharp enough to set off alarms.
“Roselia!”
“……”
The familiar fear made my breath catch.
‘Nothing’s changed at all.’
I squeezed my eyes shut against the rising terror.
Though Aunt Petunia had entered this house as my private tutor…
The reality was far from educational. She used “lessons” as an excuse to abuse me horribly.
At first, I hadn’t understood why the villainess Roselia was always raging and throwing tantrums.
But once I possessed her body, I realized—
No one could stay sane under this woman.
‘Forget personality—surviving her abuse is a miracle in itself.’
If Roselia hadn’t been as vicious as she was, she wouldn’t have made it this far.
‘In fact, I died from her abuse several times.’
Beaten to death, executed, starved.
‘No matter what I did, I always ended up dead at her hands.’
My lips trembled.
“Lady Petunia has arrived.”
A blonde woman in a deep green dress strode into the room.
The butler greeted her respectfully, but Aunt Petunia ignored him entirely.
She marched straight to my bed.
Her sunken cheeks and sharply raised brows screamed of venomous temper.
The cruel, irritable woman tilted my chin up with her fan.
“I heard you were on your deathbed. Thought you’d finally croak for real.”
Her cold gaze scanned me without a shred of concern.
“Why is your life so annoyingly persistent? You’re completely useless.”
There was clear murderous intent in her mocking voice.
A chill ran down my spine.
Aunt Petunia turned away from me and looked toward the doctor.
“Was it you? The one who treated this girl?”
“Yes, Lady Petunia.”
The doctor nodded, and—
SLAP!
Her sharp hand struck his cheek.
“Why bother saving trash like this?”
“……”
“You’re fired.”
The doctor couldn’t even speak in protest.
The tense atmosphere turned the servants to stone.
Even one wrong breath might make them her next target.
The room fell into a heavy silence.
“Roselia.”
Aunt Petunia turned to me again.
“No answer? You impudent brat.”
Her voice rose in hysteria as she berated me.
With a dry throat and paralyzed vocal cords, I barely squeezed out a response.
“…Yes, Aunt Petunia.”
“Do you have any idea what humiliation I’ve suffered because of you? You shameless wretch. You’d be better off dead.”
She glared at me with open disgust.
No matter what I said, she’d just get mad anyway.
I had tried everything before—groveling, appeasing her, flattering her.
‘But it was all pointless.’
It was never about me doing something wrong or deserving punishment.
‘She just needed a punching bag.’
To her, I was an easy target for abuse—someone she could insult and beat as she pleased.
“What are you staring at, you disrespectful bitch?”
She tapped my forehead with her fan.
“Are you ignoring me now?”
When I glanced up at her, she exploded.
“You dare—you dare ignore me?!”
“Ah!”
She yanked my hair with a violent jerk.
