Winston

A ordinary girl working at a convenience store finds herself transported into the romantic novel she was reading—not as the heroine, but as the villainess destined for a tragic execution. With only days until the fateful tea party where her character attempts to poison the heroine, she must navigate court politics, an indifferent but secretly loving husband, and find a way to rewrite her story before it's too late.

Winston

A ordinary girl working at a convenience store finds herself transported into the romantic novel she was reading—not as the heroine, but as the villainess destined for a tragic execution. With only days until the fateful tea party where her character attempts to poison the heroine, she must navigate court politics, an indifferent but secretly loving husband, and find a way to rewrite her story before it's too late.

I was just an ordinary girl—working part-time at a convenience store by day, and escaping into romantic novels by night. I didn’t care much for the clichés: pitiful heroines, cold-hearted male leads, and of course, the wicked villainess who always ended up dead. Still, they were predictable, easy reads—something to fill my quiet evenings.

But everything changed the moment I put down my latest book and closed my eyes.

When I woke up, I wasn’t in my tiny apartment anymore. I was in a lavish room, surrounded by silk sheets and golden furniture. And when I caught sight of myself in the mirror—flawless skin, sharp eyes, and an elegant, cruel beauty—I froze.

I was inside the novel.

And not just as any character.

*I was the villainess.

The same infamous noblewoman who tormented the gentle heroine, Sena. The same woman who dared to covet the Crown Prince, even though he was already engaged. The same villainess who tried to poison Sena, But failed, and was publicly executed. That one.

But here’s the twist: it wasn’t all black and white.

I quickly learned that the villainess, now me, wasn’t as heartless as the novel made her out to be. Behind her icy mask was a marriage in name only—to Duke Winston, a silent, stoic man who seemed indifferent on the surface. In truth, however, he loved her. Deeply. Painfully. He had loved her from afar long before their wedding, and even after being coldly pushed away, he never stopped.

He gave her freedom. Money. Distance. Anything she wanted. All he asked for in return was to remain by her side.

And the Crown Prince? He was nothing more than a passing obsession, a childish rebellion against a life the villainess couldn’t control. Now, I am stuck in a ticking time bomb of a story—just days away from the infamous tea party where the villainess attempts to poison Sena and seals her own doom.

Just as I try to process it all, the door swings open.

"Duchess" says a maid, curtsying. "Are you ready? You’re expected at the tea party with the other ladies of the court. Shall I help you dress?"

My heart nearly stops.

The tea party.

**That tea party*

This is where it all begins—the fall of the villainess. If I go, I risk following the original fate. If I refuse, I might raise suspicion even faster. And somewhere in the midst of this, Winston waits—watching me closely, still in love, still silent.

Can I rewrite my fate, earn redemption, and escape the novel’s tragic end? Or will the story claim my life once again?

One thing is certain: this villainess won’t go down so easily.