Chapter 2: A Concubine's Nightmare

The first thing Evelyn noticed was the overwhelming scent of jasmine. It was everywhere—cloying, heavy, and far too sweet. Groaning, she tried to move, only to feel the weight of silk blankets pressing down on her. She blinked her eyes open, disoriented.

"What the..."

Her voice sounded odd, lighter, softer—definitely not her own. Evelyn shot up, her gaze darting around the unfamiliar room. It was lavish, filled with intricate tapestries and opulent furnishings, all done in shades of gold and crimson. The bed she was lying in looked like it had been stolen from a historical drama, and for a brief, confusing second, she thought she was still in one of her all-night gaming marathons and had dozed off during a cutscene.

But then, reality—or something like it—slammed into her like a freight train.

"Wait. What the hell?!"

She scrambled out of the bed, her legs tangling in the layers of her robe. Her hands flew to her face, her skin was smoother, softer. She bolted toward a nearby mirror and froze.

Staring back at her was an unfamiliar woman, her face delicate, her long black hair flowing like a river down her back. She blinked rapidly, watching the reflection blink back.

"No, no, no, no. This isn't real." Her fingers trailed over her unfamiliar features—smooth, flawless skin, full lips, and eyes that could melt the coldest heart. She looked like some kind of fairytale princess. "Where am I? What is this?"

Then it hit her. Memories. Not hers, but the memories of someone else flooded in, twisting around her own like a suffocating vine. Mei Qing. Concubine. She was... a concubine?

Her stomach churned.

She had spent her past life in gaming arenas, where confrontation was direct, and victory was earned through strategy and skill. And now... she was someone's concubine? In a palace? This was a nightmare. An actual, silk-draped nightmare.

How did I go from being a world-ranked gamer to this?

Her heart pounded as the details of her new situation seeped in. Mei Qing, the beautiful but low-ranked concubine in the royal harem, trapped in a place where beauty was a weapon and whispers could kill. Evelyn—or was she Mei Qing now?—took a shaky breath.

The door to her chamber slid open with a soft swish. A woman entered, dressed in flowing robes, her expression carefully neutral but with a glint in her eyes that Evelyn recognized instantly. That was the look of someone sizing up a competitor. It was the same look Evelyn had given countless opponents in the gaming world.

"Concubine Mei," the woman said with a slight bow, though the stiffness in her posture made it clear that respect was not being freely given. "The other concubines are waiting for you. Concubine Xu has asked for your presence in the pavilion."

Concubine Xu. The name sent another flood of memories through her. The queen bee of the harem. Cold, calculating, and ruthless. Mei Qing, or rather, Evelyn, felt her heart sink even further.

"I'll be there shortly," Evelyn said, her voice steady despite the rising panic in her chest.

The woman nodded curtly and left without another word. As soon as the door closed, Evelyn dropped onto the edge of the bed, burying her face in her hands.

"This is insane," she muttered. "I need a damn respawn button."

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of thoughts racing through her head. Okay, fine. So she was a concubine now. She could handle this. She had handled worse in her gaming career—facing down impossible odds, reading her opponents, outwitting them at every turn. This was just another kind of game, right?

Except in this game, losing meant more than a simple game over. It meant actual death. She was surrounded by women who could smile sweetly while stabbing her in the back.

She pulled herself together, the resolve settling in her chest. If this was how things were going to be, she'd have to adapt. Evelyn had never been the type to roll over and give up. She would survive, and more than that, she would win.

The pavilion was beautiful, of course. Everything in this damn palace seemed to be. Delicate blossoms draped over the stone pillars, a serene pond reflected the light of the setting sun, and soft laughter filled the air. It all looked so tranquil—if you ignored the fact that this was a battleground.

Evelyn felt the eyes of the other concubines on her the moment she stepped inside. Their gazes were sharp, appraising, sizing her up the way wolves sized up prey. At the head of the group sat Concubine Xu, the undisputed ruler of this little kingdom within a kingdom. She was beautiful—ethereally so—and wore her power like a finely tailored garment.

"Ah, Concubine Mei," Xu said, her voice as smooth as honey. "How nice of you to join us."

Evelyn smiled politely, her mind already racing. She'd dealt with people like this before. The trick was to look innocent, unassuming, and weak while you gathered all the information you could. Mei Qing's memories were proving useful after all. In this harem, power wasn't fought for with swords or armies—it was fought with smiles, whispered rumors, and silent alliances.

"I wouldn't dream of missing it," Evelyn said, lowering her head slightly in a gesture of respect. Every move, every word had to be calculated. Concubine Xu's eyes flickered, watching her closely, waiting for a misstep. But Evelyn was used to high-stakes games.

As the other concubines chatted and laughed around her, Evelyn's mind raced. This was a new kind of battlefield, one she wasn't familiar with yet. But she would learn. She would adapt. Because the one thing she was sure of—she wasn't going to let these women take her down.

Let the games begin, she thought grimly.