EPISODE 02 - Leonardo

Becky slept soundly, but when she opened her eyes, her pupils widened.

What is this?

A beautiful, large room furnished with antique wooden furniture decorated with gold and silver. White silk curtains hung on the walls, and two women stood in front of her, staring as if asking—Are you sure you haven't lost your mind?

Well, there was a reason they looked at her that way—because the first words out of her mouth when she woke up were:

"Does a man named Leonardo D'Salazar exist?"

The maids stared blankly, and suddenly—BANG!—the door burst open.

"What!" The man walking inside muttered carelessly. "Causing chaos early in the morning," he added, shooting the maids a dismissive glance.

"Who are you?" Becky asked, unbothered by his presence.

The man jolted back, holding his chest dramatically. "Was that a joke? Or... were my prayers finally heard by God?" His eyes sparkled. "Sis, did you finally lose your mind?" He held up three fingers in front of her face. "Tell me, how many fingers are there?"

The maids exchanged fearful glances before nervously looking back at him.

After a moment of silence, Becky slowly raised her hand. The maids clenched their eyes shut and covered their ears, their gazes fixed on the flower vase on the table—as if it were about to explode.

Becky mirrored his gesture and raised three fingers. "Three," she said flatly, her eyes narrowed.

The boy's cheerful expression instantly faded into a serious one. "Looks like you really lost your mind," he mumbled to himself.

"Anyway," she cut in sharply, her gaze darting back to the maids, "answer my question."

The man crossed his arms. "What is she asking?" he said, turning to the maids.

"Um... Young Master," one of them stuttered, eyes hesitant, "actually... Madam is asking if His Grace Leonardo D'Salazar exists."

Becky nodded twice, her eyes closed and arms crossed, as if agreeing with the importance of the question.

A wave of curiosity washed over the man. He dismissed the maids with a gesture before stepping closer.

"Now... what are you plotting?" His voice turned sharp and cold.

"Just answer me," she replied curtly. "I have nothing to do with you."

A twisted grin flashed on his lips, quickly replaced by a serious expression.

"I think he led a happy enough life," he said darkly, "because now... the curse named Elizabeth Augustine is about to sit on his head."

Becky's lips curved into a small smile, but her brows creased with worry. And for a valid reason—because he called out the name none other than Elizabeth Augustine, the infamous villainess from the novel My Lost Love.

The one who destroyed Leonardo's life.

The one who caused his death.

And it was none other than... Elizabeth Augustine.

---

The Four Powers of the Olanika Empire:

The O'Hara — The Royal Family. The leading power of the Empire, ruling it by heritage.

The Salinas — Commanders of the Empire's army. Their family controls the military forces along the borders.

The Ditto — Masters of information and entertainment. They control the flow of news and rumors across the Empire and are known as the Kings of Entertainment.

The Augustines — Overlords of the market and commerce. From a grain of rice to a bar of gold, nothing moves without their permission. Their influence extends beyond the Empire into the other three kingdoms. They hold power second only to the Royals—so much so that even if they stepped over a dead body, no one would dare to breathe a word.

And Elizabeth Augustine—the eldest daughter of Frederick Augustine—stood at the heart of their power.

In the novel, if anyone had more screen time than the leads... it was her.

---

"Eli... Elizabeth Augustine?" Becky's eyes filled with confusion and terror as she stumbled out of bed, sheets tangling around her ankles.

She halted before the mirror, and now—there was no doubt.

The reflection in the mirror glimmered under the sharp sunlight streaming through the large windows.

Unlike other women, Elizabeth had razor-sharp features. Sharp eyes slanting toward her ears, small, plump lips that seemed to smirk even when she wasn't smiling, a sharp yet delicate jawline—

And the most defining feature—long, slightly wavy, silver hair.

It shimmered so brightly under the sunlight, it looked as though it could blind someone.

That silver hair was the legacy of the Augustine family. A unique trait that only Frederick Augustine had inherited after decades. People were shocked when Elizabeth not only inherited the family's rarest treasure—but also her father's sharp features.

Becky's hand slid down her face. "Seriously..." she muttered.

"I mean... it's great that I don't have to deal with Elizabeth anymore, but... isn't possessing her body worse?"

Her stomach twisted with dread. "Doesn't this mean... I should abandon every thought of meeting the man of my dreams?!"

Slumping into a chair, her face fell into her hands.

"I should probably sit down... and start writing down all the horrible things I've done to him..." she thought, already feeling exhausted.

"Maybe... if I'm lucky and fast enough..." her worn-out smile curled up weakly, "...I'll finish apologizing in this lifetime."

---

Meanwhile, Inside the Study Room:

A man sat at a desk, flipping through a stack of papers. His silver hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, and round-edged glasses perched on his sharp nose.

Thud!

The door flung open.

"Dad," a voice called out.

Frederick's eyes didn't leave the papers as a low hum rumbled in his throat. "Hm?"

Without looking up, he answered in a cool, clipped tone, "Alex... how many times have I told you that my morning schedule is tight? Don't disturb me."

His voice was calm but because of his Sharpe features it carried an undercurrent of authority, sharp eyes and lined lips radiating displeasure.

Alex paused for a second. Then, suddenly—

"Smile," he demanded abruptly.

Frederick, without hesitation, pulled the corners of his lips up.

...Though, rather than a smile, it looked more like a murderous smirk. The kind that promised a very... painful end.

Alex grinned. "Hah. You're still my father."

Frederick's face returned to his usual stoic calm. "Anyway," he said, flicking his eyes back to the papers, "why did you come here?"

Alex's smile faded, his voice turning uneasy. "Eli... was asking about His Grace Leonardo D'Salazar."

The pen in Frederick's hand froze mid-stroke.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, removing his glasses.

"...This girl never learns," he muttered. "Leonardo?" His voice dropped. "Of all people... him?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, irritation brewing beneath his calm façade.

"I don't even want to know what's cooking in her mind this time..."