Accidentally Formed a Reverse Harem in the Apocalypse Chapter 1 - Didn’t they say Sienna would only walk on a path of flowers?

Chapter 1 Didn’t they say Sienna would only walk on a path of flowers?

 

 

 

 

The long-awaited wedding day had finally arrived.

 

‘Well, even though I’m not the bride.’

 

Early in the morning, warm sunlight and a ticklish breeze slipped in through the open window, making the white silk curtains dance. Feeling good at the sight, I started humming, and my exclusive maid, Rina, jumped in surprise.

 

“Um… My lady. Did I… do something wrong?”

 

Rina, who asked with all her courage, was trembling like a baby bird standing in front of a viper. The rag in her hand was being squeezed so hard that water dripped onto the floor. I must really be fear itself.

 

“No. I’m honestly in a great mood.”

 

Normally, I would’ve kept up my villainess image and just answered coldly, “No.”

And then I would’ve punished Rina for daring to speak to her employer first.

 

‘But who cares about that villainess image now!’

 

Because today, I’m escaping this damn original story and going back home.

 

The story was about to end. Today was the wedding day when the heroine and hero confirm their love.

 

‘And I, the villainess who failed to win love, am expected to attend that wedding.’

 

So normally, I should be in a terrible mood.

But since I’m not a real villainess, I was nothing but happy.

 

Goodbye to the days of being ignored and stared at coldly in this reverse-harem novel. It was truly disgusting meeting all those male leads—let’s never see each other again.

 

Watching me fail to hide my twitching cheeks, Rina muttered softly.

 

“It seems my lady has finally gone mad with jealousy…”

 

I can hear everything. Villainesses have annoyingly good hearing.

 

And Rina, you’re getting too relaxed.

 

“What did I do?”

 

All I did was lift the corner of my eye slightly and pretend to look annoyed, yet Rina turned pale and even started crying.

 

“N-Nothing! I’m sorry!”

 

“Right. That’s better.”

 

I’m not crazy. I’m just happy enough to feel like I could be.

 

With Rina glancing at me suspiciously the whole time, I finished getting ready to attend the heroine’s wedding.

 

Thinking this was the last time, even the face of Elizabeth—whom I’d grown sick of seeing every day—looked beautiful today.

 

Silver hair hanging straight and shining. Purple eyes dazzling like an amethyst in sunlight. Pale skin paired with slightly raised eye corners made her look as aloof as a cat.

 

‘Pretty villainess sister, goodbye now.’

 

Dobby is going to be free.

 

While I was all cheerful, Rina carefully asked,

 

“Um… A-Are you really going to go dressed like that?”

 

“Yeah. Why? Is something wrong?”

 

“N-No…”

 

A black veil, a hat decorated with glossy raven feathers, and a pitch-black dress covering my white skin from neck to toe—an outfit that looked like something you’d wear to a funeral. It was the dress the villainess Elizabeth wore at the very end of the original story.

 

‘If Duke Keaton, Elizabeth’s father, saw this, he’d faint. But since he’s currently covering up the accident Elizabeth caused and is under house arrest, I won’t run into him anyway. So it’s fine.’

 

Even though it was black, the dress was decorated with top-quality silk and black pearls, still looking luxurious. I was satisfied.

 

Goodbye, Elizabeth Keaton. We’re done after today.

 

“Good work. You may leave, Rina.”

 

“Y-Yes…”

 

No matter how fancy, a black dress that looks like mourning clothes is not exactly welcomed at a wedding. Maybe that bothered her, because Rina hesitated for a long time before almost running out of the room.

 

Good. I’m finally alone!

 

Once I made sure there was no one in the room, I rolled around on the bed, not caring if the dress wrinkled.

 

“I’m going! Home!”

 

Humming excitedly, I called out to someone.

 

“Zero, once this is over, I can really go back home, right?”

 

『How many times are you going to ask? Yes.』

 

At my question, a yellow puffball—like a clump of dust gathered from the air—appeared. No, to be exact, a soft golden hamster with short limbs, pointy ears, and a chubby round body.

 

He looked cute in a little suit, like a toy, but in reality he was an assistant dispatched from the Possessor Management Bureau, named NO.00000234232.

 

『And I told you not to call me Zero!』

 

“Why not? Your identification number is too long. Zero is easier.”

 

『What a selfish human!』

 

“What do you want me to do? It’s not like I’ll ever see you again after today. Look all you want.”

 

『Hmph.』

 

According to Zero, every story creates a dimension the moment it’s born. And each dimension has a manager to keep it running properly. Zero was one of the subordinates working under the manager of the dimension I was stuck in.

 

But because that manager happened to be a newbie, they made the mistake of possessing me into this world—the novel. Thanks to that, Zero ended up becoming the only employee of the newly formed Possessor Management Bureau, receiving a special mission: “Ensure the original story ends safely” and sticking to me.

 

At the time, I was reading the reverse-harem novel Sienna Walks Only on Flower Paths when I suddenly possessed the villainess Elizabeth after eating ramen, and I panicked.

 

『Ahem. Human, don’t worry too much. I, NO.00000234232, will help you return home.』

 

When Zero suddenly appeared saying he’d help, he looked like a savior for a brief moment—

but I soon realized the truth: this sloppy hamster was a scammer!

 

『Of course, only if you perfectly play villainess Elizabeth and let the story end safely.』

 

Your manager screwed up, so why do I have to fix it?

 

And he tried to tempt me with a condition that wasn’t tempting at all—“You’re the daughter of a rich duke, so it won’t be hard.”

 

So I made a decision. If this is the only way home, I’m going to squeeze everything I can out of these two incompetent fools.

 

『If the story ends safely, you can return home. And I can cover up my boss’s mistake.』

 

〈…But villainesses always meet miserable ends. What about that?〉

 

『Elizabeth in Sienna Walks Only on Flower Paths ends by crying and running out of the heroine’s wedding. She doesn’t die, so don’t worry.』

 

〈Okay, then what compensation are you giving me for the damage?〉

 

『Uh… huh?』

 

〈You possessed the wrong person, so you have to take responsibility. Right?〉

 

『O-Our management bureau doesn’t have compensation policies in the manual…』

 

〈Then make one. I’m literally a victim right here.〉

 

When I growled threateningly, Zero teared up, called his manager, and then spoke in a dead voice:

 

『He says… can we settle with a lottery win?』

 

〈Okay, deal!〉

 

‘I believed that one sentence and came all the way here.’

 

All the suffering I endured as the villainess was nothing but preparation for today. Tempted countless times to derail the story, I still perfectly acted out Elizabeth until now.

 

“Let’s go, Zero. To the wedding where the heroine and hero will send me home.”

 

My cozy home, my lottery win—wait for me! I’m coming!

 

『Yes, possessor-ma’am.』

 

I was genuinely ready to celebrate their wedding. I could even cry tears of joy if needed.

 

But I had no idea.

 

I never expected the heroine to ruin everything at the last moment…

 

Nor that a zombie virus would be waiting for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the final male lead of “S.W.F.P.” was the crown prince, the wedding was held in a grand party hall of the imperial palace, where massive stone pillars supported an ornate painted ceiling.

 

(S.W.F.P = “Sienna Walks Only on Flower Paths.”)

 

The beautiful heroine in a pure white wedding dress and the handsome hero in a stylish tuxedo were smiling brightly at each other.

 

The hallway leading to the wedding hall was decorated with lilies symbolizing the bride’s purity and beauty. As if to prove their passionate love, dark pink ribbons were tied around them, making the place irresistibly cute.

 

In that space overflowing with pure white, I was the only one dressed entirely in gloomy black, standing out a lot.

 

“G-Goodness…!”

 

A certain nobleman clicked his tongue as he passed, as if I were on my way to a funeral. Since I was even wearing a black veil, his misunderstanding was reasonable, but I coolly ignored it.

 

Because today, I was feeling extremely generous.

 

‘I’d love to give them a wedding gift if I could.’

 

But that might look like I was wishing for the heroine Sienna’s doom, so I refrained. The original story didn’t have anything like that, either.

 

“In a moment, we will begin His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince’s wedding ceremony.”

 

Musicians entered and played a grand melody. Instantly, the atmosphere among the guests became solemn.

 

I sat in the most isolated corner of the guest seats—where only invited nobles were allowed—and clapped enthusiastically. The nobles around me looked at me like I was insane, but I didn’t care.

 

‘Hurry up and finish.’

 

I wanted to go home quickly. I missed tteokbokki and ramen, the food that stirs the soul of a Korean. I was sick of Western dishes now. I craved the spicy taste that tingles on your tongue. And I needed to go claim my lottery winnings.

 

After the priest finished reading a long marriage declaration—something that reminded me of a school principal’s boring speeches—the most important question finally came.

 

“Do the bride and groom vow to love each other forever?”

 

“I do.”

 

“I also do.”

 

“Very well. Then please seal your vow with a kiss of love.”

 

‘Yahoo!’

 

I was thrilled. Zero said that once this was done, the portal to send me home would open.

 

Kiss! Kiss!

 

‘Please hurry up and kiss! I need to go eat!’

 

Wedding banquet? I didn’t need that. The best thing in the world was lying down in my cozy home, waiting for my delivery tteokbokki, and pouring hot water into my cup ramen while rolling around until it was done.

 

With my heart pounding, I eagerly waited for the two to kiss—

and then something unexpected happened.

 

Just as they tilted their heads and brought their lips close, the heroine’s eyes turned bright red.