Page 4 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

"What is this..." she said slowly.

Her hand moved to her stomach, which was slightly rounded beneath her silk nightgown. Not much, just enough to be noticeable. Just enough to be unmistakable.

A baby bump?

"Wait—"

A bright blue light suddenly flared to life in front of her face, making Carol yelp and stumble backward. Floating in the air was what looked like a translucent screen, glowing with that same blue light, displaying text in elegant script:

WELCOME TO CHRONICLES OF ELYNDRA: HEART'S DESTINY

Character Profile:

Name: Caroline Holloway Vanthorn

Age: 22

Title: Duchess of Vanthorn

Status: Married (2 months), Pregnant (3 months)

Affinity: Mind + Water (Dual Affinity - Rare)

Role: Villainess

Current Status:

Relationship with Husband: HOSTILE

Public Opinion: HATED

Death Flags Active: 7/7

Survival Chance: 2%

Carol stared at the floating screen, her mind grinding to a halt.

"Caroline... Vanthorn..." she read aloud. Her eyes moved down to the word that made her blood run cold. "Villainess?"

The screen flickered and changed:

PLOT SUMMARY: In the kingdom of Valdaren, the noble Rosalie Lennox has captured the heart of the heroic Percival Sinclair, Earl of Brightholm. Together, they are destined to defeat The Blight and save the kingdom. However, the villainess Lady Caroline Holloway Vanthorn stands in their way, consumed by her obsessive love for Percival and her hatred of Rosalie.

Carol's hands started to shake.

Percival. Rosalie. The Blight.

Those names. She knew those names.

The memory hit her like a truck: Lanna sprawled on their couch, controller in hand, shouting at the TV screen. "DIE, CAROLINE, DIE! Oh my god, FINALLY! She's getting executed! YES!"

Carol had been half-asleep on the other end of the couch, barely paying attention, but she remembered the character on screen—a beautiful blonde woman in chains, being led to the gallows while a crowd cheered.

"No," Carol whispered. "No, no, no. This is—this is Lanna's game. Chronicles of Elyndra. I'm in—" She looked at the screen again, at the name staring back at her. "I'm the villainess. I'm the one Lanna wanted dead."

"Well, well, well!" A cheerful voice chirped from somewhere to her right. "Look who finally woke up!"

Carol spun around and found herself face-to-face with a tiny floating sprite—about six inches tall, glowing with a reddish-purple light. She had a black dress, bat wings, tiny horns, a little pitchfork, and a mischievous grin that showed pointed teeth.