1. Possession is Too Much

That day felt unusually lucky.

An orphan with only a high school diploma, working at a small black company, suffering from low pay, overwork, and office politics. I bought a lottery ticket after finishing overtime on a Friday as usual.

Then I completely forgot about it and impulsively downloaded a game.

<The Count’s Daughter’s Secret Love Story: Who is My Husband?>

It was just a typical romance fantasy dating simulation game.

The story of a poor eldest daughter of a count, bullied by her stepmother, trying to find a husband and getting involved with various men.

I leisurely skimmed through the reviews while waiting for it to install.

[The story is great, and the male leads’ faces are fun. It’s a blond paradise, so be sure to check out the illustrations!]

[The blond welfare is top-notch. No matter who you choose, it’s like hitting the mega lottery. There are various handsome blonds!]

Lottery?

‘Come to think of it, I bought a lottery ticket too.’

Suddenly remembering the ticket stuffed in my bag, I checked it.

And to my surprise…

‘Is this for real?’

I won the lottery.

Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million, hundred million… billion.

A whopping five billion.

“Wow!”

Unable to contain my excitement, I jumped up and shouted.

Memories of the hard times flashed by like a revolving lantern, bringing tears of joy.

Well done, me! Now I can live comfortably without worrying about money!

Although it’s a bit sad that I have no family, lover, or friends to share this happiness with.

It’s okay, because I’m a lottery winner!

‘But where do I claim the prize? At the bank’s headquarters? Should I quit on Monday and go collect it? I shouldn’t look too excited when I go. Otherwise, it’ll be obvious I won the lottery…’

I lay on my old bed, making plans in my head, clutching the lottery ticket tightly in my tiny one-room apartment, and fell asleep.

And when I opened my eyes.

Swoosh―.

Suddenly, fragrant, lukewarm water poured over my head.

‘……?’

I stood there, dumbfounded, when a thin voice above me asked mockingly.

“Are you awake now?”

No, not really…

“You got ahead of yourself again, so I helped you. Isn’t it nice to wash your face with expensive tea?”

Not really.

I had no idea what was happening. Trying to calmly assess the situation, I lifted my head.

— Ding!

With a sound effect, a translucent window appeared in front of me.

【Hello.

Welcome to <The Count’s Daughter’s Secret Love Story: Who is My Husband?>!】

I stared blankly at the softly glowing letters.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Where am I supposed to be…?

【Are you okay? You must be surprised.

Don’t worry! (งᐖ)ว

From now on, you will become the female protagonist ‘Shailyn Sharofe’ and proceed with the game!】

…Why me?

As if reading my rebellious mind, the letters blinked and changed swiftly.

【If you don’t start the game, it will be recognized as a bug, and your soul will vanish.】

Vanish…?

Does that mean I’ll die?

【Ding dong!】

【From now on, conquer the male protagonists and unlock the hidden route!

Success condition: Achieve 100 affection points with the male protagonists

Success reward: Open the hidden route to return to your original world

Failure penalty: Live as Shailyn Sharofe until you die, trapped in this world♡】

No way, are you telling me to live as a game character in a game world?

No, no matter how tough reality is, I don’t want to live as a game character!

I felt dizzy, caught between dying if I refused the game and being trapped in it if I failed.

Just when I thought I was lucky to win a five billion lottery…

In despair, I quickly pulled myself together. Given the situation, I had no choice but to clear the game.

‘I’ll beat this game!’

Then I’ll meet my five billion lottery ticket again and reclaim my life!

The notification window accepted my resolve to participate in the game, and the letters changed.

【Yoo-hoo! Good decision! (｡•̀ᴗ-ღ)

Now, before the official play, let’s synchronize Shailyn Sharofe’s memories.】

The life of the female protagonist, who lost her mother at birth and grew up lonely and neglected in a remarried family, flowed into my mind.

In an instant, her memories naturally blended into me.

It felt like Shailyn Sharofe was me, and I was Shailyn Sharofe.

Thanks to that, I also learned who the owner of the annoying voice that poured tea on me was.

Janice Sharofe.

Shailyn’s half-sister and the biological daughter of her stepmother Gwen.

A vicious girl who often bullied and tormented her elder sister, Shailyn.

— Ding!

【Memory synchronization is complete.

The game will start now.

Solve the given missions to earn various rewards.

Then, good luck! ♪(´ε｀*)】

“…Ugh, stop laughing, it’s annoying.”

Muttering in annoyance at the smiling emoticon left until the end, an unexpected reaction came from somewhere else.

“What? Did you just say that to me?”

Janice, who had been playing around on her own while I was distracted by the notification window, stiffened.

She had been punishing a maid for no reason, and when Shailyn intervened, she made her kneel and poured tea over her.

‘Isn’t this a bit much?’

Feeling sorry for both the maid and Shailyn, I couldn’t just let it go.

“Hey, are you ignoring me? Why aren’t you answering? I asked if you were talking to me―!”

Splash!

I opened the lid of the teapot on the table and poured it over Janice.

“Kyaa!”

“Miss! Are you okay?!”

Janice staggered in shock, almost as if she had been slapped with tea. The maids ran over in a panic to support her.

I brushed back my wet hair and smiled.

“Why don’t you wash your face with this, you crazy girl.”

“…W-what?”

“And what if I did talk to you? Why are you addressing your sister so rudely? Can’t you get the titles right?”

She’s a character made in the land of Confucianism, yet lacking manners.

When I scolded her sharply, Janice looked at me with a face full of astonishment.

She seemed flustered by the change in her half-sister, who had always been passive and never stood up for herself.

“You, you’re crazy?!”

“The one throwing a tantrum in broad daylight is you.”

“This is really―!”

Janice, her temper flaring, raised her nails and charged at me like a demon.

However, having lived as the lowest of the low in South Korea, I had one steadfast belief.

If someone picks a fight with me, I don’t avoid it and make sure to pay it back.

Thanks to this, I was often called ruthless behind my back, but it didn’t matter. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to protect myself.

I had no intention of simply taking it from Janice either.

“You’re dead…!”

Whoosh.

I sidestepped as Janice aimed for my hair.

When she lost her balance and staggered, I seized the opportunity to grab her glossy brown hair tightly.

“Argh!”

“Are you really that dumb? I told you not to do it, yet you do it again.”

“Let go! Let go of me!”

Janice screamed and struggled. I held my ground, putting strength in my arms.

Huh, who would let go just because they’re told to?

To prevent the unfortunate event of Janice grabbing my hair too, I stood behind her.

“Let go! I said let go! What are you doing, you guys?! Why aren’t you stopping this crazy girl?!”

“Oh, yes, yes!”

The maids, who had been frozen by the loud shout, finally came to their senses.

Oh no, not yet.

Before they could grab me, I hurriedly dragged Janice to the vanity I had been eyeing.

“Ow! What are you doing?! It hurts! I said it hurts!”

“Shut up and follow me.”

I reached out and picked up a shiny silver object from the vanity.

Click, click.

The eerie sound of scissor blades clashing made not only the maids but even Janice freeze in place.

“Hands up, everyone! Move and I’ll cut it!”

Threatening them with the scissors at Janice’s hair, everyone raised their hands high.

“Back off and stand against the wall.”

“Miss Shailyn, you shouldn’t―.”

“Tsk! I’ll cut it, okay? I’ll cut it!”

“Eek! Hey, go to the wall right now! Go quickly!”

The hesitant maids eventually lined up against the wall.

I looked down at the tense Janice and curled my lips.

“Should I let go?”

“…Do you even need to ask? Let go now!”

“If you do as I say.”