My DOX coin hit the jackpot. It was incredible. It was literally a golden ticket. Because now, I had billions—no, tens of billions—in my hands.
'Wow... how many zeros is that?'
Surprisingly, I became a billionaire in an instant. A long time ago, I had bought a coin and forgotten about it after falling for a college student's pitch... I never thought it would turn out like this. I remembered the last few years.
A year ago, my parents and older brother died in an accident during a trip I didn't go on, leaving me all alone. Perhaps because my parents had distanced themselves from the family during their lifetime, no relatives even came to the funeral. I felt sorry for my parents, but life was hard, so I put the small fortune I inherited into stocks. I thought this would be better than the lottery since I only live once and didn't think I'd ever be able to afford my own house.
It wasn't until I lost everything that I realized stocks weren't for me. Then, just as I was debating whether to quit my grueling job at a small firm, I heard people talking about cryptocurrency. That reminded me of the DOX Coin I had bought years ago.
"Tsk, this is why we don't hire from local universities."
My boss was busy insulting people every time he opened his mouth, and I dreamed only of escaping his shadow. In a world where the odds of moving to a better company were slim, the only thing to count on was getting rich quick.
'But was it an unexpected success? No, it was a massive one!'
Heavenly Father, Mother, how are you? The lives of your family have been completely flipped.
'Boss Kim, you bastard! Goodbye! Hahaha! Goodbye, everyone! I'm casting off the shackles of this world to find my own happiness!'
That day, I planned to slap Boss Kim with a resignation letter... but I couldn't even quit.
'First, let's enjoy a trip abroad!'
With the money I’d saved, I booked a first-class flight to the island I’d always wanted to visit. Everything was perfect. It was wonderful, but...
There was a plane crash. A plane crash with odds lower than winning the lottery! And I died on the spot.
'Damn it! What kind of luck is this?! It’s so unfair! My coins! My money!'
Seriously, billions were gone without me ever getting to spend them properly. Wouldn't it have been better if I’d died while blowing it all in Las Vegas? I was in First Class! I hadn't even had breakfast yet!
I can't die like this! I can't!!
If I’d known this would happen, I would have lived a less miserable life! My money! My trip! Boss Kim, I really wanted to slap that guy!
* * *
When I opened my eyes, as if waking from a long dream after crying uncontrollably, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
'What? Do you still dream even after you die?'
"Hey, hey, are you awake? Princess Charlize!"
When I opened my eyes and sat up, I saw a man who looked startled. I couldn't see his face because he immediately ran out of the room.
'Where am I? What’s with this furniture?'
I stood there blankly, taking in the scenery. There was a mirror nearby, so I looked at myself. As soon as I did, my mouth dropped open.
"Wow, this is insane."
A stunningly beautiful woman was blinking back at me in the mirror. Although her eyes had lost some of their spark, her long pink hair and proudly upturned red eyes were breathtaking. She had a slender, elegantly toned body that looked well-cared for. Her complexion was pale, as if she hadn't slept, but she was so pretty it hardly mattered.
Looking at the subtle curve of her eyes, I thought, 'If this woman tried to seduce someone, they'd be falling at her feet.'
I stared at the mirror for a long time before pausing.
'Wait, didn't that person call me "Charlize"? That name sounds familiar...'
Why did it ring a bell? As I scanned the room, I jumped.
"A bottle?"
What on earth was this? The whole room was a disaster. There were bottles scattered everywhere, and the bed and decorative fabrics were soaked in alcohol. Looking at the bottles lined up, I wondered if the person who just left had been trying to clean them up.
I shifted my weight, and something pricked my toe. A scroll? It was a rolled-up parchment like something out of an old movie. Strangely, it unrolled itself before my eyes.
"What... what is this?"
**[To: The Soul From Another World.**
**I am sorry, but I have summoned you to correct an error in my world. For one year, you must remain engaged to 'Askin Remut' while acting as a villainous woman.**
**However, you must never let anyone discover that you are a fake soul.**
**If you succeed, your DOX Coin fortune will be returned to you.]**
"...Voice phishing?"
The words escaped me before I could think. It was nonsense, but I didn't know what else to say.
'Wait a minute. This look, a villainess, Charlize...'
As the keywords clicked into place, it hit me like a bolt of lightning. I remembered exactly where I’d seen this before. It was a description of the villainess from the R-19 novel, *Surviving as the Tyrant's Empress*, which I had read!
Charlize was a villainess loved by the male lead and her maternal grandfather—at least until the heroine appeared. If I had to describe her in one line, it would be 'a complete nightmare.' Not only was she an alcoholic, but she was also obsessed with handsome men, frequently harassing the male characters in the story. She used her power to incite violence, got drunk and hit people... the list of her misdeeds was endless.
My head throbbed.
'Wait, where did the scroll go?'
The parchment that had been floating in the air simply vanished. No matter how much I looked around, there wasn't a trace left.
'So, is this real? Can I actually go back and get my money?'
My breath caught. Of course, the task didn't seem easy. In the book, Askin Remut was the one who helped the heroine kill the villainess. He was her fiancé, but he hated her more than anyone else because of her behavior.
'But I just have to stay engaged for a year, right? Then I get my money back? Is this too good to be true?'
As I sat there confused, the door opened silently. Two people rushed in. One was an older woman. When she saw me, her mouth fell open.
"Char—Miss Charlize... the Duke is looking for you."
If she meant the Duke, she was talking about Charlize's maternal grandfather. In that moment, a vision of a frail but handsome grandfather flashed in my mind. Memories started flooding in—memories belonging to the villainess, Charlize.
Through these memories, I saw how Charlize usually treated her grandfather.
'Didn't the scroll say I shouldn't let anyone find out I'm not the real villainess?'
"Alright," I said, deciding to play along for now.
As soon as I stood up, the maid next to me rushed over to cover me with a shawl. But as she adjusted it, her eyes welled with tears.
"I... I'll see you out."
The novel *Surviving as the Tyrant's Empress* was famous for its obsessive and tyrannical characters. The male lead, Roxidean, was a tyrant and arguably the biggest jerk of them all. I wondered why anyone would pick him as a protagonist.
'Wait, wasn't he Charlize's older brother?'
As the future sister-in-law of the heroine, Charlize had bullied her relentlessly and lashed out in jealousy whenever the men she liked showed interest in the lead. She was truly a piece of work.
"Uh... P-Princess?"
I had stopped walking while lost in thought, and the maid was looking at me nervously. When I glanced at her, she trembled and lowered her head. I spoke slowly to avoid sounding out of character.
"Where are we going?"
"T-That is... because you had a 'good time' yesterday at the salon, drinking and... The Duke said he wanted to see you this morning..."
The maid’s answer came quickly, clearly accustomed to Charlize’s behavior. As we walked, I recalled that Charlize had recently been "exiled" for a short time following a major incident, and she had only just returned home yesterday—celebrating with a massive drinking binge.
'Ah, that explains why the room was a total disaster.'
Was it the alcohol that made her so pale? The woman I was walking with was Madame Larville, the nanny who had raised Charlize.
"Duke... I have brought the Princess."
Entering the room, I was greeted by Duke Altsbeit. He was a handsome older man, but his eyes were cold and intimidating.
"Sit down."
Madame Larville bowed and left. I decided to observe the situation closely.
'Let's see how this plays out.'
As soon as I sat, the door slammed shut.
"Heh, I see you couldn't control your habits even after returning and went on another spree."
The Duke rubbed his chin, looking his age. A man standing next to him gave me a look that was anything but friendly.
"I told you yesterday to do things in moderation. It hasn't even been a day... Tsk, why do you insist on continuing this ugly behavior?"
The Duke’s tone was cold, but his eyes seemed slightly softer than when I first saw them—like a grandfather dealing with a spoiled, immature granddaughter.
"While you were away, there is something you should know."
His expression turned icy once again.
"Your fiancé, the Duke of Lemut, has requested to break the engagement."