If someone had told me that I'd die because of a book, I would've laughed.
And yet, as I lay crushed beneath a fallen bookshelf, face pressed into the open pages of Crown of Crimson Hearts: Volume 9, my final thought wasn't about life flashing before my eyes. It was this:
"Did Rael really deserve to die like that?"
Then everything went black.
When I woke up, I wasn't surrounded by flashing ambulance lights or weeping relatives. No. Instead, I opened my eyes to find myself staring at a high arched ceiling adorned with chandeliers made of floating crystal roses. The air smelled faintly of lavender and blood. Somewhere nearby, soft violin music played.
And then I saw it.
My reflection.
It wasn't my face.
The person staring back at me from the ornate mirror across the room had flawless porcelain skin, long raven-black hair, and piercing crimson eyes that looked like they'd been born to glare down from castle balconies.
I blinked.
She blinked.
I waved.
She waved.
"...Oh no," I whispered.
It hit me like a ton of hardcover novels. I knew that face. I knew this room. And I sure as hell knew that chandelier. I'd spent the last six months reading everything about this place. After all, I'd been obsessed—dangerously obsessed—with the reverse harem fantasy series Crown of Crimson Hearts.
And now, somehow, I had become Leora Valenstein—the most disposable side character in the entire book.
Not even a proper villainess.
Just the villain's personal assistant.
The one who dies in Chapter 12 because she accidentally poisons herself with her own tea.
No powers.
No plot armor.
No hope.
"Oh no no no no no no no—"
I tried to stand, tripped on my long crimson robes, and faceplanted into the carpet, which was softer than any bed I'd ever slept in. From outside, I could hear voices—guards shouting, servants bustling, magic crackling in the distance like thunder waiting to be unleashed.
That's when I saw it.
A translucent blue screen hovering in front of me.
> [System Activation: "Crown of Crimson Hearts: Chaos Route"]
Welcome, User! You have been reincarnated as: LEORA VALENSTEIN.
Difficulty: NIGHTMARE.
Your role: HAREM MANAGER to the Final Villain, Rael Nocturne.
Objective: Prevent the destruction of the world by managing Rael's emotional stability.
How? Build him a successful romantic harem.
Fail, and the world—and you—die. Repeatedly.
Good luck! :)
There was a moment of silence. Just the wind gently stirring the velvet curtains. A bird chirped outside. Somewhere, the violin hit a high note.
I opened my mouth to scream.
And that's when the door slammed open.
A tall man in all black entered, his cloak billowing dramatically even though there was no wind. His golden eyes glowed faintly, a crimson gemstone ring flashing on his right hand. His face was as beautiful as it was terrifying—high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and a mouth made for sarcastic smirks.
Rael Nocturne.
The Final Boss.
The most powerful dark mage in the entire empire.
And the man whose heartbreak turns him into a genocidal warlord by Chapter 20.
He looked at me like he was already imagining my funeral.
"You're late, Leora," he said.
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. What was I supposed to say? "Sorry, I just reincarnated into your secretary's body after dying in the real world where you're just a fictional man I used to thirst over in fan forums"?
Yeah. No.
I straightened my spine and gave the most professional smile I could manage. "Apologies, my lord. I was... updating your schedule."
Rael raised an eyebrow. "My schedule?"
"Yes," I said, the lies flowing like wine. "I've created a new task priority. A critical emotional... mission."
He stepped closer, his golden eyes narrowing. "Speak clearly."
I took a deep breath and channeled every ounce of marketing manager energy from my past life.
"You need a harem."
Silence.
Then—
"A what."
"A harem. Of lovers. Romantic partners. Beautiful men who make you feel things other than 'burn the world.'"
Rael blinked once.
Twice.
"Leora," he said slowly, "have you been drugged?"
"No. But you will be if you don't calm down."
He reached for the magic crystal embedded in his ring. A flare of energy surged through the room. The candles dimmed. My survival instincts screamed.
"Look!" I said quickly. "You've been cursed."
That caught his attention.
"The magical binding on your soul," I continued, pointing vaguely at the system screen only I could see. "You'll go berserk unless your heart achieves emotional balance. You need genuine romantic attachments. Five, to be specific."
"You're insane," he said flatly.
"I'm also your only hope," I said. "Because if you kill me, the curse speeds up."
That part was probably a lie.
But who was checking?
Rael stared at me for a long moment. Then he sat down on the edge of his obsidian throne, one leg crossed over the other, chin resting on his knuckles.
"Go on," he said.
I blinked.
"Explain," he added. "This... harem plan."
I swallowed hard.
"Right. Of course. So, you've been marked as a narrative singularity by the Will of the World—"
"I said explain, not spew nonsense."
"Right. Okay. You'll destroy everything unless you emotionally connect with five potential soulmates. I've already shortlisted them. All you need to do is not murder them before they fall for you."
His golden eyes gleamed. "And if I refuse?"
"The world ends. Again. And again. And again."
He didn't respond.
The system flashed again:
> [HAREM TARGETS ARRIVAL TIME: 72 HOURS.]
I gave him my brightest smile. "So. Shall I prepare guest rooms for your lovers?"