Would you like to play a game? The rules are simple... you just have to get someone to fall in love you, devote himself to you, and care for you until the end of his days. Think it's easy? Confident you'll win? Let's see how well you play the game. WARNING! Viewer discretion advised: story contains adult content that is unsuitable for children. NOTE from the writer: I'm an amateur writer so please overlook plot holes, grammar issues, or anything else a story is supposed to have. This is my original story so... as the saying goes "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all".

One Year, that's what they agreed upon. That's why she worked so hard to please him. That's why she did everything in her power to help him and his people. So she could live her second life, the way she wanted. In peace. One Year, they promised each other. To live a life as husband and wife. One Year, to convince everyone that they were a loving couple. One Year, to gather information on his enemies. One Year, to gather as much support and power from the royal court to his side. One Year, of playing pretend and fooling the whole Kingdom of their fake love story. Little did she know, it only took One Year for him to fall in love with her. Will he keep to his word of One Year? Or go back on it and break their promise?

In her last life, Lady Helena Lodestone was seen by the people of Bolvonia empire as a villainess and a wastrel. Albeit, they inferred her villainous ways were a by-product of her unrequited love for the empire's crown prince, Archduke of Wesen. In fact, they all agreed she could've attained exceptional careers if she hadn't pursued an unreciphocate romance. Collectively, they concurred that for every minute she'd wasted writing love letters to the uncaring duke, she could've become an accomplished novelist. For every effort she'd put into painting the glacial duke's portraits, she could've become a famous artist. Indeed, with every scheme she'd hatched to get said duke's attention, they'd agree she could've become a great general. Alas, these were people's thoughts after the villainess was executed beside her families of three generations. After rebirth... Sitch 1. "What is this trash?" Helena asked, glaring at an illustration of a scantily clad man instead of an editorial on yesterday's charity polo. "Trash?" Editor-in-chief Ria was shocked. "But boss, that's our centerfold for this month's issue; 'The Duke basking in sunlight'! Just look at his muscular physique kissed by the sun. The way droplets of perspiration lapping down his sculpted pectorals--" "Stop!" Helena snapped. "Don't say any more about that man's sweaty body or I'll puke!" Sitch 2. "Those letters I asked you to deliver last week. Where did you take them to?" Helena asked, somewhat already knew the answer. The pageboy beamed proudly. "I took them to the arch duke's city estate. Just like I've always done." Helena: "..." Sitch 3. "Are you here to register your artworks in the upcoming competition?" Helena's lips twitched. "No. I'm here to donate these useless paintings." Thus, began a rebirth story of a so-called villainess trying to win over the empire's heart, protect her families and salvage her soul. Cover art: https://lexica.art/prompt/4131ee30-3457-4c70-b687-4dd4c5a21680

This novel can be categorized as "he falls first and he falls harder" . . "Did you really think that after all that you've done to me, I would simply let you go, Rosalie? You might as well go to the Devil himself because otherwise, I will definitely find you. No matter what." One day, Wang Meiling, an ordinary office worker who likes to read romance fantasy books, wakes up in the body of Rosalie Ashter, a minor villainess in the R-rated fantasy novel that she was reading before this weird transmigration. As expected of the plot, Rosalie is supposed to die at the hands of her crazy and abusive brother Raphael, thus, armed with the detailed knowledge of the original story, Meiling is set to save the tragic villainess whose body she is now possessing and approaches Duke Damien Dio, the story's male lead who is suffering from the "Acme fever" curse. She offers him a one-year contract relationship, promising to help him relieve his suffering in exchange for his protection from the Ashter family and a hefty payment afterward. Although skeptical at first, Damien agrees to sign the contract, but when the time finally comes for Rosalie to leave the Duke, she realizes that ending their relationship might not be as easy as she thought. WARNING: The story contains mature content such as R18 scenes, obsessive/yandere behavior, domestic abuse, an indication of sexual abuse, and gaslighting. It will also include the depiction of violence and gore. Read at your own discretion.