The hall was filled with whispers, gasps, and the rustle of expensive mourning clothes.

Black veils. White lilies. Crocodile tears.

At the front of the grand cathedral, a massive painting hung—an elegant portrait of Aria von Roth, serene and dead.

Well, not dead anymore. Surprise, bitches.

Aria stood at the back of the cathedral, perfectly alive, draped in a long blood-red cloak she “borrowed” from a clueless maid. Her silver hair was still damp, her crimson eyes glowing faintly under the stained-glass light.

“Shall we?” she whispered to herself, lips curling into a smirk.

Dramatic Entrance Quest: Activated

Objective: Interrupt your own funeral with style.

Reward: +5 Charisma, +100 Notoriety

She stepped forward.

One click of her heel echoed through the entire hall.

Heads turned. Mouths dropped. A noblewoman shrieked and dropped her pearl-studded handkerchief.

Someone whispered:

“Is that… a ghost?”

Aria strolled down the aisle like it was a runway.

She passed nobles who'd sent her poisoned tea. Lords who'd smiled as they plotted her death. A priest who'd been paid extra to "hurry the burial."

They all looked like they'd seen a corpse.

Technically, they had.

At the altar, a man stood frozen mid-eulogy. Duke Cassian von Roth—her dear stepfather and probably the one who signed off on her murder. He had the gall to look horrified.

“Aria…?” he croaked.

She tilted her head. “Oh good, you remember my name. I was worried my funeral outfit was too subtle.”

He stumbled back. “You’re… alive?!”

“Mmhm. Very.” She leaned in slightly. “And very annoyed.”

Revenge Target Identified: Duke Cassian von Roth

Status: Confirmed Involvement in Drowning Plot

Suggested Action: Emotional Humiliation or Sword to the Face

System Advice: Sword is faster. Humiliation is funnier.

Aria raised her voice and turned to the crowd.

“Well, since you’re all gathered, I’d like to make a correction,” she said cheerfully. “I’m not dead. But someone’s career is.”

She pointed straight at Duke Cassian.

“Starting with you, Father.”

The crowd gasped so hard the candles flickered.

Cassian’s lip trembled. “Guards! Arrest this—this imposter!”

Aria casually rolled up her sleeves. “Oh honey. You’re still pretending you don’t recognize the girl you tried to drown?”

Suddenly—

Skill Unlocked: Queen’s Command (Passive)

Description: Your voice carries unnatural authority.

Effect: People really want to obey you, even when they shouldn’t.

Aria stepped forward, eyes gleaming.

“Anyone who touches me loses a hand. Try me.”

The guards froze.

Then, slowly, they stepped away from her and… bowed.

Cassian turned pale.

Mini-Quest Completed: Crash Your Own Funeral

Rewards: +5 Charisma, +100 Notoriety, 1 Free Upgrade Token

New Title: “The Undying Heiress”

Unlocked: Rumors (Passive Passive Skill) – Your story spreads on its own.

Aria smiled sweetly. “Now then… Who else was at that little drowning party?”

She walked down the aisle again, eyes scanning, noting every nervous face, every twitch of guilt.

This wasn’t a funeral anymore.

It was the start of a manhunt.

And she was the predator.

Chapter 3: The Maid with a Knife Collection