Chapter 1

I was born with a hole in my heart.

Intense exercise was out of the question, and there were many things that others took for granted that I couldn't do. Moreover, I had to take expensive medication to sustain my life.

This financial burden was weighing heavily on our household, and my parents were always arguing. I even heard them shouting during a fight that they wished they hadn't had me.

Despite this, I worked hard at my studies.

Even though I was physically weak, I believed that with effort, I could get a good job. I wanted to earn a salary and repay my parents for all their hard work in raising me. I thought that if I could do that, maybe one day my parents would smile at me again, just like they used to when I was a child.

Then, I applied for a job at a company. It was a top-tier company with excellent welfare benefits, and if I were hired, my life would change dramatically.

I spent my days hoping that I would receive an offer from the company.

One day, while waiting for the traffic light to change, I saw a child dart across the crosswalk the moment it turned green. At the same time, I saw a car speeding towards the crosswalk.

In that instant, I hesitated.

I might not be strong enough to save the child. Even if I could, I might not survive. After chasing my dreams this far, was I going to give everything up now?

But my feet moved on their own.

For the first time in my life, I ran at full speed and grabbed the child's arm, pulling him to safety. I couldn't save myself, but I managed to throw the child onto the sidewalk. I saw the shocked face of the driver in the car before my consciousness faded.

When I next woke up, I was lying on a bed somewhere.

My body wouldn't move properly, and I had a mask on my face, making it hard to breathe. I saw a heart monitor with a flatline. Then, I heard voices arguing. I managed to move my gaze and saw my parents arguing at the entrance.

...Even at a time like this, they can't stop fighting.

Is it my fault? Did my birth cause them to fight like this? If I were gone, would they stop fighting...?

I'm sorry.

From now on, please be kind to each other.

With this thought, I tried to sit up. My mother noticed and rushed to my side, gripping my hand tightly. My father also came over and unfolded a piece of paper, like a letter.

Could it be the job offer? If I had just a little more time, would my dream have come true? If so, it would have been a close call...

I tried my best. I lived to the fullest, and even though my dream was left unfinished, the child I saved will surely live for both of us.

So, I thank God.

For giving me a reason to die—thank you.

I whispered these words and slowly closed my eyes.

"Are you really satisfied with that?"

A small ripple appeared in my blackening consciousness.

...I'm not satisfied.

I wanted to be loved by my parents. I wanted to run like everyone else and experience a heart-pounding romance.

But, it can't be helped. I'm already dead.

"If that's the case, I'll give you another chance."

...What do you mean? Who are you?

Curious, I opened my eyes. At the same time, I heard a splash. I saw rippling water in front of me, and beyond it, the sun was shining.

Suddenly, I felt cold water enveloping my body.

"---Gulp!?"

I tried to say, "I'm drowning!?" but ended up swallowing water. As I panicked, I saw an incredibly handsome boy.

He had caramel-blonde hair and deep blue eyes. He looked to be in his mid-teens. His beauty was so striking that I forgot I was drowning and stared at him in awe.

In the next moment, the boy hugged me and started to swim towards the light.

After a short while, my face emerged from the water. As I coughed, the boy grabbed my body and pulled me onto the shore.

Despite the panic, I thought he looked incredibly handsome, and then I lost consciousness.

When I next woke up, I was on a bed again, but this time it was a luxurious canopy bed, completely different from the plain one before.

"...What happened to me?"

My head was still groggy from sleep.

Suddenly, I smelled flowers. Looking around, I saw a beautiful vase with bright flowers. The table holding the vase was also ornate, and all the furnishings in the room were elegantly arranged.

It was a very luxurious room.

I wondered why I was here when I heard voices arguing. I thought it might be my parents fighting again, which made me a bit sad. But then I realized the voices were different.

A beautiful woman was scolding someone.

I got out of bed and took a step towards the hallway where the voices were coming from.

My body felt incredibly light. I stumbled a bit, but it was a completely different sensation from before. It felt as if I had wings on my back as I walked down the hallway.

"How could you let another young lady drown while you were supposed to be watching her!"

The woman scolding was blonde. She looked familiar, but I couldn't place her. The boy, however, was unmistakable. He was the one who saved me from drowning.

—Wait, is she scolding him because I drowned?

"Wait a moment!"

I quickly stepped between them, spreading my arms to shield the boy.

"Sophia? Are you feeling well enough to be up...?"

The woman's eyes widened, then she showed a relieved expression. She must have been very worried about me. But it was wrong to scold the boy.

"—I fell into the lake because of my own carelessness. Besides, he jumped into the lake without hesitation to save me. Please don't blame him!"

The words "my own carelessness" came out naturally. I remembered that I had fallen into the lake because I ignored his warning and leaned too far. When I said he wasn't at fault, the woman's green eyes widened.

After a moment, she smiled slightly.

"You are kind. Thank you for defending my son's honor."

"No, I was just stating the truth."

"...I understand. Let's end this discussion here."

The woman smiled softly. I returned her smile naturally.

"Your Highness, Princess Carla, I'm sorry to have caused you worry. And Sir Cyril, thank you again for saving me. You were incredibly brave."

I said their names without thinking.

I looked at the boy again. He was indeed incredibly handsome. His soft caramel-blonde hair and deep blue eyes exuded intelligence and elegance. He looked like a character from a dating sim—just thinking that made my head throb.

"...Could I be Sophia Wistaria?"

"Yes, but... why do you ask?"

I gasped.

Sophia Wistaria was the name of the worst villainess in the dating sim I used to play. Checking some memories, everything matched.

It seemed I had been reincarnated as the villainess Sophia.

Realizing this, I lost consciousness again.

Thank you for reading.

Chapter one is about 110,000 words, and I plan to post daily. I also have a web serial, "The Third Orphanage Princess, Who Was Hiding Her True Identity, Somehow Caught the Prince's Eye," which I hope you will enjoy.

The fifth volume of "The Villainess's Favorite" will be released on August 2nd, and a 250,000 copy campaign is planned.

If you haven't read it yet, I hope you will give it a try.