Chapter 1: Destiny's Choice
Act 0: Unexpected Encounters

Life has its surprises, and it appears that extraordinary things can happen to people as well. However, what are the odds of bumping into your favorite character while simply strolling down the street? What are the chances of coincidentally encountering them when they don't reside in the same country, or world as you do? I used to think fortune never favored true fans, or so the saying goes. I believed it was a popular saying because it was a sad truth that diehard fans never had the chance to meet their beloved idols or characters. I was wrong.

Quivering with excitement, I bore witness to the impossible: my favorite character sitting right before my eyes, as real as anyone else.

My favorite character. My absolute favorite! I couldn't believe I was looking at him in the flesh!

I had to suppress my overwhelming awe and content myself with simply gazing at the face I had daydreamed about practically every day. This character, who had existed only in words until now, was walking, talking, and breathing right in front of me!

His eyes were mesmerizing, capable of giving me goosebumps, yet sharp enough to pierce me if I dared to disturb him in any way. They were like flawless glass, gazing down at me with an emotionless brilliance that enchanted and terrified me. Their golden hue sparkled like stars in the night sky, a unique beauty that utterly captivated me.

Well, Ms. Writer, you never mentioned he would be this extraordinarily handsome!

Then, he addressed me directly. "Who are you?" he asked, and oh, his voice was even more incredible than I had imagined.

I could sense his agitation, likely reluctant to witness my emotional outburst. How was he so incredibly handsome? I couldn't stop looking at him, though I wouldn't mind if he were a bit older. That didn't change the fact that I adored every part of him.

"I asked who you were," he repeated. His eyebrows furrowed when I didn't respond again, making him even more dashing.

This wouldn't do. I wanted to calm down, but I doubted whether I could. With that in mind, I started running toward him. "Daddy!" I cried.

Despite his previous languid demeanor, he stiffened when he saw me approaching, gasping in surprise.

"Daddy!" I called again.

His tone conveyed his incredulity. "Who are you calling your father?"

His reaction wasn't unexpected. After all, he was single. However, I smiled brightly, maintaining eye contact with him. I could sense the danger behind his golden gaze, but it only made me happier.

I giggled. "Daddy!" Then, I pulled him into a hug, and he regarded me with bewilderment. But it didn't matter how he looked at me; I wasn't giving up. "Daddy!"

Eventually, he relented and stopped trying to pry me off him. With a deep sigh, he watched me. Even if I were to die at this very moment, I'd have no regrets.

This marked the first meeting between me and my favorite character: my would-be father, a villain.

***

A plethora of incomprehensible events unfolded in my life. One day, my phone broke; the next day, I awoke as a six-year-old.

"Well, it's preferable to have a broken phone than to wake up as a six-year-old," I muttered. This had to be the most absurd experience I had ever endured.

I pressed my face up against the window frame to get a glimpse of the outside world. Admittedly, given my diminished stature, the position made me look rather foolish, but I had no alternative.

However, the scenery beyond the window was radically different from what I was accustomed to. "Of course, it's different!" I exclaimed. "This is an entirely different world!"

Before me stretched a vast plain beneath a brilliant blue sky. In the distance, I spotted a city with a sparse population leisurely strolling along its streets. There were no towering skyscrapers, no automobiles, and no bustling crowds.

The unfamiliar vista invoked both relief and despair. This couldn't possibly be a dream.

"It's been a whole month already! It defies logic to dream the same dream for an entire month."

Tearing my gaze from the strange scenery, I withdrew from the window frame and examined my diminutive hand.

When I first awoke, I was utterly bewildered. I couldn't make sense of my predicament, and it took me a considerable amount of time to stop crying and throwing tantrums about returning to my previous life. Amidst all the chaos, however, one thing had brought me back to reality.

On an impulse, his name escaped my lips. "Miltiades!" I announced.

I encountered my favorite fictional character.

This entire situation felt like being on a movie set or something akin to "The Truman Show." In my attempt to escape my new reality, I stumbled upon my beloved character. It was a divine gift.

"God answered my prayers!" I exclaimed, thankful for my nightly prayers. "A world with my favorite character."

Only one explanation could encompass everything that had occurred: I must have fallen into the world of a novel as the main protagonist. Typically, becoming the main character would be a cause for celebration, but not in this case. The novel was titled A Lightless Mirror, and the author aimed to create a more realistic form of fantasy by subjecting the protagonist to many harrowing trials.

I groaned at the thought. To think that a heroine would have to endure so much!

"But, it's alright," I continued to mumble, trailing off. After all, my favorite character resided in this world. "Light and salt..."

I had never imagined I would experience love like this again. This web novel was the first thing that compelled me to rush to my computer, eagerly awaiting the next update. I had even searched for the writer's social media accounts for more information.

I was so overjoyed at the prospect of seeing my favorite character again that tears welled up in my eyes.

"Saintess!" a familiar voice called out, snapping me out of my reverie. "You can't behave like this!"

Luciana, the maid assigned to care for me, rushed over, pulling me away from my perch by the window with a stern expression. She seemed unaffected by my attempts to win her over with my cuteness.

Ah, it had worked just yesterday! To think she'd resist my charms... She was formidable!

She noticed my surprise, composed herself, and continued, "You mustn't look out of the window in such a precarious manner, alright?" I had no choice but to nod. "You do realize today is a crucial, don't you?"

I nodded. "Of course."

"Then, sit here. I'll assist you in getting ready." I complied, and she presented a priest's attire adorned with intricate gold embroidery in the Vios Empire pattern. It was an outfit reserved for priests alone. "You will be wearing this," she declared.

"Alright."

While Luciana helped me don the attire, I contemplated my most pressing dilemma.

I needed to survive.

The main character of this novel, and the person I had become—Priscilla—was destined to meet a tragic end due to her boundless kindness being taken advantage of by others. I couldn't allow that to happen. Internally, I expressed my regrets to the author of this novel; I would not be following Priscilla's path.

I refused to meet a tragic end, so I had to find a secure place to live. I needed to find a good home to be adopted into.

"It has finally arrived," I muttered.

Today was the day I would determine my fate.

***

After receiving directions from Luciana, I arrived at the temple where the twelve elders and the pope were seated. As soon as I entered, everyone stood up and bowed to me.

"Welcome, Saintess," they chanted in unison.

As someone from the present, it was challenging to adjust to the sight of elderly men with white hair bowing to me. In response, all I could manage was a few awkward nods, but the elders continued to smile warmly.

"You're looking lovely today," one of them complimented.

"It will be hard to part with her," remarked another.

"Laws are laws," came the reply, "so there's nothing we can do about it."

"I hope the saintess will always be blessed."

Passing by as they gave their blessings, I paused before the pope. Pope Raphael was also quite elderly.

"Welcome, Saintess," he greeted me.

"Thank you, Your Holiness," I replied.

He smiled and then laughed. "Do you know what today is?"

"Yes," I replied confidently.

Of course, I knew. Today, I will be selecting my adoptive family. Every saintess had to leave the temple and travel the world, choosing a family to care for her until she reached adulthood. This time, it wasn't a matter of luck or chance; I was picking my future home. In the original novel, Priscilla had chosen poorly, leading to a miserable life. To avoid her fate, I needed to choose wisely.

But I couldn't make the same choice Priscilla would have. The thought sent shivers down my spine, as she had suffered greatly under their influence.

Traditionally, saintesses chose families based on the criteria set by the temple, making it a complex decision. I had to be exceptionally cautious.

"I'm glad to see you're so happy, Saintess," one of the elders remarked.

"Yes," I said, nodding. "I'm truly excited."

The elders were taken aback by my spoken words. "It seems like you really are thrilled," they commented. "This is the first time we've heard your voice."

I had refrained from speaking for some time because when I did, I spoke so eloquently that some people questioned my actual age. It had reached the point where some elders had never heard me speak before today. After leaving the surprised elders, I turned back to the pope and smiled.

"Now, shall we begin?" he asked.

After nodding in agreement, the prospective family candidates began to enter the temple. I didn't recognize their faces, but I could discern their characteristics. None of them appeared to be the person I was searching for.

However, soon enough, the right person walked in.

I started to run.

"Saintess!" the astonished elders cried, taken aback. I paid no attention to their words or their reactions. I had made my decision.

"Daddy!" I exclaimed, jumping into Miltiades's arms. I wasn't sure if he recognized me, but he looked puzzled. It seemed he was about to say something when I cut him off.

"I'm adopting you as my father!" I declared.

I wasn't going to treat my family selection as a random lottery, hoping for the best outcome. I was going to support my favorite wholeheartedly . I was confident that this would work. I was putting all my chips on this bet.

"Be my dad!"