The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well

Karina never expected to find herself inside the pages of a novel—especially as a villainess destined for ruin. But that won’t keep her down! Taking charge of her new life as an S-class guide, she strikes a risky bargain with Duke Robert Apharantes: her blood to heal his powerful but tormented son, Hedonia, in exchange for security and a mansion on a private island to call her own. Determined not to overstep her precarious role, Karina sets out to help Hedonia, whose painful awakening could either make or break his future. Yet, things quickly spiral beyond her control when Hedonia offers her more than just his desire for revenge. Thrust into a delicate balance between trust, survival, and loyalty, Karina must navigate the intrigues of noble houses, dangerous dungeons filled with menacing creatures, and the expectations placed upon her as Hedonia’s “substitute.” Will Karina remain merely a substitute in someone else’s story—or will she rewrite her fate, claiming a destiny far more comforting than the one written for her?