I transmigrated into a book, tasked with changing the tragic fate of the male and female leads, whose deaths were inevitable.

"Caelan Thorn must brutally kill the host and go mad, only then can the mission end."

"I’ll take over her body, bring myself back to life, and stop Caelan Thorn from committing suicide! As for the host’s soul, wherever it goes, I don’t care!"

After accidentally hearing the green tea system’s inner thoughts, I decided that the system could suffer the punishment for me!

Late one night, I went to an old-fashioned photography studio to take some pictures, only to be thrown into this book by a voice claiming to be the system.

I became Elara Vance, the third miss of the Vance family, a mere cannon fodder character who dies early in the story. My main task was to use love to redeem the twisted, yandere villain Caelan and prevent him from turning evil and destroying the original male and female leads. Additionally, I had to kick the malicious female antagonist, Lydia Vance, out of the Vance family as quickly as possible.

On the very first day of my transmigration, before dawn, the system woke me up.

"Caelan is being bullied. The host must help him."

I quickly dressed and rushed to Vance School, where Caelan was located.

The original Elara’s father was the current prime minister, highly trusted by Emperor Theron. He had arranged for unmarried princes to study at a private school, attracting many powerful figures in the court to accompany their princes as tutors.

At this moment, Caelan was kneeling before a group of people, being humiliated.

"As long as Caelan doesn't grovel before them, they’ll accuse him of wanting revenge on the country, and for his own survival, he has no choice but to kneel and beg."

"The host has been provided with a mind-reading skill."

Once I activated the skill, I walked over to Caelan with a sense of calm confidence.

The one leading the bullying was Prince Dorian, and his arrogant behavior was detestable to look at.

"Alistair is so biased by his father. Even when I bully a hostage, he’s always meddling. Well, I’m going to make him pay!"

After hearing his thoughts, I clenched my fist tighter and breathed a sigh of relief for Caelan.

Prince Alistair truly was the righteous male lead from the original story!

"Greetings, Prince Dorian."

After greeting him, I deliberately turned to my maid. "I just saw Prince Alistair heading this way. How come I’ve arrived, but he still hasn’t?"

Prince Dorian’s eyes darted nervously as he shot a glare at Caelan and hurriedly fled.

After the crowd dispersed, I quickly helped Caelan to his feet and comforted him.

"Don’t take their words to heart. Their wrongdoings will eventually be punished."

"In fact, Prince Alistair has helped you multiple times. Many people are afraid of him. Next time someone bullies you, just mention him, and you’ll be free."

Thinking that it’s better to teach someone how to fish than just give them the fish, I directly told him the way to handle it.

Caelan stared at me with his deep, unfathomable black eyes for a long time. After a slight nod, he left, but I clearly heard his thoughts.

"Heh! Helping me is just a way for him to gain admiration, to bolster his reputation for virtue, and to secure the throne later."

"If someone as capable as him takes the throne, how will I ever restore my country and wipe out the Valdorians?"

I was shocked.

Even when someone genuinely tries to help him, he’s still bent on indiscriminate killing. Is there still any hope of redeeming him?

After Caelan left, I didn’t stay long at the private school. Heeding the maid's reminder, I went to pay my respects to my grandmother.

As soon as I entered the room, a woman in a simple, plain dress caught my eye, standing in sharp contrast to the splendor of my own attire.

She knelt, her body hunched, a small, trembling figure, exuding an air of delicate fragility.

"This is Lydia Vance, the vicious supporting character. She was Caelan's first love, and later, she'll help Caelan ruin the Vance family. You must find a way to drive her away from Caelan!"

"The queen hosted a banquet, and you, a lowly daughter, stole the limelight from the true Vance family heir. Who would've thought you were such a scheming woman! Many nobles have gathered at our Vance family these days, so you’ll be moved to a separate wing. That way, you won’t stir up any temptations, overshadowing the legitimate daughter and embarrassing the Vance family!"

The woman seated at the head of the table, her hair touched with gray but still radiating power and authority, was most likely my grandmother.

Lydia raised her head slightly to glance at my grandmother, hesitating before obediently lowering her gaze.

"I never intended to draw attention. I was only brought out to dance because someone said the Vance family had no talented daughters. Although I am a lowly daughter, I’ve helped bring honor to the Vance family. Why should I be punished for that?"

"Enough," my grandmother snapped. "I’m a lowly daughter, so even breathing is a mistake. Any explanation only earns harsher punishment!"

Lydia's inner thoughts tugged at my heart. How was she any different from Caelan?

Why was one given a chance to redeem themselves, while the other was immediately condemned, with no room for understanding?

I decided to treat her the same.

"Grandmother, before a girl is married, whether born of the legitimate or secondary line, all are tied to the family's honor. If my sister hadn’t drawn attention, how would the rest of us have been talked about?"

Knowing how much my grandmother cared for the original owner, I took this opportunity to intercede on Lydia’s behalf.

Grandmother looked at Lydia anew, and perhaps swayed by my words, nodded slightly. "You make a valid point."

"You need not be punished," she waved her hand, dismissing the matter.

Lydia’s eyes sparkled with a faint light, and she stared at me for a long while.

“Warning to the host: Lydia is the malicious supporting character. Your saintly heart will hinder the completion of the task!”

"Elara actually interceded for me?"

“If Elara had no ulterior motive and truly cared for me, how wonderful that would be. But why would she care for a lowly daughter like me?”

Lydia thought to herself, a bitter smile curling her lips, making her appear even more desolate.

At this point, something felt off to me.

Why did I feel like Lydia was easier to win over than Caelan?

I decided to approach her, walking over and gently taking her hand. "Sister, you’re wearing such a simple dress. It makes you look drained. I’ll have someone bring you a few gowns. What color would you like?"

"I’ll like whatever you pick for me, little sister." Lydia’s voice was soft, and her smile could heal the heart. No wonder that madman Caelan viewed her as his first love.

"As long as Elara truly cares for me as a sister, I would be happy even without gifts. But I fear it’s all just a fa?ade… sigh."

Lydia’s inner thoughts were far more relatable than Caelan’s.

After parting from her, I returned to my room. While the maid went off to prepare Lydia’s clothes, I took the opportunity to speak with the system.

"You heard Lydia’s thoughts, didn’t you? I don’t think she’s so bad. As long as I continue being kind to her, she won’t go dark. So why should I turn on her?"

"Warning! Host, you are the main character. You cannot feel sympathy for the malicious supporting character."

The system then replayed the terrible things Lydia would do after her eventual corruption, looping it in my mind.

Both Lydia and Caelan were born of secondary lines, and both had suffered from their low status at Vance Manor. The only difference was that Lydia turned to darkness for self-preservation, while Caelan descended into rage-fueled violence.

If the goal was simply to save the country and the Vance family, wouldn’t it be easier to redeem Lydia and get rid of Caelan instead?

I expressed my confusion to the system.

"The system designates Caelan as the male lead, Lydia as the malicious supporting character, and you as the female lead destined to save the country."

"Opposites attract. Caelan will compromise for Lydia because of love. As a woman, Lydia is naturally scheming and will only grow jealous of you."

What kind of outdated stereotype was this?

"If you don’t follow the system’s prescribed actions, we will disconnect you from the system and you will never return to the real world."

"Now, we are disabling your mind-reading ability until you rid yourself of your saintly heart for the malicious supporting character."

Was this a threat?

Though I was displeased with the system, I had no choice but to tread carefully. Stuck in this strange world, I could only take things one step at a time.

With that thought, I slowly regained my composure.

After our falling out, the system and I barely communicated, until Caelan found himself in danger again, breaking the silence between us.

"Caelan's homeland is attacking Valdoria. Emperor Theron is furious with Caelan and has ordered him to be punished. Prince Alistair pleaded for him, but now he's been confined to the Prince's residence."

"Caelan is injured, and Prince Alistair won’t let up. He’s come to Vance Manor to torment him. You need to help him! You must get there before Lydia does—don’t let Caelan develop any feelings for her!"

The words didn’t sound like a strategy to win over Caelan. They sounded more like concern for him.

Although I felt something was off with this system, I still followed its instructions and found Caelan.

He had just been beaten. His pale clothes were soaked in blood, and his fragile body trembled from the pain.

Standing in front of him was the same bloated Prince Dorian, who had ordered his men to force Caelan to kneel on the cold stone ground, transferring all his hatred for Prince Alistair onto Caelan.

Prince Alistair was the male lead in this story, and the female lead was Seraphina Vance. They were married now.

"Wasn’t I supposed to get to Caelan before Lydia? I don’t have time to think of a way to help him right now. Could you just give me back my mind-reading ability?"

"I’ll think about it."

"Take your time thinking, but every second you waste, Caelan suffers more."

Noticing the system’s unusual feelings toward Caelan, I cautiously probed.

"Restore the host's mind-reading ability."

A smile tugged at my lips as I casually jogged toward Caelan and Prince Dorian.

I had already figured out how to help Caelan. My earlier words were just a test to understand the system better and to regain my mind-reading power.

"Why are you here again? What trick are you trying to pull this time?"

Prince Dorian glared at me as I stood between him and Caelan, snarling, "If you push me too far, I don’t care if you’re the legitimate daughter of the Vance family!"

And then, his inner thoughts spilled out.

"I can never compare to Alistair. The only thing I have over him is that more people fear me. So no one can stop me from bullying others!"

His twisted thinking made me laugh in disbelief.

Building your own happiness on someone else’s misery? Really?

"Your Highness, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not trying to deceive you. I’m trying to help."

Once I saw his mood settle from my words, I continued, "The enemy is at our doorstep. Even though Prince Alistair is confined, with his concern for the people, he’ll soon figure out a strategy to help Emperor Theron."

"Unlike someone like Prince Dorian, who wastes his time tormenting others."

Prince Dorian fell silent, but his thoughts were anything but still.

"Alistair is so capable. If he offers a solution to Father, he’ll be released soon. Father finally gave me a little favor."

"But no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be as good as Alistair. What else can I do but bully people?"

Having overheard his thoughts, I took the opportunity to give him a nudge. "Back in the day, my sisters and I practiced domestic skills, but I wasn’t as talented and learned slowly. Not wanting to fall behind, I secretly hired a teacher from outside. In the end, I wasn’t any worse than the others."

"Yeah, I could recruit more advisors!"

Prince Dorian snapped his fingers, his face lighting up with realization, and then hurried off.

Caelan slowly rose, his fingers delicately brushing aside his robes. He gave me a glance, but there was no gratitude in his eyes.

Even though I had helped him, all I could sense from him was calculation.