After receiving a brief explanation from the system, I finally learnt that my soul had been transferred into the body of Eliana Whitmore, the illegitimate daughter of Arthur and Vivian Whitmore.
The moment I found out I slammed my fist against the mattress and yelled, kicking the blanket off before collapsing back against the pillows, entirely drained.
”At the very least, couldn’t you have found me a better body?” I said staring up blankly at the stained ceiling tiles, letting out a long sigh.
What kind of terrible luck was this?
Arthur Whitmore ran Starship Entertainment, an agency responsible for dozens of A-list celebrities—and an agency I had extremely bad ties with in my past life.
Now that I actually thought about it, I finally understood why Audrey looked so familiar, If I wasn’t mistaken, She had signed with her father’s agency early this year and landed a lead movie role right out of the gate.
The film itself was mediocre at best, but massive promotional budgets and an innocent public persona turned her into an overnight hit.
A classic industry nepo baby.
The more I thought about it the more furious I became.
I sat upright, the sheets bunched in my fists.
“Could you really not have found a better body?”
[I’m sorry Host, but this was the only available body]
“Fuck!
This is absurd.” I dragged my fingers through my tangled hair, glaring at the floating screen.
“Fine, just break down what all of this is.”
[I am the National Treasure system, 007!
And that interface in front of you is a status screen!
My job is simply to help you become a National Treasure within 3 years.]
“A national treasure?”
[Yes, Host!
If you look at the bottom of the status screen you’ll see your main quest.]
I leaned forward, reading the glowing blue characters line by line.
“Become a national treasure, time limit 3 years.”
A cold feeling settled in my stomach.
“Time limit?
Is something going to happen if I don’t complete this within 3 years?”
[If Host does not successfully finish her main quest within 3 years, she will die.]
“Huh?!
What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!
What do you mean by die?!”
[Do not worry, Host!
That’s why I’m here, to help you accomplish it!]
“…Can I refuse it?”
[If Host chooses to refuse the quest, you die as well]
I slammed both hands over my face and groaned into my palms.
“What kind of fucked up bullshit is this?!”
[Would Host like to decline the quest?]
”No!” I snapped, pulling my hands away.
“No, Goddamn it!
Who the hell wants to die?!”
[Understood!
I am pleased Host chose not to die!]
”Pleased?
You actually process emotions?”
[Yes, Host.]
”Right.
Fantastic.” I rubbed my temples, trying to clear the lingering headache.
“Random question, why are you called 007?”
[Well, because you are my seventh host.]
I froze, my hand stopping mid-air.
“What happened to the first six?”
[They failed their quests and died.]
I stared at the screen blankly, giving a slow and deliberate nod.
“Right.
Of course they did.” I took a deep breath and sat up straight.
“Whatever.
Where do we start?”
[Generating First Side Quest….]
A soft ping echoed in my ears, and the text on the screen changed.
[Side Quest: ‘Meet your Crippled Fiancé’]
[Objective: Meet your Fiancé, Damien Blackwood and convince him to marry you and let you live in his house.]
[Time Limit: 2 hours]
[Reward: 50 Experience Points, 15 System Points, $500 Cash, Newbie Package]
[Failure Penalty: Loss of 10 Charm Points]
“Damien Blackwood…” I muttered, testing the name on my tongue.
“Huh?
Damien Blackwood?!”
“Wait a second!” I practically yelled, staring at the screen floating in the air.
“Damien Blackwood?
As in the Blackwood family?”
[Yes, Host.
Damien Blackwood, the heir to the Blackwood Corporation.]
My head throbbed even harder, to the extent it felt like a full blown migraine.
I knew that name.
Even in my past life, the Blackwood name carried enough weight to crush entire industries.
”The heir?
The same guy my sister called a cripple?” I asked, staring at the screen.
[Correct.
Host’s fiancé suffered a severe accident two years ago, losing the use of his legs.]
“Well that’s certainly something but how am I supposed to even meet him in the first place?”
[Host is in luck!
He is currently on his way here.]
I nearly pulled the intravenous tube straight out of my arm.
“What?!
Why?!”
[Host is his fiancée, and Host is currently in the hospital!]
”From what I know of the Blackwood family, he doesn’t strike me as the caring type.”
[He is not.
However, I am confident that Host will figure something out!]
A knot tightened in my throat as Audrey’s words echoed in my mind.
Even if he walked through that door, would he even spare me a second glance?
[Do you want to see your face, Host?]
I hesitated, then nodded.
“Yes.”
A second later the floating interface in front of me turned into a mirror, reflecting my current face.
“What…the hell is this?” I said, swallowing hard unable to believe what I was seeing.
And no, I wasn’t reacting that way because I thought it looked awful it was actually the exact opposite.
This face was so beautiful that I couldn’t even believe Audrey had the guts to call it ugly.
Sure my forehead was wrapped in bandages and I had a few cuts on my cheeks and chin but even through all of that, the beauty was still obvious.
This face had the kind of potential that could easily belong to a Goddess.
My old face had been pretty too, but Eliana’s beauty was a one of a kind type of beauty, the type that couldn’t be recreated even with the best plastic surgeon.
She had beautiful fair skin that was a smooth as porcelain, her nose was delicate, and her lips were naturally full and rosy, the kind that curved into an effortless pout.
But what completely stole my attention were her eyes, they were big, almond-shaped, and when the light touched them, her irises shimmered with a faint golden glow, almost as if she had honey-colored eyes.
[Is Host satisfied with her appearance?]
“I’m extremely satisfied,” I whispered, unable to pull my eyes away from the mirror.