Chapter 1: The Author Falls
Chapter 1: The Author Falls
Sid stared at his laptop screen, his fingers resting on the keyboard as if they had forgotten how to move.
After months of writing, rewriting, and overthinking every scene, he had finally reached the end.
Slowly, he typed the last words.
“The End.”
He leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms.
“Finally… done.”
His novel, The Great Villainess of the Fallen Empire, was complete.
It was a story filled with emotions, ambition, betrayal—and at its center stood the villainess.
Kaira.
A woman who had everything: beauty, intelligence, and power.
Yet she lacked the one thing she wanted the most.
Love.
Sid scrolled up and reread the final chapter.
Kaira stood in front of Ritvik, her expression calm but her heart clearly breaking.
She had confessed to him many times.
Again and again.
But every time, Ritvik avoided answering.
He never accepted her.
He never rejected her.
Instead, he chose someone else—the “true heroine.”
And in the end…
Kaira died.
Not in anger.
Not in revenge.
But while saving Ritvik.
A meaningless sacrifice.
Sid sighed.
“…That’s realistic.”
He clicked upload and posted the final chapter online.
At first, nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
Notifications flooded his screen.
Comments appeared one after another.
“What kind of ending is this?”
“We didn’t expect this from you!”
“Change the ending!”
“Kaira deserved better!”
Sid frowned slightly.
“…As expected.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“If I feel like it… I’ll change it.”
But honestly, he didn’t have the energy.
He stood up, walked toward the sofa, and dropped onto it.
“Just a short rest…”
THUD!
Something suddenly fell and hit his head.
“Ah—!”
Pain shot through his skull.
His vision blurred.
“…What the—”
Everything went dark.
When Sid opened his eyes again, the first thing he noticed was the ceiling.
White.
Clean.
Too clean.
“…Where am I?”
He slowly sat up and looked around.
The room was perfectly organized.
Everything was neat.
Not a single thing was out of place.
Sid blinked.
“…This feels like something I would design.”
He stood up and walked toward the mirror.
The moment he saw his reflection—
He froze.
“…No way.”
The face staring back at him wasn’t his.
It was younger. Sharper. Calmer.
“This is…”
Recognition hit instantly.
“This is Sid.”
Not himself.
But the character he had written.
A side character.
“Why me?!” he muttered, holding his head.
“I get becoming the main character… or even the villain…”
He looked at his reflection again.
“But a side character?! Seriously?!”
He let out a frustrated breath.
“This only happens in novels or short dramas…”
After a few minutes, he forced himself to calm down.
“…Think.”
He looked around again.
Clean room. Organized setup.
“…I made this character a clean freak.”
Then he realized something else.
“This Sid… is a first-year medical student.”
He checked the time.
8:00 AM.
“…First day of college.”
He sighed.
“Of course it is.”
At exactly 8:15 AM, Sid left his room and headed to college.
Everything looked exactly like how he had imagined it.
Students walked around, talking and laughing.
But Sid didn’t interact with anyone.
Without saying a word, he entered his classroom and sat on the last bench.
Quiet.
Detached.
Students were introducing themselves.
Talking about ranks, achievements, goals.
Then a girl stood up.
“I’m Shreya. I secured 5th rank in the region.”
Her voice was confident.
Then she added,
“I also admire Mr. Cat… especially his research on medicine.”
Sid’s expression didn’t change.
“…That’s me.”
She continued,
“I like how he said discipline matters… but also later corrected himself and talked about health.”
“Last bench student.”
The teacher’s voice interrupted.
The whole class turned.
“…Why me?”
Sid stood up.
“I’m Sid.”
A pause.
“I got 1st rank in the region.”
Silence.
Then whispers spread across the room.
“Rank 1?”
“Is he Mr. Cat?”
Shreya stood up immediately.
“Are you Mr. Cat?”
Sid looked at her calmly.
“Yes.”
Gasps filled the room.
“But don’t ask unnecessary questions,” he said.
“If it’s about research, contact me later.”
Then he added,
“I once said physical activity is useless.”
He paused.
“I was wrong.”
The class listened carefully.
“When I stopped exercising, my stamina dropped.”
He glanced around.
“Walking or running daily improves both physical and mental health.”
At that moment, more professors entered the class.
They were also listening.
But before anything else could happen—
The door opened.
Kaira walked in.
Her presence alone changed the atmosphere.
Elegant.
Confident.
Cold.
Sid felt it instantly.
“…The villainess.”
She walked straight toward him.
“I heard about you,” she said calmly.
“Would you like to join my company?”
The entire class froze.
Sid blinked.
“…This didn’t happen in the novel.”
Then he realized—
“I’m inside the story.”
“I’ll provide space and resources for your research,” Kaira added.
Sid thought for a moment.
“…That’s enough.”
“I’ll join.”
A professor interrupted,
“You’re not even asking about salary?”
Sid shook his head.
“If I get space for research, that’s enough.”
Kaira said calmly, “I’ll still pay you. 3k per month.”
Sid nodded.
“Fine. But one condition—no interference, no pressure, and nothing against my ethics.”
“Agreed,” Kaira replied.
Sid took out a document.
It clearly mentioned all his conditions.
Kaira read it—and signed immediately.
From the side, Shreya spoke.
“Can I join too?”
Kaira looked at her.
“How much do you expect?”
“Anything is fine. I just want to work with my idol.”
Kaira smiled slightly.
“Accepted.”
“Let’s meet in the cafeteria,” Sid said.
Both nodded.
After class, they met at the cafeteria.
Kaira was sitting with her team.
She introduced them.
They were facing issues with their app.
“There are some bugs,” one of them said.
Sid looked at the system.
“Can I check?”
“Sure,” Kaira replied.
Within minutes, he fixed the issue.
Not just that—he suggested improvements.
Everyone was shocked.
“Thank you!”
Sid nodded.
Then he looked at Kaira.
“Boss Ma’am… the space you promised?”
She smirked.
“Let’s go.”
They reached a huge building.
“This is the Onix Group building,” Sid said.
“Yes,” Kaira replied.
As they entered—
A staff member shouted,
“The new owner is here!”
Kaira and Shreya were shocked.
“New owner?”
A manager rushed toward Sid.
“Second Young Master, you’re here!”
Sid sighed.
“…So I’m rich too.”
Kaira stared at him.
“You’re rich?”
“Yes,” Sid replied casually.
“Then why join my company?”
“I need space,” he said.
“And I saw potential in your work.”
Soon, floors were prepared.
Research space for Sid.
Rest areas for Kaira and Shreya.
They were stunned.
Later, in Kaira’s office—
Sid said calmly,
“I focus too much on research. I don’t even know how much my family owns.”
Kaira nodded slowly.
“…You’re strange.”
After everything was set, they had dinner together.
Shreya asked, “Don’t you get tired?”
“I enjoy it,” Sid replied.
Then she asked, “What kind of girl do you like?”
Sid paused.
“I won’t date,” he said.
“I’ll marry directly.”
Both were surprised.
“I just want someone who lives freely… doing what she likes.”
Kaira silently looked at him.
Next day—
At the cafeteria—
Ritvik approached.
“Can I sit here?”
Shreya nodded.
But Sid said, “No.”
Ritvik frowned.
“Why?”
Sid replied calmly,
“We work under Miss Kaira. You should ask her first.”
Kaira said, “I don’t mind.”
But Sid still refused.
“You’re not allowed.”
Ritvik got frustrated and sat anyway.
Sid stood up.
“Kaira, let’s move.”
She followed him.
Shreya followed too.
At another table—
Sid said casually,
“I upgraded the company’s cybersecurity yesterday.”
Kaira froze.
“…You did what?”
Sid leaned back.
“Just basic improvements.”
Kaira stared at him.
Shocked.
Confused.
Curious.
And for the first time—
The villainess felt something change.
“…The story…”
“…is no longer the same.”
