Chapter 4: The Weight of a New Life

Galatea Arcano sat in the small, musty room that served as her refuge. Her hands were clutched tightly in her lap, and her breathing was ragged. The memories of her former life were haunting her, chasing her, threatening to drag her back into the darkness.

She had escaped from her cruel stepbrothers, from the sprawling estate that had once seemed like a prison. She had made it to a prestigious university that was renowned throughout the world. And yet, she still felt trapped, confined by her own fears and insecurities.

"Why?" she whispered, the word a hiss of frustration and anger. "Why did I have to go through all of that?"

She thought of Galatea Arcano, the villainess from the game that had once provided her with a fleeting escape from reality. Galatea was a commoner who had been adopted by the Arcano duke's family. Her life was forever changed by her striking similarity to the duke's missing daughter.

But as she grew older, Galatea ceased to resemble the daughter that the duke had lost. He lost interest in her, and she was left to the mercy of her two cruel stepbrothers and the abuse of the servants.

Galatea could understand why Galatea had become the villainess that she was in the game. Her life was filled with hardship and mistreatment, and she had responded by becoming sharp, by putting up defenses that kept others at bay.

And yet, despite all that, Galatea couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards Galatea. She had been adopted into the duke's family and given a chance at a new life. Galatea, on the other hand, had been left to fend for herself, with only the rough walls of her small room to protect her from the world.

She thought of the steps that had led her to this moment, to this place. She had been born into a life of poverty, her mother struggling to make ends meet. When her mother fell ill and died, Galatea was left alone, with only the memories of her mother's kindness and love to sustain her.

She had stumbled upon the game "Playing the Villainess" by chance, and it had become her escape from the harsh reality of her life. She had thrown herself into the game, becoming the villainess and relishing the power that came with it.

But now, as she sat in her small room, she realized that the game had become more than just a distraction. It had given her the courage to leave her stepbrothers and start a new life, to strive for something better.

"I'm not going to be like the real Galatea," she whispered, determination filling her voice. "I'm not going to let my past define me. I'm going to be better than that."

She stood up, her fists clenched at her sides. She would not be a victim any longer. She would fight, she would endure, and she would succeed.

"I'm going to make a new life for myself," she said, her voice growing stronger with each word.

"I'm going to be someone who people look up to, who people admire. I'm going to be a role model, someone who others can look to for inspiration."

She took a deep breath, her determination growing with each passing moment. "I'm going to be the hero of my own story," she said, her voice ringing with conviction.

"I'm going to be Galatea Arcano, and I'm going to make a difference in the world."