The Extra's Guide to Accidental Treason

Prologue

All Penelope ever wanted from her second life was peace, warm tea, and a front-row seat to someone else's drama.

When she regained her memories at seven years old, she quickly realized she had been reborn into a romance novel. She remembered enough to know the plot revolved around a sweet, lowly noble girl named Lillian Hearts, who was destined to captivate the most powerful, intimidating man in the entire empire, Crown Prince Theodore von Valerius.

Did Penelope try to change the plot? Absolutely not.

Did she try to steal the male lead? Good heavens, no.

Penelope had something far better: a loving, delightfully mundane family. Her father was an overworked baron who obsessed over his rose garden, her mother made the best cinnamon pastries in the province, and her twin younger brothers were energetic pests whom she adored with all her heart. For the first time across two lifetimes, Penelope was content.

So, she played her role as a background character to perfection. She attended every mandatory ball, stood discreetly near the refreshment tables, and munched on fruit tarts while watching the grand narrative unfold.

She watched when the Crown Prince dramatically declared his affection for Lillian under the moonlight. She was there--disguised behind a tall potted fern--when he softened his icy scowl just to wrap his cloak around Lillian's shoulders. She even caught Theodore subtly using high-tier wind magic just to blow romantic cherry blossoms across Lillian's path.

It was top-tier, live-action entertainment. And when the grand finale arrived--the arrest of the evil Duke Calisto, Penelope genuinely felt a profound sigh of relief.

The plot was finished. The main characters will have their happily ever after. Penelope could finally retire to her family's humble countryside estate and live out the rest of her days in quiet bliss.

Or so she thought.

Six months after the story ended, on a foggy Tuesday morning, Penelope sat in the dining room of the Rosier estate, happily buttering a fresh slice of toast.

Her mother was baking a fresh batch of cookies and her father was reading the local herald with a satisfied sigh.

It was a perfect, ordinary morning--until the heavy oak front doors of the estate slammed open with enough force to shake the brass chandelier.

Penelope froze, her slice of toast sliding out of her fingers.

Standing on her family's worn rug was His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Theodore von Valerius--wearing plain traveling clothes instead of his royal regalia, his golden hair disheveled, and his bright blue eyes fixed intensely on her.

Her parents gasped, immediately bowing so low their foreheads nearly touched the floorboards.

Penelope froze, her toast slipping through her fingers onto her plate.

Theodore didn't spare a glance toward her trembling parents. Instead, he unrolled a heavy parchment tied with a stark, crimson imperial wax seal--the highest classification of emergency in the Empire.

"Lady Penelope Celestia de Rosier," Theodore declared, his voice echoing with absolute authority. "By order of the Imperial Crown, you are officially declared a High-Tier Threat to the Empire."

Penelope blinked in absolute, dumbfounded horror.

What the hell!?

She had spent the last five years standing in corners, drinking fruit punch, and actively trying not to breathe too loudly near the plot.

What could she possibly have done to earn a personal arrest from the Crown Prince himself?

"Wait--" Penelope finally stammered, raising her hands defensively. "Your Highness, there has to be a mistake! I'm just a Baron's daughter. I haven't done anything!"

Theodore's eyes narrowed, step-by-step closing the distance between them until he stood right over her chair. He held up the parchment, showing her the glowing magical bounty written in dark ink alongside an uncannily accurate portrait of her face.

"There is no mistake, Lady Rosier," Theodore whispered coldly, leaning down so only she could hear him. "We know what you've been doing this entire time."