Manhwa/Chapter 2

## Chapter Guide

***Hard Mode Begins!*** is the 2nd chapter of *Villains Are Destined to Die (Manhwa)*. The second chapter can be read for free online at Tapas in English and at Kakaopage in Korean.

## **Summary**

Siyeon throws her phone at the wall in anger, she died in the game again. She is frustrated at how hard it is to earn favor as the villainess in the games Hard Mode. But it's made even harder because every wrong decision means a game over. And every game over is a gruesome death.

She reflects on how the villainess, Penelope, seemed so evil in Normal Mode, but now that she is playing from her perspective she sees that she did nothing wrong. Why does everyone react like this to her? She wants Penelope to survive, just once. At first Siyeon just wanted to see the hidden ending, but now she actually likes playing the game. She questioning what could have the villainess done so wrong? Penelope was just given the role a bad role, that's it. She wants to see the poor villainess survive and win over just one person and live happily.

The heroine wins over everyone's love so effortlessly in Normal Mode. In contrast, the villainess's predicament becomes more unfortunate no matter how much she begs for affection. For the villainess in Hard Mode every end is death.

*~ Recalling her past ~*

Her brothers bullying her and then mocking her because of their fathers neglect. The words that hurt the most were when they told her how nobody cares if she is bullied or starved, they will all look away, because she wasn't really their family.

Siyeon saw herself in the villainess. And after dying so many times in the game, she wanted to see the villainesses brothers to meet their doom as well. She could buy Affection score with money, but she would rather restart, then die, then start again. But even as dawn was breaking, she hadn't even come close to the hidden ending. As she drifted off to sleep she decided to start again until the villainesses end isn't death.

~ In the Eckhart mansion ~

Siyeon, now Penelope, hears someone calling out "My Lady. My Lady, wake up." She sees a maid calling out, is she calling for her?

She remembers that yesterday night, when she opened her eyes, she found herself in this place instead of her bed. And she had become someone else. She prayed and prayed all night, but now she realizes that it really wasn't a dream after all. She had really turned into the villainess of the game, Penelope Eckhart.

As soon as she woke up, she realized that her hand was in extreme pain, it felt like it was struck by lightning. She noticed tiny puncture marks on the inside of her elbow. She was called again by the maid who looked exactly like the Lady's maid in the game. Why was she doing this to a sleeping person. Something was wrong, she couldn't speak to complain about this. The maid continued and told her she had prepared water for her to bathe in. Penelope couldn't speak unless choices from the game appear in front of her.

The maid smirked. She didn't even think the maid would attend her, but to think she would give her cold water to wash in was unexpected. She knew that Penelope was treated indifferently by everyone, but she had no idea of details like this. The needles didn't even show up in the game. As she thought that she realized she did see them in game too, on the death screen you could see the puncture marks that she used to think were blood stains. Was it actually a clue? How was anyone supposed to recognize that? The game was uselessly detailed.

The maid called from the other side of the bathroom that the breakfast was ready, Penelope didn't have a choice and washed herself in the cold water. She had suffered years in a doghouse she was forced to call her home, this didn't faze her. The maid set the food on Penelope's table, she was shocked - the food was moldy? Did the maid expect her to eat this garbage? She saw the maid smirking and giggling as she watched.

Finally choice options popped up for her to use:

1. *"Are you insane?! Call the cook!"* (Flip the table)
2. *"How about you stuff yourself instead!"* (Feed the maid)
3. (Eat)

## Characters

* Crown Prince (mentioned)
* Emily
* Siyeon's Older brother