Chapter 2
On the Safety Rules of the Haunted Duke’s Castle
Clunk, clunk.
There was the scent of freshly cut wood.
At the same time, a dull throbbing in my head—like someone had smacked me with a shovel—came with a wave of violent nausea.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long for my lead-heavy eyelids to open.
Where… am I?
I was inside a carriage. The kind with plush cushions piled under me—expensive-looking, at a glance, the very picture of luxury.
All the windows were covered with curtains, but the rhythmic sway of the interior told me we were moving somewhere.
But… why was I here? I was sure… I’d been logging into the game.
Realizing that made my hazy memories suddenly sharpen.
“Ah.”
That’s right. I was now inside South Korea’s first-ever virtual reality dating simulation game, Heart-Pounding Fated Love☆Crush.
I’d stumbled across an ad recruiting closed beta testers, applied on a whim, somehow got picked, and the last thing I remembered was strapping on a strangely designed brainwave device.
Wow… this feels more real than I expected.
The smell of wood filling my nose, the texture of the seat against me… even the natural ambient sounds around me.
Any worries I’d had about VR motion sickness or the immersion breaking felt laughable now.
Come to think of it, the game was rated 19+… Did that mean I’d be romancing the male leads in this ultra-realistic environment too?!
My heart began pounding with excitement—this level of realism had not been on my bingo card.
But then I paused. Something was… off.
I’d heard that Heart-Pounding Fated Love☆Crush started with the heroine wrongfully accused and locked in an underground prison. So why was I in a carriage?
It didn’t take long for me to come up with a guess.
Because I’m a beta tester?
Since this was a closed test, maybe they were dropping me into a specific event instead of the prologue. That would make sense.
After all, my role wasn’t just to enjoy the game—it was also to catch bugs.
As I was thinking this, a translucent system message popped up in front of me.
[Welcome, Player.]
The message blinked at a steady pace, giving me plenty of time to read it, before being replaced with a new line.
[User name ‘Nadia Windsor’ confirmed.]
I didn’t remember choosing a name. Must have been auto-assigned.
I guessed the player customization system wasn’t implemented yet—this was a beta, after all.
Still, seeing that familiar UI made my unease fade into anticipation.
When the next message appeared, my lips curled upward involuntarily.
[A “Beta Tester Exclusive Special Package” (Not for Sale) has arrived for ‘Nadia Windsor’. Open it now?]
Perfect! If I was going to be testing an unstable build, perks like this were only fair.
Heck yes.
This was a brainwave-based game, so I didn’t even have to move—my intent alone was enough.
A gift box animation unfolded before my eyes, and then the results appeared.
“Ooh!”
A small gasp escaped me—the contents were better than expected.
[S-Rank Draw Ticket ×2]
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A ticket to draw special abilities or items normally unobtainable.
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Try using it when the game gets tough.
[Beginner’s Blessing (24 Days)]
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Provides hints in the form of [TIP] messages.
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Lasts 24 in-game days (24 real-time hours).
[10,000 Diamonds]
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Currency for use in the “Cash Shop.”
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Order needed items from the catalog-style store.
[Visitor’s Rules for the Belmond Ducal Castle]
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(Required Reading!) A guidebook that will help with gameplay. Related to safety, so read it carefully.
While I read the descriptions, the draw tickets, blessing, and diamonds vanished with a note that they’d been automatically applied.
Which meant… I could try the shop right now?
Cash Shop!
A book-like catalog spread open in front of me.
Weapons, Armor, Accessories, Miscellaneous, Gardening…
The flood of options made my head spin.
Beneath the shop name, the categories neatly divided a dizzying array of items.
On a whim, I tapped the [Miscellaneous] tab marked with a pouch icon, and the jumble of items was sorted by type.
Most looked completely useless at first glance. Curious, I checked one at random.
[Music Box of Eternal Rest — 3,000 Diamonds]
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Permanently cures insomnia. However, you may find it difficult to wake up on your own—use with caution.
Hmm. Slightly creepy description, but definitely handy for someone with severe insomnia.
I checked another.
[Feather Duster of Annihilation — 2,500 Diamonds]
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Erases dust, suspicious stains, foreign matter, and other unsightly, wicked presences. Absolutely do not use on living beings.
…Okay, that’s enough window shopping.
Scrolling seemed endless. The search bar at the top suggested you’d need to type in keywords to find specific items.
After browsing for a bit, I closed the shop and examined the last remaining item.
[Visitor’s Rules for the Belmond Ducal Castle]
It was a single sheet of stiff paper, befitting something called a rulebook.
Unlike the vanished items whose uses were obvious, this “Visitor’s Rules” document was still a mystery, even after reading the description.
Curious, I sat up straighter and unfolded it—only to grow increasingly baffled.
What is with this content?
Every entry looked suspicious no matter how you read it.
Baseless warnings, even what sounded like… encouragement to commit suicide? This wasn’t a guide—it read like one of those creepy “urban legend safety lists” you’d find on a horror forum.
But this was supposed to be a romance sim!
Before logging in, a researcher had even told me there were more male leads available in the beta—so I should have as much fun as I wanted. Was I… scammed?
Before I could dwell on the suspicion, another system message appeared.
[Main Quest Received]
▶ Uncover the Secrets of Belmond Ducal Castle!
The eerie yet beautiful Belmond Castle. Centered around its master, “Edwin Belmond,” this place hides many suspicious secrets.
Interact with the castle’s key residents and investigate its halls to gather clues.
— List of Key Residents
— Map of Belmond Castle Grounds
— List of Rewards
As I mulled over the quest, I set aside my nagging doubts and nodded.
So it’s mystery-based?
Looked like the game wasn’t straight-up horror—just that one of the male leads had that sort of theme.
Maybe they were going for “romantic thriller,” adding various elements to set it apart—especially as the first VR game of its kind.
Clunk!
Just as I was about to examine the quest in detail, the carriage stopped.
So… the real game was starting now?
Straightening up with excitement, I was immediately met with a flashing warning.
[Warning! It is recommended you follow the safety rules.]
Ah, right. They said I shouldn’t get caught.
I quickly folded the rules sheet small and shoved it into the pocket of my dress—which was probably the default outfit.
Almost on cue, the carriage door opened, and a greeting came in voices that sounded like many people speaking at once.
“Welcome, milady.”
“Oh, hello~!”
I cheerfully stepped out of the carriage… and froze at the sight before me.
Uh… what is this?
This looked nothing like the VR guide map shown in the pre-game tutorial.
I was told I’d be living in a grand, love-filled mansion…
But the sky was a dull gray, the unkempt garden lay under a heavy, gloomy fog, and the air felt cold and foreboding.
The mansion itself was indeed grand—but radiated an oppressive, melancholic aura.
And that wasn’t even the real problem.
Because standing before me weren’t neat rows of servants… but a whole group of something else entirely.
