The female lead’s real name was Xarna Matti, and Isadora was relieved that unlike in the movies, she wasn’t mean and seemed genuinely nice.

Isadora’s palms were sweating as she clenched the book tightly in her hands, allowing herself to be dressed while her makeup and wig were changed. She was shocked to see features she didn’t even know she had appear in the mirror.

She was just as beautiful as Xarna, though she didn’t dare say it out loud as she mentally prepared herself to act like Xarna’s sister.

’I just have to say my lines flawlessly and act like an older sister! How hard can it be?’ she reminded herself, trying to stay calm.

About an hour later, the set was ready and reminders were given as everyone who would be in the scene gathered together.

Isadora moved to stand beside Xarna, surprised to see a fierce look on her face compared to the laid-back expression she had earlier. There was no trace of unseriousness to be found as she stepped forward after the cue was given to deliver her lines.

Isadora’s first scene was an argument with Xarna, after which Xarna’s character would leave and not come back to the mansion. Worried, she would lie on her sister’s bed and fall asleep, where she would then be raped by an intruder with a sword who mistakes her for the fiancée of the crown prince.

After it happens, news would spread, and instead of protecting her, her family would choose to protect Xarna’s reputation instead.

’My name is Li Wei,’ she reminded herself over and over again. ’Hers is Li Xueyan.’ Her heart pounded harder with every second that passed as she watched Xarna effortlessly deliver her lines, the director shouting, "Cut!"

"Good job!" he praised. "If everyone is as efficient as you, we might be able to finish a few scenes flawlessly."

Director Cozara’s head was filled with white hair and a clearly greying beard.

Isadora visibly swallowed, taking it more as a warning after seeing the way he glanced at her while saying it.

It was soon her turn to step onto the stage, and she had just done so when someone moved closer to fix her makeup, which had started to smudge from sweat.

"Okay... 3... 2... 1... action!" the director yelled as Li Xueyan began to speak with an exasperated tone.

"I refuse to stay in this house any longer! If I can’t leave this house, is it when I marry the crown prince that I’ll be able to leave the castle grounds?" she snapped, her words as vicious as her expression.

Isadora knew the words she was supposed to say next, but instead of shouting them in a commanding tone as she should have, all she managed was a soft voice.

"Li Xueyan, it’s not safe outside! You know this. The Zhou family will not—"

But she was still speaking when she heard a loud "CUT!" slice through the air, filled with visible irritation.

"What is that?" the director snapped, angrier than Isadora had ever seen anyone act. "How terrible of an act are you?" he barked, muttering under his breath, "Fucking Nepos."

He muttered it loudly enough for everyone to hear. "If not for the large amount of money that was donated, do you think you’d even be in the first episode?"

He was still fuming when the main screenwriter suddenly stepped up to him, speaking quietly for a few moments before backing away.

The director frowned, then ordered another take. "Action!"

This time, Isadora trembled even harder than before as she delivered her lines.

"No! I forbid you!" Her voice was soft and shaky, even as Li Xueyan’s own gained momentum.

"You can’t forbid me! I’m leaving. If you tell on me, I’ll let everyone know your secret too! You’re in love with the crown prince, aren’t you?" Li Xueyan shouted before dashing out of the chamber in her long red Chinese robes.

Li Wei fell exasperated onto the bed, on the verge of tears.

Isadora trembled, but going forward she didn’t hear another "cut" until the scene was completely over. Even in the next one—where the intruder entered and forced himself on her—all she heard after the director yelled "Cut!" was:

"Good job! Not bad! Clearly you’re good at portraying weak characters!" he said, and Isadora instantly took it as a compliment, not caring about the implication.

The scenes flew by, and everything went perfectly until she was done. After taking off her makeup and costume, she walked toward where her sister stood along with Mr. Feliz.

But she had scarcely reached them when she heard her sister’s voice:

"The power of money is clearly great!" Elisa said loudly enough for others to hear, making Isadora flinch.

Her beaming smile disappeared as she realized the writers had probably changed the script to suit her personality. A hint of sadness settled in her eyes, only to hear Mr. Feliz, her instructor, speak.

"You did well! You’ve barely had three days of instruction and you did better than even my best student would!"

Hearing him say that—the first compliment he had ever given her—made it sound like the best praise she could receive, since all she ever got from him was complaints.

"Thanks!" she beamed, ignoring her sister, who had an exasperated look on her face as she groaned loudly, grabbing Isadora’s arm.

"Let’s go eat! It’s been too long since I’ve been in a restaurant! After that, we can go to a club!" Elisa said excitedly, only about a year younger than Isadora, who was twenty-five years old.

But barely had the words left her mouth when Isadora gasped, lowering her voice as she replied, "A club? We can’t! We have people to protect us, but you know we still have to keep a low profile."

Her tone grew serious. "You know who could still be looking for us!" she reminded Elisa, who seemed completely unwilling to listen simply from the stubborn expression on her face.