I Transmigrated Inside of My Favorite TV Series

Chapter 8

The duke was warmly greeted by his people on the day of his arrival in the northern city.

"Our hero has returned, His Majesty and his vassals, our war heroes. Thank you to the Light Goddess Dragon," thousands of men gathered on the street shouted. The chant resonated throughout the city, creating an atmosphere of gratitude and celebration.

"Whoa! I binge-watched this on TV, and now I'm living it in 3D. Pinch me, I'm extra and officially part of the drama!" Rachel found herself mesmerized by the captivating chant as she and her friends strolled down the street to witness the grand parade.

"Rachel! Come on over so you can see the parade better." Samantha urged her to stand next to her at the front.

"Omg Sam! This is amazing! Look at the knights' outfits! Gosh, it's superb!" Rachel exclaimed with excitement, savoring this historical moment.

"Rachel, you're talking that expression again." Bianca, her other friend, just smiled. Rachel's habit of speaking in various animated expressions constantly only increased their admiration for her.

Their lives took a positive turn after Anne introduced them to Rachel. With her infectious laughter, positive vibes, and wisdom about life, she added vibrant colors to their otherwise mundane lives. They couldn't imagine life without Rachel.

When they learned about the infamous poisoning incident involving the crown princess in the south, they couldn't believe that Rachel could be involved. How could they treat someone as adorable as Rachel in that way? Additionally, the crown prince turned his back on Rachel, his first fiancée, in favor of the reigning crown princess, Ara.

In their eyes, for Ara to replace Rachel, the crown prince must have had some vision impairment. The contrast is enormous! Rachel stands out uniquely in terms of beauty, a goddess of the empire. She brings color to an otherwise gray world, and her smile has a calming effect on the heart.

She possesses an unparalleled combination of intelligence, humor, and kindness towards everyone. Rachel consistently lends a helping hand to those in need, particularly the common people. Once, the proceeds from her sales were generously donated to the orphanage to support feeding abandoned children who lacked food. Her charitable efforts were widely recognized, and whenever Rachel ventured into the city's center, she would often be stopped by numerous people who wanted to capture her image.

[In this world, a photo can be engraved using a device powered by mana stones, similar to a camera in the Earth world.]

Rachel has gained such widespread fame that she frequently graces the front page of the northern daily news. She has become a trendsetter, with noblewomen eagerly purchasing everything she wears due to the popularity of her outfits.

"Rachel, when the His Majesty passes by, you must bow your head and avoid looking him in the eye until the general declares that everyone is free to stand and exchange greetings." Samantha speaks into her ear, and Rachel nods in agreement.

She is well aware of Sebastian Astrid's power. Although he hasn't officially claimed the title of King of the North, he is widely regarded as such in the kingdom.

In fact, one of his generals orders the crowd of people to prostrate themselves as the duke arrives. Rachel is currently very impatient and would have asked for his picture and signature if it weren't against the law because she really wanted to see his face.

She sensed the duke passing by but refrained from looking up until the announcement.

"You may all stand. Extend your warm greetings to His Majesty, the Duke of Astrid." As the resounding announcement echoes through the crowd, Rachel promptly raises her head to catch a glimpse of his face.

Is this for real? My ultimate crush. Her jaw is practically on the floor, utterly shocked by the breathtaking appearance of Duke Sebastian Astrid, her heartthrob, and her mouth couldn't even close.

Being handsome is an understatement. That face, paired with the midnight black hair and those fierce ruby eyes. Holy smokes! He could easily be the next Armani Ambassador. Like a Greek god, this overly praised beauty is just unreal.

"Ahem, Rachel, close your mouth and pass on our best wishes to His Majesty." When Bianca caught sight of Rachel's expression, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Hail to His Majesty, our protector and hero. We extend our undying loyalty and gratitude."
The crowd chanted their greetings, and Rachel mimicked them as she gazed upon Sebastian.

While Rachel was fixated on Sebastian's handsome face, unexpectedly, he turned his head around, and their eyes met for the first time, setting her heart racing.

"Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum."

In a moment of surprise, she was taken aback that Sebastian would notice her and hear her loud heartbeat.

Sebastian cast a brief glance her way before riding off on his stallion, sending shivers down her spine.

"What a terrifying presence! If looks could be lethal, I'd be six feet under by now." Rachel almost blurted these words from her head and hastily turned around to avoid looking at the Duke.

Acutely aware of her role as the antagonist in this unfolding narrative, Rachel couldn't ignore the dark history of the original Rachel poisoning his "ex-girlfriend."

It's time to forget taking a photo and his autograph. Darn it, she needs to keep a safe distance from him. This guy exudes such an intimidating aura that she can't afford to provoke him. After all, he is the final boss.

"Rachel, His Majesty seems to be favoring our side. Perhaps he remembers you," Samantha guessed, and her friend Bianca agreed as well.

"Oh, do you think so? But I'm just a minor subject. His Majesty won't waste any time on someone like me."

Feeling uncomfortably tense discussing the Duke and fearing that one of his soldiers might overhear, Rachel swiftly changed the topic. "I need a matcha tea, guys, let's go back to our favorite spot."

Having made a statement that the two others seemed to disagree with, Bianca and Samantha left the group and followed Rachel. The three headed to her coffee shop to enjoy their preferred matcha milk tea.

Sebastian watched as the three women exited the crowd. In his role as the guardian of the empire, he possessed the ability to overhear their conversation and selectively filter it when he focused on that particular topic.

His surprise was evident when he spotted Rachel in the company of the well-known daughters of the northern noble families. Intrigued, he couldn't help but wonder how she had become friends with them.

A strange sensation stirred in his stomach when their eyes met. While he had always acknowledged her beauty, he had never found her interesting before—actually, he found her repulsive.

'After seeing her today, there's something different about her eyes. They are pure and full of life.'
'Hah, what am I even thinking about her? It's probably just because I haven't had a woman in bed for a while.'

Upon reflection, he realized he was contradicting himself and made a furious face.

His knights observed the shift in his expression and detected a sense of unease as he persisted in staring at the infamous Rachel.