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Chapter 01
“Try begging for your life just once.”
Those words, once filled with mockery.
The people who sneered like that were now all frozen stiff.
“Your Highness, what is the meaning of this all of a sudden?”
Head maid Sonya cried out, her face pale.
Clutching her apron tightly, she stared at me—and at the maid I held hostage—with disbelief.
“Just like you said, maybe I’ve gone mad now that it’s time for me to die.”
“Y-You mustn’t joke like that!”
As Sonya’s voice trembled, the maid’s body stiffened with fear.
“A joke? A joke, you say.”
“Ahh!”
I twisted my grip on her hair even tighter, and a scream mixed with sobs burst from the maid.
“Was it a joke when you all kept saying I was going to die?”
“…Your Highness, that’s—!”
Only now did Sonya’s face turn deathly pale.
As I curled my lips into a crooked smile, her expression made her thoughts even more obvious.
“They say everywhere that Your Highness will be the sacrifice.”
“But they’re still your brothers, aren’t they? Even if only half.”
“Who knows? Maybe they’ll pity how useless you are and spare your life.”
These were the same people who had been giggling just moments ago—until I grabbed the maid by the hair.
They must’ve thought I wouldn’t make an issue of it.
That’s why they dared to speak so boldly right in front of me.
The room grew tense like thin ice.
Watching the others, Sonya cautiously stepped forward as if trying to calm me down, her gaze fixed on the dining knife pressed against the maid’s throat.
“Your Highness… you’re not like this.”
No, I wasn’t. Not until just a moment ago.
Of all people, why did I have to possess her?
At my feet lay a shattered teapot that had been meant to be spilled on me.
Steam still rose faintly from the water soaking into the carpet.
I hadn’t even had time to realize I’d possessed someone. Knocking away the falling teapot had been pure instinct.
Only after grabbing the hair of those who looked like they were about to harm me did I grasp the situation.
Melissa Grenita.
Thinking about her, the maids’ behavior wasn’t entirely surprising.
A trivial extra in the webtoon “Flower of the Empire.”
A legitimate imperial bloodline with a rightful claim to the throne—but what of it?
She was a naive fool, treated worse than a mere guest in the Del Empire.
“With that kind of background, how can someone live like this?”
The question made me let out a bitter laugh.
Then again, why not?
Wasn’t I exactly the same just before I died?
A fool who gave up all her rights, only to have her life taken in the end.
My clenched fist tightened further.
In my previous life, what exactly had my half-sister and stepmother feared about me?
I even signed away my inheritance, saying I had no interest in the business.
And yet, my half-sister still strangled me in the end.
Come to think of it, how kind of her to suddenly offer to check my car.
The result of riding in a car with broken brakes was obvious.
I’d only ever seen things like that in dramas. My family wasn’t even some huge conglomerate—yet they still went that far.
That’s why this situation made my blood boil even more.
Even in my past life, living like a pushover and accepting everything had been frustrating enough—but this?
This was too much.
Out of all the webtoons I enjoyed, this was the character I’d cursed at the most.
“Why did it have to be her?!”
Melissa—so kind she was foolish, smiling even while being used.
A complete idiot who believed that sincerity would one day be rewarded.
“And I think she died really early, too…”
I didn’t know how I woke up inside a webtoon character—but I wasn’t going to die like this again.
I pressed the knife closer under the maid’s chin.
Screams erupted around me.
“Your Highness!”
Slash—
“Ahhh!”
A chunk of hair was cut off, and the maid collapsed to the floor, losing strength.
As I let go, dirty brown strands scattered messily.
Silence fell—thick and suffocating.
Clang—
I tossed the knife onto the marble floor, where it bounced with a sharp sound.
Looking at their tearful, terrified faces, my anger eased—just a little.
“Next time, it won’t be hair. It’ll be your tongue.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness!”
I took a deep breath and slowly unclenched my fists.
“To be fair, what they said isn’t wrong.”
In the original story, Melissa was an extra who died right at the beginning.
I needed to figure out when this was.
Melissa died just before the emperor’s passing—killed by the Second Prince to seize control of the capital and keep the First Prince in check.
A warning to the nobles.
A silent threat not to side with the First Prince.
And Melissa was the perfect prey.
“Would it seem suspicious if I suddenly asked about Father’s health?”
After thinking for a moment, I called out:
“Sonya.”
“Y-Yes?”
She turned toward me stiffly.
“Where’s my diary?”
She hesitated, then bowed apologetically.
“H-How would I know about Your Highness’s diary…?”
“You read it every time.”
She had been reporting Melissa’s daily life to the Second Prince, after all.
As I glanced at her wrist, she flinched and hid her hand behind her back.
“Bring it.”
She ran off without another word and soon returned, handing it to me with trembling hands.
The maids quickly followed her out of the room.
Flipping through the leather-bound diary, I saw neat entries written carefully.
[February 9]
There was a family banquet today.
His Majesty couldn’t remember my name properly. It was embarrassing.
[February 27]
I went outside the palace after a long time.
A child called me a “stupid princess.”
I’d heard about my reputation through the maids, but…
No wonder Father and my brothers dislike me.
[March 2]
The dress I ordered tore at the shoulder while trying it on.
The maids laughed.
“Your Highness, have you gained weight? Your arms look like elephant legs.”
I don’t think I’ve been eating that much… should I lose weight?
As I flipped through more entries, anger bubbled up.
“Why does she blame herself?”
She should’ve grabbed those mocking maids by the hair and stood up to her family.
Didn’t she realize they looked down on her more the weaker she acted?
“…Ha.”
Turning to the last page, I finally confirmed the date.
[April 8]
No one thinks His Majesty will recover.
The physician says he may not survive spring.
Others whisper he won’t last even a week.
My brothers seem… different.
[April 10]
My fiancé, Grand Duke Colin, hasn’t visited lately.
He never spoke much, but he never missed his weekly visit either…
I wonder what’s going on.
[April 15]
Grand Duke Colin will visit tomorrow.
It’s sudden, but I’m excited to see him after nearly a month.
Yesterday’s entry.
My heart sank.
Fine—being this character, being mistreated, I could handle that.
But—
“Why now?”
This was right before her death.
The fiancé Melissa loved so dearly—
The man who always ignored her would soon abandon her to side with the Second Prince.
“Opportunistic bastard.”
He could’ve protected her, but instead chose the enemy.
After hearing of his betrayal, Melissa died.
That was how “Flower of the Empire” began.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor.
I looked at the closed door.
Then—
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness, Grand Duke Colin has—ah!”
“Tch.”
Pushing the maid aside, a man entered.
Melissa’s fiancé—Grand Duke Dayton Colin.
His arrogant attitude, brushing off his sleeves as if something dirty had touched him.
Fiery red eyes.
A tall, imposing figure, with a body that looked powerful even through his clothes—and a face so handsome it was almost intimidating.
A war hero, radiating pressure just by standing there.
“Just like in the webtoon…”
For a moment, I was struck by how vivid he looked.
Then his gaze shifted to me.
“It’s been a while, Princess.”
Though he used formal speech, his attitude was utterly disrespectful as he sat on my bed.
No courtesy. No respect.
“I came because I have something to say.”
When I simply stared, he clicked his tongue in irritation.
“Have you lost even the ability to respond?”
“…”
“I didn’t expect much, but you truly haven’t changed.”
A sneer. Eyes full of contempt.
“Don’t you have opinions? Or thoughts at all?”
What the—
Annoyed, I walked toward him.
He stood up as if unwilling to waste any more time.
“Let’s break off the engagement, Princess.”
