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Chapter : 01
One day, I possessed a character inside a novel.
Estellin Winfoste.
Anyone could see that her life was perfect.
Her family was the only ducal house in the Friesen Empire, wielding authority so great that even flying birds would fall at their command.
Her mother, Eloise, had been a princess of another kingdom and first in line to the throne, but after meeting her father, she became a duchess of the empire.
Her father was the head of the empire’s sole ducal house, and her mother was of royal blood from another kingdom, both of them of the highest noble status.
Born into such a family, she was the youngest daughter among one son and two daughters.
Her hair resembled the duke’s, and her eyes mirrored Eloise’s—proof beyond doubt that she carried the blood of Celedina.
With her beautiful appearance and naturally brilliant mind, she was loved by everyone.
Raised with nothing but affection, she grew into the empire’s most beautiful young noblewoman.
Estellin, who had only ever been loved and never learned how to give love, eventually fell in love with Luciano of the Grand Ducal House of Winfoste, who had been her fiancé since childhood.
Believing it was only natural that he loved her as well, Estellin forced marriage upon him by bringing up his succession issue on the very day his parents died, insisting on staying by his side.
Having always obtained whatever she desired, Estellin succeeded in making the man she wanted her husband.
But from that moment on, cracks began to form in her perfect life.
Her husband, Luciano, did not love her—he despised her.
In an attempt to gain his attention, Estellin committed one vile act after another without hesitation.
She abused servants she disliked, both physically and verbally, and squandered her monthly allowance within a week on reckless extravagance.
What she believed would be a perfect marriage turned into a nightmare, and eventually, on a snowy winter day, she died in front of the man she loved—who hated her.
It was five years after she married him.
Though he loathed Estellin, the sight of the woman he had lived with for five years dying together with the child who carried his blood became a lasting trauma.
Living day by day in pain from that trauma, he eventually met the female lead, Rebecca.
All the warmth and affection Estellin had desperately wanted from him were given instead to Rebecca.
Rebecca comforted Luciano and healed his trauma, and through her, Luciano found hope to live again.
Rebecca, once scorned in the empire as a neglected princess, became the center of attention as the future Grand Duchess after becoming Luciano’s lover, and the two reached a happy ending together.
“So… this is the end of the novel. Yeah, that’s the end…”
“What’s my name again?”
“You are Estellin Winfoste, mistress of the empire’s sole Grand Ducal House of Winfoste, my lady.”
No matter how many times I asked, I still couldn’t believe it.
Less than ten minutes after becoming Estellin, I lifted myself from the bed and walked toward a large full-length mirror.
“This can’t be real…”
Touching my pale face, I spoke to my reflection.
“My lady, you mustn’t get up and move so carelessly yet.”
The maids rushed over and supported me.
“Wait! Say it again. Who am I?”
Unable to accept reality, I asked again.
Who wouldn’t find this impossible to believe?
Estellin Winfoste.
“You are Estellin Winfoste, the only Grand Duchess of the Winfoste family.”
“Then my husband’s name is?”
“The empire’s Grand Duke and the hero who protects the nation—Luciano Winfoste.”
“Hah… haha…”
It was hard to believe, but I had no choice.
“So… I’m Estellin?”
“Yes, my lady.”
‘Damn it.’
A vulgar curse slipped out.
I knew Estellin very well.
Why?
Because I read about her in a book.
Which meant I also knew her ending all too well.
That she would die painfully together with her child.
‘Am I going to die?’
That thought was the last thing I remembered before everything went dark again.
‘Please let me wake up at home.’
That was my desperate wish.
When I woke up, I was somewhere else.
The room was so large it could be mistaken for a training hall, filled with dazzling jewels, making me feel like a medieval noble from a movie.
I was overwhelmed by the unfamiliar splendor.
But my shock deepened when I saw my reflection in the mirror.
I had never seen skin this pale before.
The woman reflected back at me looked utterly foreign.
As I stood there dazed, people began to gather around me.
“My lady!!”
They called me that—my lady.
‘I’m only twenty and not even married.’
I grumbled internally as I examined them.
Their clothing was strange too—like the maids from historical films.
Nothing made sense.
I had gone to sleep as usual, only to wake up in a strange room, with a different face, surrounded by oddly dressed people.
I tried to convince myself it was a dream and wake up from this hellish illusion—but it wasn’t a dream.
It was reality.
I had possessed someone.
An inexplicable, unnatural phenomenon that defied science.
For someone who believed only what could be proven by sight, this was impossible to accept.
But eventually, I did.
I accepted that I had possessed a character in a novel.
And the moment I did, anger surged up.
‘But why her of all people?!’
When I frowned, the maids hurried closer to check on me.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’ll call the physician.”
Too tired to respond, I waved them off.
Soft lavender hair, calm and intelligent dark green eyes, skin whiter than snow.
It was exactly how Estellin Winfoste was described in the novel.
“Luciano, what kind of person was the former Grand Duchess?”
Estellin appeared only once—when Luciano explained her to Rebecca.
“She was acknowledged by everyone. The empire’s perfect noblewoman, and my betrothed since before birth.”
Estellin and Luciano had been bound by engagement even before they were born.
That was why she had been able to force marriage upon him in the original story.
But she was cruel and indulgent. She spent all of her monthly allowance and demanded more money without shame. My loyal servants were injured or killed by her hand. She wanted my love.
But in the fifth year of our marriage, she died with the child. Later I learned it was a tragedy caused by the collision of her power and mine.
That was the end of Estellin’s role.
She existed solely to give the male lead trauma.
Her death happened before the real story even began.
‘What good is reading the whole book if I die before it even starts?’
I almost cursed aloud.
‘And I only have one year left!!’
According to the maid, I was twenty.
I would die in the winter at twenty-one.
Only one year remained.
It would have been better if she were just a minor character.
Rich, beautiful—and dead at twenty-one.
‘Wait. Rich?’
A spark of hope crossed my mind.
‘That’s it. Divorce!’
Why hadn’t I thought of this sooner?
The male and female leads were bound by the author’s destiny—they’d fall in love whether I existed or not.
All I had to do was divorce Luciano before Rebecca appeared, then live happily with my overflowing wealth.
My reflection smiled.
Everyone already knew Luciano despised Estellin, and it was common knowledge that the Winfoste couple could divorce at any time.
‘Isn’t this better for Luciano too?’
The villainess who abused servants and squandered money leaving on her own?
That was something worth celebrating.
If we divorced, there’d be no one left to traumatize him.
Luciano and Rebecca could become lovers more easily, and I could quietly enjoy life while cheering them on.
‘Maybe possessing her isn’t so bad after all.’
Of course, my life in Korea and my family mattered.
But I was tired of living as “Jin Soo-hyun,” nothing more than a chaebol’s daughter.
‘Fine. I’ll live Estellin’s tragic life better than she did.’
From then on, only one word floated in my mind.
Divorce.
‘When should I do it?’
There was no need to rush.
Estellin’s death was caused by the clash of powers, and Luciano wouldn’t awaken his solar power until twenty-one—there was still time.
All I had to do was adapt quietly, avoid provoking him, and ask for a clean divorce at the right moment.
‘And no consummation.’
Though their marriage lacked love, they eventually slept together for the sake of an heir, and Estellin became pregnant.
That child died with her.
The child’s death became another source of Luciano’s trauma.
It was best to erase that possibility entirely.
“My lady… are you truly all right?”
A maid spoke, concern evident in her voice.
“I’m fine.”
“But after the riding accident, you were unconscious for three days.”
‘Riding accident?’
Seeing my confusion, she asked gently,
“Do you not remember what happened?”
“Mm… not really. My head feels foggy. What was your name again?”
“I’m Dalia, one of your personal maids. The others are Cassia and Serra.”
She answered kindly, even offering details I hadn’t asked for.
“Does Luciano know about my accident?”
“Yes, of course. But he’s very busy and couldn’t come.”
‘Wow… not even visiting his injured wife?’
Their relationship must really be terrible.
For a brief moment, I felt pity for the original Estellin.
