HPFV 02

Chapter 2

I think I’m probably dead. That’s why I ended up possessing this body. Roxina Tangelik.

Roxina Tangelik was the villainess of “Please Don’t Break That Flower.” She had a cruel personality.

She was the fiancée of the Crown Prince, but when the heroine appeared, their engagement was broken off, and she went on to bully the heroine in all kinds of vicious ways.

Even so, when the Crown Prince went ahead and married the heroine, she ended up taking her own life.

Roxina Tangelik turned out this way because she was not loved as a child—neglected by her father and abused by her elder brother and second brother.

Or at least, that’s what I thought.

But judging from the Duke’s tone right now, that assumption didn’t seem entirely wrong.

And more importantly, the real issue was that the villainess… was now me.

At that moment, Hainox’s gaze shifted behind me.

“Father, you’ve arrived.”

“Yes, Cheedman.”

“…”

‘Cheedman?’

I quickly turned my head at the familiar name.

“Roxina?”

With honey-blonde hair and gentle green eyes, the boy who looked at me in surprise was—

‘Cheedman Tangelik!’

The eldest son of the Tangelik family, the one who had neglected Roxina.

“What do you think you’re doing to your brother!”

While I was pointing at Cheedman in shock, a young child shouted angrily from afar.

‘That kid is…’

As the child came closer, my suspicion became certain.

That ill-tempered little brat who looked rotten to the core was probably Renzad Tangelik, the one who kept tormenting Roxina to the end.

“Put that hand down!”

While I was thinking, Renzad came up and roughly slapped away the finger I had been pointing at Cheedman.

“Ah!”

A small pale hand swelled red.

“What are you doing!”

I grabbed my hand and glared at Renzad.

Renzad glared back without backing down. Before things could escalate further, Cheedman stepped in to mediate.

“Ah, Father is here too, so let’s not do this here…”

Despite Cheedman’s attempt to stop it, a cold voice interrupted us.

“You’re nothing but a beast.”

I slowly turned my head. An overwhelming pressure filled the air.

“Even the stray dogs outside the mansion know their place.”

“…Ah.”

I’m really doomed. He was definitely angry.

“Father! That girl dared to—!”

“Renzad Tangelik.”

Renzad, still trying to complain without reading the atmosphere, shut his mouth at Hainox’s warning.

But his eyes still stabbed into me.

“Roxina Tangelik. You are the one being disrespectful.”

I couldn’t even breathe properly. It was a pressure that turned everything I had experienced in 27 years into child’s play.

I finally lowered my head, unable to resist any longer. Then Hainox left, the faint scent of blood lingering as he walked away.

Once he disappeared, Renzad came back again, smirking.

“You should’ve just stayed quiet like usual.”

“Renzad.”

Cheedman looked at me apologetically and dragged Renzad away into the mansion.

* * *

I began thinking seriously.

First of all, I am Roxina Tangelik now. If I’ve possessed this body, I have to live as her.

Should I be happy about this or not?

It was a wealthy duke’s family, so at least I wouldn’t have to worry about money. If I remembered Roxina’s original luxurious lifestyle from the novel, I probably wouldn’t have to worry about food anymore either.

But judging by how this family treated Roxina, living in an orphanage might actually be better.

I had already lived like that once—it might even be easier.

While I was thinking, the maid who had stood up for me earlier carefully spoke.

“Young lady… are you alright?”

For now, I needed more information.

The woman who had bravely stepped up earlier was now fidgeting nervously, thinking I was deeply hurt.

“Um…?”

“Yes, young lady!”

“W-what is your name…?”

“I’m Anne. Please speak casually, young lady.”

‘Ah, Roxina is a noble lady, so she must speak informally.’

To avoid suspicion, I awkwardly continued speaking in a casual tone.

“How long have you been working… here?”

“Five years now, young lady.”

Five years meant she would know most things about the household.

I decided to make my decision after talking to Anne.

“How old am I?”

“You’re about to turn four after your birthday.”

So she had been here since before I was born.

Then she probably knew about the duchess.

The duchess, briefly mentioned in the novel, died giving birth to Roxina.

I asked carefully, needing more information about the family.

“Has the brother and the duke always been that angry?”

“Well…”

Anne hesitated, avoiding my eyes as if gauging my reaction.

“No… when I first came here, the mansion was bright and full of warmth.”

The only change since Anne had arrived was the disappearance of the duchess and Roxina’s birth.

The duchess died giving birth to Roxina… so was that why they resented her?

“…Ah.”

Anne’s expression confirmed my thought.

The way Renzad acted hostile, and the way Hainox looked at me as if I were a stone on the roadside…

So they all blamed Roxina for the duchess’s death.

“It’s not because of you, young lady!”

Anne quickly tried to reassure me when she saw my expression darken.

“The Duke just returned from the battlefield after four years… he’s probably just tired.”

I could see she was trying hard, but I didn’t believe her.

If he had just returned, he should have been welcomed home warmly.

If that were truly the reason Roxina was hated, then there was nothing I could do.

‘I guess I should leave.’

While I was thinking of a runaway plan—accepting that even in this life I’d be treated poorly—Anne suddenly spoke again, trying to comfort me.

“His Majesty the Emperor is granting the Duke a new territory in the east as recognition of his achievements.”

“A territory?”

Anne continued excitedly as I became interested.

“Yes! It’s called Gaked Territory, known for its gentle climate. With this, the Tangelik family will now own territories across the empire—the southern Bejit Territory with its sea breeze, and the northern Imelu Territory as well. Isn’t that wonderful, young lady?”

Anne kept talking as she watched my silence, but I wasn’t silent because I didn’t care.

I simply couldn’t speak.

‘This is insane…!’

The duke’s family in the west, and now they’ve gained eastern land as well.

I had only seen Roxina living extravagantly in the novel, so I never truly felt it—but remembering that the eastern regions were famous for their jewels made it clear how absurdly wealthy this family was.

At this level, the situation changed.

My lips slowly curled up.

Good. I will somehow survive here no matter what.

“Are you alright, young lady?”

“Yes, yes. I’m totally fine. Extremely fine.”

Anne looked worried as I giggled to myself.

Right. I’ve been treated badly my whole life anyway. If I’m going to suffer either way, I might as well enjoy the money.

While I was happily making up my mind—

“ROXINA TANGELIK!”

The door suddenly burst open, and Renzad—who I thought had been dragged back to his room—shouted.

“Let’s talk!”

“…Ha.”

“Ah, young lady…”

Anne stood awkwardly between my frowning face and Renzad’s irritated expression.

Fine. If I’m going to stay here, I’ll have to get used to this.

“Anne, go out.”

“Y-yes!”

Anne hesitated for a moment, then quickly bowed to Renzad and left.

I felt slightly annoyed at how quickly she obeyed—but also a little relieved.

“Hey. Are you ignoring me?”

Renzad looked even more furious.

“How dare someone like you ignore me?”

“…Ha.”

The reason he was angry was simple—he believed I caused his mother’s death.

From his perspective, it was understandable, but was it really all my fault?

In the original story, Roxina was constantly verbally abused until she died anyway.

Honestly, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep him in check early while he was still a child.

As I prepared myself to respond—

“You shouldn’t have been born.”

“…Wow.”

Renzad’s level of insults was far worse than I expected.

In a mansion where everyone mourned the duchess, it was obvious how Roxina had lived and been treated.

“Hah! Finally realizing your place?”

Seeing me silent in pity, Renzad smirked confidently.

“Stay in your room. Don’t cause trouble like today.”

Roxina in the novel had been sickly as a child and unloved by her family.

That was all the information given.

But even without knowing much about her past, I was certain of one thing.

The original Roxina would have just silently endured this abuse.

“Hmph! Just be careful!”

Having said his piece, Renzad left the room.

I stood alone in the empty room, unable to say anything.

The thought of living while hearing such nonsense every day felt suffocating.

Should I endure until adulthood and then take my share and run?

But with this face that resembles Hainox so much, even hiding would be difficult.

Then I need to fix how Roxina is treated in this household first.

Renzad and Cheedman are still young, so if I start pushing back now, things might improve.

The real problem is Hainox.

A man still burning with grief over his dead wife—he could kick me out of this house at any moment.

Then what I need to do is clear.

I have to gather what little information I know from the novel and prove my usefulness to Hainox.

Yes. Since it’s come to this, I’ll cling to this place just enough to secure my money and then leave proudly.

I’ll become a parasite of the Tangelik family.