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CHAPTER 01
As expected, life is what makes it enjoyable precisely because nothing can be predicted even a single step ahead.
Like a sudden downpour beneath a clear sky, or a lottery ticket tossed away on a whim returning with an unexpected win.
But this time… it crossed the line. I had, unbelievably, fallen into another world.
A world where crown princes and fiancées, debutante balls and coming-of-age ceremonies, magic and divine power all exist. It all happened so abruptly, like waking from a dream.
To be precise, this place wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.
A faintly familiar scent and scenery. And above all, the maids calling me “Lady Lillian.”
“…Oh my God.”
That was all that escaped my lips.
I was 25. An ordinary woman living a dull, repetitive life like a hamster on a wheel.
In that endless cycle, I was just another cog.
After work, lying in bed reading web novels was my only joy…
Out of all those novels, I never thought I’d end up inside a romance fantasy with a 1-star rating, drowned in negative reviews—“Love, Together.”
The reason I read it was simple. I was curious why it had such a low rating and nothing but insults in the comments.
So I read it to the end.
I was too curious about how it ended. Why did it deserve so much hate? I still thought there would at least be something at the ending.
But after enduring the frustrating heroine and infuriating male leads…
All of the male lead routes ended in tragedy.
Seriously, this can’t be right.
“…Haa. I shouldn’t have finished it. Who’s going to give me back my wasted time?”
Their love was… too deep, too intense. Obsession, obsession, obsession. Endless obsession. It couldn’t even be called love.
In the end, Lillian was crushed by that “love” and became the loneliest person in the world.
“If it were me, I would’ve run away long ago.”
I muttered that, tossed my phone aside, and fell asleep.
And when I opened my eyes… everything had changed.
The novel I had cursed at until yesterday. A romance fantasy with a 1-star rating, infamous for its terrible plot—“Love, Together.”
The final saint candidate who was destroyed while being loved and obsessed over by the male leads.
That was me now—Lillian Floris.
After entering this world, I thought carefully. The original Lillian was an overly obedient saint who accepted everything and was frustratingly passive.
But I would live differently. I would run. I would refuse. I would escape this ridiculous story.
I made that firm decision… but now that I had Lillian’s body and faced reality, I felt strangely conflicted.
Lillian’s emotions—broken down while being dragged along in the original story—still seemed faintly left somewhere in this body.
Still, it didn’t matter. Just because she endured it didn’t mean I had to. I would write my own story and escape this novel.
Even if that method was death, I would accept it.
“Lady Lily! Please focus!”
Ah—God, why am I again standing in front of this ornate mirror, being dressed by maids in a luxurious gown?
I’ve already reflected enough on my real life… fine, I know it won’t work. I should stop praying uselessly.
“Sorry. I’m so nervous I keep spacing out.”
Today was the royal banquet of the crown prince.
In this story, this event marks the first meeting between a male lead and the heroine.
It’s where Crown Prince Aydin Eskaril, one of the male lead candidates, abandons his fiancée and confesses to me.
In the original story, Lillian falls for his golden, sunlit appearance and accepts his dance invitation.
And then there is his fiancée, Scarlet Edelain—the main villainess.
Jealous of Lillian stealing the crown prince’s love, she attempts to poison her, fails, and is eventually killed by Aydin.
Lillian survives all of Scarlet’s assassination attempts thanks to the male leads.
But not today. I will refuse Aydin’s dance invitation.
That way I’ll avoid Scarlet’s poisoning attempts and reset everything to the original course. I just need a reason…
Even if I know Aydin will ask me to dance at the banquet, I currently have no justification to refuse.
“Lady! You look absolutely beautiful!”
The head maid spoke in admiration, and I slowly looked into the mirror.
An antique, intricately decorated full-length mirror that didn’t seem to exist in reality.
Inside it stood “Lillian Floris.”
As expected of the final saint setting—she was dazzling and mysterious, like a blessing in human form.
Eyes softly glowing like they held the light of the sky, and platinum hair like refined gold.
No wonder the male leads are obsessed.
“Our lady, I wonder who she’ll marry. I won’t accept anyone!”
This time, my personal maid Lina spoke.
In the original story, she sacrifices herself to help the broken Lillian escape.
Right now… how do I refuse this situation?
“Lina! What did you just say?”
“Pardon? I said I won’t accept…”
“Before that!”
“Marriage…?”
That’s it.
A spark flashed in my mind.
Even if he’s the crown prince, he can’t interfere with someone who is already engaged.
“Lina, block the door immediately.”
At my sudden order, Lina blinked in confusion.
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
There was no need to explain.
“I’m writing an engagement proposal. No one is allowed in.”
At those words, the maids stared at me like I had stepped out of a comic.
Ignoring their protests, I opened the drawer and picked up a pen.
I had to write this engagement letter with my own hand—staking my fate on it.
I took a deep breath and gripped the pen again. My trembling hand shook so much it was almost laughable.
The recipient: Duke Iris Hiver of the North.
…Why?
The moment I heard the word “marriage,” his face came to mind first.
The reason was simple.
He felt like someone who could stop anyone from reaching me.
Even the crown prince.
Though he only appeared briefly in a single line in the original story, that one line now felt like the strongest shield.
“I respectfully request an engagement with the Duke. I will explain the reason in person later. I await your reply, though it is not urgent.”
The red ink sank into the paper, and my heart dropped.
Realistically, the chance of rejection was nearly 100%.
He was a man who practically vanished after a single mention in the story. Sending him an engagement letter was madness.
And yet I chose this. Not just gambling—but declaring something to all the male leads.
“Lillian Floris already has someone in her heart.”
This was my only way to survive.
A silence pressed down on the room.
Lina bit her lip as she read the letter, and the head maid froze mid-breath.
“Leave the room.”
“Pardon? But Lady—”
“Leave.”
Their resistance faded. Once I was alone, I exhaled.
Magic slowly flowed from my fingertips as I held the sealed letter.
After being possessed for four days, I had naturally learned how to use it.
The paper glowed and a magic seal formed.
My heart was filled with fear and determination.
If the church learned I used magic improperly as a saint, I would be stripped of my title, and my family would be disgraced.
And yet I had to send this letter myself.
Because time was running out.
Before the crown prince met me, this letter had to already be on its way north.
Once he noticed me, every action would be monitored.
I would slowly become trapped, just like Lillian in the original story.
So it had to be now.
“…Yes. Absolutely.”
The letter vanished in silver flames.
Soon after, a knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
“A carriage to the banquet has arrived.”
“Where is the head maid?”
“She went to prepare after hearing the carriage arrived…”
Lina still looked frightened.
I softened my expression and smiled.
“You were scared earlier, weren’t you?”
Lina trembled, then burst into tears.
“I… I thought you weren’t the Lady I knew…”
I chuckled and comforted her.
We soon headed to the carriage.
Inside was my older brother, Kael Floris.
“As always, you’ll shine brighter than anyone today, Lily.”
The carriage rolled forward.
Beyond the window, the royal palace was bathed in golden light.
The destination was near.
When we arrived, I stepped out and looked at the grand palace doors.
Beyond them—lights, music, noble gazes, and the crown prince Aydin.
The doors opened.
The music stopped.
Silence fell.
Whispers spread like waves.
“The youngest of House Floris…”
“The saint’s bloodline still exists…”
“A divine aura…”
I smiled politely.
Not a saint’s smile—just a necessary one.
Then I saw him.
Crown Prince Aydin.
And beside him, Scarlet.
But something about Scarlet’s gaze was different from the original story.
It was not jealousy.
It was calculation.
“…What?”
Before I could think further, nobles approached me.
I avoided them and moved with my brother.
For a moment, peace.
Then—
“Lady, may I have a moment.”
A servant handed me a letter.
It was my engagement proposal.
The seal was opened.
And the reply came.
The North Duke had accepted.
My mind went blank.
Then—
“Crown Prince… is walking toward her.”
The crowd parted.
Aydin walked toward me.
In the original story, this was where everything began.
The beginning of obsession.
He stopped in front of me.
“Lady Floris, will you grant me this first dance?”
Soft words.
But beneath them, pressure.
A cage disguised as courtesy.
His grip locked onto my hand.
If I accepted, everything would begin.
The tragedy would repeat.
No.
Absolutely not.
Then—
A voice whispered near my ear.
“You wouldn’t refuse the crown prince, would you?”
That was the moment I realized.
This was my only opening.
One mistake, and everything collapses.
Everyone saw a noble invitation.
But to me, it was the beginning of destruction.
I steadied my breath.
And spoke clearly across the hall.
“Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Silence fell.
“I’m sorry—but I already have a fiancé.”
