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Chapter 01
“Victory belongs entirely to the Princess. Speak — what do you desire?”
All eyes turned toward René Starde, kneeling before the Emperor.
After ten long years of conquest, Emperor Otto’s war had finally reached its end.
With the fall of the Kingdom of Kiel, the Starde Empire had seized control of the entire western continent.
And at the center of it all was the empire’s greatest sorceress — Princess René Starde.
She could split mountains, cross rivers, scatter storms, and summon blizzards.
A being powerful enough to seize the imperial throne at will — yet she had devoted herself to realizing her father’s ambitions and glorifying the empire, building an unassailable claim to succession.
‘She’ll surely ask for the throne!’
That’s what everyone thought. After all, the Starde Empire strictly forbade women from inheriting the crown.
So everyone was waiting for the birth of the empire’s first-ever crown princess when—
“Friedrich Kiel.”
The name dropped out of nowhere. Everyone’s eyes widened — even the Emperor’s.
“Oh, you mean you want the Kingdom of Kiel? That’s quite modest for you—”
“That’s not it, Your Majesty,” René interrupted with a shake of her head.
“I want Prince Friedrich. Don’t execute him — give him to me as my husband.”
They hadn’t misheard.
Princess René had not asked for the throne, nor for land, but for the defeated nation’s prince.
‘Well, he is handsome, but still…’
Give up her claim to succession for that?
Everyone thought the same thing, and even the Emperor looked taken aback.
“Why?”
René paused thoughtfully, then curved her lips into an elegant smile.
“Because I think that beautiful face of his will bring me joy.”
A collective sigh swept through the hall. Every onlooker blushed or grimaced.
‘Trust the bloodthirsty monster to be cruel in her own way.’
‘She must be planning to drive him to suicide from humiliation.’
Pitying glances turned toward Prince Friedrich, kneeling in the corner, looking dazed and confused.
‘Well… he really is handsome.’
‘I suppose there are legends about rulers who chose beauty over power.’
Indeed, his beauty was otherworldly — long, ebony hair cascading to his chest, amethyst eyes glimmering beneath his lashes, a high-bridged nose, lips red as wine, and skin pale as snow.
He looked like a man straight out of a fairy tale.
It was easy to see why the Kiel royal family had kept him hidden away.
“Is that unacceptable?” René asked.
“By rights, he should be executed,” the Emperor mused. “But… if that’s your wish…”
Even as he nodded, he couldn’t hide his puzzlement.
“Will you truly be satisfied with such a trivial trophy?”
René smiled and bowed gracefully.
“All my glory belongs to Your Majesty. I only wish for one final symbol of our victory.”
The courtiers exchanged uneasy glances.
‘The Princess… sounds oddly humble today.’
Correct.
‘Damn it. I should’ve said that with more arrogance.’
I realized too late that my response didn’t fit René’s usual character and quickly added,
“Of course, I trust Your Majesty will reward me with other spoils as well. After all, without me, none of this would’ve been possible.”
The court’s confusion melted away at once, replaced by knowing nods.
The Emperor burst into laughter.
“Of course! But must you marry him? You could have any man in the capital, far more suitable.”
René smirked.
“Who among them could possibly stand above me? If I must marry, I’d rather choose a man I can command as I please.”
There was a law in the Starde Empire: any woman who reached twenty-five unmarried was forced to enter a convent.
If any other noblewoman had spoken that way, it would have caused outrage — but this was René Starde, after all. People just nodded, half in awe, half in disbelief.
“Well… you have a point. Very well, I grant your marriage. But he shall have no status beyond that of your husband.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
I bowed and turned to leave. The crowd parted instantly, forming a path before me.
With the haughty expression I’d practiced all night in front of a mirror, I walked toward the conquered palace.
Normally, turning one’s back to the Emperor was unthinkable — but I was René Starde, after all.
* * *
“Ugh… I’m drained.”
As soon as I collapsed onto the bed, a groan escaped my lips. Even this royal bed felt hard and unwelcoming.
Nothing like a good latex mattress.
“I can’t wait to get back to the capital. If only I could teleport…”
Which, thankfully, I can’t.
I swallowed the rest of that thought and sighed.
‘The Emperor never forgot his first love.’
That line was from the dark romance novel I used to read.
Now I had possessed the body of its long-dead villainess — the imperial princess René Starde, the one fated to be killed when the male lead staged his coup.
The story hadn’t even started yet.
I was living as the legendary sorceress René — but somehow…
My magic was gone.
At first, I thought it was just because I was a transmigrator.
But no — I had most of René’s memories, and I could ride horses, swim, even knit just like she could.
Only one thing I couldn’t do: use magic.
Which meant my new life was going to be hard mode.
Because René Starde was famous for having the most arrogant, abrasive personality in the empire — and for having countless enemies who’d love to see her dead.
She also happened to be locked in a bloody succession war with her half-brother, while her stepmother, the Empress, constantly tried to assassinate her.
If they ever found out I’d lost my powers?
They’d jump at the chance to finish me off.
‘No one will believe me if I say I don’t care about the throne anymore.’
Everyone believed René had gone to war to prove her claim to succession — because she herself had said so.
But all I wanted was to live a quiet, wealthy, retired life.
‘With the fortune she already has, I could live like a rich recluse in the countryside forever.’
Of course, I couldn’t become a nun — which meant I needed to get married fast.
Next year, I’d turn twenty-five.
‘Until my magic comes back — if it ever does — I need a husband who can protect me.’
And so, my choice was clear: Prince Friedrich, the male lead himself.
In the original novel, Friedrich was a neglected prince who barely escaped when his kingdom fell.
Years later, he returned as a swordmaster, leading a coup to become Emperor.
My plan was simple: marry him now, live quietly until he started his rebellion, then divorce him and disappear.
He was the type to repay kindness — he wouldn’t kill me afterward.
And even if the story changed and he never became Emperor, that was fine. I’d just vanish abroad under a false name. My half-brother would never find me.
‘If only René’s face weren’t so famous, I could fake my death and leave right now.’
And besides, this plan was for the original heroine’s sake too.
No one wants to live through a dark, tragic romance if they can help it.
I was still daydreaming about turning this story into a happy fairy tale when my maid, Elza, asked,
“Will you be having dinner, Your Highness?”
“I’ll skip it. Too tired.”
“As you wish.”
Elza never bothered with polite protests like, ‘But Your Highness must eat!’
She was as blunt and bold as her mistress — more like a longtime friend than a servant. Maybe that’s why René had kept her close. She was smart, capable, and direct.
“Then I’ll make sure you have a peaceful night’s rest,” she said.
I should have paid more attention to that ominous line.
* * *
I didn’t know how long I’d slept before I woke up, parched.
“Water…”
My hand groped around for the glass — and touched something soft, warm, and solid.
That was… not glass.
‘Wait. That feels like… a person?’
I bolted upright — and screamed.
“KYAA!”
Prince Friedrich glared at me, crimson-eyed and furious —
because my hand was resting right on his bare chest.
