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Chapter 01
“Are you trying to make fun of me right now?”
In a late-night temple where a cold wind was blowing,
a disrespectful cry echoed in front of the statue of the goddess Laura, protector of the empire.
The owner of the voice was none other than Rizeana de Philorentia, the Crown Princess of the Avid Empire, infamous as a legendary villainess.
“Deposed? Wasn’t it the Crown Prince who brought me into the palace?”
“The anger of the people has reached a level we can no longer handle, Rizeana.”
Standing before her was the Crown Prince of the empire, Laiphin.
“By the decision of the council, a new Crown Princess has been chosen.”
Laiphin wrapped his arm around the woman beside him.
Delisa Lupe Crodenne.
A woman who had appeared at a royal banquet and taken her place next to him.
Delisa, her face slightly flushed, clung closely to Laiphin.
Even in front of Rizeana, Delisa had acted as the Crown Princess all this time—
even though the real Crown Princess was Rizeana.
“How ridiculous. To place her in that position, our marriage must—”
“Delisa will be crowned Crown Princess. And soon, she will become not just Crown Princess, but Empress.”
Laiphin cut her off and gently held Delisa’s hand.
Then, as if to show everyone, he kissed the back of her hand.
“As my partner.”
Thud.
At that moment, Rizeana realized who Laiphin truly loved.
Her world collapsed in an instant.
“As my partner.”
Rizeana became known as the “dog of the imperial family” for one reason only—
to stand beside the man she loved, Laiphin, as the Crown Princess of the empire.
For that reason alone, she covered up all of his corruption and eliminated anyone who stood in the royal family’s way.
At royal banquets, no one approached her.
The once lively hall became filled with silence.
And yet, she was happy.
“Rizeana, my wife. I’m so glad you’re by my side.”
Laiphin once smiled at her warmly, holding her hand.
That was enough for her.
She had finally met someone who would love her.
She believed she could do anything with him.
But everything changed when Delisa Lupe Crodenne appeared.
Unlike Rizeana, who couldn’t express her feelings, Delisa approached Laiphin freely and quickly became his favored mistress.
Rizeana comforted herself, thinking it was just temporary.
But on the day Delisa prayed at the temple for the empire’s peace—
everything began to fall apart.
“Delisa—Delisa has been kidnapped! What should I do? Rizeana…!”
When Delisa was kidnapped, Laiphin stood before her, shaken and desperate.
His usually calm brown eyes trembled like a small boat in a storm.
“…She will be fine, Your Highness.”
Rizeana trembled as she held back her anger.
“I… I will find Lady Delisa.”
Even though she had countless duties as Crown Princess, she set everything aside for his request.
Five days later,
Delisa was found collapsed in front of the temple.
Laiphin stayed by her side day and night, taking care of her.
Rumors spread across the empire—
that Delisa was his true love.
Soon, Rizeana became the accused behind Delisa’s kidnapping.
No matter how much she explained, no one believed her.
Instead, the rumors only grew worse.
And now, her end had come—
deposition.
“So, you’re discarding a dog that is no longer useful?”
“Well, you chose to break your own leash. I had no choice, Rizeana.”
Laiphin smirked as he pulled Delisa closer.
Rage boiled inside Rizeana.
She had been completely abandoned—
betrayed by the one she loved and trusted.
“I gave my entire life for you!!”
In despair, she screamed at them.
Then her hand touched the crown on her head.
“I’d rather kill you.”
Without hesitation, she took off the crown and rushed toward them.
“Ahhh!”
“Delisa!”
She pinned Delisa to the ground and raised the crown high.
“I can’t be the only one suffering like this.”
“Die.”
Just as the sharp edge of the crown was about to strike—
Thud!
A knight pushed Rizeana away and saved Delisa.
Not Rizeana—
but Delisa.
“Seize Rizeana!”
The guards forced her to her knees.
“How could you do this to me…! Laiphin… you bastard!”
Laiphin, blinded by anger, looked at her coldly.
“Do you have anything to say, murderer?”
She thought he would at least believe her.
But that hope shattered completely.
“Laiphin, I will never… never forgive you.”
“You disappoint me until the very end, Rizeana.”
Laiphin raised his sword without hesitation.
“You never loved me. You only needed a loyal dog.”
“This is the ending fit for a villainess!”
Pain tore through her body.
Rizeana collapsed, bleeding.
And just like that—
the infamous villainess, Rizeana de Philorentia, closed her eyes under the contempt of the crowd.
“Even my useless, exploited life… is finally over…”
Her life ended there.
At least—
in her first life.
“Rizeana, are you awake?”
Bright morning sunlight poured over her face.
The voice that woke her—
was Laiphin’s.
“…Your Highness…?”
Laiphin approached her with concern.
“Did you sleep poorly? You don’t look well.”
He reached out his hand.
“This is the ending fit for a villainess!”
His angry voice still echoed in her ears.
But the man before her now smiled warmly.
“…What?”
She pinched her arm.
It hurt.
“This isn’t a dream?”
Her body began to tremble.
Everything felt familiar—
like ten days before her death.
The same words.
The same actions.
“…Is this… regression?”
Her heart started beating faster.
A miracle—
a second chance—
was in her hands.
“Yes, I’m fine, Your Highness.”
She smiled at him.
And for the first time—
she truly was fine.
“Because now… I can kill you.”
