Chapter 02
As memories of her past life resurfaced, she realized something shocking—this world was the setting of a novel called The Lost Princess.
It was a romance fantasy novel where the protagonists overcame hardships and found love.
And like any story, there was a final villain who brought trials and suffering.
That villain was Jacquette Himonas.
Jacquette inherited the Himonas Marquis at a young age, but along with her title, she carried many infamous names:
The Greatest Villainess.
The Woman Who Brings Death.
The Blood-Drinking Witch.
None of them were compliments.
As an adopted child, Jacquette was constantly ridiculed and even had her life threatened.
She believed she had nothing in the world.
Until she found something—someone—she wanted.
The male protagonist.
To Jacquette, he was her savior when she was at her lowest.
Inevitably, she fell in love with him.
The novel never reached its ending, so it was unclear whether Jacquette survived.
In her memories, one name often appeared:
Daphne Himonas.
She was one of the people who tormented Jacquette the most—someone Jacquette eventually killed.
The abuse began when Jacquette’s abilities awakened at the age of seven.
Daphne buried her face in her hands and let out a long sigh.
“I did whatever it took to survive… but I can’t die like this.”
She needed a plan.
If she let Jacquette grow up in the Himonas household, she would undoubtedly become the villain.
Though, to be fair… 80% of that would be my fault.
Daphne bitterly criticized her past self.
How could anyone be cruel to a child?
“Um… My Lady?”
A voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Daphne looked up to see the orphanage director.
That man… He would die eventually, too. He was already on Jacquette’s list.
“Your paper… it’s crumpling.”
She glanced down at the adoption papers in her hands—her grip had tightened unconsciously, wrinkling the sheets.
[Adoption Papers]
As she stared at the document, an icy realization settled over her.
Yes. Adopting Jacquette was necessary.
Who knew what disasters would unfold if she didn’t?
Then, an idea struck her.
What if she wasn’t Jacquette’s sister, but her mother?
That way, it would be easier to protect her.
Daphne quickly came up with a justification for this move.
She thought of the blond man she had seen earlier.
It was a gamble worth taking.
Smiling, she casually picked up the adoption papers and—
Tear!
“This—What are you doing?!”
The director was too stunned to stop her as she ripped the document to shreds and let the pieces flutter to the floor.
“Bring me a new one,” she said with a bright smile. “I can’t submit an incorrectly filled form, can I?”
The director hesitated before reluctantly handing her a fresh document.
Daphne grabbed a pen and swiftly wrote down her information.
This time, in the ‘Adoptive Parent’ section, she didn’t write the Marquis of Himonas’s name.
She wrote her own.
After reviewing her work, she handed the paper back with a satisfied smile.
“I thought the Marquis was adopting her…?”
The director looked confused—and slightly disappointed, probably worried about receiving less money.
“I came here to adopt her myself. Is that a problem?”
The director examined the document again, suspicion creeping into her expression.
Daphne smirked.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be paid properly.”
The director didn’t need to understand the details. He just needed to assume.
The ones she truly needed to deceive were the Marquis and his aide.
She placed two pouches of money on the table with a thud.
Eyes gleaming, the director quickly snatched them up and peeked inside.
“Thank you very much!” he said cheerfully.
He jingled the gold coins in his hands, his earlier hesitation completely gone.
“Everything is in order.”
“I should be going, then. It’ll get dark soon.”
With that, Daphne turned to Jacquette.
“Get up. You’re coming with me.”
“Ah, y-yes!”
Jacquette immediately jumped to her feet.
“Do you have any belongings?”
“N-not really… Oh! Wait a moment! I’ll be right back!”
“No rush. Say goodbye to your friends too.”
“Okay…!”
The little girl bolted out of the room.
Oddly enough, the headache that had been plaguing Daphne earlier had disappeared.
Her mind felt clearer than ever.
“In that case, may I go to my office for a moment?”
The director clutched the money bags to his chest like a treasure.
Daphne waved him off.
“Go ahead.”
As soon as she gave permission, he vanished.
Now alone, she finally had time to think.
“If the man I saw earlier is who I think he is…”
Then everything would go much smoother.
And changing Jacquette’s guardian from the Marquis to herself?
That was the first step in rewriting fate.
But something felt off.
A vague, unsettling feeling crept into her mind.
“There was something… something I missed…”
Just then, a commotion outside caught her attention.
She stood and walked to the window.
Outside, a group of children had gathered around one smaller figure.
She couldn’t hear everything, but the tone was unmistakable—jealousy.
Daphne knew that feeling all too well.
She had endured it herself when she was the only blood relative of the Marquis.
It had nearly gotten her killed.
“Come with us!”
“Ah…! No…! I have to go…!”
“What do you mean, no?!”
The shouting pulled her back to the present.
The children were dragging the smaller one somewhere.
Her grip on the window tightened.
And then, she saw.
A tiny, barefoot, reddened from the cold.
Silvery hair, tangled and thin.
And terrified, dark brown eyes.
Eyes that locked onto hers.
Jacquette.
The child was silently pleading.
Save me.
