Episode 1

 

That day was payday.

She had been working non-stop for two months, sleeping only three hours a day. It was exhausting, but she endured by watching her bank account grow.

As a child, she had suffered abuse in an orphanage. The moment she left, she started working any job she could find.

Her dream was simple—to open a small shop, like a convenience store or a café, and live a happy life. She didn’t need to be rich, just comfortable.

This month, all her hard work had paid off. For the first time, she had more than enough money.

She treated herself by buying a beer, some snacks, and a romance novel on her phone.

The book was called Crown Princess Heine. It was a 19+ romance fantasy novel that all her coworkers kept talking about.

She liked romance fantasy books, but she had been too busy to read anything lately.

“If I finish it today, I can finally join their conversations tomorrow.”

That was her goal. She was the only one who hadn’t read the book, and she always felt left out.

Especially when they talked about the spicy scenes.

A close coworker had told her, “The scenes are amazing. You HAVE to read it!”

She was usually very frugal, so she hesitated to buy the book. But if the scenes were that good, she had to check it out.

The book’s description was simple:

A beautiful and intelligent heroine escapes her cruel younger sister and becomes the crown princess of a neighboring kingdom. 

However, the sister’s evil deeds are blamed on the heroine instead. The prince, at first believing the rumors, later realizes the truth and falls in love with her.

It was a predictable story, but supposedly very romantic and very spicy.

But she never got to finish the book.

Before she could reach the first spicy scene, she died.

Cause of death: overwork.

Her last memory was of her nose bleeding uncontrollably, soaking her phone in red.

“Damn… I still have months left on my payment plan for that phone.”

Even in her final moments, she worried about her bills.

She felt so unfairly wronged.

First, she had saved every penny to open her store, only to die before using any of it.

Second, she had never experienced romance—not even held a man’s hand!

Third, she had paid for a 19+ romance novel but died before reaching the good part!

It wasn’t even expensive, but to someone as frugal as her, it was a splurge.

“I bought it just for the spicy scenes… and I didn’t even get to read one!”

If she could be reborn, she would live differently.

She would enjoy life.

She would eat delicious food, experience romance, and try the one thing she had always wanted:

Macarons.

As her vision faded to white, she had one last thought.

“I don’t want to die.”

Then, the blank white space cracked open, revealing a mysterious, swirling void.

A pale, eerie hand reached out.

Without hesitation, she grabbed it.

A New Life

She woke up gasping for air.

Sitting up in a luxurious bed, she checked her nose.

No blood.

But something was very wrong.

Her hands were smooth and pale—nothing like her rough, calloused hands from working.

Before she could process anything, the door burst open.

A tall man with red eyes glared at her. His voice was cold and sharp.

“What? Didn’t you just die?”

A trembling maid behind him stammered, “S-She stopped breathing! I swear, young master!”

The man clenched his jaw. “So now you’re making the maids lie for you? After your last pathetic suicide attempt, now you’re faking death?”

He suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

“Do you want to be crown princess that badly? You, a fallen princess of a ruined kingdom? A disgraceful woman like you will never replace Heine!”

He tightened his grip. Pain shot through her jaw.

“Ah… it hurts…”

His red eyes flickered. With a frustrated sigh, he shoved her away and let go.

“Tsk. Father will be here soon. This time, he won’t forgive you.”

Her heart pounded.

This man just said, Heine.

That name…

It was the name of the heroine from the book she had been reading.

“Wait… no way. Did I—?”

The door slammed open again.

An older man stormed in, looking furious.

“Anette Etheled!”

Her blood ran cold.

That was the name of the book’s villainess.

The jealous younger sister tried to steal Heine’s position.

The one who poisoned Heine’s food.

The one who faked a suicide attempt.

And the one who—

“Wait… what happens next?!”

She had died before finishing the book!

But she knew one thing—this villainess was doomed.

She swallowed hard.

“Okay, okay. I just need to apologize, right? He always forgave her in the past. If I beg, I might be able to live as a noble lady!”

With that hopeful thought, she bowed her head, ready to apologize.

But—

SMACK!

A heavy impact knocked her sideways onto the bed.

Her cheek throbbed. Blood filled her mouth.

The older man—Duke Royce—glared down at her.

“Anette Etheled. I can no longer tolerate you. 

You are no longer part of this family. Leave this house and live as a commoner.”

…

Just like that, she was kicked out.

With a swollen face and torn clothes, she stumbled into the streets.

She had nowhere to go.

She needed a job.

And once again…

She was back to being a broke worker.

She sighed.

But at least this time, she had a second chance.

This time, she would enjoy life.

She would make money but also learn to spend it.

She would buy pretty clothes.

She would eat delicious desserts.

And most importantly—

She would fall in love.