Ian Niño... a man who looks like he’s flirted with half the women in the Empire. Well, I’ll just add him to my collection of annoying memories.
It wasn't that I didn't know anything about him. My maids had been gossiping for two weeks now, ever since I told them to keep me informed of any rumors. Ian Niño: a brilliant young diplomat, popular in every country he visits, and—crucially—a man who had been out of the country for so long that even the original Charlize hadn't been able to get her claws into him. He was one of the few high-ranking nobles with absolutely no connection to her "vicious" past.
"Ah..."
I lay on my bed, tossing and turning as I tried to clear my head. 'I don't get it. Why is that smiling human suddenly so interested in me? He shouldn't have any reason to hold a grudge, but he also shouldn't have any reason to like me. I don't need this right now.'
The maids waited in silence, watching me with looks that suggested they were waiting for me to issue some kind of terrifying decree. I sat up, startled to see all three of them still there.
"When did you all get here?" I asked, smoothing my expression.
"Oh, we just arrived, Princess," Susan said, though she looked like she’d been there for a while. "All three of us."
"Really? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s wrong?"
The maids shared a look. Susan stepped forward, her face as solemn as a general announcing an enemy invasion.
"Actually... a letter has arrived for you, Princess."
My first thought was Ian Niño. Had he really sent a letter already? What an incredibly annoying man. Did he want something from the Altsbeits, or was he really that shallow that he’d fallen for Charlize’s face after one meeting?
"Give it to me," I said, my voice full of irritation.
But as I took the envelope, I froze. The seal on the outside wasn't from the Child family. It was the crest of the Duke of Lemut.
And the sender...
「From the Duke of Lemut」
My mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario. Death. Legal papers. A formal restraining order. I imagined my survival coin shattering into a million pieces.
'Okay. Let's just get this over with,' I thought, taking a deep breath. 'Jihoo, you died in a plane crash in your last life. You can handle a letter from a duke.'
I ripped the envelope open, ignoring the curious stares of the maids.
"Princess, we’ll leave you to your correspondence," Susan said, quickly ushering the others out.
I looked at the letter in my hand and sighed. 'It’s already happened. Let’s just accept it.'
I unfolded the paper and began to read. My eyes grew wider with every line, and my expression shifted from dread to something I couldn't quite describe.
「 To my dear elder sister, Princess Altsbeit 」
I blinked. The word 'sister' had clearly been written, erased, and then carefully rewritten. The handwriting was beautiful—elegant and precise, as if the writer had poured their entire heart into every stroke.
*It feels a bit awkward to greet you in a letter, but I feel closer to you this way.*
The tone of the letter was remarkably similar to Askin’s—calm, neat, and understated. It was unmistakable. This was from Arya.
The letter was filled with the small details of her daily life. Her health, the weather, the snacks she’d shared with her maids, the flowers in the garden... she even mentioned that the flowers I’d asked about were now in full bloom.
And then, there was a paragraph that made me pause.
*Although he is my elder brother, I really didn't like how he threw away the comb you prepared for me. Just this once, the brother I always thought was so handsome looked absolutely hateful!*
I remembered the comb I’d given Askin on my way to the banquet. I’d forgotten all about it in the chaos of the last two weeks.
'He threw it away?' I thought. 'I really shouldn't be surprised. But poor Arya... she’s the one who’s suffering for his pettiness.'
*I don't know what happened between you and my brother, but the thought that I might never see you again made my heart feel so empty. That’s why I had to write to you.*
'My heart was empty...' I repeated the words in my head and let out a long sigh. For the first time, I felt like I was being seen as a person, not as a Princess or a villainess.
'She’s a good kid,' I realized. Arya was the only person who looked at me in the present, without being blinded by Charlize’s past. Was she just pure and naive, or was she the only one who really understood? Either way, her kindness was a comfort I hadn't known I needed.
*If you can... could we see each other? Not here, but somewhere else?*
*Your dear friend, Arya.*
I let out a small, genuine laugh. She’d overwritten the word 'friend' too, with a bold exclamation point that practically radiated her excitement.
"She’s so cute," I whispered. I don't know how long it had been since I’d actually laughed.
'Well... I’m not going to die today, at least. And Askin threw the comb in the trash. What a piece of work.' I clicked my tongue. 'Why are all the "cool" brothers like that? It was just a comb. If he’d actually checked it, he’d know I hadn't cursed it or anything.'
I called the maids back in and asked for pen and paper. My response was short—as a member of the social media generation, I wasn't used to long-form letters.
「 Hello, Arya. Let’s meet now. 」
I called for Jet, the only knight I actually trusted, and told him to deliver the letter to Arya immediately. I gave him a few tips on how to get past the Lemut guards if they tried to stop him.
Once he was gone, I gathered the rest of my staff.
"Susan, prepare the carriage. We’re going out."
"Yes, Princess! But where are we going?"
"Nowhere in particular. I’m bored of being cooped up in this house. Life is for enjoying, isn't it?"
The lethargy that had plagued me all morning vanished, replaced by a sudden spark of energy. The maids looked at me with concern, probably wondering what kind of chaos the "Crazy Bitch" was about to unleash now. I ignored them.
A few hours later, I was in my street clothes, stepping into the carriage—the same one I’d taken to the Imperial banquet. The knights were whispering behind my back, but I didn't care.
Our destination: Stadt Park, the largest and most beautiful lake park in the capital.
* * *
'Perfect. The weather is truly amazing.'
Stadt Park was a masterpiece of Imperial architecture. The promenades were grand, the floors studded with perfectly shaped stones, and the lake itself reflected the warm sunlight like a giant blue diamond.
The grass was covered with aristocrats on picnics or leisurely strolls. It was the perfect day to just... exist.
'Well, might as well enjoy it before I kick the bucket,' I thought, finding a spot with a panoramic view of the lake.
As I approached with my entourage, people practically tripped over themselves to get out of my way. They didn't even try to hide their looks of horror.
'Yes, the Great Crazy Bitch has arrived,' I thought, watching them flee. 'I’m dying soon anyway, so don't be so upset. Living like this... it really isn't easy.'
If I’d been born in this world, maybe I’d have turned out differently. But for now, I was content to just be the villainess in the sun.