TBTW 1

Chapter 1

“Princess Frey. I’ll say this again—I’m a very promiscuous man.”

The man, Daniel, spoke with a tired expression.

The maids of the imperial palace lowered their heads even further, not knowing how to react to his shameless attitude.

It was already well known in the capital that Grand Duke Daniel Proust, who seemed refined on the outside, had been involved with many women.

But openly admitting that in front of the princess—while discussing their wedding—was not something a groom-to-be should do.

‘No matter how disappointed he is with Princess Frey as a marriage partner!’

Besides, wasn’t he bound to absolute obedience to the imperial family because of an old agreement made by his ancestors?

‘Even if he dislikes her, once His Majesty has invoked the right of absolute obedience, the marriage can’t be canceled.’

‘But why is Princess Frey just listening quietly today?’

Normally, based on how she had behaved before, she should have trembled in anger or turned pale and glared at him, demanding an explanation.

“Oh my, I actually like that you’re promiscuous. That’s why I asked for this marriage. So don’t worry—feel free to be as promiscuous as you like.”

Instead, she responded playfully.

At her calm reply, Daniel’s expression stiffened slightly.

Following the advice of his experienced subordinate, he delivered his final blow.

“As you know, I already have two illegitimate children. And there will likely be more in the future.”

“Oh my, I love children too, so no need to worry.”

“You… like children?”

Frey gave a vague answer to his doubtful question and calmly sipped her tea.

Inside, she was mocking Daniel’s efforts to call off the marriage.

‘Illegitimate children? He couldn’t ignore abandoned kids and brought them in, yet he’s lying.’

In fact, among fans who only saw his handsome face and limited appearances, his nickname was “#pure_virgin_man.”

A man with a past so clean it was practically transparent—calling himself promiscuous?

‘He’s trying hard. But it won’t work.’

From Daniel’s perspective, it made sense. Because of a promise made by a previous duke, he was suddenly forced to marry a useless princess. Of course he wanted to break off the engagement.

After all, no one wants to be stuck with a bad match.

But Frey couldn’t afford to consider his situation.

‘To stop the destruction ending, I have to get into this man’s estate no matter what.’

She lowered her gaze and looked at her reflection in the teacup.

Brilliant blonde hair and red eyes worthy of being called the greatest beauty in the empire.

She was the persistent villainess from the game “The Abandoned World,” based on a romance novel of the same name.

That was her—Frey Obelir.

‘I may be a villain, but since I’ve reincarnated into a game I used to obsess over and know the future… maybe I’m lucky.’

This was long before the original story began.

The protagonists of the game were the children under the Grand Duke’s protection.

And the game itself began after the world had already been ruined by conflicts caused by villains.

In short, if she didn’t stop the villains, she wouldn’t survive either.

‘There’s still time before destruction. The relationship between the imperial family and the Grand Duke’s house hasn’t broken yet—that’s proof.’

To change the future, she had to first deal with Daniel’s marriage—the starting point of the disaster.

So Frey spoke firmly.

“I’m sorry, but my father has already exercised the right of absolute obedience. This marriage cannot be canceled.”

“You were the one who requested it in the first place.”

Daniel frowned.

But Frey stood up with a shameless smile.

“Yes. Because I really like handsome, promiscuous men.”

“….”

“See you in two weeks, my future husband.”

With a relaxed smile, she left her seat.

* * *

About a month earlier—

“Don’t lose consciousness!”

“This may not be an ordinary poison—bring the priests, quickly!”

As people rushed around, the metallic smell of blood filled the air.

Some of that blood was mine.

But most of it was pouring from my mother, Lady Roselia.

“I’m already… ngh!”

My mother coughed up blood and clutched her chest.

Just ten minutes ago, we had been peacefully having dinner together.

I wasn’t in good condition either.

‘These symptoms…’

A numb pain near my heart, and a chilling sensation spreading through my body.

This was the signature of a curse used by the mages of the Zelon ducal family—the Empress’s family.

Even as my consciousness blurred, I understood the situation.

‘The Crown Prince and the Empress took advantage of Father’s absence to kill us.’

It was obvious.

The Empress was the younger sister of the Duke of Zelon, who had killed off the emperor’s brothers one by one to seize control of the imperial family.

My father, the Emperor, had rejected her because of that.

My mother was a commoner and his beloved concubine—his only comfort.

That alone made the Empress hate us.

And recently, there was another reason.

My mother was pregnant.

A new child carrying the emperor’s blood was a huge matter.

In the imperial family, only one child per generation is born with divine power—but the Crown Prince had none.

At his age, there was no longer any chance of awakening it.

I also had been confirmed to have no divine power, which was the only reason I wasn’t killed.

But now my mother was pregnant again.

There was a high chance the next child would possess divine power.

So the Empress acted.

“Frey, come here… cough!”

My mother coughed again, blood soaking the carpet.

Her condition was far worse than mine.

If Father were here, he could have used divine power to save us—

‘But he had to leave because undead monsters suddenly appeared…’

Supported by others, I approached my mother.

“Frey…”

Her cold, trembling hand touched my cheek.

Fear tightened my chest—fear that she might disappear forever.

She spoke in a faint whisper.

“Pretend you don’t know who’s behind this.”

Her eyes said everything.

‘The only way for us to survive in this palace is to act like we know nothing.’

I could only cry, unable to answer.

“If I disappear… you’ll be fine… please, at least you…”

“Mother!”

“At least you… live happily—”

Those were her final words.

Her hand fell lifelessly onto the bed.

I grabbed it tightly.

But she didn’t move.

“M-Mother…?”

“Princess, please step aside!”

The physicians pulled me away and tried everything to save her.

The priests chanted healing spells.

But she never regained consciousness.

Of course she didn’t.

It was a curse cast with the refined magic of the Zelon family.

‘Even if I say it was a curse, they’ll just call it baseless slander.’

There was no proof.

They would cover it up with a false explanation.

And everyone would stay silent about her death.

‘Why are they doing this to us?’

As I reached out toward my mother, a white cloth covered her face.

My mind went blank.

Then I heard the Empress’s cold voice echo in my head—

[“Child. If you are even slightly related to the throne, you will not be safe.”]

I was only five at the time, but I understood the warning.

If I sought the throne—I would die.

If others supported me—I would die.

If even a knight pledged loyalty to me—I would be accused and destroyed.

‘So I lived quietly… then why…?’

With a sharp pain in my heart, I realized—

No matter how obedient I was, the Empress would have killed us anyway.

Why did I only realize this now?

After my mother died?

“Princess, stay conscious!”

“His Majesty has just entered the palace!”

The priests tried to heal me, but it wasn’t working.

The Zelon curse was too strong.

My vision blurred.

[“Frey… please… at least you… live happily…”]

I wanted to honor her last wish.

But my strength faded.

Even if Father saved me, nothing would change.

I would still lose everything.

Because I had no power.

Because I was too afraid to seek it.

‘If only I had the power to take revenge…’

No—if I survived, I would gain power.

And I would avenge my mother.

No matter what.

Flash—

Suddenly, unfamiliar scenes filled my vision.

‘A life review? No… this is…’

My past life.

“Frey, no!”

As my father’s voice echoed, divine power cleansed my body.

And I realized—

‘That burning place in the game… isn’t that our imperial palace?’

This world…

was the game I used to obsess over in my past life.