Episode 2
At first, I thought it was all just a dream.
If someone told you that you’d suddenly end up in a novel you barely even read—as the villainess—would you be able
to take it seriously?
Sure, it’s a cliché in romance-fantasy stories, but I never imagined my life would turn into one.
The only thing I remembered about The Beloved Youngest Princess was that it was about a princess, thought to be
an orphan, who by chance meets the male lead, returns to the imperial palace, and ends up being loved by the
emperor and everyone else—before marrying the male lead and living happily ever after.
A sweet, heartwarming tale from a distance… but up close? Life was more like a tragedy than a comedy.
The character I woke up as was Emilia Hermann—the eldest daughter of the Hermann Marquisate, and the story’s
resident villainess.
She loved the male lead, Edwin Casper, and even became his first wife… but in his eyes, she was the worst woman
he’d ever met.
The biggest problem? I’d never even finished reading the original novel, so I had no idea how the full story went. And
to make things worse, I opened my eyes in this world as a five-year-old kid.
Still, I figured, since I didn’t know the details, I’d just try my best to live well. But fate wouldn’t leave me alone.
“You killed your mother when you were born—so you better make your life worth that! Do you even know how
much I loved her?!”
Day after day, the emotional abuse was relentless. Coming from a peaceful and loving family in my past life, I couldn’t
wrap my head around the fact that my future here was to become a villainess.
It wasn’t even fear of being hated—it was realizing I was already walking the path that would turn me into one.
The Marquis of Hermann, my father, constantly yelled at me with veins popping in his neck. My only brother, Henry,
would mock me whenever he could, as if my very existence offended him.
Naturally, I had no place in the household. Even the servants ignored me.
What can I even do here?
In the novel, Emilia wasn’t exactly smart. She acted before thinking, even when a little thought would’ve told her
she’d end up in trouble.
She clashed with the heroine, Diana, again and again—always losing more than she gained.
In the end, the Hermann family was destroyed by the male and female leads, and Emilia met her downfall… at the
hands of the man she loved and once called her husband.
So when I realized I’d become Emilia, I swore I’d change the story no matter what.
I tried everything—working hard to prove my worth, changing my behavior, and trying to make the family more
harmonious. But nothing worked.
“No matter how hard I try… nothing changes.”
If I so much as displeased the Marquis, he’d have me skip meals. Sometimes he locked me in my room for days. After
I turned seven, he started hitting me in front of the servants with a cane.
I finally understood why the original Emilia turned bitter—she probably survived by converting fear into anger. At
least when she lashed out, the constant harassment and contempt would die down a little.
But I couldn’t bring myself to do that.
As a child, I genuinely tried to do better, thinking if I improved my standing in the family, I could avoid becoming the
villainess.
At least, that’s what I believed back then.
But every time I tried, Henry would show up to ruin it or take the credit.
If I went to the Marquis to explain, he wouldn’t even listen—just accused me of trying to steal Henry’s achievements,
then cursed and hit me.
Eventually, I gave up on trying.
By the time I was an adult, I’d grown into someone who thought getting angry was pointless. If I just endured it,
things would pass quietly.
The bright, cheerful life I’d had before was nothing but a faded memory now.
Maybe that’s why, on that day, I couldn’t hold myself together anymore.
If I just fell… maybe things would finally be easier.
At a banquet celebrating the youngest princess Diana’s return, I slipped away to the terrace. Everyone was obsessed
with Diana, leaving me completely alone.
I set down my champagne and let my tears fall quietly.
“…I just want it to end.”
I looked at the bruises hidden under my dress and gloves. Even the lightest touch made me bite my lip in pain.
No matter how much I tried to stop the story from following the original, it was like trying to stop a river with my
bare hands.
Nothing changed.
And once I realized that, I started wondering if there was anything I could actually change.
I’d thought about running away before, but the Marquis wasn’t someone I could escape from. I’d be caught quickly,
and my life would probably get even worse.
Even if I succeeded, I had no idea where I’d sleep or how I’d eat.
“There’s not a single person here on my side…”
Not one.
I hadn’t done any of the villainous things the original Emilia did, but no one wanted to be close to me.
Even today at the banquet, nobles from the same faction only gave me awkward nods in passing. They knew I was
the discarded child of the Hermann family, so they didn’t see the point in talking to me.
The Emperor’s faction was even worse—they didn’t bother hiding their contempt.
With no place to belong, my gaze drifted back to the terrace.
Carrying someone else’s life on my shoulders… today it just felt especially pathetic.
The terrace was high up. High enough that a dangerous thought crept in.
“If I ended it here…”
If I ended this life nobody wanted me in.
Leaning against the railing, I didn’t bother straightening my posture. I closed my eyes and waited for time to pass—
just like how I’d suddenly woken up here, maybe this would suddenly be over too.
But, of course, it didn’t go the way I wanted.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
A low voice, followed by a hand grabbing my arm.
“…Just leave me alone.”
“Not after I’ve seen you.”
He pulled me back up from my tilted position.
I clenched my eyes shut. If the Marquis or Henry heard about this, I’d regret not dying today.
“Let go of me.”
I was sorry to whoever this was, but I had no hope left. I wanted to end things quietly, alone.
But the man holding my arm didn’t let go.
I finally opened my eyes.
Most people never even looked my way, so I was curious—who was this?
The man in front of me… was easily the most handsome I’d ever seen. Pale skin, hair like black velvet, and eyes like
clear black diamonds.
I stared for a moment before snapping out of it.
“You’ll want to let go now. I’m from the Hermann family.”
That name always came with baggage. I’d never gotten a single benefit from it, but it ruined people’s first impressions
of me.
Even strangers who’d never met me would criticize me just for that name.
So I expected him to back off immediately.
But instead, he said—
“So? And?”
“…What?”
I froze.
The Hermann family was the leader of the noble faction that opposed the Emperor. In this era where the Emperor
was loved as a wise ruler, the nobles were seen as villains.
I thought he didn’t recognize me because I rarely appeared in society anymore. But even after hearing my name, his
expression didn’t change.
Why are you still so calm…?
He smiled faintly and raised his hand toward me.
For a moment, it overlapped with the image of the Marquis or Henry raising their hand to hit me. I flinched, shutting
my eyes.
Nothing happened.
I slowly opened them again, confusion clear on my face.
“I don’t care who you are.”
Liar.
I’d seen plenty of people pretend not to care while cursing me inside.
“Well, you do seem a bit too fragile for someone from the Hermann family.”
His smile… it was the gentlest I’d ever seen.
And just like that, the ice around my heart started to melt.
“What’s your name?”
I figured he already knew—there weren’t many women in the Hermann family, and I was the only daughter.
Still, his voice carried a warmth I hadn’t heard since arriving here. For the first time since transmigrating, someone
was being kind to me.
“Emilia. Emilia Hermann.”
“I see. Emilia. Not a bad name.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
I found myself curious about him. Standing here on the edge, he felt like a ray of light in my darkness.
So I asked, “And… your name?”
He didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Edwin. Edwin Casper.”
I froze. Then regretted asking.
I should’ve just walked away and treated this like some fleeting encounter.
No.
At first, I thought he just looked familiar. But now that I knew his name, I was certain.
My future husband…
I’d promised myself I wouldn’t live like the original Emilia, and that included never falling in love with Edwin.
But my heart was already pounding.
Edwin held out his hand.
“Come on. Let’s go.”
“…What?”
“You’d look better somewhere brighter than here.”
I wanted to take his hand. I really did. But I couldn’t.
Biting my lip, I shook my head.
“Sorry… I should go.”
I hurried away, but before leaving the terrace, I looked back.
Our eyes met—and my heart thudded.
“The treasure the Casper family’s looking for… it’s in Arden Forest.”
Find it before the Marquis does. Before it becomes the thing that ties you and me together—destroy it.
I swallowed those words and left.
I heard him calling after me, but I only focused on getting away.
If you get involved with me… you’ll suffer.
And yet, I suffered too.
Because I hadn’t taken his hand.
“Emilia Hermann.”
Edwin watched her disappear into the crowd.
He could’ve caught up in seconds, but that would’ve made her—already running as if her life depended on it—push
herself harder, maybe even trip on the marble floor.
“Are you taking an interest in my little sister, Duke?”
The sly voice made Edwin frown.
He didn’t need to look to know it was Henry Hermann—someone who’d always been jealous of him.
Henry smirked, walking up beside him. Edwin didn’t stop him. His eyes were still on where Emilia had gone.
“Do you want her? Ha.”
Edwin glanced at him.
Henry’s grin widened as he whispered, “She’s our family’s prized doll. She’ll do whatever she’s told for the sake of the
family. Even if it means dying for it.”
Laughing, Henry walked away, leaving Edwin alone with his thoughts.
