Chapter 1
A fierce snowstorm was raging.
Inside a worn-down building that looked like it could collapse at any moment, the freezing wind blew through gaps where bricks had fallen off. But everyone gathered there had determined looks in their eyes.
At the head of the room sat a man with cold black hair and deep blue eyes, like a lake.
His name was Etias von Clyde, a man so handsome he looked like he had been sculpted by a god.
If the former emperor hadn’t died early when Etias was five and his uncle hadn’t stolen the throne, he would’ve been emperor by now.
He had taken his first steps to reclaim the Oswell Empire and the glorious Cambute Palace.
Everyone here had gathered for that same goal.
“We’re planning to sneak into Count Rusler’s mansion and steal a letter from the emperor. But we’ll need about 5,000 den to bribe someone inside.”
As soon as the words “5,000 den” were said, murmurs broke out around the room.
“Five thousand? Where are we supposed to get that much money?”
“We ran out of extra funds a long time ago.”
Everyone there looked poor and ragged. They didn’t even have enough to buy supplies.
Etias’s uncle, the current emperor, had frozen all of Etias’s money in the banks for many reasons—to keep him under control.
The harsh reality was that they had to sleep next to freezing wind blowing through cracked walls.
Clang—
Just when the heavy silence settled from hearing that impossible amount, something suddenly made a rattling noise at the door.
Everyone turned their eyes toward it. A man brought in a heavy sack that had been placed outside and dropped it on the table.
“This is…”
They quickly untied the sack.
As soon as the string came loose—chaa-ring!—a shimmering sound filled the room.
“…!”
The bag was full of gold coins, so many they sparkled like sunlight.
Etias’s blue eyes shook slightly.
“It looks like about 50,000 den, Your Highness.”
That was far more than enough for the infiltration plan. It was a huge sum.
“There’s also a note inside.”
[Move somewhere warm! (๑’ᗢ’๑)ฅ]
Etias’s large hands picked up the note, and his eyes trembled just a little as he read it.
Slowly, he lifted his gaze and looked out at the snowstorm through the window.
“…”
Someone who saw the note touched their nose, trying not to cry.
From all around came emotional voices praising this noble sponsor.
“Who could be such an angel…”
“If the revolution succeeds, we must repay them no matter what!”
Etias’s lips parted slightly, and he spoke in a quiet voice.
“Sponsor… it’s you again, isn’t it?”
The winters in the empire were harsh.
The snowstorms were so fierce, you couldn’t see anything ahead.
Huff, huff.
But I had come here many times to secretly drop off bags like this, so I had no trouble finding the carriage I left far away.
I brushed the snow off my hands and climbed inside.
My butler, Heros, brushed the snow off my shoulders.
“Miss, where exactly did you leave the money this time?”
Heros had brown hair and brown eyes—handsome and kind.
His question startled me a little, but I raised my eyebrows and answered arrogantly,
“Do I have to report that kind of thing to you?”
“Ah, n-no, Miss! That’s not what I meant…”
I felt a little guilty seeing him panic, but I had no choice.
Because I was secretly supporting the revolutionary army—the rebels.
“Enough. Let’s go home.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The carriage started to move.
In the dim window, I could see my reflection.
With shiny pink hair and sparkling purple eyes, I am Catrin Elemore, the only daughter of one of the empire’s top three richest noble families.
Because of my arrogance and cruelty, I’m infamous as the “Poison Rose of Elemore.”
“Oh right, about Father’s treasures…”
My father, Duke Luciano Elemore, was the emperor’s right-hand man.
He held such massive power, they said he could shake the empire.
Neither my father nor my mother was warm or loving. Even as an only daughter, they never gave me much affection.
But they also never ignored or abused me. I simply grew up spending money freely and acting spoiled in a cold, dry household.
“How much did it sell for at the auction?”
I asked, and Heros quickly pulled out his notebook to check.
“All 78 items sold for a total of 3.1 million den.”
“Not bad.”
I smiled in satisfaction.
Since 10,000 den equals about 100 million won, that’s about 310 billion won.
“My parents’ belongings were quite valuable.”
“Y-yes, Miss.”
Ah, right. A few months ago, my parents died in an accident, and I became the new owner of the vast wealth of House Elemore.
You think it’s heartless to smile while selling your parents’ things?
“If I were really Catrin Elemore, maybe it would be.”
That’s right. I was a possessor.
A few months ago, on the day of the Duke and Duchess of Elemore’s funeral, I possessed this body, and Catrin Elemore’s memories rushed into my head.
The work I ended up inside was <Star of the Revolution>.
It’s a novel about a revolution that takes place in the Oswell Empire, with many characters including Catrin.
Etias von Clyde is a leading figure in the story. Even though his uncle stole the throne from him, he never gave up and eventually succeeded in leading a revolution and becoming emperor.
“More than anything, Etias is my favorite.”
There was a time when I was really struggling with workplace bullying.
Back then, reading about how Etias overcame hardship and kept moving forward gave me comfort and strength to keep going.
I fell deeply in love with his strong will to survive the thorny road and finally achieve a glorious victory—even if it was a one-sided love from my side.
In the novel, Etias’s revolution succeeds.
The problem was… the ending was terrible.
After suffering so much and finally becoming emperor, he died soon after from side effects and stress!
I had been so immersed in the story and cheering for Etias that I couldn’t help but leave an angry comment to the author.
-Author, are you serious??
I kept quiet when you had him beaten, starved, and dragged through hell, but after everything he went through to become emperor, you kill him off?!
What did Etias ever do to you to deserve this?
He went through so much, you cruel author!
Did killing him finally satisfy you?!?
After raging and going to bed in frustration… I woke up and found myself on the very day of the Elemore couple’s funeral, just like I mentioned earlier.
Anyway, after I realized I had possessed someone, I was a little shaky from the flood of Catrin’s memories, but once I calmed down, I noticed a letter in the corner of my vision.
