Chapter 2
“The Real Princess Only Walks on Flower Paths.”
Abbreviated as RealFlower.
The reason I picked this novel was simple.
It was ranked #1 on the ChocolatePage site when I logged in.
I just wanted to see someone being endlessly loved.
That was all.
‘I started reading it without much thought, but it turned out to be more fun than expected.’
I let out a quiet chuckle as I climbed into the carriage I had arranged in advance.
There’s a reason popular works are popular.
I was completely absorbed in RealFlower, like I was under a spell.
‘Having a hobby really does help make real life more bearable.’
Even in a house where the only place to relax was under the blankets in bed.
Even in a workplace where, as the only female employee, I was told to make lunch.
It always felt like I was drowning underwater, struggling to breathe.
“Selfish bitch. She’s got money and still pretends like she doesn’t.”
That’s what my parents said after draining my bank account, and every time my brother came back claiming he had a promising new business idea.
“Have this on my desk by tomorrow morning. What? It’s the weekend? Then stay up all night and get it done. Why are you so incompetent?”
Every time my boss made absurd demands, I would read another chapter.
One chapter for every hardship—100 won per piece.
And then, I transmigrated.
“……”
I bit my lip hard.
Fine, I’ll admit it.
RealFlower was my favorite novel. I reread Part 1 multiple times while waiting for Part 2.
But I transmigrated because of that? Seriously?
‘This is ridiculous.’
I hung my head in despair and then shook it furiously to rid myself of useless thoughts.
‘Get it together first.’
Why did I transmigrate into RealFlower?
And why as Ermia Tekins, a character with only three lines in the whole novel: “Father! Mother! Aaaaagh!”
I had no idea why, but for now, survival was the priority.
And now, the final challenge remained.
‘The Grand Duke Leandro is nothing like the weak and stupid Count Tekins.’
What’s the most basic rule of childcare novels?
The guardian is never an ordinary person.
‘It’s a trope—the guardian is either a ruthless emperor who conquered the continent or some shadowy figure even the emperor can’t touch.’
Leandro was definitely the latter.
He had many titles, but the ones mentioned most in the original story were:
The one who ended a long war. The one who slew the Demon King alone.
A hero.
But also:
The one cursed with the Demon King’s blood. A monster.
Just those two.
‘He spent more than 20 years on the battlefield and lost all human emotion.’
All that remained in him was a pressure to annihilate enemies, an obsession with doing what was right…
And a faint longing for family.
So when he heard about Veloa, he immediately rushed to Count Tekins’ estate and swung his sword.
Without even realizing he was killing people.
Because they were enemies. People who needed to be killed.
And because killing them was the right thing to do.
RealFlower is the story of Leandro and Veloa meeting and healing each other through mutual support.
“Whew.”
I gently brushed the pink hair of Veloa, who had fallen asleep with her head resting on my lap.
Her soft locks spread across my hand.
‘This is dangerous.’
I saw it with my own eyes.
When was it again?
I was scurrying around, preparing to screw over my half-brother, when—
“Please spare me!”
—I happened to run into Grand Duke Leandro.
It was too far to be called a proper encounter, but close enough to grasp the situation.
“Please, Your Grace! I’ll return every coin I earned. I’ll spend the rest of my life repenting, so please—!”
…If that guy had known it would be his last words, would he have said them?
‘I still remember it.’
The blood-stained street, the flustered knights from the Grand Duke’s household, and—
“We’re leaving.”
Leandro, who didn’t even spare a glance at the man he had just killed.
‘……That’s going to be me.’
Later I found out that the man had committed enough crimes to deserve summary execution.
Leandro had simply done what had to be done.
That same judgment would certainly apply to me.
I looked at Veloa with a heavy heart. She was so thin it was hard to believe she was three, and her wrists still bore deep marks from being tied with rope.
I shut my eyes tightly.
If I brought Veloa with me, the Grand Duke’s suspicion would naturally fall on me first.
‘My reputation, both socially and publicly, is absolute radioactive waste.’
I’d be the prime suspect of child abuse.
And the #1 rule in childcare novels?
Extreme protection. Not just protective. Excessively protective.
‘In the original, he razed an entire neighboring territory because Veloa got hurt.’
How many noble houses did he personally blow up for just speaking ill of her?
Back when I read it, I thought, “Wow, best uncle ever! So cool!”
But now that I’m in that position? All I can do is cry…
‘I have to find a way to survive.’
If I stayed like this, I wouldn’t be surprised if Leandro beheaded me twice just to be sure.
‘What if I secretly dropped off Veloa and ran away?’
No good.
That’s actually the most dangerous plan.
The Trash Collective would definitely pin all the blame on me.
And then—slash!
I even considered sneaking across the border…
‘But that’d only make him chase me harder.’
A child abuser fleeing the country? No one would question if I ended up dead.
‘That’s a straight-up death ending.’
Since becoming Ermia Tekins, I’ve desperately searched for a way to live.
I’ve run hundreds, thousands of simulations based on RealFlower’s original story.
‘They all ended in death.’
Run? Dead. Hide? Dead. Escape to another country? Dead. Do anything? Still dead!
What am I, a freaking ocean sunfish?
Thanks to the Trash Collective, my reputation is nuclear-tier in every possible circle.
Which means, no matter what I do, the Grand Duke is 100% going to try to kill me.
But there was one path.
One that held a faint glimmer of success.
It had a high failure rate and almost no chance of success.
One wrong move, and I’d practically be offering my neck to the Grand Duke’s sword.
‘But it’s the only way.’
Still, it’s my only shot.
I swallowed hard. Sweat formed on my tightly clenched hands.
Maybe it’s because it’s my first time gambling with my life.
I’m a little nervous.
As I tried to brace myself with a shaky smile—
Thunk!
A thud echoed through the wall.
“……!”
“Miss!”
I quickly looked up. Through the thin wall, I heard the coachman’s voice.
“We’re almost there.”
There was a short pause, probably to check if anyone was nearby, then he continued.
“Get ready.”
“Okay.”
I hurriedly gathered my things and gently shook Veloa awake.
“My sweet Veloa, time to wake up.”
“Mm…?”
Veloa blinked a few times, then slowly sat up, looking at me with confusion.
“Uuuh.”
“I know you’re sleepy. But it’s time to get off. We’re at your real home now. Let’s get ready.”
As I soothed the drowsy Veloa, I retied her half-loosened cloak string tightly.
It wasn’t freezing, but it was dawn.
While I busied myself, the carriage gradually slowed down and stopped.
‘This is the Grand Duke’s estate.’
As I stepped down from the carriage, I saw the mansion in the distance.
A massive mansion, tall iron gates, and just the right amount of mist in the air.
Such an atmospheric setting.
“Thank you for your help.”
I handed the coachman a pouch of gold coins.
“The promised payment.”
I expected him to snatch it and leave immediately.
But he just stared at it blankly, not taking it.
What?
“No need.”
Just as suspicion started to creep in, the coachman turned his head and added curtly:
“I’m not taking it.”
“Why not?”
“You’re the one, right?”
He answered my question with another question.
“You sent me those loan documents?”
“Oh.”
But with his next words, I understood immediately.
“My little brother… he was a fool, sure, but he didn’t deserve to die like that.”
“Your brother was…?”
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter.”
The coachman turned his head again as if he didn’t want to say more.
“Go on. I don’t know anything. I saw nothing.”
“Mister…”
Climbing back onto the coachman’s seat, he pulled his hat low and murmured:
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do… but good luck.”
That was the last thing he said.
He gripped the reins and vanished into the mist.
“Wah?”
As I stood there, unmoving, Veloa in my arms looked up at me.
“Mm…”
When she asked what was wrong with her eyes, I shook my head.
“No, nothing. Just… I feel braver now.”
The coachman’s kindness reassured me that I hadn’t chosen wrong.
This was the right path, Veloa.
Looking at her confused little face, I smiled brightly.
‘Yes. This is the only way!’
I picked Veloa up and rushed toward the towering iron gates of Grand Duke Leandro’s mansion.
‘I survive, Veloa finds a loving family, the Tekins family crashes and burns, and the Duke finds peace with his new family!’
Everybody wins! One stone, four birds!
So now…
“Good day! I’ve come to offer my neck to Grand Duke Leandro!”
I can do this!
Let’s go
