Chapter 01
Bwooo—!
The sound of a horn rang throughout the palace.
“His Majesty the King has returned!”
Along with the shout, a soldier beat a drum loudly—thud, thud. No less noisy was the sound of horses galloping.
At the lead of the knights on horseback was him—the young King of Verona, Bastian. He had returned from war. Even before ascending to the throne, he had won countless battles.
The moment his face appeared, everyone in the palace cheered.
“Long live His Majesty the King!”
“Long live Verona!”
“Long live!”
Everyone rejoiced with bright faces—except for one person, who sat there drowning in misery.
That person was me.
The only one here looking like I’m attending a funeral… was me.
“Princess Clara, are you not happy?”
The maid beside me, noticing my gloomy expression, asked. I nodded weakly.
“…I’m happy.”
Happy, my foot. Not in the slightest.
Did he really bring him?
I didn’t care whether my brother came back alive or not. What made my face tense was something else entirely. I anxiously scanned behind Bastian.
Soon after, the knights behind him stepped aside. Someone was dragged forward between them.
He really brought him…!
The moment I saw that man, my pupils trembled violently.
A young man was being hauled in, tightly bound by ropes. His head was lowered so I couldn’t fully see his face. His arms were tied behind his back, and a short chain clinked between his legs.
His blond hair was so drenched in blood that it was hard to tell the original color. His clothing, once surely fine, was now torn and covered in cuts.
All eyes were on him.
“Your Majesty, who is that…?”
A minister asked Bastian. I didn’t need the answer—I already knew. But I desperately hoped someone would say I was wrong.
Bastian answered in his characteristically arrogant tone:
“I’ve kidnapped the Imperial Prince of the Nerha Empire.”
No! I screamed internally.
“The Imperial Prince?”
“Then that must be…”
Like people gawking at a zoo animal, nobles murmured and stared. Bastian hopped off his horse and approached the man with a smug expression.
“The Prince seems rather tired.”
He didn’t sound concerned at all. Bastian grabbed the youth’s chin and lifted his face for everyone to see.
Women, including the head lady-in-waiting, gasped.
He truly was beautiful—an appearance that could only be described as noble and refined.
His lip was split as if he’d been punched, yet even injured, his face shone with elegance befitting royalty.
His tired blue eyes stared blankly into space. What was he thinking?
One way or another, he would make it out of here safely.
He was the male lead of this novel, after all.
The bleak one here was my future. Of all people to possess…
Why did I end up as the kidnapper’s sister…?
I pressed my throbbing head.
I had originally been a normal 22-year-old job seeker. I submitted dozens of applications, went to countless interviews. Eventually, I got into the company I wanted.
It was the moment my efforts paid off. I was thrilled.
I should celebrate with my friends!
I made plans immediately. But on the way to meet them—
BANG!
I was hit by a speeding car.
And when I opened my eyes… I was someone else.
After all my effort…! I was stunned and furious.
When I realized I had transmigrated into a novel, I felt even more sick.
Clara Velasco. A minor character in the novel Adriana, mentioned only briefly as the Princess of Verona. I had become her.
Suddenly, I was a princess—born with diamonds in my mouth, a life incomparable to my past.
But what if that princess was the little sister of a tyrant? One destined to die young? That’s not exactly comforting.
Worse yet, Bastian had already left for war before I transmigrated, meaning I was stuck following the original plot…
Why this life, of all lives…
The male lead, Daniel, was the Imperial Prince of the Nerha Empire. But his half-brother, the Crown Prince, hated him—simply because Daniel was the Empress’s only son among three princes.
When the Emperor fell ill, the Crown Prince seized power and exiled Daniel to a remote region. Bastian attacked that region and kidnapped Daniel.
Exactly what was happening now.
“Seems the Empire is no longer protecting its Prince. Otherwise, why would he be somewhere so dangerous?”
Bastian sneered at Daniel.
That’s my brother?
I had never met Bastian before today because he left for war before I transmigrated. Clara’s memories made me fear him, but after seeing him in person…
Wow, he really looks villainous.
Handsome, yes, but undeniably villain coded—unlike Daniel.
“I can’t simply let the Prince go. Otherwise why bring him?”
“Aren’t you afraid of Imperial retaliation?”
Daniel finally spoke. His voice was low and exhausted. Bastian scoffed.
“A toothless tiger doesn’t scare me.”
Toothless tiger.
Indeed, the Empire was crumbling after 500 years of rule.
Meanwhile, Verona was expanding thanks to Bastian’s aggressive conquest. That’s why he mocked the Empire boldly.
He didn’t know he would eventually die at Daniel’s hand.
The opening scene of Adriana was Daniel escaping Verona.
How did he escape alone?
Clara helped him. She distracted his guards and freed him.
She fell in love at first sight. Blinded by love, she betrayed her brother and chose Daniel.
Please… use this dagger to kill His Majesty…!
She even revealed Bastian’s vulnerabilities and asked Daniel to assassinate him. Daniel killed Bastian, returned home, and earned great credit.
And Verona? It fell into chaos, divided into three factions. The princess who betrayed it was executed.
Daniel hadn’t intentionally seduced her, but the result remained.
Bastian never imagined Daniel would try to kill him.
“Are you going to kill me?”
Daniel asked quietly. Bastian smirked.
“Of course not. The Prince is a guest of honor.”
That was guest treatment?
As I watched in disbelief, Bastian suddenly looked at me.
“Clara!”
“Yes?!”
His voice startled me. I thought he’d forgotten my existence.
“You’ll take care of our esteemed guest.”
Ah. So that’s how Clara and Daniel got close in the original. Bastian himself gave them the opportunity.
I nodded.
“Yes, I’ll do it.”
But immediately, Bastian frowned.
“You think you can?”
Huh? He asked first, then doubted me? I tilted my head—then remembered.
Right…
The original Clara couldn’t speak normally in front of Bastian. She trembled in fear.
Well, she watched him kill their siblings… who wouldn’t be terrified?
But I had to speak somehow.
“Yes. I can do it.”
“Really?”
He looked intrigued, then smirked unpleasantly.
“You seem confident. I look forward to it. I’ll give you special attention.”
He grinned like a mischievous devil.
So this is what he meant by “special attention”…?
Daniel’s room was placed right next to my bedroom in the princess’s palace.
“I moved him here so you can watch him more closely. No need to walk far.”
Bastian smirked proudly.
“The knights will watch him too, but keep an eye on him. Tell me if you notice anything suspicious.”
Sure. Whatever he wanted. He was a tyrant. I answered:
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
Bastian once again looked suspicious, as if something felt off about me. I forced a smile.
Could he tell someone else was in Clara’s body…?
“Go.”
Fortunately, he didn’t notice. I sighed in relief.
Now it was time to see Daniel.
I returned to my palace. A knight stood guarding the room beside mine.
“May I go in?”
“Yes, Princess.”
He opened the door—and inside was a sight I did not expect.
He was still tied up?!
It was a small room with only a bed. Daniel lay face-down on it, ropes binding his torso.
Is this how you treat a guest?! I approached him, shocked.
“Hello, Prince Daniel.”
He spoke without looking up.
“You are…?”
“Clara Velasco.”
“Ah.”
He recognized the name. He looked exhausted, unable to sit.
Well, he had been dragged here from battle…
He then said quietly,
“Would you please untie me?”
He moved his bound hands slightly.
“Me?”
“Yes. The knights refuse. I require your help, Princess.”
He needed my help?
I stepped closer—but suddenly felt… strange.
A handsome man tied on a bed like that…
I stared seriously. He raised his head weakly.
“Princess, please… help me.”
His tired blue eyes pleaded desperately. His earlier cold gaze was now filled with longing.
“Please…”
Even his voice had a breathy, sighing quality.
I swallowed hard.
What am I supposed to do…?
