Prologue
“Kiss the back of my hand.”
At the spring hunting competition, Niveia spoke in a pure, clear voice.
She held out her hand covered in fine lace gloves.
“Hurry.”
Because her elegant posture didn’t match her almost commanding tone, and because of all the groundless rumors in this morning’s newspapers and weekly magazines, everyone’s curiosity was already on fire. Countless eyes turned toward them.
“There’s no way those two are really like that, right?”
“Of course not. Think about it. They’ve never shown any interest in love before.”
People whispered, some gasped, unable to close their mouths.
Meanwhile, the only person responding naturally to Niveia’s call was Etienne.
“……!”
The moment Etienne’s lips brushed lightly over the back of her hand, the surroundings fell silent.
But he didn’t care.
To him, she was his long-time love and practically the master of his soul—he could kiss her hand a hundred times.
The mood is perfect. The timing is perfect.
Feeling this completely, Niveia smirked. Then she looked at the man in front of her, who was receiving all the attention.
I thought I’d never be tied to this man for the rest of my life.
To understand how she ended up here with him, she needed to look back on her past.
***
Chapter 1
Me? A Villainess?
Niveia Loren.
She could confidently say she had never once envied anyone in her life. She’d never felt jealousy or hatred, and she never wasted time regretting anything.
It made sense—she was born as the youngest daughter of a highly respected marquis family in the south.
Her mother died shortly after childbirth, so her family poured all their love into her.
“Our princess, only look at the best things in the world, only listen to beautiful things.”
Wherever she looked there were rare flowers, and on quiet afternoons she heard music.
Dresses, jewels, toys—her father gave her everything he believed she needed.
Her older sister, Vivian Loren, treated her the same.
“How is it that every color looks good on you, Nini?”
Vivian loved her dearly.
So when Niveia heard her sister had been chosen as the heir of the family—
“Congratulations! I knew it would be you!”
—she was genuinely happy. Who else but her kind, responsible sister should take the position? Niveia had no interest in it. Being the heir came with responsibilities she didn’t want.
Go ahead, sis. Do everything you want.
While her sister shined as the heir, Niveia planned to enjoy life freely beside her.
She lived a life everyone envied—so much that people were obsessed with everything she did.
“Did you hear? Lady Loren cut all her long hair short!”
“I know! Everywhere you go, people have short hair now.”
Her clothing became new trends. People watched her bold, carefree actions.
Niveia didn’t avoid their attention—she enjoyed it. She grew up understanding both love and discipline.
Still, the empty space in my heart never disappeared.
One thing always bothered her: she had never seen her mother. She didn’t want her father to remarry, but she couldn’t help feeling lonely sometimes.
When that happened, she comforted herself with luxury.
There’s nothing money can’t fix.
She ate cake whenever she felt sad. When she discovered an unknown but talented designer—
“I’ll make sure your name is remembered. Make clothes for me.”
—she funded them, made them famous, and wore their designs exclusively. She never wore the same outfit twice.
Life was perfect.
Which is why—
Me? A villainess?
—she couldn’t believe it when absurd memories suddenly returned to her.
***
One week earlier.
She had lit a match to start a scented candle she liked. Wanting to show it to her sister, she left the room without checking if the match had completely gone out.
Unfortunately… it hadn’t.
The curtain caught fire.
A near-disaster.
“Niveia, I’m very disappointed in you. You almost burned the house down.”
Her father’s cold voice felt like a death sentence.
“You’ll probably forget your mistake if I just ground you. So instead—”
He paused.
“No allowance from now on.”
Her only comfort in life—luxury—was suddenly gone.
The shock was so great she stayed in bed for three days.
Not because she was physically weak, but because something unbelievable resurfaced in her mind.
This can’t be real.
When she finally stepped out to ask her father for forgiveness, she tripped on her blanket, hit her forehead on the floor—and suddenly all the forgotten memories came back.
She had reincarnated.
…Into a character in a novel.
And not just any character—the fake daughter who had replaced the heroine at birth.
The villainess.
Please, someone tell me this is a dream.
But the signs were everywhere. The world matched the novel Lilliana’s Flower Garden exactly.
The novel’s plot:
The real daughter, Lilliana, arrives one year from now and says:
“I’m your true daughter!”
She proves her identity.
The fake daughter—Niveia—calls her a liar. Because Niveia had already caused many problems as a villainess, the family immediately believes Lilliana and becomes disappointed in Niveia.
Then they throw her out.
Of course they would.
Niveia never meant to steal someone’s life. She just grew up loved, not knowing the truth.
But she didn’t want to be abandoned.
But I’m different now.
She hadn’t committed any of the villainess’s crimes yet.
So she calmed herself and decided:
I just won’t do anything bad. I’ll change and prove my worth.
If the worst happens, she’d leave before they discard her.
I can even consider exile.
She’d change her appearance, rename herself, and live richly somewhere far away—so no one would suspect she was Niveia Loren.
“Miss, your heart must feel heavy. Please drink some cold water.”
Her maid, Sally, entered quietly with iced water. Sally supported her entire family but never complained and was loyal and perceptive.
Niveia drank the water, crunching an ice cube.
If I do run away, maybe I should go to the Eastern Continent.
But first… she needed money.
“Is something wrong, miss?”
Sally rushed over when Niveia suddenly fell silent.
Niveia didn’t hear her.
She had realized something terrifying.
I… have no money.
Not a single coin.
