Chapter 15
Of course, I couldn’t see anything. The only thing I could feel was a scent so strong it nearly numbed my nose. That scent was coming from the bathtub I was sitting in.
At first, it was just warm water, but after they dumped in all kinds of fragrant things, I wasn’t even sure if it was still water—it had become sticky and thick.
I didn’t know how many hours had passed since the bath began. It had been an excruciatingly boring few hours.
If they told me to get into the tub, I got in. If they told me to get out, I got out. Sit in a chair? Done. Lie on the bed? Sure.
The maids were busy rubbing, washing, applying things to my face and body—nonstop. But the only thing I, the actual subject of all this, could do was think.
So I decided to face the truth I’d been avoiding for a long time.
“Alright, Princess. Time to rinse now.”
As the warm water splashed on my face, I thought to myself:
‘There’s no denying it anymore.’
My original plan to live quietly under the radar and tag along with the female lead after three years had completely collapsed.
The moment Richard told me to side with him, things already looked grim—but when Rudolf appeared and invited me to the birthday celebration, it sealed the deal.
My happy ending plan was completely shattered, and the moment I walked into the party holding Rudolf’s hand, it would vanish without a trace.
I felt utterly miserable thinking about how it all came to this—but this wasn’t the time for self-pity.
What mattered was not the past, but the future.
I needed a new plan. One that ended with “And she lived happily ever after.”
The simplest approach was to choose either Richard or Rudolf. Help him become Emperor, and in return, secure a peaceful, comfortable life.
They were villains, so it wouldn’t be easy—but I had the original story’s knowledge, and with that, I believed I could manage.
That left one final question.
While helping a villain rise to the throne… could I protect both the original heroine and hero?
That answer… didn’t come easily.
All I could do was let out a long, heavy sigh.
“Oh dear, Princess. You must be so tired.”
One of the maids gasped while wiping my face. She wasn’t wrong. I nodded weakly.
“It’s alright. We’re almost finished.”
That was welcome news.
“All that’s left is the dress, makeup, and hair!”
“There’s still so much left!”
The maid giggled, thinking I was joking. Meanwhile, others began laying out dresses, shoes, and jewelry-laden boxes all around me.
With my face now wiped clean, I looked again at the dress Rudolf had sent me.
It was stunning—like something a fairy might wear. Pale sky blue fabric flowed beneath layers of sheer, silvery cloth. Diamond dust scattered on the fabric shimmered brightly with the slightest movement.
The short sleeves puffed just slightly, adorably, and a delicately woven lace cape flowed down the back.
It was so extravagant and dreamlike, I wondered if I’d ever see anything like it again in my life.
“Let’s curl your hair, Princess.”
Once I was dressed and seated, one maid began curling my hair with a heated rod.
“Please close your eyes, Princess.”
Another maid started applying something to my face. Yet another was holding various jewels against the dress, pondering which matched best.
They were all working so hard. If our palace had more funds, I’d give them all a bonus meal afterward or something.
I thought I might fall asleep again from how long this was taking—but surprisingly, the final steps went faster than expected.
“All done, Princess.”
Still with my eyes closed from the last touches, I slowly opened them at those words.
A large full-length mirror had been placed before me. And in it, stood a fairy.
The dress shimmered like a cut of dawn sky. A tiara studded with opals was perched on my curled golden hair.
When I lowered my gaze, I was startled.
I hadn’t noticed when putting them on, but now it was clear—my shoes weren’t made of fabric.
They were entirely see-through.
Glass slippers.
They sparkled with diamonds and opals at the toe, and though the heel was slightly raised, they weren’t uncomfortable at all.
In fact, they were ridiculously comfortable. There’s no way this is real glass—how could it feel this soft and luxurious?
“Prince Rudolf enchanted them himself,”
The red-haired maid, apparently the leader of the group, leaned in and whispered.
“Truly magical shoes.”
I stared into the mirror, spellbound.
From the moment I entered Lucilia’s body, I thought she was cute—though she was so skinny she looked fragile.
Then I got used to her face from seeing it every day. Wearing plain and outdated clothes daily, she reminded me of an old doll.
But now… it was so dazzling I couldn’t even look straight into the mirror.
I couldn’t say it aloud, so I muttered inwardly:
Holy…
I look seriously pretty…
Lucilia was always beautiful, but Rudolf had played a huge part in transforming her into a radiant fairy.
I’d thought the dress would be too extravagant and drown the person wearing it—but now it looked breathtaking.
The tiara, which had seemed too modest compared to the dress, turned out to be the perfect complement once paired with the glass slippers—a cheat-level combo that raised my charm stat through the roof.
Did Rudolf choose all this himself? Or was there a fairy godmother helping him behind the scenes?
“You look absolutely stunning, Princess.”
The maid, adjusting my collar, beamed with pride.
“Thank you, Johanna.”
The red-haired maid’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You remembered my name…”
“Of course I did. Sonya, and Vivian too. Thank you for all your hard work today.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
All the maids answered in unison.
I glanced out the window—the sun was already setting.
“By the way, where’s Brother Rudolf?”
“He’s probably waiting downstairs.”
Johanna replied.
I let out a sigh so deep it felt like the floor might crack.
If only Rudolf had caught the flu. Or sudden food poisoning. Or a nasty bout of diarrhea…
Seriously, what are my siblings doing that they couldn’t get rid of just one Rudolf?
Grumbling unfair complaints to myself, I headed downstairs.
I walked as slowly as I could, trying to delay the moment I had to face him. But halfway down the staircase, I saw him already waiting at the bottom.
Our eyes met briefly in the air.
Rudolf looked at me. I had no idea what he was thinking.
Because the moment I saw him, I couldn’t think at all.
Another fairy…
Well, that’s about as coherent a thought as I managed.
Rudolf was dressed in pure white. A soft blue shirt—matching the color of my dress—peeked out beneath.
Even the cravat around his neck was blindingly white, adorned with the same opals from my tiara.
“Lucilia.”
He smiled as he called my name.
He radiated an overwhelming aura. Like untouched snow, or the glimmering dew of early dawn.
A pure, sacred beauty that seemed tainted by even the slightest touch.
How could anyone look at this man and call him a twisted psychopath? If I were a fairy, Rudolf would be the fairy king.
I descended the rest of the stairs like someone possessed.
“The dress suits you.”
Rudolf smiled like a gentle older brother and held out his hand.
“Shall we?”
As I took his hand, the maids of the Opal Palace and Rudolf’s attendants gasped in admiration.
Such a beautiful pair of siblings, some whispered. Others said they’d never seen the Fifth Prince smile like that before. And from somewhere…
“Princess, you’re soooo prettyyyyyy!”
…came Miriam’s unmistakably loud voice.
“…Let’s just go, Brother.”
I hid my burning face behind my hands and stepped into the carriage.
Once Rudolf joined me, the carriage rolled away soundlessly.
“Wow…”
As we exited the forest around the Opal Palace, I gasped.
Beyond the carriage’s small window, the imperial palace sparkled in brilliant light.
Though the sun had long set, the palace shone as if it were noon. Everywhere I looked, Lux stones glowed with magic light. The whole place looked like an amusement park.
Come to think of it, this was my first time outside the Opal Palace since transmigrating. I pressed my nose to the window, marveling at the world beyond.
After a while, I noticed Rudolf watching me with his chin resting on his hand.
‘How long has he been staring?’
I just hoped he wasn’t questioning whether I was really Lucilia or doubting I was only twelve.
I kept my cheerful expression and smiled sweetly at him before turning back to the window.
‘I’m twelve. Innocent. Pure. A naive twelve-year-old…’
I repeated the mantra in my head like a prayer. Please, let nothing happen tonight.
Eventually, the seemingly endless imperial grounds came to a stop as the carriage halted.
Rudolf stepped out first and offered his hand. I took it and stepped down.
“Presenting: Fifth Prince Rudolf Sol Esperusa and Seventeenth Princess Lucilia El Esperusa!”
The footman at the entrance to the garden announced loudly as soon as my glass slippers touched the ground.
I raised my head and looked straight ahead.
The Emperor’s garden, Bernas—the site of the birthday celebration.
As I stood at the entrance, I could feel every eye in the party turning toward us.
I had expected it, but experiencing it in reality hit differently. I shrank a little.
“Straighten your shoulders.”
I flinched and looked up at Rudolf. He turned to me and whispered:
“Don’t forget—you are royalty. Those people are nothing but worms who should be bowing before you.”
And with that, Rudolf smiled beautifully—like an angel.
His kind-looking face contrasted so violently with his words that it was shocking.
What a wicked personality.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. But still, it helped ease my nerves.
Together, Rudolf and I passed through the flower-adorned entrance of Bernas.
The Emperor’s garden was so vast it seemed endless. Flowers, jewels, and people filled every inch of space.
“Let’s go greet His Majesty first.”
Rudolf’s words made the tension in my chest return all at once.
Right. Today’s party was in celebration of the Emperor’s birthday. Everyone had to greet him first upon arriving.
We followed the golden carpet laid out at the entrance and walked deeper into the garden. Eventually, something came into view in the distance.
A pile of colorful gifts. And beside them, a grand chair—gold, adorned with jewels and flowers, making it look even more massive.
And there he was.
Lucius Helio Esperusa.
The man seated on the throne. The one named after the sun god.
Reigning like a deity himself.
