Chapter 1
How to Survive as a Rascal Princess in a Dark Parenting Novel
According to my memory, today is the day the Second Prince—one of the villains in the novel—is supposed to be poisoned.
[Asphodel! Over there! There’s poison in the Second Prince’s teacup!]
[Wow, look at that black stuff. One sip and he’s a goner.]
I stroked the two weasels whispering on my lap with both hands and turned my head toward the Second Prince. Seeing what was happening, I clicked my tongue in disgust.
‘Ugh, it’s really pitch black. He’s always eating stuff like that, no wonder he’s as sickly and withered as a dried-up green onion.’
Despite the hot weather, today’s tea time was held in the outdoor garden. However, mana stones emitting cold air were placed around the tables, so the participants didn’t have to suffer from the heat. Using mana stones just to enjoy hot tea outside in the middle of summer… it’s a tremendous waste of money. But this level of luxury was natural here. This was the Imperial Palace, where they could melt gold just to play in the water.
“Rubelio, you seem to have no energy today. There are many new snacks brought from the East, yet you aren’t even tasting them.”
“Ah… my stomach feels a bit upset, perhaps indigestion.”
“Oh dear, then try some tea. It’s medicinal tea from the North; it will settle your stomach.”
Unable to resist the pressure from those around him, the Second Prince reluctantly reached for the teacup. The Malice of the poison swirling inside was visible only to me and my familiars. In the time I hadn’t seen him, the toxins accumulated in Rubelio’s body had grown very dense. If left alone, he would surely hover between life and death just like in the novel.
He was a brat who always acted unpleasantly whenever he saw me, so I could have just ignored it, but I was simply too kind.
‘Pio! Kino! Dispatch!’
[On it!]
[Here we gooo!]
At my command, the weasels jumped onto the table as if they had been waiting.
Pit-a-pat!
“Wh-what is this!”
“Aren’t those the Third Princess’s pets?!”
A commotion broke out among the people enjoying tea time as my cute familiars ran across the table. Pio, the white weasel, caused a noisy ruckus on the table to draw everyone’s attention.
“Kyao!”
Meanwhile, Kino, the spotted weasel, sprinted to the destination and swung a white paw without mercy.
Thwack!
“Argh!”
The teacup the Second Prince was holding was struck by Kino’s front paw and went flying.
“Y-you! These damn rats!”
Kuncha, the Second Prince’s father—who usually despised my familiars—lost his usual elegance and jumped up from his seat.
“What are you doing! Catch them immediately!”
Trembling with rage, Kuncha had no idea I had just extended his precious son’s life.
Well, I guess I have to step in now.
‘Goddess, please allow me to be a righteous rascal!’
I prayed piously to the Goddess and took a deep breath.
“DOOON’T HURT MY BABIIIIIEEEES!”
A roar from the depths of my stomach echoed through the garden. I grabbed the lace cloth hanging over my knees and yanked it violently. Teacups and cakes flew into the air. The eyes of the guests shook like a school of salmon swimming through the void.
Crash!
Clatter!
The teaware and dishes, including the poisoned cup, fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. My familiars were already gnawing on snatched cookies, laughing wickedly. The peaceful garden tea time met a catastrophic end in an instant.
“A-Asphodel! What is the meaning of this!”
“P-Princess!”
It was a midsummer day about six months since I possessed this dark parenting novel and began my third life as a Princess. To explain the story of why I decided to throw away my reputation and become a “Rascal Princess,” we have to go back quite a long way.
Chapter 2
Beware the Author’s Curse
“Is the author insane…?”
My phone fell onto my face with a hollow thud. I was completely dazed by the shocking ending of the web novel I was reading.
<Princess Asphodel>.
As the simple title suggested, it was a romance fantasy novel starting from the childhood of a female lead reincarnated as a Princess. It wasn’t exactly a fresh concept in an era where “parenting stories” were everywhere, but a well-written cliché is usually the tastiest.
However, this novel was a bit unique: the Emperor was the mother, not the father. In this setting, the royals didn’t give birth directly; instead, they combined magic power in a sanctuary touched by the breath of God to produce descendants. The detailed fantasy elements were quite interesting. The diverse fathers, the siblings, and the scene-stealing supporting characters were a delicious mix.
But the real charm of this genre is watching a cute female lead be loved by her family and deliver “refreshing cider” (gratification) as she grows, right? This novel had all those trendy elements.
“I picked it up on the way. If you like it, take it, Asphodel.”
A cool, lioness-like Emperor Mother. She was strong, beautiful, and seemingly indifferent to the world, but that very trait made her a fan favorite.
“Adel, Dad can do anything for you. So please, keep smiling like you are now.”
Then there was the beautiful father, as delicate as a doe. His appearance was that of a noble, elegant unicorn-type, and his “gap moe”—being cold to others but sweet only to his wife and daughter—made him as popular as the Emperor.
“My cute little sister. If anyone bullies you, just tell us. We’ll get rid of them all.”
“I really can’t sleep without Sister. Come here and hold my hand.”
Of course, the brothers who couldn’t live without the female lead couldn’t be left out. Add in some cute and cool older sisters, and it was perfect.
“Your glory is my joy, and your happiness is the reason for my life. Princess, you are my only God.”
Even the handsome male lead and the second male leads, essential for the romance genre, appeared periodically to raise the excitement. Plus, the delicate pacing of “cider” moments where the villains got their comeuppance… it made every chapter thrilling.
‘Ah, this is why I read female-lead growth stories.’
I believed without a doubt that if it continued this way—a healing story that ended well—it would leave a massive mark on the romance fantasy world.
But did the author eat something wrong halfway through…?
‘Wait, why is the plot suddenly like this?’
From the mid-to-late part of the story that had been proceeding so brightly, a giant “crap-bomb” was suddenly dropped. The villains, who turned out to be “hidden powerhouses,” suddenly started causing chaos, and monsters that had no previous relevance began running wild like cockroaches on steroids. The cute, lively atmosphere of the novel turned depressing.
Author…? Why did a perfectly good story suddenly turn into a tragedy?
I was flustered, but I tried to stay calm. Yes, the ground hardens after rain! A female lead should be able to overcome this level of hardship! My author must have a plan!
Then, the female lead’s father died.
While protecting the female lead from a monster invasion, he was torn to shreds, leaving only a single arm behind.
‘F-ck…’
Thankfully, due to the father’s tearful sacrifice, the invasion was settled, and the female lead awakened her powers to punish the villains. I thought the story would finally reach a happy ending.
But that wasn’t the end.
It turned out the final boss was still alive. He attacked the female lead’s older brother, who died a gruesome death, and the frail, beautiful younger brother was brainwashed into becoming the villain’s pawn.
‘Are you kidding me?’
And that’s not all. Even the male lead, who was having a sweet romance with the female lead, was severely injured while trying to save her when her divine power went out of control during the final battle. He ended up with a body that could never hold a sword again.
‘F-CK…!’
In the end, she defeated the villain, but the novel concluded with everyone scarred and broken. A “Completed” tag appeared. The readers absolutely lost their minds over this unprecedented bad ending.
Author…? Part 1 is just over, right? Part 2 is a regression story, right? Please say it is ㅠㅠ
I hoped for even a nonsensical regression or resurrection ending, but it was a vain dream. No matter how long we waited, no news of the work was updated. Perhaps because the readers were so furious, a “Conclusion Review” was posted on the author’s personal site a few days later.
