WPPHL 02

Chapter 02

[Thank you for loving <Princess Asphodel>!

Thanks to your affection, we have successfully finished the story.

Actually, I started this novel because I wanted to twist the framework of child-rearing stories.

Because in reality, there are no fairy-tale stories where everyone ends up smiling happily.

The journey of Asphodel and the other characters ends here, but I hope their lives are remembered in your hearts for a long time.

Thank you once again for being a loyal reader of <Princess Asphodel>!]

Is this a joke?

No, I mean, who wants to feel the harshness of reality in a novel too?

Why is a cliché called a cliché in the first place!

Child-rearing stories mean a happy ending!

Romance fantasy means a happy ending!

No matter how many hardships there are in the middle, the conclusion must be a happy ending!

Wasn’t this an unspoken rule in this genre?

Furthermore, the cover was so fresh and lively, and nowhere in the description or keywords was there even a hint of “dark” or “tragic.”

Did I pour my cash into this every month just to see an ending like this? It’s unfair and frustrating!

They say a fan who turns their back is the scariest.

Perhaps because many people felt betrayed like me, yesterday’s fans turned into today’s haters and began appearing in the comments.

One of them was me.

– Everyone, this novel is a waste of money and time, so never read it. It’s the ultimate disaster ending!

– What a waste of cash. These days, any random person calls themselves an author, so stuff like this gets published.

– If you’re curious about the ending, check the reply below for spoilers.

Ah, why did I do that…?

I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol—maybe I couldn’t see straight because I drank straight soju out of anger?

If I knew I would be possessed by this novel, I never would have done that.

– Truly the worst novel. Even I could write better than this.

While I was busy writing “constructive criticism” in the comments with others who felt the same way, a strange voice suddenly echoed in my head.

– If you’re that confident, I’ll give you a chance. Go ahead and try it yourself.

“Huh?”

Uh…

Before I could even wonder, my vision suddenly blurred and I lost consciousness.

And when I opened my eyes again…

“Princess Asphodel! We sincerely congratulate you on your fifth birthday!”

“What?!”

As if I had been cursed by the author, I had become the female protagonist of <Princess Asphodel>.

Of course, at first, I didn’t think for a second that I had actually entered a novel.

I thought I had just fallen so deep into the book that I was finally dreaming.

But days turned to months, and seasons changed, yet I never woke up from the dream.

Everyone called me ‘Asphodel.’

By the time a significant amount of time had passed, I had no choice but to accept it.

The fact that I had entered the body of the Third Princess, Asphodel, the protagonist of this novel.

Still, after finishing my period of denial, I tried my best to adjust.

I didn’t know if this was really the author’s curse or what, but maybe if I saw the happy ending, I could go back home?

That unlucky voice I heard at the end said so.

Since I was confident, it would give me a chance to try.

Since I had no other choice, I had to try.

By the way, age five. It’s the perfect age to start a child-rearing story. Yes.

At least it’s better than starting as a nursing baby.

And honestly, it’s true that I felt a bit excited.

Even if the latter half was ruined, wasn’t <Princess Asphodel> my favorite novel—one I had read so much I practically memorized it?

But now I became the protagonist and could live that life myself!

Ignorance makes you brave; back then, I was full of motivation and intoxicated with the groundless confidence that I could surely reach the happy ending of this story.

But the role of a child-rearing female lead was not easy.

Think about it…

Just because a functional adult entered the body of a cute five-year-old girl doesn’t mean they can immediately act like that age.

In the novel, Asphodel’s charm was being a slightly clueless, cheerful, and sunny protagonist, but this was a huge barrier from the start.

‘M-Me… Sunny…! Sunny?!’

Damn, it didn’t suit my personality at all.

What’s the point of knowing the future plot and lines?

I couldn’t copy them!

Since my original self was an adult exhausted by life, it was impossible from the beginning to spread natural “cutie-pie” vibes like the Asphodel in the novel.

Still, for the sake of a stable happy ending, I tried my best to follow the flow of the novel.

But in conclusion, my reality became more of a gutter than the novel.

First of all, the fact that I failed miserably at building rapport with the main characters played a huge part.

“I feel like you’re always wearing a mask. If you don’t even show your true heart, do you really think you can win someone over with such fake kindness? Give up on such vain expectations.”

My older brother’s words hit me so hard they broke my spirit.

Well, even I thought the position of the bright and kind Asphodel didn’t suit me…

Besides, since I forced myself to act close just to follow the novel’s plot, I should have questioned the taste of anyone who actually liked that.

For that reason, the surrounding characters—who were supposed to trust and follow whatever the protagonist said—were uncooperative.

Of course, since we live in an era where passive, incompetent, and nuisance protagonists aren’t popular, the special power Asphodel had as a “buff” wasn’t weak.

But this wasn’t an “overpowered protagonist” story, and it was hard for me to handle everything alone.

Because I couldn’t stop the villains at the right times, disaster struck the world earlier than planned.

At age 17, I eventually died because I couldn’t stop the invasion of the monsters and the villains who were running wild.

It was a miserable ending that didn’t even get close to the novel’s actual ending—the one I had criticized so much in my past life.

As I faced death, I regretted it deeply.

‘Ah, if I knew it would end like this, I shouldn’t have wasted time pretending to be the female lead and following the novel’s plot.’

Instead of wasting time trying to film a “family drama,” I should have built up more strength and beaten down the villains first. Then I wouldn’t have died such a gruesome death.

The Empress Mother, who was consistently indifferent to me.

I approached her thinking about how she was secretly soft on Asphodel in the novel, but I thought I would literally die from fear.

I learned exactly what it felt like for my knees to tremble just from a single look.

My older sisters and brothers, who felt repulsed and ignored me because I seemed fake—all because I started off on the wrong foot.

Those jerks, I liked them so much when I read the novel, how could they be so cold to me?

At least my younger brother, who had an affection deficit, had a lower barrier to entry and we got along better than the others, but compared to the novel, it felt mediocre.

That’s probably why there were hints that he was getting close to the final villain lately, but the monster invasion happened first, so I couldn’t confirm if he actually turned evil.

On top of that, I couldn’t even set up a proper flag with the male lead, so you could say this life was completely ruined.

Only my Father, who had special affection for his daughter from the start, was my only support during my short life.

But while trying to save his daughter during the monster invasion, he met an early death just like in the novel.

Still, because we had grown close, my heart ached and I was sad.

Is it really over like this?

Even if I didn’t get a happy ending, can I go back to my original world?

Or… am I really dying like this?

Now that the ending has turned out like this, what happens to the people of this world?

Flash!

Right then, golden letters appeared before my blurry eyes.

– A hopeless development that makes no sense unless it turns into a regression story.

– I really tried not to say this, but I wish they’d change the author and write Season 2 as a regression story. That would be so fun.