Chapter 2

Chapter 2

‘From where did it go wrong?’

Daphne blinked her eyes.

Blood that was flowing from her head gradually obscured her vision.

Even raising her head was difficult and painful.

But what felt even more painful were the eyes that looked down on her coldly.

“Princess, I made the food today according to your taste.”

“Good morning, Princess.”

A few days ago, his eyes would gaze at her gently, no, even a few hours ago.

Right now, he looked down at the oppressed Daphne with his cold eyes.

She would cry, get angry, and beg all over again.

She continuously asked him for the reason, but no answer was given to her.

All Daphne could do was watch the mansion where her memories dwelled burn in flames.

“I need to kill all of the useless people.”

It was a brutal slaughter.

Ah, she felt like she was going crazy.

“The ending is tomorrow.”

A groan escaped Daphne’s mouth.

‘That’s right, it’s tomorrow.’

The male lead, Prince Alan’s coronation ceremony, would be held tomorrow.

Alan, who received a sword, the treasure of the imperial family, would descend from the long stairs and confess to the female lead.

He would ask her to be his wife.

Flora would be overcome with shock for a moment and then she’d nod her head in tears.

It would be a happy ending for them.

That was the end of the book, which Daphne reincarnated into.

Since the main characters had a happy ending, she thought she would be free of the plot’s shackles.

She always had that assumption in her mind for years.

However, a day before the ending, the situation changed.

The story was twisted horribly.

“I really want to be happy this time, how much more effort should I give…?”

The life that Daphne led before she reincarnated was painful.

Her own mother didn’t remember her face.

Her father died, which left her a huge debt from when his business failed.

Her uncle, whom the girl regarded as her parent, also betrayed her.

After letting him handle her assets until she came of age, her uncle ran away with them.

She was only 20 years old at the time.

She had never received red roses, nor received words of encouragement from anyone.

The only thing she had was her father’s debt.

The girl’s life never changed for the better.

Her hands, which used to be soft, became rough, and her health started deteriorating. Soon, resentment started piling up in her heart.

“If it’s going to be like this, please take me with you…”

She prayed to her parents every day, kneeling down in the cold room with no proper heating.

‘Please take me with you.’

She cried and begged all night to her parents, then went to work at dawn.

“Cough. “

The girl’s only hope was the debt that was gradually decreasing.

It was decreasing by a very small amount, but she was filled with slight hope by watching the debt decrease.

“Congratulations.”

On one cold winter day, the girl was finally able to pay off her debts.

After suffering for over 10 years, she was left only with her debt settlement document and a few pennies.

“Cough.”

The girl looked at her phone screen with the balance for a moment, then quietly moved.

“Welcome, do you have a product in mind?”

The place she arrived at was a quilt shop.

“Cough.”

After some time, the girl couldn’t stop coughing, so she spent a long time choosing blankets for the winter.

It wasn’t expensive, but it was warm.

“Wow, it’s really warm…”

The new duvet the girl bought was soft, light and warm, so she was really happy.

The white and fluffy thing was so comfortable that she could lay down on it all day. A smile came to her lips automatically.

‘Yes, from now on, only happy days will unfold.’

She would continue to live with warm, happy days and do whatever she had always wanted to do. At least she didn’t have any debt now.

She could start over. She had to be strong.

She was able to laugh happily for the first time.

However, it soon became a fleeting memory.

The warmth she had barely gained was dissipating in the cold room.

‘When I woke up, I had already been reincarnated as Daphne.’

‘Why is my life like this?’

Daphne was a supporting character in a book that the girl had read before she died.

To be precise, a supporting character who was used as a chess piece for the male lead ‘Alan’ and died miserably.

‘I don’t want to die… I want to live happily.’

“I can do it.”

At least she was younger than before.

She also knew how the story would unfold.

So she’d surely be happy this time.

‘Let’s be strong.’

Daphne, who patted herself in encouragement, moved quickly.

She would avoid the emperor, who was trying to use her as a chess piece, and approach Alan instead.

“Yes, this way, I’m sure I can prevail! I’m a genius!”

She helped Alan ascend to the throne quicker.

“Hello there, are you Flora? I have been waiting for you.”

She also quickly returned the female lead, Flora, to her biological family.

The ultimate villain was also defeated by Alan and Flora.

There were no more obstacles in their way.

Because Daphne was there.

Also, the two of them cared deeply for her.

Daphne spent 8 years doing all this work.

“His Majesty the Emperor has promised to make me the Crown Prince.”

The ending came much faster than the original story.

“It’s all thanks to our Daphne!”

Flora couldn’t contain her excitement and hugged Daphne, who was sitting next to her.

“Of course, as expected, our friend is the best!”

“She’s my sister rather than a friend, Flora.”

Alan grinned as he jokingly responded to Flora.

His large hand gently stroked Daphne’s head.

“Thank you very much, Daphne. You must have been frustrated working under my shadow.”

“That’s right, it’s Daphne’s achievement, but it’s not even properly celebrated! I felt sorry for you.”

Daphne blushed at the compliments and shook her head.

“No. It’s a decision that my brother made, in case I would be in danger.”

Alan laughed bitterly at Daphne’s words,

“But it’ll be over soon. If I become the crown prince, who would dare to touch you? I will praise you for all your achievements later.”

Alan’s voice was full of confidence as he answered her.

“After that, no one will call you a useless princess.”

“Those bad people don’t know how great our Daphne is.”

Flora leaned on Daphne’s shoulder and pursed her lips.

She laughed after hearing her two precious friends’ words.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

“Daphne is my goddess of luck.”

The atmosphere between the three people was very warm.

She was very happy to have met these sincere people.

She really wanted to keep them to herself. They were very warm.

At this point, she had achieved warmth and happiness.

She definitely wouldn’t let go of that feeling.

However, the situation changed when she opened her eyes again.

“It’s cold…”

‘Cold?’

‘It shouldn’t be this cold, though?’

A mansion was on fire some distance away.

Why was her body shaking so much?

Then, someone entered her blurry vision.

The male lead of this novel, the first prince, and the person who would save Daphne.

It was Alan Blake.

As soon as he came into view, her blurry vision cleared in an instant.

“B-brother!”

Daphne forgot that she was being held captive and rushed forward.

No one stopped Daphne because they didn’t expect her to do that.

‘Ah!’ Both of her arms were tied and she staggered.

Alan caught Daphne before she fell.

“Daphne.”

Seeing Alan gently wiping the blood from her face, Daphne quickly asked him,

“Brother, I think you’re being targeted. Tomorrow is your coronation ceremony, I should…”

Before she could speak any further, she realized that something was strange.

Why didn’t Alan untie the ropes that bound her?

If Alan was the kidnappers’ goal, he would’ve been caught by now. But why was it so quiet?

“Why are you smiling, brother?”

Why was he smiling so brightly?

“That’s right. I can’t help but smile, my dear sister.”

Alan put his hand on the hilt of his sword without hiding his smile.

“Tomorrow, I will become the crown prince.”

Swish!

With a loud sound, the silver blade was pulled out of its scabbard.

“There will no longer be anyone who holds my ankle, soon.”

The cold blade of the sword touched Daphne’s neck.

At that time, her head was blank.

Why did Alan do this to her?

Daphne stared blankly at Alan.

“Why are you trying to kill me… I wouldn’t betray my own brother.”

“That’s true.”

Alan nodded his head.

“I know you wouldn’t betray me or Flora.”

The smile that was previously on his face was gone in an instant.

“Earlier, Flora called you the goddess of fortune.”

“Ugh!”

Daphne’s upper body was forcefully bent forward.

“I don’t want anyone other than me to get that fortune. Especially a guy like Kael.”

‘Why did he suddenly mention Kael?’

“He’s not a match for you.”

Daphne gasped.

Kael was the worst villain in the book.

But he wasn’t an obstacle anymore. Didn’t he already kneel down to Daphne and Alan?

“I know you dealt with him yourself,”

Alan trampled on Daphne’s back and continued,

“So you’re the only one who can raise that bastard Kael again.”

There was madness in Alan’s eyes.

“I’m thinking of killing you secretly, then driving Claire out. Then it will be my perfect victory.”

Then, he raised his sword up.

“Don’t worry too much, Daphne. As promised, I will let everyone know about your achievements.”

Everyone will know of her achievement after she died.

Swish!

The pain was felt all over Daphne’s body with the terrifying sound.

“Akh!”

Blood started to come out of her body.

Daphne unknowingly held the blade in her hand.

Pain also crept into the palm of her hand. Only one question arised, even in the midst of pain.

“…Does Flora know about this?”

She was Daphne’s friend, her dear friend.

She desperately thought that wasn’t the case, however, reality was cruel.

Daphne’s vision was filled with Alan’s smiling face.

“Of course. We had the same thoughts.”

‘Daphne, my eternal friend.’

Flora’s voice was in her ears, then disappeared.

‘…Ah, I see. She’s the same.’

‘They betrayed me.’

Her tears flowed to the ground as Daphne’s breathing slowed down.

“Goodbye, my sister. You were really useful.”

Those were the last words Daphne had heard.