Chapter 1

... It hurts.

The first sensation I felt was pain.

Until then, I had been in a drowsy state, but the pain awakened me and I instantly regained my sense of self.

... If only I could have awakened a little earlier.

Being rolled on the floor in front of a crowd and held down by several men, any maiden, not just me, would think the same thing.

If this were a kidnapping, perhaps I could indulge in the sweet dream that a prince on a white horse might come to my rescue... but this is a "trial" for me.

Standing on the side of the perpetrator rather than the victim, there is no hope for salvation.

Now, to help me sort out this situation, let me explain a bit more about myself.

My name is Iris.

Iris Lanna Almeria.

I am the first daughter of Duke Almeria, the leading duke of the Kingdom of Tarsmeria.

I am a 16-year-old girl who makes even flowers blush.

My father is the prime minister, and my mother is the daughter of a general, from a family of top civil and military officials. I am a young lady with noble blood, second only to the royal family in this country.

You might wonder why I can describe myself from a third-person perspective... that’s because “I” am someone else.

To be precise, the current “I” is a mix of Iris and another personality.

The other half of me is the personality of a woman who lived and died in her thirties in a country called “Nihon.”

She worked hard and died in an accident on her way home from the office after working late one night. I awakened with the pain.

There was no fever or anything like that, which often happens in stories when one remembers their past life. Instead, I smoothly merged with her, and that’s how I am now.

... Perhaps there was no time for a fever in my current state.

Now, after merging with her and reflecting on my past, I realized one thing.

... This is exactly the world of the game I used to play!

I was so focused on my work that I had no time for romance, but deep down, I still wanted to experience the thrill of love.

That’s why I got hooked on otome games in my past life.

During breaks and at night, I found a lot of comfort in those thrilling moments... but that’s beside the point.

The point is, this world is exactly like the game I used to play.

The game’s title is “You Are My Princess,” or “KimiPuri” for short.

It’s set in a medieval European world where a baron’s daughter, who is at the bottom of the noble hierarchy, attends a school for the children of the nobility and experiences a Cinderella story with the top young men of the noble society.

The target characters are the second prince, the son of the knight commander, the son of the prime minister, and the son of the Dalia Church’s pope.

Their personalities—arrogant, hot-blooded, cool, and mysterious—are typical characters in this kind of story.

Of course, in this kind of story, there is a rival character.

That’s me, Iris, the duke’s daughter and the fiancée of the second prince, Edward Tone Tarsmeria.

When the player, a baron’s daughter, targets Edward, the rival character appears to interfere with their meetings and cause trouble.

However, as a noble daughter, the only mischief I can do without using my family’s power is to say mean things or spread rumors at school.

When I played the game, I often resented the rival character... but upon reflection, her mean comments were often just advice to act according to one’s status, which is common for nobles. The heroine ignored the straightforward and honest advice and continued her behavior.

When the rival character was confined to a convent as a nun, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her.

After all, the heroine was pursuing a man who was already engaged, which is essentially infidelity.

If you think about it, the heroine is the real villain, isn’t she?

Anyone would resent such a person, and what Iris did was relatively mild.

I know from history that in a society with such a rigid class system, the harassment can be much more brutal and tragic.

Compared to that, what Iris did was nothing.

... However, in this situation, no one will listen to such explanations, and I am completely isolated and without allies.

I have already reached the game’s ending, and I am being dragged to this trial by the protagonist and her entourage of handsome men.

... Isn’t it usually the case in reincarnation stories that one remembers their past life in childhood?

In this case, no matter how hard I try, the game is already over.

“Do you have anything to say, Iris? About the various acts of harassment you inflicted on Yurie.”

Ed’s firm voice echoed in the room.

His gaze, looking down at me, was full of contempt.

The moment I saw him, anger surged within me.

“... Could you please let me go?”

I ignored his words and spoke to the man holding me down.

Drossen Katavaria, the son of the knight commander, is very strong, and his grip on my shoulder really hurts.

Drossen ignored my words and tightened his grip even more.

“It hurts, so please let me go. ... As the son of Duke Drouna, who leads the knights for the weak, isn’t it inappropriate for you to hold down a weak woman like this?”

At these words, he showed a slight reaction.

Perhaps the code of chivalry is universal.

“... You, a weak daughter? Please, take a break from your jokes.”

The one who said this with a sneer was my younger brother, Bern Tarsi Almeria.

His cold gaze and sarcastic smile towards his sister really irritate me.

However, even if the game is already over, I have no intention of making things worse by acting out of anger.

“I do admit that I harassed Yurie Noye, the baron’s daughter. I acknowledge it.”

“... You admit it so easily?”

“Yes. It’s a waste of everyone’s time to create such a scene for something so obvious. It’s my way of showing sincerity.”

“Why did you harass her...!”

“Why do you ask, ‘why’...”

Ed, who was agitated, flinched for a moment.

Does he remember something?

... No, according to Iris’s memories, he is so infatuated with the protagonist that his mind is clouded by love. He probably interprets it in a way that suits him, thinking I’m just trying to confuse him.