Chapter 1

This is a new series.

I would be delighted if you enjoy it!

"Can't you at least show a smile at a ball?"

A low, sighing voice reached my ears, and I opened my eyes wide. In front of me was a man with golden hair like the shining sun, someone I recognized.

Suddenly, I felt like frowning at the impolite words directed at me, but there was something more pressing on my mind, and my headache was getting worse. So, to be honest, I couldn’t be bothered with the man’s words.

—Whose memory is this, and who am I now?

My breathing became shallow, and my head felt as if it were being pounded. It was hard to stand, and I wanted to grab onto something, but there was nothing nearby to support me.

Just as I was about to stagger—

"Are you pretending to be unwell? Even if you try to run away, it won’t work."

"——!"

What kind of thing can you say to someone who looks so miserable! My lips twitched.

I was already struggling with my own issues, so why did I have to think about this rude person—just as I thought that, I met the eyes of the worst man.

—Ah, it’s Prince Ignatius.

In an instant, I realized who this person was.

I took a few deep breaths, and the handsome man who was speaking harshly to me—my fiancé and the target of this otome game—was Prince Ignatius.

Prince Ignatius’s well-defined features twisted into a frown as he met my gaze. Despite being my fiancé, he seemed to detest the sight of my face.

Perhaps I had calmed down a bit, and the situation became clearer. It seemed that I had the memories of both this world and my previous life.

—The lady who doesn’t smile, Charlotte Cocorala.

That’s my name now.

I am the daughter of the Cocorala Duke in the Kingdom of Fabulum.

My eyes, which are ash-gray, rarely show any emotion. This is often attributed to my upbringing as a duke’s daughter, but it seems I simply didn’t use my facial muscles for things that didn’t interest me.

My long, white-blonde hair, which resembles the color of milk tea, is well-maintained down to the tips. A single strand is styled and held in place with a rosebud accessory, giving a sophisticated yet elegant look.

My dress, which matches the color of my eyes, is a deep wine red, the same as my hair accessory. The off-shoulder A-line dress is adorned with black lace and jewels at the chest, and the skirt is decorated with a ribbon at the waist, with layers of lace. I wear short off-white gloves.

Seeing my own appearance, which I would never have worn in my modern life, made me feel somewhat embarrassed.

As for my background—though it sounds impressive, I am just an ordinary girl with no special powers. However, my parents are dukes, and my fiancé is the crown prince of this country—Prince Ignatius.

Prince Ignatius and I were engaged in our childhood and are now sixteen years old.

And just now, something returned along with my headache.

It was—my memories from my previous life.

—This might be the worst.

I let out a small sigh, trying not to let Prince Ignatius notice. The reason is that I know about this world, which I seem to have reincarnated into, from my previous life.

—It seems this is the world of the game I played in my previous life. Moreover, my role is the villainess.

I don’t have the energy to laugh.

I don’t want to be the protagonist, but do I really have to be the antagonist? I can’t help but think.

"…How long do you intend to remain silent?"

"! Ah, I apologize."

Called again, I looked not only at myself but also around me.

I am in a large ballroom.

The high ceiling is brightly lit by chandeliers made from processed magic stones, and the columns along the walls are adorned with carvings of flowers and plants. This place is probably the royal palace.

Many guests are enjoying conversations, dancing, and dining. I and Prince Ignatius are standing slightly apart from them, on a raised platform.

—This is a familiar scene.

And, unfortunately, not in a good way.

Next to me, Ignatius Fabulum looks completely unamused.

He is the crown prince of the Kingdom of Fabulum, known as the Land of Flowers, but to be frank, he has a lady who is infatuated with him, despite having me as his fiancée. He is a despicable man. I know this from the game knowledge I just remembered from my previous life.

His calm golden hair is parted in the middle and tied back, with a strand hanging in front. His sky-blue eyes are more like cold ice than a bright sky.

His formal attire is a dark blue coat with accents of light blue, and he wears a dark blue cape on his right side.

When he stands silently, his well-defined features make him a handsome young man.

And thinking about my future—recalling the game’s scenario, I sighed in relief. It’s not as bad as I thought.

This game isn’t one where the villainess has a death route or anything that severe. Whether it’s a happy ending or a bad ending, I am only exiled from the country. It could be seen as a lack of redemption.

However, for a noble lady, it is a severe punishment. Even if I am taken care of to some extent in the place of exile, I will have almost no money and lose my freedom. How am I supposed to survive?

—Well, I can live a tough life with the knowledge from my previous life!

But, in fact, this otome game has a bit of a special aspect. It’s not just a regular otome game—

"Kyaaah!"

"Eh?"

My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden voice from my side. Looking over, I saw a delicate girl—the heroine of the game—tearfully looking at me.

—What, what’s going on?

I just recovered my memories, and I haven’t even had time to properly sort out the situation. I wish these troublesome things would stop happening one after another.

The heroine—her initial name was Emilia—had a bright red wine stain on her white dress. It was clearly a disaster.

"…! Are you alright, Lady Emilia?"

I tried to suppress my urge to sigh and called out to her, but before Emilia could say anything, Prince Ignatius shielded her with his back.

"Pouring wine on Emilia, what were you thinking?"

"This dress was a gift from Prince Ignatius…"

—What?

I almost gaped. I was just standing there, lost in thought, and this is an outrageous accusation. Emilia was the one holding the wine.

However, I judged that it wouldn’t be proper for a lady to make a fuss, so I forced a smile, moving my usually inactive facial muscles.

"No, I didn’t bump into her—"

"Excuses are unbecoming, Charlotte. You must have been jealous of the dress I gave to Emilia, right?"

"——…"

Prince Ignatius wouldn’t allow me to argue.

I almost wanted to point out that he was giving a dress to another lady despite having a fiancée, but I held back and took a deep breath to calm myself.

—I see.

I know the current situation.

To be precise, I have played this scenario in the game. The heroine, who arrives with a wine spill, is—near the end of the game, the scene of condemnation.

In other words, I am about to be told that our engagement is being broken off.