Surviving As A Fake Princess - Chapter 2

18 years ago, I died in an airplane accident while going on a golden overseas trip using my annual leave.

Thinking of the annual leave I haven’t used up until then, it was such a pity. But anyway, it’s a thing from the past, so let’s move on.

I died just like that. But when I opened my eyes, I was a baby.

I didn’t have any memories when I was born, so maybe my soul possessed the body of this baby.

In the beginning, I thought I reincarnated normally, but as time went on, something was strange.

In particular, from the time I got used to the language of this world and was able to communicate, my nanny, whom I thought was my mother, called me like this.

“Our princess.”

Yes, I reincarnated as a princess.

I cheered inside.

I swung my little limbs wildly, babbling passionately and cheering.

‘Oh yeah! My life was reversed! It wasn’t anything like buying a lottery ticket! Reincarnation is the real jackpot!’

I shouted with my arms wide open.

“Auwabububu!”

‘Hurray! Reincarnation, jackpot!!’

But things didn’t go so easily.

When I met my biological mother, not the many I thought was my mother, I came to know the reality.

“Leticia….”

The woman who called my name wore a tiara studded with diamonds with her beautiful platinum blonde hair in a bun.

She was dressed in a glittering gown, and her eyes were as beautiful as emeralds.

When I grew up later, I came to realize that I looked exactly just like her.

She looked at me with complex eyes, discarding everything around her.

She then hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I will make you a real princess of Arcadia – for sure.”

Even though she already discarded everyone, she whispered those words so no one would hear.

I realized, ‘Where have I heard this, no, did I read this?’

I was able to find those words in my memory. At that moment, I couldn’t help but scream inside.

‘I’m screwed!!!’

This reincarnation jackpot died just after waking up!

I wasn’t just reincarnated.

It was a novel I read before I died in the accident. Rather than reincarnation, I possessed a character.

I was so sad that I burst into tears.

“Uwaaa!!!”

‘Even if I do possess someone, it’s a fake princess! A wicked woman who is executed by the guillotine!!’

Then it was dark in front of my eyes.

* * * * * * * * *

Leticia de Arcadia, the body I possessed, was the only princess and the only heir to the throne of Arcadia.

Officially, she was, but the truth was a bit different.

Leticia was the Queen’s daughter, but not the King’s daughter. The King didn’t know that the Queen had a child with her lover.

And after marrying the King, she deceived him and gave birth to a child, Leticia – that’s me!

In other words, it’s proof that I’m an illegitimate child.

‘What a mess.’

Yes, a mess. That’s what I said when I was reading the original story.

The original 『For Amelita』, it was a story about the characters simply making a mess while doing a round trip like a morning drama.

(T/N: Morning dramas were usually about families and their complicated relations.)

Among them, the part related to the birth of the female protagonist and the villain was particularly important.

On the other hand, the female protagonist, Amelita, was a real princess of King Arcadia.

Unlike me, her mother was a concubine from a humble family. My mother Katarina, played the middle boss in the original story, plotted against Amelita’s mother and framed her for having an affair.

‘It’s quite amazing how she framed others for having an affair and cheating herself.’

Naturally, Amelita was not recognized as royalty.

Although he loved Amelita’s mother, the King was furious.

Her mother was executed for treason and Amelita was also thrown into the river.

However, Amelita was the female lead and the story cannot progress without her.

Surviving with the help of a loyal maid, Amelita grew up lonely in the temple’s orphanage. She only had one necklace, her mother’s keepsake, without knowing her identity.

The day my mother offered to make me a real princess was the day Amelita’s mother was executed.

It was also the day Amelita escaped with the help of a maid.

‘What the f**k is this… !’

One line after another, I read the original story while chewing on popcorn. ‘What a real mess’. But when it became my job, I was shocked.

It was a heavy reality that weighed on me after my shock subsided. I also know the villainess Leticia’s ending.

‘Beheaded – by a guillotine.’

Like Marie Antoinette.

(T/N: Marie Antoinette was a French Queen who was executed by the guillotine for her crimes ‘depletion of the national treasury, conspiracy against the internal and external security of the State, and high treason’. [read more at Wikipedia].)

Leticia was executed for deceiving her identity and for trying to abuse and kill the real princess.

When I was reading the original story, I laughed at the implementation of justice. But now that I’m her, I can’t laugh anymore.

Because that just became my future.

‘I don’t want to die!’

There’s only one conclusion.

‘I don’t want to be decapitated!’

The only thing I was obsessed with was my instinct to keep myself alive.

Above all, it was unfair – unfair that I was going to die.

‘I haven’t done anything bad yet!!!’

My eyes opened at that notion.

‘That’s right, I’m not yet a villain right? I didn’t do anything bad! No, I can’t! I’m still a baby!’

Today, Leticia is just a baby caught up in her mother’s infidelity and greed.

Of course, it would be difficult for me to die a beautiful death after sitting at the princess’ throne without being royalty, but I still have a chance.

‘I know it!’

Yes, I knew it all.

What Leticia will do as a wicked woman, and how the hero and the heroine suffered just to kill me and the other villains to regain their rightful place.

‘I can help them!’

Fortunately, my identity for now is a princess. Arcadia’s only princess, with overflowing wealth and power.

And of course, I didn’t gain it just for show.

Once you have it, you need to use it. Shouldn’t I use it all properly?

I can help the main characters with that!

After that, I will give back the seat to the original owner. However, I didn’t come up with this conclusion because of a sense of justice or morality – it was because I wanted to live.

‘If I help them… then later, when they find out that I’m a fake princess… Wouldn’t I be able to at least save my life?’

I decided to put everything at stake here just for one expectation.

No, I don’t think it’s accurate to say I am betting everything.

For Amelita, I am the daughter of an enemy who killed her mother and stole everything from her. That’s why I decided to help the main characters while digging a few holes.

I aimed for only one goal – to survive.

* * *

The slave auction didn’t last long because of my confrontation.

“What are you doing now?”

The host crouched and apologized.

“My apologies, Lady. We will clean the venue and start the auction right away.”

“Do you think I will let you off the hook with a mere apology?”

“That… couldn’t be. After the auction, we should give the Lady a sufficient reward….

I swung my words like a knife.

“No, I only want one reward.”

“One reward, you mean….”

Towards the convulsing Siegheart on the floor, I pointed my finger.

“Give me that child.”

Including the host, all the people around the venue gasped.

“La, Lady!”

Along with the dissatisfied voices in the crowd, the host held a face like he was strangled.

“Such a coercion……!”

“Nonsense!”

Many people were after Siegheart, but my eyes were also set on him.

I ignored them as I showed the host an invitation with a sealed letter.

It was an iron rule here that nobody should reveal their identities.

However, depending on who gave the invitation to the auction, the customer’s original identity, power, or financial power can be inferred.

The black crow pattern was visible on the invitation.

This was only used by the master of the Thieves Guild, who ruled the night of the Monsen Capital.

This invitation meant that I was invited by the Thieves Guild Master themself.

There was not only one but two seals on the letter with a short sentence that unconditionally proved the person’s identity and trust.

First of all, a pattern of seven gold coins. This showed the highest position in Vladica.

The second was a white pagoda pattern. This is the highest position in Alpheus, the Magic Tower.

In other words, the owners of the two places whose names were terrifying to hear, added value to my identity.

Nothing like the host of the slave auction house could stop – just as expected.

The host’s face changed from ghastly white to dark as a corpse right now.

“This, this, this…!”

He whispered softly as he folded the invitation and the letter.

“Be careful with your mouth, I don’t want to cause a ruckus.”

“Ye-yes!”

I raised my voice with a smile.

“For not supervising the product properly, taking products that are perpetrators, and for threatening a guest, I will forgive you.”

The host fell flat on the floor.

“Thank you for your mercy, Lady!”

A commotion spread.

“I won’t take it away for free, so rest assured.”

As I waved my hand, Sir Gustin held out a box to the host. Inside was a gold bar.

“This, this is… !”

Then I said cheerfully, “One billion rubits, what do you think?”

I heard groans from the other guests.

“Gasp!”

“One billion?”

The corners of my lips curled up.

“I wanted to call this much from the beginning. Perhaps… is anyone willing to bid more than this?”

I could feel their piercing gazes at me change.

“…….”

“…….”

Of course, no one came forward.

“Alright then, this child is mine now. Please wrap the goods well.” I concluded.

The moderator groveled and followed my orders.

One thing came to mind.

“Ah, the bet earlier I almost forgot. Can I get it now that the auction is over?”

With a confused face for a moment, the host realized what I was talking about.

“Ah, ah! Yes, of course!”

He ordered his men to bring the gladiator stakes earlier.

Not long after, over 25 million rubits came in front of me.

I lightly picked up the money I won from the bet.

Giving up a billion to buy a slave and not forgetting to retrieve the over 25 million rubits won in the bet, anyone would think I’m a ridiculous woman.

‘Nice! Free 25 million rubits!’

But to me, it was quite natural.

‘Because the 1 billion will come back anyway.’

All my goals for tonight have been accomplished with this. A little extra income is a bonus.

* * * * * * * *

The unconscious Siegheart was loaded into my carriage like luggage.

Not only was he struck by my talisman’s lightning magic, but the escorts of the auction house also beat him up so much that he fainted, which was rather fortunate.

If he had made more fuss and resisted, it could have been annoying. The carriage carrying me, Siegheart, and Sir Gustin entered the palace secretly.

He looked very skinny, but it seemed that Siegheart was more slender than he looked.

I fell asleep shortly after I dragged Siegheart to my bedroom in the Rose Palace where I lived.

I ordered for Siegheart to be released from his shackles binding his arms and legs. I just got the key from the slave dealer, and I only need to release him.

The reason I didn’t release him quickly while bringing him here was that I was afraid he would escape.

“But, it is dangerous…!” Sir Gustin was perplexed.

It was natural after seeing it in the auction house, but my orders were firm.

“It’s alright, let him go.”

In the end, Sir Gustin freed the shackles from Siegheart’s wrists and ankles.

Red wounds appear from where the shackles wrapped; my eyes frowned immediately.

As if he was waiting, Siegheart opened his eyes as soon as he was freed from the shackles. Those bright eyes never belonged to someone who had just lost consciousness.

‘Looks like you just woke up.’

As soon as he opened his eyes, he acted like a wounded young beast, wariness in his eyes.

Covered with all kinds of wounds on his body, the boy stepped back into a corner, keeping vigilant towards me and everyone around him.

‘Well… since something happened earlier, it would be absurd if he let down his guard right away….’

The only ones in the room were me, Siegheart, and Sir Gustin. Upon confirming (that we’re the only people), Siegheart scrutinized Sir Gustin.

It seems as though he thought it would be dangerous to try overpowering me in front of Sir Gustin, so he didn’t try to fight.

Instead, he asked in a very low voice.

“What are you going to do to me after buying me as a slave?”

There was a bitter sneer in his voice.

It is a natural response for a 17-year old who walked through a rough road.

“Are you going to order me to serve you at night like those lustful men?”