Prologue

All of a sudden, a slender silver-haired woman fell on the floor, vomiting blood.

With a face covered with tears, she reached out her hand and grabbed the man’s foot.

“Grey, don’t leave me.”

“You think I really loved you?”

“You said you did! That you loved everything about me…..”

“I was after your title.”

Grey shook off Mary’s hand and fixed his clothes.

Mary didn’t want to believe it. She couldn’t make herself believe it. But, when she saw a smile of victory plastered on his face, she realized.

He never loved her, not even a little.

“Oh my goodness! What an idiot!”

I threw away the book I was reading and was overwhelmed by my own anger. Actually, I wasn’t going crazy because I still had lingering feelings, but because the heroine of this novel was so frustrating.

What the hell were you thinking when you still trusted the man who betrayed you right before you died? Aren’t you vicious yourself? If so, then you would have acted more like one!

I mean, the character was bound to collapse because of her current condition. But, I couldn’t understand.

The romance fantasy novel that was thrown far away in the corner of the hospital room was entitled, .

Doesn’t the title give you the answer? Don’t trust him! You were told not to believe him, but why did you still believe him?

The name of the heroine was Mary Anastasia. Her name itself was pretty. On top of that, her appearance is that of a goddess, according to the novel. Most of all, she was a princess who has never been ashamed.

‘Why did you fall into his trap? Why did you not recognize such a scumbag? ‘

There was no other person like her who was an idiot when it comes to men.

At first, Mary was frustrated when she was engaged to him because he neither had a high rank, nor did she love him.

In addition, the author had set a time where she was determined to break off the engagement no matter what, yet…

“Why did I have to read this?”

I felt similar to her for no reason. Maybe it was because I was also bound to die soon like her. Since I’m only 26 years old, there are still many things I haven’t done and many I still want to do.

“If I had been Mary, I would have done as I pleased.”

Since I was stuck in bed, all I could do was read the novel. I never would’ve predicted that I’d be told in the future that I’d die soon.

I just want to live a normal life and be happy like everyone else. Was that such a selfish request?

I had to calm down, but I felt tremendous pain after I finished reading the novel. I tried to catch my breath while holding my chest tightly.

Every now and then, when I felt pain, I’d become scared.

‘I don’t want to die yet…..’

I was afraid because no one would know of or remember my existence by the time I meet my end because I have nothing.

Mary’s life was better, even if she was dumb.

Although she wasn’t loved by the man she truly loved, she had a family…..Contrary to you, I-I have nothing.

No one will remember me after I die. I will disappear in this world, as if I had never existed from the beginning.

If it was a life that would be taken away so quickly, it should not have been given from the very beginning. Every day was too short for me, and I had no good memories either.

I want to live. Even if I continue living like this without anyone around me.

The pain in my chest felt stronger. I felt unusually strong today. Whenever the pain came, I wasn’t able to stand it.

Perhaps I have gotten used to the pain I’ve been receiving until now.

I took out a painkiller and put it into my mouth. The pressure in my chest grew stronger, making it harder for me to breathe. I tried to calm myself down and closed my eyes while lying on the bed.

“It’s alright…I took medicine, so I’ll soon wake up after sleeping….”

I closed my eyes…

I could feel the sun and the wind brush my skin lightly.

I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. The sound gradually became louder, and my consciousness became hazy.

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Not Mary But Me (1)

She opened her eyes with a feeling of opening her breath. She felt like the pain that she couldn’t breathe was still tightening her throat.

“Gasp…”

She put her hand on her neck like crazy. There was nothing. She also tried vomiting with her mouth open. She felt something stuck in her throat.

Her chest was stuffy and she couldn’t breathe properly.

“Why… Why?”

Wet hands covered with tears and saliva caught her eyes. Skinny hands and skin color tone without blood. It was the hand that she’s always seen.

“But what is this incompatibility?”

She swept her hair back with her hand. Her body trembled as if she still felt pain. Breathing gradually regained stability.

She stared at her hand blankly for a long time. A soft feeling with a white blanket. It was strange. Only then did she raise her head and look around.

It was a different window room from the hospital room, a different space from the world she was in.

Her head was pounding. She felt the extreme cold. Hugging myself, she crawled out of bed shaking.

“What? What is it……”

A picture hung on one wall of the colorful room caught her eye. A beautiful woman was drawn at a glance with clear silver eyes that seemed to be transparent to silver hair.

Knock, knock.

She heard a knock on the door. She stepped back in surprise. She was dead and opened her eyes, but she was in a strange place, so she swallowed her fear.

“Princess! Oh my god.”

When a woman she saw for the first time found her, she’s horrified. She also throws away the things in her hand and runs to her and wraps herself in a blanket in a hurry.

“You can’t move yet. Oh my god, did you put it up again? Come here.”

Attracted by her hand, she came to bed and sat down. She couldn’t understand this situation at all.

“Princess…”

Wiping her face carefully, the woman wiped away tears. She carefully wiped her hands and face with a wet towel. She said she was glad she woke up.

She turned her head blankly and looked at the mirror next to her.

“……?”

It wasn’t her. The woman in the picture on the wall was looking in the mirror. She turned her head to the side.

“No way…”

“Princess, are you feeling sick again?”

“Who am I?”

She looked every inch of the room in front of her. She saw the woman’s appearance on the wall and herself reflected in the mirror. She vaguely remembered the descriptions in the novel she had read.

“The Princess… No one can forget you.”

“Who am I?”

“Mary Anastasia. She is the only Princess of the Arpen Empire.”

She replied as if she were familiar with it. Listening to the woman, she couldn’t say anything. She just kept smiling in despair.

This was none other than Mary’s room in the novel.

***

Yeah, it would have been nice if she was Mary because she was frustrated while reading the book. She thought about this.

Mary in the novel was so sad. It was so similar to herself, but it was so different from herself that she envied Mary.

“You have everything, but why are you giving up?”

She didn’t understand. It must be a power that others have never had, but giving up everything because of love?

But did the man really love her? He betrayed Mary until the end.

She envied Mary, but she didn’t want to be Mary. Wasn’t death a set fate for her, too? However, it was so terrible that she was in front of death again.

In addition, the fact that she was here was like saying that she was dead. Otherwise, this ridiculous thing won’t happen to her.

‘I’m really dead……?’

She couldn’t believe she was dead. To live like that, she has endured by taking medicine persistently, and she have tried everything she can to live. She didn’t expect to close her eyes in vain.

It was miserable. It was unfair. From birth to death, she had never done anything at her disposal for a moment. Not a single happiness has ever been allowed to her.

***

It was not easy to admit that she was Mary.

She stayed in the room for a long time and never met anyone else. It took quite a lot of time to adapt, and it also took a lot of time to identify and adapt to the people around her.

She opened the window and looked outside. She could see Gray coming to her again today.

When she saw him talking with a gentle look while hiding his face, disgust came.

‘I want to put my fist in that smiling face.’

There was no one who didn’t know him in the Arpen Empire. He had an outstanding appearance, a firm body, and was kind and caring to everyone. Yeah, to everyone.

Mary Anastasia. The only Princess in the Arpen Empire. She, a time-limited woman who doesn’t know when to die, always bothered others.

Her maid, of course, who was a young girl of a noble family lower than herself, did not leave her alone.

The Female Lead Raised The Villain Chapter 3

“A woman could do much more.”

Even though Mary was vicious, no one was able to curse her. Everyone endured because she was the country’s Princess and had few days left to live. The Emperor would do everything as he felt sorry for such a daughter.

It was a book that she read over and over again. She memorized it so well that the contents of the novel spread out in front of her.

Unlike what she read in a novel, it was not easy to think rationally now that it became her situation. Her father, who had brought this situation to this point, was also resented.

‘So you must have engaged a ridiculous count.’

Mary, who was engaged to Count Gray with the Emperor’s permission, felt like she had the whole world. With the joy of having him whom everyone coveted, she was deceived by Gray’s play that he loved her, and gradually gnawed down her life.

‘She doesn’t even know who’s strangling her like a fool.’

If she continued to avoid him, he she thought might understand, but it’s time for persistence to come forward. He will never give up on her.

While staying in the room and adapting, she organized what to do in the future.

First of all, she’ll take care of that trashy Gray. It will never be seen that he takes what is hers and stands in the position of Emperor.

Even if she die at the time of death, she would have died at the hands of others if she died at her own.

Enjoy until the day she die, engrave herself in people’s memories and die.

“So, Mary, I’ll step up from now on.”

She brushed her long silver hair finely and left the room. She shook her head at the Palace that she couldn’t get used to at all times.

She felt like her space, which was full of only white, was filled with various colors.

She felt alive.

Each touch of the hand the tip of touches, and the scent that touches the tip of the nose makes her heart overwhelmed.

“Ah, I’m alive.”

Is it right that she’s alive?

Is it Mary or her who is alive?

Is it Mary or her who died?

Questions that are not easily solved fill her head. Soon, she shook her head to erase useless thoughts.

She thought selfishly that she was the one who was alive and bit her lips gently.

“It’s windy outside, Princess.”

“Carl. So what do we do? I want to get some air.”

Carl that found her ran up and blocked her. Carl, who saw her lightly worn clothes, hurriedly turned his eyes.

“Then please stay for a moment. I’ll bring something to wear.”

“No, I don’t want to be alone.”

“…….”

She pitifully lowered her eyes and grabbed Carl’s collar. Carl flinched and carefully releases his hand.

She’s sure he’s being careful. Because she’s about to get engaged. But will it be okay to avoid her touch now? He got used to Mary’s touch.

Before falling for Gray, Mary met many men and longed for love.

She hate being alone in order not to be forgotten. Neither was wrong nor was it right. Mary was just afraid.

“You don’t like me anymore?”

If others hear it, it will not be enough to swear. She has someone to engage with, but can’t believe she’s checking another out. But it doesn’t matter. She’s not getting engaged to Gray.

Even the rest of the time is a waste for such a guy. Carl might be better.

“……Then put this on at least. I’ll accompany you.”

Carl didn’t answer her question. He just took off his outerwear and put it around her shoulder. It’s a very funny thing. There are so many people who like Mary, but why such a guy?

She almost cursed out of her mouth without realizing it. She walked around the garden with Carl to avoid Gray’s place.

Carl didn’t even ask her why she chose Gray, not himself. He may be in love enough to respect Mary’s choice.

‘But I’m sorry. You don’t have the power to protect me.’

It was cruel but real. Maybe he doesn’t ask her for anything else because he knows that, too. He was firm even though she kept testing and shaking him around.

‘You’re such a fool.’

Honestly, power and position didn’t matter to her. But what if she die? She has to endure it on her own then.

The day was quite creepy. If not, it’s because Mary is not feeling well.

She hated this cold because she remembered her old self. She doesn’t like it when her body shrinks. Stuck close to Carl and smiled innocently.

“Princess, I think you’d better go in.”

“But it’s not dark yet.”

“…but…”

Carl blurred the end of his speech. He slightly moved away from her and coughed in vain.

What did Mary do after dark? His ears were dyed red.

“Okay, let’s go in.”

She stopped making fun of him and turned around. A short sigh came from Carl. She walked looking forward as if she didn’t hear it.