Prologue

Deborah Seymour.

She is the daughter of Duke Seymour, the powerful ruler of the continent, and is famous for committing all kinds of atrocities.

When Deborah, who carries the title of an evil woman, appeared at the party, a calm silence followed in the hall that was once filled with a lively atmosphere.

‘What the hell is with that makeup?’

‘It’s worse than what was described in the rumor.’

Princess Deborah was a complete incarnation of a witch that only appeared in novels and was only vaguely imagined among the citizens.

Sharp eyes, fluffy eye makeup, luscious red lips, pale skin, and the ever-dark purple hair with no accessories decorating it.

If witches existed, they would have looked exactly like her.

The other ladies who attended the party were wearing pastel-toned dresses on top of corsets to match the current season, spring.

However, Deborah appeared in a dress with an unconventional design.

Not knowing where to begin with how a mess the princess looked like, some ladies covered their stiff faces with their fans and let out a short sigh.

But, the outfit the princess was wearing fit her too well.

Like women with impressive beauty, she had a look that could possess people, making her seem more like a witch.

It was then that she stood tall in front of Baron Marco as she pulled out her fan.

Hmph-!

Then, she slapped his right cheek using immense force.

Soon, the chilling sound of the face that was slapped resounded in the hall.

Because of the amount of force she used, it caused the Baron to fall flat on the floor.

“Hah…..”

“Oh my god.”

The weak-hearted ladies staggered after witnessing the shocking sight.

The face of Baron Marco, who was beaten with a fan out of nowhere, was stained with bewilderment.

He was soon faced with humiliation.

“P-Princess Deborah. Why did you do that all of a sudden?”

“My hand slipped.”

She answered with an expressionless face, and soon, raised her arms up again and slapped the man’s left cheek, as if he was a mere fly.

“This time, I sprained my wrist.”

Her indifferent tone shook the man’s goat-like mustache.

“W-Why are you doing this, Princess Deborah?”

She crept her lips to the man’s question.

“I told you that my hand slipped on its own. And, by the way, your face is full of oil. Wipe it well.”

Deborah pulled out her handkerchief and threw it to the Baron, and without mercy, she turned and walked away.

A breathtaking silence followed after.

‘Oh my goodness.’

‘Who the hell invited that scary woman to the party?’

Everyone in the hall was taken aback by the princess’ actions, but there was no aristocrat who stood up and rebuked her. But instead, they just talked behind her back, as if they were scared of the consequences that may result.

She is the daughter of Duke Seymour, who is just as merciless as her. The possible aftermath is too painful that no one dared to offend the princess.

Whether or not the timing was bad, the waltz began to run through in the rigid atmosphere.

Not receiving any dance request, Deborah Seymour walked to a table lined with champagne. Then, she gulped the wine like a person who lived in the back alley.

Having emptied three glasses of champagne in an instant, she folded her arms with an arrogant look on her face.

It was a gesture that made her seem like someone who should not be trampled upon by any noble here.

In the end, Mrs. Ripley Felice, who has a big heart, wasn’t able to stand her behavior.

Mrs. Ripley moved slowly, carefully thinking of the proper advice she should say to Princess Deborah.

“Lady Deborah. I have something to tell you.”

Mrs. Ripley called Princess Deborah while fancily fanning herself.

The princess moved her red fan with a cold face.

Upon looking at her closely, Mrs. Ripley saw the design of a snake with two heads embroidered on the princess’ fan.

‘Ugh, disgusting…!’

Mrs. Ripley managed to swallow the scream that came all the way to her neck.

Most ladies embroider an image of flowers and birds on their fans, but she carries a fan with a snake on it.

Come to think of it, there was a snake with two heads in the seal of Seymour’s household. Is it a warning saying that no person should dare to trick the family members of the Seymour household, else they’d meet their end?

“Speak.”

Princess Deborah’s tone was cold enough to make her tremble in fear.

“I……”

Directly facing her bloody red eyes, Mrs. Ripley Felice was horrified to the point that she swallowed dryness realizing it.

“Pr-Princess. I know that drinking too much is not good for one’s health.”

“………”

“I’m worried about your health. You understand me, don’t you? Th-That’s all. Please enjoy the party.”

Mrs. Ripley put an end to their conversation shortly, stepped backward, and quickly walked away.

‘….What? I was nervous because of you.’

Deborah sighed as soon as Mrs. Ripley disappeared. The hand she was using to fan herself was sweating coldly.

‘That was a good scare.’

Deborah drank another glass of champagne to ppress the strain on her neck.

In fact, Deborah Seymour was timid, despite her notoriety.

More precisely, Yoon Do-hee, who possessed Deborah Seymour’s body, was timid.

‘I shouldn’t let all my efforts go to waste. I’m not going to live as peacefully as I am now if my secret is revealed.’

Deborah bit her red lips tightly.

‘You don’t have to be guilty. The Baron is a cheap man that needs to be beaten more often.’

Baron Marco, who was slapped with a fan by her, was not only unfaithful to his wife but is also a bad person for breaking his pregnant wife’s leg by pushing her down the stairs.

However, no one will care about this kind of situation as the crowd has been distracted by my harsh looks and actions.

‘Good, it’s going as planned.’

Looking at the expressions from this side, it seemed that Deborah’s harsh reputation was well-maintained today.

‘I’m going to keep living my luxurious and peaceful life as a wicked woman.’

I can’t be viewed as a pushover.

She clenched her fists tightly.

Chapter 1 – Let Me Reveal My Dark History

When have I been viewed as a pushover?

“Dohee, I need 100,000 won right now. My aunt suddenly died. She’s been taking care of me since I was young. I’m really sad.”

“What should I do?”

Before I died, I always felt sorry for Han-joon, whose family relatives were always dead every week.

She had difficulty in ignoring him, as if she was about to fall for that blatant lie again.

“I’m so sorry. Do-hee. I’ll pay you back as soon as I have earned enough money.”

I even told Kim Han-joon that he didn’t need to pay me back so soon to cheer him up.

Whenever he said he likes me, my bank account would become empty. I’ll spare some money for food and coffee, and work as a part-timer in many places afterwards.

After thinking endlessly, she pulled up a bag with a heavy laptop in it and went into the library next to the engineering center.

“Oh, I’m sleepy.”

I was tired even before I was about to start doing my piled-up assignments.

All of a sudden, I’m in need of a sweet latte to keep myself up, but I’m out of money.

Calculating mentally with a headache, it seems like the money borrowed by Han-joon almost amounted to 500,000 won.

Can I ask him to pay me back a little earlier?

However, I felt sorry to urge Han-joon, who had been in despair due to the recent tragedies happening to him, to pay back the money earlier.

As I bit my nails, I turned on my laptop.

[Everyone, please send me the organized data by today.]

I left a message in the group chat because I had an interim announcement on my major course group project this week. The number of people who have seen the message kept increasing, but there was no reply.

[I’m sorry, Dohee. I have a cold.]

[I have training today. Can I send it by tomorrow?]

Though some of my group mates, who saw the message, ignored it, I at least got two replies. If I didn’t, I would’ve lost it.

Maybe it was because I’ve been through a lot lately, but I couldn’t think of anything to make them cooperate.

I once again sent a message saying, “The tuition is expensive, so you should focus on your studies more.”

After finishing all my assignments until late at night at the library, I felt really hungry and tired. As I dragged my body to the convenience store, I stopped walking when I heard a familiar voice and the smell of a cigarette nearby.

“Oh, shit, it’s new, don’t step on it.”

Kim Han-joon, who is supposed to be at the funeral by now, was swearing and smoking.

The one he was speaking to was the man who said he had training today in the group chat.

“Is this the limited edition shoes of the N brand? How did you get it? It was sold out in a second.”

“I managed to still get one after it was sold out, so don’t step on it.”

“It wouldn’t have been cheap if you were still able to get it after it was sold out, but where did you get the money?”

“I have my ways.”

Kim Han-joon’s triumphant answer made my head ring.

Pushover, pushover, pushover. Two syllables echoed ceaselessly in her head.

“Who would be so stupid to give you that much money?”

“Yoon Do-hee.”

“Ah, Yoon Do-hee.”

The student, who was in the same group as I am, nodded in agreement.

Wow, you actually believed him right after hearing my name?

“I am in the same group as she is. If I ask for money, do you think she’d give me?”

“I asked for it with an excuse of going to a funeral, but I didn’t know she’d be fooled every time.”

“Wow, Kim Han-joon. You’re a total asshole.”

“I’m not an asshole. It’s just that Yoon Do-hee, who becomes a fool after someone shows kindness to her, is stupid.”

It was difficult for me to continue listening to him. Foolishly, I ran towards the bastard, but I let him escape without showing him a piece of my mind. I should’ve stepped on his brand new sneakers.

“Do-hee. I like you because you’re nice.”

Kim Han-joon’s words kept ringing in her head.

Strangely, instead of crying, I felt anger instead.

“Do-hee. You’re just in time, do the dishes.”

As soon as I arrived at home with trembling legs, my mom pointed her finger at the sink full of plates.

The person who ate dinner was my younger brother, but why was washing the dishes naturally on me?

‘I’m hungry, too…..’

While searching through the empty refrigerator without any strength left, I heard a conversation between my brother and mother.

“Mom, give me a tutor. All of my friends are preparing for early admission these days, so they have a group or private tutors to help them prepare for it. Do you know that I’m the only one who doesn’t attend a private academy?”

“I see. I’ll try to find you one.”

My mother’s unhesitant reply made me violently shake the milk in my hand.

I feel nauseous.

Weren’t my parents the ones who were strictly against taking online lectures because they are expensive, let alone a private academy?

Because of it, I’ve been thinking that the financial situation within my family was very bad.

My father is a rather skillful craftsman who has been a manager for years. He has three children, but among us, I wasn’t given any money because he didn’t have any intention to invest in me.

“Yoon Do-hee! Where are you going? Did you wash the dishes?”

It somehow made me more miserable knowing that leaving the house without any explanation was the best way I could feign ignorance.

I should’ve come back screaming.

Why do you disfavor me? Do I look so useless in your eyes?

Endless sorrow came rushing through me, so I stood on the side of the road with a runny nose.

“Miss I have to go back home, but I lost my transportation card. Please lend me 3,000 won. Please.”

I rubbed my wet eyes and let out a hollow sigh.

I can’t believe she’s trying to fool me again.

I think I was tricked by this old lady every time and paid for her transportation fee for about three times now.

‘I was kind enough to take you to the bus station yet…’

Kim Han-joon takes money under the guise of a funeral from me every week whereas this old lady takes transportation money from me every week.

Damn it. You must think I’m a pushover.

‘Well, it’s amazing how many times I fell for their tricks.’

I can’t help but only notice now that this homeless woman is deceitful.

Just as Kim Han-joo said, “I am stupidly nice.”

“Our Do-hee is so nice.”

“I like Do-hee because she’s nice.”

I should have interpreted it as, ‘I like Do-hee because she’s a pushover.’ I don’t know why this important realization of mine comes at this time.

“Girl. You must give me 3,000 won!”

The old lady grabbed my arm furiously.

She didn’t think it was right if she continuously got money from her, but when she saw money in her pocket, her anger soared.

“I don’t have a penny. Let go of me!”

“Then, only two thousand won. Even 1,000 won is enough!”

As we were fighting, we gradually moved closer to the open road, which in turn, killed me because I was run over by a motorcycle that was running at a terrifying speed.

I died in vain, but I reincarnated.

In the body of a villain in a reverse harem novel that was set in the 19th century.

TL/N: Yup, it’s that short. Also, the male lead is hot.

Chapter 2 – [Part 1]

After that long, dark battle with the old lady and the accident that happened after, I regained consciousness and looked around blankly at the unfamiliar landscape that came into sight.

I was lying in a canopy bed with a white awning.

The size of the bed could fit seven adults in total.

Where the hell am I?

She stared at the curtains that were delicately embroidered with gold threads of snakes and roses. Then, after a while, she jumped up as she recalled the motorcycle accident that had happened.

It felt like my bones were crushed and my muscles were torn. However, as I closely observe it right now, it seemed fine. Besides that, I didn’t even feel any sort of muscle pain.

However, as soon as I caught a distinct view of my body, I was flustered by my suddenly large chest.

“W-What is this…..?”

Feeling confused, I looked alternately at my chest and away from it. Then, I got out of bed and went to look at myself in the mirror.

“Wow.”

I was suddenly breathless.

The reason for that was because rather than the face she’d usually see everyday, the face reflected on the mirror was that of a beautiful woman with a naturally sharp expression.

She was an impressive woman with shiny purple hair and ruby-like red eyes.

‘Stunning…….’

After a while, I slapped myself twice so that I’d be able to wake up.

Slap! Slap!

The pale cheeks of the beautiful woman reflected in the mirror became so swollen.

However, I couldn’t help it as I had to wake up from my silly dream.

“Oh….It hurts.”

But how come I was still not awake?

I was in a dream that was too vivid for it not to be reality.

Then, suddenly, a sharp sound pierced my eardrum.

As I inadvertently turned my eyes to the direction of where the sound came from, a bowl of porridge was rolling on the floor and a woman, who was dressed in a western-style maid outfit, sat down with a terrified face.

As soon as our eyes met, the woman lowered and bowed her head saying,

“I’m so sorry! I must’ve been blind! I am guilty of committing a sin that cannot be forgiven with merely my life! Please have mercy on me, Princess Deborah.”

Deborah? That name sounds quite familiar.

Suddenly, the answer penetrated my mind.

Soon, I remembered where I came across the name, Deborah. It was the name of the villainess in a 19+ unpopular novel entitled, “Swallow The Black Thorn”. I would always buy its new chapters until the series was abruptly halted.

Deborah was a hardcore villainess created by the author to use petty tricks against the heroine. Besides that, her inappropriate language has always been the topic of the best comments in “Swallow The Black Thorn”.

Her current situation doesn’t make any sense unless she possessed the villainess of the novel. It can’t be perceived as a dream either as she felt the stinging pain when she slapped her cheeks twice. Other than that, she had clear vision and eyes and hair of the same color as Deborah’s as depicted in the novel.

As I was slowly trying to understand what had happened to me, a middle-aged man with fierce eyes entered the room.

“What’s this commotion about?”

As soon as she met his icy silver-grey colored eyes, fragments of Deborah’s memories began to appear inside her mind.

The man in front of me was George Seymour, Deborah’s father. He is a high-ranking mage and is considered as one of the top five geniuses in the long history of the Seymour family.

The Duke of Seymour, who had a slender body that wasn’t like that of a middle-aged man, was as cold-hearted as he seemed to be on the outside.

The only person he opened his heart to was his wife, Marien Seymour. After she died from giving birth to their youngest child, Enrique Seymour, he went back to his cold nature.

“Pathetic.”

The Duke of Seymour looked down at me with a scornful glare as if he was looking at trash.

He valued the honor of his family and hated Deborah for her constant evil deeds.

“Hah, is going on a hunger strike not enough that you even decided to do self-harm?”

He squeezed my reddened cheeks tightly.

“Your face is only worth looking at because it resembles your mother’s.”

“……..”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this for jewelry. You are a disgrace to the Seymour Family.”

According to the fragments of memories floating through her mind, Deborah went on a hunger strike a few days ago as she wanted to acquire the Empire’s one and only pink diamond necklace.

The Duke of Seymour seemed to have misunderstood that after going on a hunger strike, I even decided to harm myself.

“There is a limit to the things you are allowed to do as my daughter. This is my last warning. Don’t get in trouble for the time being and stay here to reflect on your actions until you realize your mistakes so you can prevent such things from happening instead!”

The Duke scolded me with gritted teeth and eyes as cold as ice.

Thereafter, he stopped squeezing my cheeks tightly and strode out of the room. I gazed blankly at the back of the Duke of Seymour until I could barely see it anymore and took a deep breath.