This is a story like any other, featuring a pair of protagonists in love, who must fight against adversities to finally find happiness. The protagonist is the pretty girl who has just arrived in the empire, capturing the attention of the crown prince, who is already engaged. Nevertheless, they begin to meet, initially as friends. The crown prince aids the protagonist, as she intends to work at the palace as an assistant to the prime minister. Yes, in this world, women have nearly the same rights as men, although arranged marriages still exist, such is the case with the prince. His fiancee's family is one of the most loyal to the empire, and their daughter, his betrothed, has been named "holy" due to her divine power. She displays cunning and unparalleled strength, which is why she is even favored by the emperors. When the empress learns of her son's infatuation, she reprimands him, trying to make him see that what he is doing is wrong. Now that women have greater rights, it has also been forbidden for men to have concubines, which is considered an offense against the wife's family, and she has the right to divorce and claim part of her husband's fortune. Additionally, the husband also becomes a target of societal criticism; some who have gone through this have even lost their businesses and investors' support.

Thus, the empress warns him that he would lose his prestige if everyone learns of his infidelity, and since he is not the only prince, his position as heir is not guaranteed. Yes, the prince has a younger brother, the second prince, who holds the title of Grand Duke of Plezayes, an extensive duchy resembling a kingdom. This duchy was granted to him due to his performance in the war, in which he was sent to protect the crown prince. Why was this done? Because the second prince is not the emperor's biological son; they adopted him when his parents were murdered. In reality, he is the emperor's nephew, the son of the emperor's sister who married the feared and powerful Grand Duke of Plezayes, a duke descended from shadow fairies, whose power stems from darkness. The empress despised her nephew, fearing that one day he would seek to claim the throne.

Faced with such a warning, the crown prince must be more cautious, as he cannot break his engagement without cause. Still, he and the protagonist continue to meet in secret. When the prince's fiancee learns about this, she starts spending more time in the palace, issuing warnings to the protagonist and making it clear that she is a nobody. The very villainess informs the women of her social circle that the protagonist is pursuing her fiance and that she does not wish to be the prime minister's assistant, but rather entered the palace to seduce the prince. As a result, the harassment against the protagonist begins. However, the crown prince is always there to protect her, insisting that she is just his friend, not as the rumors suggest—hypocrisy at its finest.

The villainess manages to convince the empress to arrange a marriage for the protagonist, as the empress is also unhappy about her son seeing the protagonist. They find a count who shows interest in her, although he is an older man who has never married due to his poor reputation. Still, the empress is willing to give the protagonist in marriage to him. When the prince finds out, he confronts her, unable to allow his beloved to be handed over to another man, especially not to a madman like that count.

During this conflict, the grand duke arrives, determined to strip the prince of his title as heir upon hearing rumors of an affair. He also views his brother as a coward for hiding beneath their mother's skirts to avoid going to war. Thus, the protagonists must confront the potential marriage of the heroine to the prince's rival for the throne. However, during the unfolding of these conflicts and before the heroine is taken to her future husband, the villainess makes her life miserable in the palace. It is then, during an attack on the temple by the empire's enemies, that the emperor is grievously injured, and it is the protagonist who demonstrates divine power by healing him. The temple's guardians, witnessing this miracle, decide to protect the heroine and declare her the saint, a title that had previously been bestowed upon the villainess for her own divine abilities. However, as the villainess protests, she discovers that her powers have vanished, serving as punishment for her repeated transgressions against the heroine.

She is expelled from the temple, which refuses to allow the new saint to marry the count, as a saint can only marry whom she chooses. Thus, she selects the prince, and since the villainess is no longer suitable for empress due to her tarnished reputation, the marriage is granted, bolstering the prince's support. The furious grand duke decides he must seduce the saint to gain her favor, but in his attempts, it is he who ends up falling in love.

Upon learning of the grand duke's interest in the saint, the villainess becomes enraged; it was inconceivable that two men could be in love with her. Consequently, she plots to kidnap the saint with the help of the count, who was upset when she was not delivered to him. However, the protagonist and the grand duke learn of the plot and rush to her rescue. They uncover who supported the count, leading to the execution of both him and the villainess. The grand duke, out of love for the protagonist, sets aside his ambition for the throne, and the protagonists finally marry, achieving their happy ending.

And now, Celine has awakened in the body of the villainess, Katerina Rosesky, who is only 14 years old. During this time, she has had to adapt to this new life, living as a child when in reality, she is 25 years old, having died in a terrible accident. But explaining that is no longer important; now she must decide what to do with her new life.

Her parents were puzzled that after several days of fever, her personality changed drastically, shifting from a spoiled and capricious girl to one serious and diligent. She abandoned her excessive etiquette lessons to train her magic and combat skills. Her mother found it bothersome, but her father was proud and permitted it, leaving her mother unable to oppose. The reason her father allowed this is that he accepted women should be free to pursue what they desire, rather than solely devoting themselves to being housewives. However, she could not escape the engagement to the crown prince, as it had been arranged a year ago, and on this day, she was to receive the prince's visit. Katerina waited in the tea room, though she would have preferred to be outside doing something useful.

"You must behave; you cannot cause a bad impression. Today is the first day His Highness visits you since the engagement agreement," her mother admonished.

That woman seemed the happiest about the engagement.

"Do you think I care about impressing the prince? I remind you that this engagement was against my will."

"How dare you speak to me like that? I am your mother, and you owe me respect." She struck the table forcefully.

The noise echoed down the hall, and Katerina began to sob.

"Mother, please, no… it hurts." Katerina shouted.

The marchioness was taken aback by her words, but upon hearing the door open, she turned to see her husband, who looked upset.

"My dear, it is not what you think; I…"

"What do I believe? Stop bothering your daughter; she has the right to make her own choices. We are no longer in an era where women are raised solely to be housewives. If she wants to train, that’s fine. Last year she was named a saint; it’s important she hones her skills" the marquis looks genuinely upset.

"Husband, it’s not that. It’s just that His Highness is coming today, and Katerina has been acting rude. She must impress the prince."

"She doesn’t have to impress anyone, even if it’s the prince. Leave."he orders.

The marchioness storms off, frustrated that Katerina doesn’t obey her anymore.

"Calm down; you don’t need to impress the prince. If he misbehaves, I’ll speak to the emperor." he tries to soothe his daughter.

"Thank you, Father; that’s why I adore you." she smiles.

At least the marquis is a loving and understanding father, but if the marchioness continues to be so unbearable, he feels sorry for the marquis, as he may have to become a widower.

...

After that little inconvenience, it wasn't long before the prince arrived. He was a young man a few years older than her, probably around 17 years old based on what she remembered. When the prince entered, he was revealed to be a handsome young man with a kind smile, blonde hair, and blue eyes—the kind of man every woman would desire.

He introduced himself politely to Katerina, who reciprocated, moving to the tea table where the young prince wasted no time in complimenting the desserts. Katerina remained calm, and when the prince praised her good grades, she graciously thanked him. The prince noticed the girl's disinterest in him; it was the first time he had encountered a girl who seemed unconcerned with winning his attention.

"I also heard that you were named a saint last year. You must be excited."

"No, I don't see that title as something exciting." she replied seriously.

"Perhaps you say that because you feel a lot of pressure from it, right? The people at the temple are strict."

"The temple sent me a tutor, but I don’t think it’s that much pressure, at least not for now." she responded calmly.

"Yes, I've been told that you're responsible in everything; I guess that’s why nothing is difficult for you, unlike me. Sometimes, it’s boring to attend classes." he complained.

"You’re the future emperor; it’s normal for your classes to be challenging. But what kind of emperor do you plan to be? You should know everything about your country"etiquette, war strategies, and of course, you should be an expert swordsman.

"I don't need to be a strategist; war isn't for me. If there is a war, my younger brother will be the one to lead the troops."

《Coward》she thought to herself. It was obvious he was weak; she could sense his very low mana level.

"Your brother will then be a brave warrior; it’s admirable that the second prince would command the troops if there were a war." she remarked excitedly.

"It’s not that big of a deal. Being emperor isn’t easy either; you have to deal with foolish nobles and maintain strong alliances."

Katerina remained silent. Though only 14, she could tell the prince disliked being overshadowed by his younger brother.

"You’re right, but in my opinion, an emperor must also know how to handle a war. If not, how will he protect his country? He can’t just rely on his army; he must be a good leader and guide his troops to victory." she spoke seriously.

The prince looked annoyed by the girl’s words. No one could have imagined that a little girl would dare to strike at the pride of such an arrogant prince. Seeing he could not argue any further, he simply mentioned that he was running late for an important class and hastily left, anger etched on his face. The marchioness noted that the prince quickly took his leave, feeling irritated, surely her daughter had done something to upset him. But when she entered the drawing room, Katerina was drenched in tea, and the prince's cup lay shattered on the floor.

"What happened here? Surely you were rude to the prince." she shouted in frustration.

"Are you saying it’s my fault? I will inform my father about this." Katerina replied calmly.

"You won’t say anything. It’s clear that you are to blame for what happened. Go change, and tomorrow you will send a letter of apology."

Katerina just smiled mockingly at her mother and jumped off the chair to run toward her father’s study, although her mother caught up to her and grabbed her arm, making the girl scream.

"Enough! You won't disturb your father over something foolish." she scolded.

"Mom, you’re hurting me..."

"What is this racket?" the marquis opened the door.

Immediately, the marchioness released Katerina, but the marquis noticed the girl’s stained clothes, and even her hair looked wet.

"Katerina, what happened? Wasn't the prince supposed to come for tea?"

"Father, the prince was rude and threw tea on me." the girl covered her eyes with both hands while sobbing.

"Husband, don’t listen to her. She must have been disrespectful to his highness. I’ve already told her to send an apology tomorrow," the marchioness excused herself.

"Shouldn't it be the other way around? She is your daughter, and you're excusing the prince for his behavior towards her. I think you're mistaken. Just because he is a prince doesn't mean he can act like that. I can't imagine how he will treat her if he marries her," the marquis was furious.

"But husband, the engagement is important; it’s an opportunity for our family to rise in status."

"Enough. I know what’s important for my daughter, and the most important thing is her safety."

The marquis asked Katerina to go to her room, and she complied, accompanied by two maids, while the marchioness stayed behind to argue with the marquis, furious about how he was undermining her authority over their daughter. It was crucial for her to advance socially because, despite the family’s prestige, they were still merely a marquis family. If Katerina married the prince, it could elevate their status, and she would be known as the mother-in-law of the crown prince himself.

The marquis preferred to end the discussion and forbade her from continuing to blame Katerina for what happened. If the prince could not respect his daughter, then for him, that young man was unworthy of her, having behaved in a despicable manner toward a girl of 14.

"Throwing tea on someone is not very mature or respectable. I don’t see how you can think your daughter is to blame," he shouted angrily.

"Because she has become a rebel; she should improve her manners and the way she speaks. I will find stricter teachers for her," she replied.

"That would do nothing. My daughter has the right to choose. We are no longer in times when you could force her to be the slave of a despicable man. If you continue with this attitude, I will make sure to break that engagement."

The marchioness fell silent, and unable to say anything more, she left the room, furious. Even her maids told her that the marquis was being unfair to her.

Katerina was in her room after a bath and changing clothes. She threw herself onto the bed while laughing, remembering how she had just heard the marquis scolding the marchioness on her way up the stairs.

"That woman deserves it for being so annoying," she smiled mockingly as a cold mist appeared around her hands with just a wave.

It was incredible to be in a place where magic was possible; this would give her a great advantage in her quest to achieve her goals.

A week later, an invitation arrived for Katerina. It was from the empress, requesting her presence for tea and an introduction. Upon hearing this, the marchioness was overjoyed and wasted no time in procuring the most elegant dress, though, in Katerina's eyes, it was hideous and overly ornamented. Katerina, for her part, chose a simple dress, much to the displeasure of the marchioness, who had picked out a dreadful gown for her. Despite the marchioness's insistence, the marquis intervened, allowing Katerina to wear what she pleased.

Upon arriving at the palace, they were greeted by the empress's maids, who escorted them to the Palace of Roses, the empress's residence. The marquis accompanied them, as the invitation was for the entire family. In the drawing-room, a table laden with desserts awaited them. The empress sat in her seat, and the three bowed before her, offering their respective greetings. The empress, however, fixed her gaze intently upon young Katerina.

"Come, have a seat. Lady Katerina, you look beautiful. My son is indeed fortunate to have you as his fiancee."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," replied Katerina curtly.

The empress frowned, noticing the curt tone.

"My daughter is a little nervous, but she, too, feels fortunate to be promised to the prince," excused the marchioness.

Katerina glanced at her father, who seemed bothered by the marchioness's response. It appeared she was overly eager to impress the empress. As they spoke, the crown prince arrived, and all three stood to greet him with a bow.

"It's an honor to be graced with your presence, Your Highness," remarked the marchioness.

"Think nothing of it. I took the liberty of inviting him; it will be a pleasant gathering for both families, though the emperor, unfortunately, could not attend," the empress excused.

"That is understandable, Your Majesty. He has many duties," replied the marquis.

"And His Highness, the second prince, couldn't attend either? For a family gathering, I'm surprised not to see him. I had hoped to greet him personally. The crown prince has spoken highly of him, and I admire the second prince's valor," she expressed, making her admiration clear.

She wanted her greater interest in the second prince, rather than the crown prince, to be evident, and it seemed to work, as the empress did not look pleased. It was obvious she hadn't extended an invitation, as she had no interest in the second prince.

"L-Lady Katerina seems rather taken with the second prince; however, expressing such interest could be misconstrued," replied the empress.

"Why? Is it wrong to express admiration, Father?" asked Katerina, looking at the marquis sadly.

"Not at all, Your Majesty. My daughter admires bravery in a knight, so she's naturally excited to learn that the second prince trains diligently to become strong and protect our nation," stated the marquis.

"Oh! Of course, it is his duty. Though, these are not interests a lady should concern herself with. I trust you'll take that into consideration, Lady Katerina," replied the empress.

"I understand, Your Majesty. However, I'm free to admire whomever I deem worthy of admiration, am I not? Everyone has the right to their own interests; otherwise, what kind of world would it be if everyone strived for the same ideals?" challenged Katerina.

The empress appeared irked by Katerina's words but saying anything further would only reveal how much they affected her. The prince, too, seemed bothered by the young blonde's words.

"Katerina, your words are unbecoming! Please excuse her behavior, Your Majesty. I'll ensure her education is stricter from now on," apologized the marchioness.

"My dear, Katerina merely expressed her thoughts. It's nothing to be upset about, Your Majesty, is it?" intervened the marquis.

"Indeed, it's perfectly alright. It's good that she thinks for herself," replied the empress.

The conversation continued, though it was mostly the empress and the prince speaking with the marchioness. Katerina whispered something to her father, who nodded in response.

"If you'll excuse me, Your Majesty, I have an appointment with Minister Smith regarding an urgent matter. Would you care to join me, Katerina? You mentioned wanting to greet him and thank him for his gift in honor of your appointment," said the marquis.

"How can you leave? We're with the empress!" hissed the marchioness, glaring at Katerina.

The young girl stood up, curtseying. "If you'll excuse me, I'll be accompanying my father."

"But my mother invited you to tea. It's rude to leave," interjected the prince.

"It would be equally rude to neglect Minister Smith, who was kind enough to think of me and who will be a great ally in the future, considering my position as the future crown princess," added Katerina, before turning to leave with her father.

The marchioness fumed at how Katerina chose to leave with the marquis. However, contrary to what he'd said, only the marquis went in search of the minister, while Katerina, accompanied by her escort, a young woman who kept a respectful distance, strolled through the palace grounds.

After walking through the gardens, they arrived at the military training grounds. Men were engaged in exercises, running drills, or sparring. Katerina observed the area. Somewhere on these grounds was the person she sought, the ally she needed to achieve her goal. After all, the crown prince's claim to the throne was not absolute, and he was not the only one who could inherit it.

After scanning the area, an officer approached and inquired if she was lost. The blonde merely asked for the second prince, wanting to pay her respects.

"Tell him the daughter of Marquis Rosesky wishes to see him."

"Rosesky? Y-You are the Saint, aren't you? What an honor it is to be in your presence." The man bowed deeply and rushed off to find the second prince.

Meanwhile, Katerina was surrounded by other knights, who greeted her warmly. As the newly appointed Saint, she held a significant title, one that signified good fortune for the empire. The officer soon returned and, with another bow, gestured for her to follow him. As they walked, Katerina took in her surroundings.

Past the training grounds was a large stable. The officer explained that this was where they kept and cared for the horses used by the troops and the palace, including the princes' mounts. However, for long distances, there was another creature, a species called a griffin, known for its resilience and loyalty – perfect for traveling long distances.

Upon seeing them, Katerina was mesmerized. They were magnificent creatures. Perhaps she would ask her father for one; such a pet would certainly prove useful.

After a long walk, they arrived at what appeared to be a greenhouse. Just beyond it was a table where the young man she sought awaited her. He was a handsome youth with dark hair and striking red eyes.

Katerina smiled and bowed. This was it, the perfect ally for her plans, because she would have the throne.

...