The Flower Path of a Villainess

Chapter 1

"Iris."

I flinched at the sharp voice that coldly spoke my name. As I was forcefully snapped back to reality, I was met with the stares of my family, whose attention was focused on me. My eyes slowly glanced to the side, making eye contact with the deep blue eyes of my father. 

"What is it that you wanted to say?"

I nervously picked at the food in front of me with my fork, unable to speak. My father's patience was visibly disappearing, and I knew if I didn't say what I wanted now, there was no knowing when I would have another opportunity.

"..."

"If you have nothing to say-"

My heart raced as I watched my father slowly rise from his seat. I quickly stood up, slamming my hands on the dining table. Ignoring the stinging sensation of my palms, I loudly shouted.

"I want to get married!"

Silence. 

I felt heat rush to my cheeks in embarrassment as I realized what I had just done. 

My eyes darted to my younger sister, who had her mouth opened in shock, then to my father, who's eyes were slightly wide. Less than a split second later, he instantly returned to his usual stoic expression. He calmly sat back down and I soon followed. 

"This is sudden," he muttered under his breathe. 

"I've been thinking about it recently, and I felt that it was time I fulfilled my role as the princess of the empire," I spoke carefully, trying to read the facial expressions of the man in front of me. My father's eyebrow slightly scrunched up, but like before, returned to normal.

"Sister. Is there someone you're interested in?" I turned my head to my younger sister, Lily, who's eyes brightened in curiosity at the thought of her sister falling in love. 

"Well... Duke Cyprus." 

"Ezra Cyprus... Have you two met?" My father asked with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. 

I hesitantly nodded at his question. While the two of us haven't officially met, I have seen him before at imperial banquets, although he rarely attended any gatherings. Regardless, I wasn't completely lying.

Before either of us could make another comment, the doors to the dining room opened and my father's personal guard, Noah Fontaine, bursted in. "Greetings to the Emperor and princesses." Noah quickly greeted us before franticly whispering into my father's ear. He stood and started to exit the room with Noah following closely behind. 

"We'll discuss this matter another time." 

***

I flopped onto my bed in exhaustion. While I didn't get my father's approval for marriage, I at least brought up the topic. That alone was a huge achievement. I sat up from my bed, staring at the mirror directly across from me. The dark brown hair and blue eyes I saw in my reflection still seemed foreign to me. 

Iris Vasilios. 

The name alone was enough to bring shivers down the spines of the people of the empire. The notoriously evil princess who's arrogance and cruelness brought disgrace to the royal family. Regardless of her high status and unworldly beauty, no one in their right mind would want to be involved with such a nasty person.

But that wasn't me! 

My original name was Kim Ha-eun. I was living in Korea until the bus I was riding suddenly crashed and killed me. When I woke up, I realized I was inside the body of the villainess from a novel I read. The problem is, Iris later dies by the hands of her father after being framed for poisoning her little sister, Lily Vasilios. 

Tsk. At the young age of 25, I died after hardly living a fulfilling life. Of course I was grateful to be given a second chance to live, but why did it have to be in the body of a villainess destined to die?  

On the bright side, there wasn't much to learn about Iris' social life since no one wanted to be her friend. With that being said, I was able to live as her without raising much suspicion. The servants in the palace have noticed that their princess wasn't throwing any tantrums since my possession of this body, but they quietly accepted it in fear of me causing trouble again. Despite my positive change in behavior, the fact that my father still despises me hasn't changed. I'm sure he's waiting for me to make a mistake so that he has an excuse to kill me. 

But I won't let that happen. I will get married to a handsome man and remove any death flags! 

While marriage is indeed the easiest way to leave the imperial palace, that wasn't the sole reason for wanting to find a husband. One of the biggest regret from my past life was that I never got the chance to experience being in a relationship. I was too busy trying to pay bills by slaving away at work. That reason alone does seem shallow, but I do feel bitter about my uneventful life. 

Finding love is a priority of mine, but first, I need to get married and escape to ensure my survival. There was only one problem. 

Ezra Cyprus. 

The youngest Duke of the Vasilios empire. Tall. Handsome. Wealthy. He was who everyone young man aspired to be and who every young lady aspired to have. 

Though in the novel, he only showed affection for one girl. Estelle Amaryllis, the female protagonist of this world. Ezra met her at the imperial ball celebrating the New Year. The novel described it as love at first sight and their love grew as the novel progressed. Their relationship was a blow for the villainess, Iris. Her obsession with Ezra caused her to harass Estelle, which only made Ezra grow disgust and hatred towards her.  

I've already dug my own grave by mentioning his name as my potential marriage partner to my father. Though I do admit he is the best possible partner for the empire's first princess, considering his status. Not to mention his handsome face is practically a national treasure. 

Well, there's no turning back what has already been done. 

Although Ezra did end up hating Iris in the novel, it was only because she bullied his lover. I don't remember him having any negative feelings about Iris in the beginning, but with her notorious reputation, I bet he wasn't fond of her either. 

The New Years ball where Ezra meets Estelle is two months away. If I can win his affection before then, maybe I can convince him to marry me. I would be stealing the female lead's man... but technically he isn't her man yet.

Sorry Estelle, but I'm going to seduce him!