The Flower Path of a Villainess

Chapter 2

With a goal in mind, I started brainstorming plans to make my marriage to Ezra Cyprus a reality. My father would not accept my marriage partner if he found out I had no relations with them. Also, I don't want to force an arranged marriage on Ezra without his consent. The only way for me to safely marry him is to make him fall in love with me.

But how?

Currently, my understanding of Ezra's thoughts about me is limited. I don't know if he has any ill feelings due to the nasty rumors about the original Iris. If I suddenly flirt with him, he may become suspicious of me, and my plan will fail.

Think... Think...

Right! The Cyprus family is known to be excellent swordsmen. They are the best in the empire and have protected the imperial family for generations. With a surge of motivation, I leaped up from my bed and went to the desk. Pulling out a pen and paper from the drawer, I started writing.

"Lucy!"

The door swung opened and my maid came nervously running in.

"Yes, Princess?"

"Send this to the Cyprus manor as soon as possible." I stamped the letter with my seal and handed it to her. She looked at it curiously, but didn't ask any questions. After she left, I let out a heavy sigh and looked out the window next to my desk. From a far distance, I saw my father and sister walking in the Imperial garden.

The Imperial garden.

It was a place off limits to anyone not part of the Imperial family. Ironically, I was also prohibited from entering. To add salt to the wound, the Imperial garden was located closer to my palace than my sister's, as if to rub it into my face.

I let out a bitter laugh as I saw my father faintly smile at my cheerful sister. My father, the emperor of Vasilios, was known to be cold and frightening. However, his wise ruling of the empire has earned the respect of both nobles and commoners.

There was one person he ever showed fondness for though, and it was Lily Vasilios, his second daughter.

I have a brief understanding of his hatred towards me thanks to the novel. My mother and father were in a political marriage. He was forced to marry my mother at the early age of 23 to gain support for his fight for the throne. It was a loveless marriage that resulted in my unwanted birth. My mother died after giving birth to me, but that wasn't enough to ease his resentment for the forceful relationship and pressure to produce an heir from my mother's side of the family. In the end, there was no one to direct his anger to other than me.

But still! It wasn't like any of that was my fault!

I let out a huff and pulled the curtains to my window to hide the lovely dovey scene transpiring in front of me.

***

"Sister! I'm here!"

The bubbly voice of Lily was heard from a distant. I looked up from the strawberry cake I was enjoying to see my sister running towards me.

"Slow down or you'll fall," I softly warned her.

She took a seat across from me in the greenhouse of my palace. This palace and greenhouse belonged to my mother before she passed, and for some reason, my father allowed me to use both.

"Sister! I missed you. I haven't seen you since having dinner with father."

I blankly stared at her as she took a sip of tea and ate the desserts I prepared.

Despite knowing the strained relationship our father and I have, Lily insisted on maintaining a friendly relationship with me. She fully trusted and adored her older sister, even when the past Iris treated her coldly. When I took over this body, I promised myself to give her the love that her original sister refused to give her.

"Yes. You've been busy preparing for the New Year's ball right? How's your etiquette class going?"

"Good! The dance lessons have been kind of hard, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it. The teacher said I've improved a lot."

Lily looked up at me with expecting eyes. I let out a slight laugh, knowing what she wanted. I shifted my chair so that I was sitting beside her and patted her head.

"Good job."

Watching her eyes sparkle with happiness, I felt a warm tingle in my heart.

Lily and I were half-sisters. After my mother died, my father eventually fell in love with a commoner that he saved on the battlefield. While the nobles were against their relationship, my father ignored them and made her his new empress. Just like my mother, Lily's mother died after giving birth to her. Although Lily and I shared similar situations, my father never hated her.

After all, Lily was a child produced from the love between two people.

"Sister?"

Startled, I broke my train of thought and saw Lily staring at me.

"Oh-yes? Did you say something?"

"Uhm. I was asking if you had a partner for the New Year's ball."

I slowly shook my head.

"Not yet. I haven't given it much thought since its still two months from now. What about you?"

I made a sloppy attempt to avoid the question. After all, how could I possibly tell my beloved, innocent sister that no one wants to be my partner because I'm a trashy human being?

"O-oh... w-well.. father said he'd escort me," Lily answered in a small voice, flustered by the sudden redirect of her question.

"It's okay Lily. There's no need to be uncomfortable."

Lily wasn't dumb. She knew the huge difference in how father treated the two of us. But what could she do? Father wasn't that kind that he'd treat me better just because Lily asked him to. The best she could do was avoid talking about father.

"Princess!"

Our heads turned to the entrance of the greenhouse where Lucy was rapidly approaching. In her hand, she was clutching an envelope. I quickly stood and grabbed the envelope from her hand.

I turned it to the front, revealing the seal of the Cyprus family.

"I'm sorry Lily. Can we end our tea party here today?"

Lily rose from her seat with a cheerful smile. "No problem, sister. We can meet again another time!" After saying our goodbyes, I made my way to my bedroom. Finally alone, I nervously opened the envelope.

Reading the contents of the letter, my eyes grew wide.