This world is inside a book someone wrote!

The reason Litania was able to calm down quickly, despite falling suddenly into an unfamiliar world without warning, was because she was convinced of this.

She had read many possession and romance fantasy novels. She could adapt well.

The problem was.

‘I thought I could handle being possessed in any novel since I’ve read so many.’

Because she had read so much, she couldn’t figure out which novel this world was from at all.

‘I’ve figured out a few settings through observing for days, but…’

It wasn’t much help.

‘The “unwanted princess” character is common after all.’

Litania Veriberbium. The Emperor’s illegitimate child.

Born between the Emperor and a chamber maid, she originally couldn’t be recognized as royalty, but was raised in the palace as the Emperor’s adopted daughter under the pretext that royal bloodlines must not leak outside.

Adopting one’s own daughter may seem strange from a modern perspective, but in a society with a class system where appearances were important to the Emperor, it’s not incomprehensible if you try to understand forcibly.

The problem was that Litania’s origins were an open secret known to not only the other royal children, but even the palace servants.

An illegitimate child who had to be taken in under the pretext of adoption.

A fake princess called a royal, but treated as royalty by no one.

It’s an outdated setting for a female lead, and for a villainess it’s perfect for criticism of trying to sell a sob story despite being the antagonist.

There’s no particular reason to give such a setting to a minor supporting character either.

‘I don’t know if I’ve possessed the female lead or the villainess.’

It was natural not knowing the original work, but unsatisfying nonetheless.

Litania sighed and got up from the bed, stretching.

‘Well, whatever novel it is, there’s only one thing a possessed person needs to do to survive.’

Attend a ball, find a suitable man, and escape the palace through a contract marriage!

If she’s the female lead, it follows the standard romance fantasy plot, and even if she’s the villainess, she can gracefully back off when the male lead finds a love interest by saying she has another man, avoiding any life-threatening situations. It was the best choice either way.

Though she’s in a position of being ignored now with nothing else she can do, once she gets married and leaves the palace, she’ll be able to find ways to survive.

‘Fortunately I have many business ideas. Even if no romance develops during the contract marriage, I won’t have to worry about making a living after divorce.’

Litania rang the bell on the console.

A tinkling sound echoed along the elongated tube, and soon the door opened as a boy with snow-white hair and red eyes like a rabbit entered carrying a basin of water for washing.

“Lady Litania, did you call?”

Snow, the princess’s attendant.

This rabbit-like attendant with a somewhat unimaginative name derived from his appearance was the only one in the palace who didn’t antagonize or ignore Litania, a precious friend and cute younger brother figure.

The fact that he called her “Lady Litania” rather than “Your Highness” was probably because the original Litania had requested to be called that way.

“Snow, I’m planning to attend the spring ball this time.”

“Lady Litania, you’ve really changed.”

Litania felt a pang of guilt at Snow’s admiring response.

The real Litania had never shown her face at social gatherings before.

Whether it was because she longed for her dead mother whose face she couldn’t even remember, or because she lacked courage due to her status as a disregarded princess, she had lived for 19 years like an empty doll.

Apparently, even when Litania didn’t attend official royal events, the Emperor excused it with the reason that “an adopted daughter is not royalty.” It seems they were equally uncomfortable, so he didn’t even call for her, let alone reprimand her.

‘Thanks to that, Snow is the only one who knows my personality and behavior have changed.’

The guilt of stealing the real Litania’s life lessened a bit, since she had lived so depressingly like a corpse.

Perhaps because Litania’s face was identical to her own, it felt not like possessing someone else’s body, but like being reborn in a new world.

“I can’t live like this forever.”

“You’ve thought well.”

Snow smiled brightly as he helped Litania wash up and then combed her hair.

Snow, who had always felt sorry for Litania’s situation, only rejoiced at her sudden change one day, showing no signs of suspicion.

Litania felt both relieved and somewhat bitter about this.

“Then we should get a dress fitted first.”

“Ah, right. I can’t go to a ball in clothes like these.”

What she was wearing was neat indoor clothing. The gray color made it look a bit drab, not suitable for a bright spring ball.

“It’s your debut as a debutante, so of course you should wear the best dress. Leave it to me!”

“Okay. I’m counting on you.”

But wasn’t she supposed to be a mistreated princess?

Even the furniture in her room was old, so does she have money to order a ball gown?

She was curious about how much budget was allocated to her, but felt asking would arouse suspicion.

As Litania nodded appropriately and gave a brief thanks, Snow smiled broadly like a clapping rabbit, brought her breakfast, and went out to procure a dress.

‘A debutante at 19, it’s like the stage was set expecting my possession.’

Perhaps it means the second act of life is about to begin.

‘I’ll enjoy that new life!’

Litania made a spirited resolution.

However, fate was not so lenient.

* * *

“Lady Litania, I’m so sorry……”

On the morning of the ball, Snow apologized to Litania with his head bowed low in shame.

The dress the boy had obtained was only one, and it wasn’t even a custom-made gown for Litania, but one borrowed from another princess.

“It’s your first time attending a ball, Lady Litania. You should show your most beautiful self, but……”

It seems the budget given to a mistreated princess was far from enough.

Since Litania had never attended any parties before, even Snow as her attendant might not have known how much a dress would cost.

‘Well, I heard dresses in this era could cost as much as a building if expensive. No way it could be obtained so easily.’

Besides, isn’t this the biggest event, the spring ball?

Skilled designers would already be fully booked, and popular designs of ready-made dresses would be sold out.

Even for a secondhand item, it was lucky to find a decent dress. Moreover, if it was a dress worn by another princess, the quality wouldn’t be bad.

“It’s alright, Snow. We can alter the dress and wear it.”

“But Lady Litania……”

“I really don’t mind. This is pretty too, isn’t it? The green color gives off a spring vibe.”

Though she said it to comfort Snow, the dress was actually in such good condition it was hard to believe it was secondhand.

Judging by the lack of wrinkles or worn spots, it seems it was barely worn.

In fact, if Snow hadn’t mentioned it, she would have thought it was a new dress.

“I really like this. Snow, will you help me put it on?”

As Litania smiled brightly, Snow wiped away the tears that had started to form in his eyes and nodded.

“Yes, I’ll help you.”

The boy quickly untied the knots with his small hands to loosen the back of the dress, and helped Litania put it on.

Litania was a bit surprised by his skillful handling of women’s dresses, undressing and dressing her deftly despite presumably never having worked in a dress shop.

Moreover.

“Lady Litania. The waist is loose, so this part will need to be altered.”

“You’re right. The chest is a bit tight too. But where can we find a tailor to alter it?”

“I can fix this much myself.”

“What? Really?”

“For the chest area, if we cut out a bit of fabric and attach some lace, it will be easier for you to breathe.”

Snow carefully examined the parts Litania found uncomfortable, then began pinning the loose waist area for fitting.

He cut away the part where the chest was tight and distorting the shape, then neatly finished by attaching lace diagonally.

“Snow, I didn’t know you had this skill.”

“I learned it from watching Crow.”

“Crow?”

“Ah… A skilled friend who likes shiny things.”

“I see? You have a talented friend, Snow.”

Litania seemed to have no friends, so it was good that at least her attendant had a friend.

Maybe after escaping the palace later, she could start a business with this friend.

“Soft colors really suit you, Lady Litania. It would be better to tighten the loose waist and make the skirt fuller to change the silhouette.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Here, Lady Litania. Would you like to try it on again?”

Snow neatly decorated the tightened waist area with a ribbon, then helped Litania put the dress on again.

It looked skillfully done at a glance, and the dress fit Litania’s body perfectly.

Despite living in a remote palace and only serving a mistreated princess, Snow not only had good taste, but surprisingly extensive knowledge about dresses.

His handiwork was even more impressive. With skills like this, he could have succeeded as a designer.

Litania became a bit puzzled.

Why would such a talented child live as the attendant of a mistreated princess?