After lying there for some time, she slowly gathered the little strength she had left and forced herself to sit up.
The movement was difficult. Her body still felt weak and cold, as if all the warmth had been drained from it. Even the simple act of sitting made her slightly dizzy.
She pressed a hand against the bed to steady herself.
"Why does this body feel so fragile…" she murmured softly.
Her voice sounded unfamiliar to her ears—soft, clear, and delicate.
Taking a slow breath, she looked around the room again. The place was still quiet and elegant, clearly belonging to someone from a wealthy family.
But she didn't focus much on the surroundings anymore.
What she truly wanted to see now… was herself.
Slowly, she slid her legs down from the bed. The moment her feet touched the floor, a cold sensation spread through her body.
Her legs trembled slightly.
For a moment, she almost fell.
"Tch… seriously? I can't even stand properly?" she muttered under her breath.
Step by step, she slowly walked toward the mirror near the vanity table. Each step felt heavy, as if her body might collapse at any moment.
Finally, she stopped in front of the mirror.
For a brief moment, she hesitated.
Then she lifted her eyes.
The moment she saw the reflection—
She froze.
Her eyes widened slightly in shock.
Standing in the mirror was a girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen.
Her skin was pale and smooth, almost like untouched snow. Her facial features were delicate and refined, giving her a naturally elegant appearance.
Her long hair framed her face softly, and her slender figure looked graceful despite its visible weakness.
But what stood out the most was the expression on her face.
Calm.
Quiet.
Cold.
Even without trying, the girl gave off the aura of a cold beauty—someone distant and untouchable.
The kind of beauty that made people admire from afar but hesitate to approach.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Then she raised her hand slowly and touched her cheek.
The girl in the mirror copied the same action.
"So… this is my new body," she whispered.
Her voice carried a hint of disbelief.
She looked at the reflection again carefully.
Beautiful.
Very beautiful.
Even she had to admit that.
Her lips curved slightly into a faint smile.
"Not bad… old man. You did keep your promise."
This beauty, this appearance, even this luxurious room—it all matched the life she had asked for.
But then she noticed something.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
Although the girl in the mirror was beautiful, her complexion looked pale. Not the healthy kind of pale, but the kind that suggested weakness.
Her shoulders looked fragile.
Her body seemed delicate, almost as if it could break easily.
She gently pressed a hand against her chest.
Her heartbeat felt slow and weak.
"This body…" she murmured.
"…looks like a sick princess."
She studied her reflection again.
Cold beauty.
Fragile body.
A strange combination.
Still, she didn't mind too much.
Beauty was already a big advantage.
Illness could always be treated later.
"I guess I shouldn't complain," she said softly. "After all, this is much better than my previous life."
But just as she finished speaking—
A sudden pain exploded inside her head.
"Ah—!"
Her body swayed violently.
The pain felt like thousands of needles stabbing into her mind.
Her hands immediately grabbed the edge of the table to support herself.
"What… is this…?"
Her vision blurred.
And then—
Memories rushed into her mind.
Like a flood breaking through a dam.
Images appeared one after another.
Faces.
Voices.
Scenes from another person's life.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her head felt unbearably hot and heavy.
"Stop… stop…" she whispered weakly.
But the memories didn't stop.
Slowly, the truth began to form in her mind.
And when she finally understood—
Her expression froze.
"Wait…"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"This… isn't right."
Yes, the girl whose body she now possessed did belong to a wealthy family.
But there was a problem.
A very big problem.
She wasn't the real daughter of that family.
She wasn't the true princess of the household.
She was only a fake princess.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then she let out a quiet, helpless laugh.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Her head throbbed painfully again.
"I asked for a rich life," she muttered.
"And that old man promised me."
Yet now—
She had become a fake princess in a wealthy family.
Her luck really seemed terrible.
More memories flooded into her mind, making her head feel even heavier.
Her body swayed again.
Her vision darkened.
"This is… too much…"
She tried to remain standing, but her weak body couldn't handle the sudden surge of memories.
Her legs gave out.
The room around her spun violently.
Just before everything went dark, one final thought crossed her mind.
"…My luck really is awful."
Then her body collapsed, and darkness swallowed her vision once again.