A stream of sunlight filtered into the room and right into her face, bringing Hanna - or rather, Irene, to wake up with a start. It had been a few days now since she was born, and there had been unfamiliar maids all over her the whole time.

Of her family, she had only seen her mother during that time, taking naps in her arms or being breastfed, which took a while of getting used to. This situation was far too confusing, but after all the time she spent here, living as a newborn baby, she knew this wasn't a dream.

Hanna had somehow, as though by miracle, been reborn into the world of the story she was writing during her dying breath. But instead of the main character, who she created to mirror her real self, Hanna had become the daughter of a war-crazed duke, as well as a character who was notorious for her obsession over the crown Prince.

Oh no... This is really bad... she thought to herself. Am I going to end up dying like Irene did in my story?!

In Hanna's story, Irene was someone who tried to manipulate one of the princes, Mikael, in order to have Isabella and Daniel split up. She used Mikael's jealousy toward his brother, as well as his love for Isabella to her advantage — and deceived him in attempt to assassinate the female lead. To put it simply, she was a calculative green tea b*tch.

However, Mikael and Daniel both came to realise her schemes, and killed Irene brutally during her attempt to kill Isabella, before any harm could come to the female lead. This was the only time in the novel the two men actually worked together to put an end to someone. Although, in the end, it was Daniel who Isabella loved, leaving Mikael in despair and fury.

Mikael later resorted to taking his own life, after failing to murder Daniel with his own hands. But in the end, there was no one who mourned the second Prince - hated by the empire he was born into since his first breath. Only Isabella would feel remorse toward this loss.

Irene was just made for the plot to get interesting... I never imagined I'd end up becoming her!

What do I do?! Will I end up dying at the hands of those princes later? It's not just the male lead, but even the main villain will be after my neck!

She wailed, her tiny arms flailing about in protest. No! I was just reborn I don't want to die again!

Just then, she realised something, and gazed out toward the window nearby. Outside, the winter sky was blanketed by clouds, as tiny snowflakes descended slowly like dancing sequins to the ground.

I'm a baby right now... The events of the story haven't happened. She thought. If I live my life well, instead of living the way Irene did in my story... I'll be fine, right?

Not to mention, I'm the author of this story. I know everything that happens, all the hidden secrets that will come to reveal themselves later.

I have an advantage in this world.

Hanna sighed. Regardless of her fate, there was a long time to go until the main story would actually begin. After all, she was nothing but a newborn right now. She realised that instead of thinking and worrying too much, she should wait out the days and try to grow quickly. After deciding on this, Hanna tried to recall every little detail of the story she had written.

The empire she was born into was called Laydel - a vast and prosperous country, currently operating without a monarch. This was because the Emperor and his queens had passed away, around this point of the novel. The late Emperor — Theodore Jeramius Laydel — had two queens, one - whom he wedded with love, and the other, he wedded for power.

The emperor's lover, Giselle, was a promiscuous woman who started off as his concubine - originally a lowly prostitute rejected by the aristocracy. She was young and beautiful, like a vixen who had manipulated the king into marrying her. With cascading golden hair and green eyes like emeralds, no man could turn away from the beauty of this woman.

Meanwhile, the Empress - Yestala Atlan - was one favoured by the kingdom and known for her concern for the people. After all, she was a queen of noble birth and had been betrothed to the emperor since they were children. Not only was she a child of the prosperous Atlan family - but her mother was the fourth princess of a foreign nation, who married her father to form a friendship with their country. A kind and beloved ruler to her people, both the aristocracy and common folk adored her.

But inevitably, it was the King's decision about who he could wed and who not, and it was widely known that the emperor was allowed to have multiple spouses. No one could argue against the decisions he made, not even the empress herself.

Despite his neglectful attitude to loyalty, the emperor did still value his empress and gave her as much attention as he did his lover. And in the end, both of his queens had become vessels for two children - the soon-to-be, heirs to the throne.

And those were the two princes, Daniel and Mikael.

Daniel, the elder prince who had the most support from the nobles, was born from the empress Yestala. From the day of his birth, he became favoured by the aristocrats. Not only was he a royal, but his mother's family - the Atlans - were the most powerful nobles after the imperial family.

Meanwhile, the younger prince, Mikael was rejected as a legitimate royal, despite the fact that his mother was favoured by the emperor. His birth from a lowly concubine hated by society, made him a child who would come to never received love or attention.

Unfortunately, soon after their births, the emperor and both his queens were killed overnight. It was unclear who the perpetrator was, but a rumour had spread throughout the empire that it was the concubine - Giselle, who poisoned the Emperor and Empress, before killing herself. Hanna herself hadn't developed this part of the story very much - since it was just to set up the rest of the novel.

One thing was for sure - the baby princes were alive and the only ones with any royal blood left. However, because they were merely newborns at the time, they couldn't exactly take charge of the kingdom yet.

And so, the emperor's most trusted vassals — the four dukes of Laydel — decided to step up and ensure the kingdom's safety, until the princes were of age and could reclaim the throne. With Emperor Theodore's work being distributed between those left in charge, the nation managed to keep itself on track despite the great losses it had faced without a ruler.

Over the years, the two princes were raised together in hiding, with maids hired by Duke Atlan, until they turned nine. Then, each prince was sent to live with one of the four dukes.

Daniel, the elder prince, was taken under the care of the first duke and his biological uncle - Lord Atlan. The Atlan household was, by far, the most powerful in the kingdom after the royal family - as well as the household of Daniel's mother before she became Queen. They not only believed that Daniel was to be crowned emperor, but they also rejected the second prince who was born from a manipulative prostitute.

Mikael was sent to live with none other than the Cherlianns. The second-most powerful ducal house in Laydel. Although he was not favoured by the aristocracy, he was still a prince, and could not be abandoned. After all, the blood of the emperor still flowed through his veins - not to mention, he was the spitting image of his father.

However, the Cherlianns themselves treated Mikael no different from the rest of the nation - as a lowly illegitimate child who was nothing but a burden.

His royal status meant nothing to them. Especially the duke, Rudien Alpheus Cherliann. Not only did he care little for the Prince, he didn't even care about his own children. After the death of his wife, Sarah, both Irene and her elder brother, Rayvis, became children without guidance.

Rayvis turned into a bitter child who followed in his father's footsteps - becoming a merciless war machine who supported prince Daniel. And Irene had grown spoiled rotten from all the money her father would give her, to keep her satisfied and off his back.

These events... Are really far from now. Irene thought to herself. My kind mother... Maybe if I can prevent her death somehow, I can avoid all of those things from happening?

That way, when Mikael arrives, he won't grow up to be a ruthless villain! This time he will be treated right! And I'll be able to live a peaceful life with no death flags!

Although it seemed far-fetched, Hanna had a feeling this was going to be the only thing she could do as of right now. This was her story, planned out from her own brain, so managing herself here wouldn't be that hard, right?

Several days had passed by, and her life was rather busy for an infant. She was watched over by numerous maids, taken to see her mother who would feed her and spend time with her as usual, as well as putting her to sleep.

Irene's mother was a kind and beautiful woman, although she was largely ignored by her husband. He had little to no time for her and didn't even bother to come visit while she was still recovering. It confused her as to how such a lovely woman could marry such a cruel man.

This mother of mine... she dies while I'm only three years old... Irene thought to herself, as she laid beside the woman that gave birth to her. If I recall, it was suicide... Would I be able to prevent her from ending her life this time?