I opened my eyes, immediately choking on the unbearable stench that assaulted my nostrils. Disgust welled up in my chest as my surroundings came into focus.
Rats.
Rats and their droppings were everywhere. The smell of urine and feces was so strong, it made my stomach turn.
Urghhkk!
I threw up again. My eyes darted around, panic gripping my chest.
"W-What is this place? Where... where am I? I just got back from university... didn't I?" I grumbled, my mind spinning in a chaotic storm.
Urghhkk!
Once again, my body rejected the rot, and I doubled over, vomiting until there was nothing left in my stomach.
Just then, the wooden door creaked open with a loud bang. An old woman with snow-white hair and a scowling face stormed in. She was wearing what looked like a maid's uniform from an ancient European kingdom. Her plump body and wrinkled face only made her presence even more intimidating.
"What are you looking at?! Get up this instant!" she snapped.
I flinched at the sound of her extremely loud voice. My heart was pounding in my chest. Crawling to my feet, I stood up from the rotting wooden frame that passed for a bed and stumbled out of what could barely be called a room—it was more like a filthy rat cage.
Outside, the air was fresher, and I was greeted by the sight of a large garden and a small animal enclosure. A young girl with light brown hair waved at me with a bright smile.
"Good morning, Rosela," she greeted warmly as she approached, wearing the same uniform as the old woman. Her freckled face matched her beautiful, youthful appearance.
"Rosella?" I echoed, blinking in confusion. The name wasn't mine.
"Have you forgotten your own name?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
My brow furrowed. What was he talking about? I didn't even know who he was.
I looked down at my hands—and froze.
Pale skin. Slender fingers. It wasn't my hand. In a panic, I rushed to the nearest pool and looked down at its surface. My breath caught in my throat.
"A-Ah...!" I gasped.
In the water, reflected a girl with red eyes and long, silky black hair. She was beautiful... and she was me.
No. This isn't right.
Am I… reincarnated? Is this… like one of those isekai stories I used to watch?
My mind drifted back to a memory—crossing the street on my way home from college and the blinding lights of a truck speeding towards me.
Is it because of the truck-kun?
However, even though this is an isekai, I don't recall ever reading a novel with a character named Rosela.
"Who is the king of this kingdom?" I asked suddenly, trying to gather more clues.
"King Zander," the girl replied.
"Prince?" I pressed.
"The first prince is Dietrich, and the second is Benjamin," she replied, looking at me in confusion.
My eyes widened. I remembered now. Rainbow Behind the Clouds! That was the novel I had just finished two days ago! Prince Dietrich was the main character—a cold and arrogant warrior prince destined to become the Grand Duke.
But wait... Rosela? That name never appeared in the story. Was I just a background NPC? A disposable extra?
No. I would not accept this fate.
"Rosela! Riri!" the old woman's harsh voice—Madam Greta—lashed through the air like a whip.
"Yes, Mrs. Greta!" Riri stood up straight.
I was stunned—I didn't even know her name, but it just slipped out of my mouth. Maybe... this body knows better than I do.
"Do you think gossiping will get your job done? Get to work!"
I lowered my head. "I-I apologize."
"Sorry doesn't make the floor clean! Move aside!"
"Yes, Madam!"
So... I'm Rosela now. And somehow, this body instinctively reacted to the name.
"Are you feeling better?" Riri asked, her brows furrowed in concern. "You had a fever yesterday."
"I'm fine. Just a little headache... and a little memory loss," I replied as casually as I could.
"Maybe it's overwork," she said. "You've been pushing yourself too hard lately."
I blinked. Overwork? This poor girl...
"Really? I don't remember that," I said with a weak laugh.
"Poor thing," Riri said softly. "You should rest. I'll take care of everything today."
"No, I'm fine. I want to help."
👑👑👑
Three Months Later
Rosela's life had become a dreary routine. Day after day, the same job, the same humiliation. Now she knew that she was just a slave, bought by a nobleman to take care of his livestock and gardens.Her home was a nightmare. It was as if she were just a caged animal.
"Rose, wake up," Riri whispered softly, shaking her shoulders.
"I'm sick of this life," Rosela murmured, her voice shaking with unshed tears. The smell of rat droppings no longer bothered her—she had grown accustomed to it. In her old life, she had been poor... but not like this.
"I know. But this is our fate," Riri murmured.
"Not even death will free us." Rosela clenched her fists. No. She refused to accept this ending. "I will change our fate. I swear I will lift us out of this misery."
Riri blinked, then smiled. "Don't forget that promise, okay?"
"I won't," said Rosela, grinning determinedly. "I don't break promises."
They headed to the garden and began their daily work—trimming bushes, pulling weeds, sweeping up fallen leaves. Complaining is not allowed. Complaining will make them lose their food. Rosela held her tongue every day.
"I heard that the title of crown prince was given to Prince Benjamin, not Prince Dietrich," Riri whispered.
Rosela already knew that. Dietrich was a true hero—who had fought in wars and won battles. Meanwhile, Benjamin sits in the palace, obsessed with a low-ranking noblewoman. "I don't care about royal drama. I just want to escape from this hell," muttered Rosela.
She has read many isekai stories. However, this was the worst fate imaginable. She would rather be a noble outcast with wealth than a slave with nothing.
"Oh! I almost forgot," said Riri. "They are holding a festival in the capital to celebrate Prince Dietrich's victory!"
"How ironic," Rosela replied. "He won the war and lost his birthright."
"Shhh! If anyone hears, they'll cut off your head!"
"Oops. Sorry."
"To cheer you up... wanna sneak out and watch the festival tonight?" Riri asked with a mischievous grin.
Rosela's eyes lit up. "That's actually... a good idea."
They hurried through their tasks, waiting for nightfall. As it grew dark, the girls slipped through the gates, their hearts pounding.
The capital was filled with color and celebration. Music played, lights twinkled, and laughter filled the streets. And then—he appeared.
Prince Dietrich's entourage turned Rosela's gaze.
"So, the one riding the white horse with black hair is Dietrich?" Rosela asked in amazement. This was the first time in her life that she had seen a human as perfect as Dietrich, very handsome. Moreover, Dietrich was her favorite character in the novel.
"Yes," Riri nodded.
"The phrase 'prince on a white horse' is not wrong." Rosela said, still unable to take her eyes off Dietrich.
"Richy!" Rosela shouted loudly. She remembered the nickname Daphne had given him.
Suddenly the knights standing around Dietrich immediately drew their swords at Rosela's neck. Riri, who had been standing beside Rosela, was forced to step back by the other guards.
Rosela swallowed. Cold sweat poured from her head to her ankles, Rosela did not realize that she was in a novel, it was not natural to call a prince's name so brazenly. Especially from the mouth of a slave like her. It was a death penalty offense.
"This slave dares to call the prince's name." Said one of the guards.
"Richy! I didn't mean to___" Rosela couldn't continue her sentence because the swords were getting closer to her neck.
"How impudent! A slave is not worthy of calling the name of the great prince." Another knight snapped.
"Can you remove these swords from my neck?" Rosela said while looking at Dietrich. There was no fear in Rosela's eyes, and that made Dietrich interested. Because usually no one dared to look him in the eyes.
"Put away your swords." Dietrich ordered.
"Richy I apologize." Rosela said.
Dietrich's heart was beating, he hadn't heard that nickname for a long time since his late mother died ten years ago. Even the king didn't know the nickname. How could a slave know.
"Take the slave to the palace." Dietrich ordered.
Suddenly Rosela's arms were immediately clamped by two Knights. "Let go!" Rosela shouted, finally starting to panic.
"Rosela!" Riri shouted, panicking when she saw Rosela being taken away by force.
"Riri help!" Rosela shouted, but Riri couldn't do anything.
To be continue...