Angelina Flobert had come of age.
That single fact had become the hottest topic in the social circles of the Grandonia Empire.
Naturally so. When a noble reached adulthood in the Empire, it meant they were finally eligible for marriage and could officially enter the political arena.
But those weren't the only reasons she had attracted so much attention.
Just as her older brother, Ante Flobert, was famed for being so extraordinarily handsome that people of all ages and genders fell under his spell, Angelina herself was rumored to possess breathtaking beauty.
On top of that, because Marquis Ante Flobert was notoriously overprotective of his younger sister, very few people had ever met her in person, making everyone's curiosity even greater.
The marquisate had even announced a lavish birthday celebration in her honor, and the entire aristocracy eagerly awaited the chance to finally see her.
Unfortunately, the party was canceled.
Angelina Flobert had been struck down by a severe fever.
"Miss, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm much better. You don't have to worry."
Angelina answered her maid's concerned question with a light smile. Her plump cherry-colored lips curved gracefully.
Unfortunately, her hoarse voice wasn't particularly convincing.
"It seems your tea has gone cold. Shall I brew you a fresh cup?"
"It's fine."
Her personal maid, Laura, continued to fuss over her, but Angelina simply shook her head. Her beautiful silver hair swayed with the movement.
Each strand glittered beneath the sunlight as though woven from diamonds.
"If you need anything at all, please let me know immediately."
"I will. Thank you, Laura."
After carefully adjusting her blanket, checking the room temperature, and making sure everything was comfortable, Laura quietly left.
Now alone, Angelina let out a long sigh.
"...I guess it's obvious."
No matter how much she pretended otherwise, Laura, who had served her for years, could tell something was wrong.
It wasn't that she was still sick.
The fever had broken days ago.
Rather, it was the memories that had surfaced while she lay burning with that fever that left her mind in turmoil.
My previous life... I suppose.
Memories of living in another world, in another body.
To be honest, calling it a "past life" sounded more dramatic than it really was. She couldn't remember her family's faces or even her own name.
All it had really done was leave her with the curious realization that an afterlife truly existed.
The real problem was what had returned alongside those memories.
Am I really inside a novel?
Specifically, the novel she had been reading before she died.
That story stood out vividly in her mind.
Because it was this very world.
At first, she couldn't believe it.
Even someone as adaptable as Angelina couldn't simply accept someone telling her, "The world you're living in is actually a novel."
She assumed the fever had made her delirious.
But when every character, every landscape, the empire's history, and even its political structure matched perfectly...
She had no choice but to believe it.
Fine. Let's say it's a novel.
Eventually she managed to accept that much. Whether she'd been reincarnated, transmigrated, or whatever the correct term was—it didn't matter.
But my brother is the final mastermind?
That was the one thing she absolutely refused to believe.
Her brother was the kindest person she knew.
He was so soft-hearted that if she so much as got a paper cut, he'd panic and nearly burst into tears.
How could someone like that possibly become the story's hidden mastermind?
And I die the moment I turn twenty...
That was another truth she desperately wished weren't real.
What kind of cruel joke is it to find out you're terminally ill on your birthday? What kind of twisted sense of humor does God have?
If this was God's birthday present to her...
She wanted to return it.
"What a moldy cake."
Angelina muttered the harshest curse she knew.
It wouldn't change reality, but at least venting made her feel a little better.
And it only says I'll die without even explaining what illness I have? Isn't that just rude?
The novel had been remarkably unhelpful with details.
Then again... there's no reason for the story to explain exactly what disease the mastermind's little sister died from.
At least it had made one thing clear.
It was incurable.
Perhaps she should even be grateful that it didn't give her false hope.
With another small sigh, Angelina organized her thoughts.
If I die shortly after my twentieth birthday...
That meant she had about two years left.
She considered countless possibilities before finally reaching a conclusion.
Maybe that's actually for the best.
What disease was it?
Could it be cured?
No matter how much she tortured herself with fear, she couldn't solve anything.
Besides, the novel had described it as "a truly sudden death."
That meant it wasn't the kind of illness that slowly wasted a person away.
In a strange way...
It was the cleanest terminal diagnosis imaginable.
There was only one answer.
I'll enjoy whatever time I have left.
It wasn't fair.
She certainly felt cheated.
But...
She wasn't dead yet.
For the first time since recovering from her fever, Angelina felt as though a heavy fog had lifted from her mind.
Before I die... what do I want to do?
One thing immediately came to mind.
Something she'd wanted to do in her previous life but couldn't afford.
Something she could absolutely do in this life but had never dared to.
Why don't I start by spending money recklessly?
The very first item on her bucket list...
was to indulge in an outrageously extravagant shopping spree.
To accomplish the first item on her bucket list, Angelina headed straight for Ante's office.
If she wanted to splurge, she needed money.
And if she needed money, she had to visit the one who controlled the purse strings.
Unfortunately, despite her confident stride, she found herself stopped outside the office.
"Oh... today was the council meeting."
Of all days, today happened to be the family's grand assembly, where all the key figures of the marquisate gathered for an important meeting.
Come to think of it, Laura mentioned that this morning.
She had been too distracted thinking about the future to pay much attention.
Remembering she'd been warned in advance made her feel slightly embarrassed as she scratched her cheek while staring at the firmly shut door.
All I need is some spending money. It won't take long... Maybe I should just step inside for a moment?
She hesitated.
Then shook her head.
She might be terminally ill, but she wasn't dying tomorrow.
She couldn't interrupt a meeting involving the commander of the knights, the head chef, the chief secretary, the head maid, and the other important officials of the marquisate...
Just to ask for money.
"If you tell me the reason for your visit, I'll inform His Excellency the Marquis."
Seeing her hesitate, one of the knights standing guard spoke politely.
"It's nothing urgent. I'll just wait and come back later—"
Bang!
Before she could finish saying she'd return another time, the office door suddenly swung open.
Startled, Angelina looked up—
—and found her brother standing there.
The moment their eyes met, the corners of his eyes curved into a gentle smile.
It was the kind of dazzling smile that looked capable of seducing anyone, regardless of race or gender.
"Lina."
Softly calling her by her nickname, Ante reached out and gently pressed the back of his hand against her forehead.
"Has your fever completely gone down?"
"It broke two days ago."
"And your body? Does anything still hurt?"
He carefully examined her face before gently squeezing her shoulders and arms as if checking for any hidden pain.
"Should I call the healer again?"
His voice overflowed with concern, making Angelina chuckle.
"I'm completely fine now, Oppa."
Knowing how overprotective he became whenever it came to her, she quickly changed the subject before he could fuss over her even more.
"Weren't you busy? I heard you were in a meeting."
"It's over."
Ante opened the office door wide enough for her to look inside.
Several people were still seated around the large conference table, many of them wearing confused expressions.
"What are you all doing? Leave."
His tone was cold and authoritative—the complete opposite of the gentle voice he used with Angelina.
Though the order came abruptly, everyone silently gathered their belongings and rose from their seats.
Even those who hadn't yet understood what was happening quickly caught on and hurried out.
"...It really was over?"
Watching everyone suddenly pack up, Angelina couldn't help asking.
"It literally just ended. You arrived at perfect timing."
For a brief moment, she worried that she had interrupted the meeting.
But she quickly dismissed the thought.
Surely they wouldn't cut short such an important gathering just because of her.
Only after the last person had left did she step inside.
"I even saw the auction house managers and the guild administrators. Was something serious going on?"
Judging by who had attended, it had clearly been a large-scale meeting.
"Nothing special. Just our quarterly financial review."
"Already?"
The quarter wasn't even over yet.
Angelina tilted her head in confusion.
But instead of answering, Ante took her hand and gently led her farther into the office, smoothly changing the subject.
"The biggest concern is standing right in front of me."
