Chapter 01…
The Supreme Treasure Becomes a Mirage
—Ah… I really am going to die, aren’t I?
As the black cloak fluttered before her eyes, blotting out her vision, Felicia lost consciousness.
“The Mirage Princess.”
That was the epithet given to Felicia de Dupla.
Felicia was born as the eldest daughter of the House of Dupla, a marquis family in the Kingdom of Rubellite.
Her skin was pale and translucent, her body slender and supple.
Her large violet eyes, framed by long lashes, shimmered with a deep radiance—like sparkling amethysts.
A straight, delicate nose, a small mouth tinged with rose, and smooth platinum-blonde hair flowing down to her waist that gleamed as though it had captured the moonlight.
Altogether, she gave an impression of fragile beauty—clear, pure, and divine.
Felicia grew up surrounded by a vast collection of books, prepared for her mother, who was often bedridden due to illness.
On the days her mother could not rise, Felicia and her brother Bernard, three years her senior, would sit by her bedside, reading aloud from various books to entertain her.
“Bernard, Felicia—you both read so well! I can’t believe you’re already able to read such difficult books. I’m so proud of you.”
Seeing their mother smile like that filled Felicia with joy, and she never found her efforts burdensome.
Wishing to bring comfort and delight to her ailing mother, she also learned to play musical instruments such as the piano and violin.
In time, she naturally grew diligent in her studies, and her musical skill blossomed into true mastery.
At the age of eight, Felicia was formally betrothed to the kingdom’s First Prince, Alexis.
From then on, she underwent rigorous education befitting a future queen—never complaining, but instead polishing her intellect and grace to perfection.
By that time, her mother had already passed on to the afterlife, and her father was consumed by his duties.
Her brother, striving to manage the household in their father’s stead, had enough to worry about, and Felicia did not wish to burden him further.
To avoid troubling her loved ones, she resolved to meet every expectation placed upon her.
With single-minded determination, she devoted herself to every task before her.
Through such earnest diligence, Felicia developed extraordinary intelligence and refinement.
Her beauty and wisdom were so remarkable that people began to call her “The Treasure of Rubellite.”
At tea parties and evening balls, there were always people gathered around Felicia.
Even without her position as the prince’s fiancée, her elegant fashion sense and exquisite choice of accessories drew every gaze.
Though Felicia herself was modest and preferred not to stand out, she was constantly the subject of admiration and envy among the noble ladies.
“Lady Felicia, where did you get that dress?”
“What a lovely hair ornament!”
“Would you please teach me how you choose your accessories next time?”
She would respond to each question sincerely, one by one.
That very earnestness was part of her charm.
Eventually, Prince Alexis or the Queen herself would approach and lead her away, as was often the case.
Even in the social circles rife with jealousy and intrigue, few dared to spite her—perhaps because her superiority was simply overwhelming.
So praised, respected, and long-awaited as the prince’s future bride, Felicia was at the height of admiration.
And yet, there was a reason she came to be known as “The Mirage Princess.”
