Volume 1: Prologue

Translator: AdCaelum

Editor: Evelet

QC: Adel

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Preface to this translation: Hello, Cael here with a new project. I know there exists a translation, but I made a suggestion back last year on our Discord about continuing this series as I had bought volumes 3 and 4. However, when rereading the translation to get a feel of things, I found myself getting frustrated at how poor the quality was. And the recent manga “translation” is even worse. If you read it, you’ll know why the word translation is in quotes.

I will never tell readers that I am the better translator; I simply offer my alternative. Please enjoy~.

Adel: I will, though. Cael is the better translator. (Way better than 99% of the translator’s out here.)

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“Julietta Auchien Azbar, I hereby annul my engagement with you!”

Loudly and proudly proclaimed, the words brimming with confidence and conviction shattered the girl’s pride and dreams. She lost consciousness and collapsed onto the marble floor.

At the center of the throne room where practically all of the houses serving the Kingdom of Palcemith were present, the young man holding the title of crown prince knew his words had already caused the girl to lose consciousness but he continued nevertheless.

In a daze, “I” looked at the girl on the floor, at the tear rolling down on her powdered face hidden behind her silver hair.

“And I announce Nasha Ratury to be my new fiancée. The now vacant seat of sacrificial priestess… shall be filled by Julietta Auchien Azbar,” the young man continued.

“Prince Vikram!” a young girl by his side shouted.

“No need to worry, Nasha. It’ll be fine. I’ll protect you.”

“Thank you!”

Crown Prince Vikram and his mistress Nasha boldly hugged in front of everyone. Standing nearby were the crown prince’s aides, watching over the two with a smile. Along with the other houses who were utterly baffled by this sudden turn of events.

While this was all happening, I recalled everything—of a distant past life of mine. Memories of being born in Japan surrounded by family and of growing up healthy. Of my kind, working parents and my dear younger sister who loved to involve me in her embarrassing hobbies. My past life had been filled with joy and love.

The world in which I now found myself included the continent of Yuzinna which contained numerous nations. One was this Kingdom of Palcemith, the land of the dragon. It was located in the northern portion of the continent, which was known for its severe weather; despite this, there lay an ancient dragon imprisoned underneath the royal castle, which was a fountain of prosperity and blessed the land.

However, the dragon’s imprisonment invited the winds of destruction that would soon blow through the kingdom. 

I knew all about what would happen, as well as the secrets hidden within the historical records. Why, you ask? Because I had already experienced it. This world resembled an otome¹ game I had played through in my past life. Or, more precisely, it was the exact world of the game.

I never would have imagined that I would be transported to another world, and into a game one at that… I believe the title was The Dragon and the Sacrificed Priestess.

The protagonist of the game was the sweet, black-haired girl Nasha Ratury, who was invited to the castle from the countryside as the holy maiden to be offered to the ancient dragon as the sacrificial priestess and was presently still within the embrace of the male lead—the blond-haired, blue-eyed crown prince of Palcemith, Vikram Adele Palcemith.

Standing on either side of the pair were Prince Vikram’s trusted comrades. A black-haired young man with a refined air about him was watching the prince’s back. Another young man with gray hair and a cheerful smile was a step away. A blond-haired young man with a doll-like beauty was also present. Finally, there was a knight whose black hair had red highlights; he had a composed air of him while sharply glaring at me this whole time. All four of these men were the possible love interests for the protagonist of the game.

Hmph. Based on how boldly the prince and the girl were displaying their affection in front of so many people, I assume she must have gone down the crown prince route this round.

The last important character here was the unconscious girl whose face was covered with heavy makeup. She was Julietta Auchien Azbar. At the start of the game, she was the crown prince’s fiancée and presided over the upcoming festivities as the dragon priestess. She abused her authority to continually antagonize the female protagonist for getting close to the love interests.

And she was my only daughter… the daughter of Chancellor Andriam Eucht Azbar.

Andriam was the villainous noble who, with his villainous daughter, defamed the protagonist throughout the game. I couldn’t remember how I died in my previous life, but what could I have possibly done to make karma play such a sick joke on me? Along with this oh-so-perfect time to recall my memories…

Dear God, don’t you think punishment is a bit too harsh?

After I put forward my first and last grievance to God, I resolved myself: I embraced my first sip of poison.

The story of The Dragon and Sacrificed Priestess was composed of two main scenarios. The first half centered on raising and maximizing the affection of the love interests, while the second half was story-focused where certain aspects of the kingdom’s history were revealed depending on the chosen love interest. Only upon playing all routes could the player see the story from all perspectives. This kind of in-depth world building was what enticed even a male like myself to do a 100% playthrough.

I was presently experiencing the last scene of the first half of the game: when the chosen love interest denounced the villain Julietta’s crimes. No matter whom the player chose, Julietta would have her engagement with the crown prince called off. This was also the moment when her father, the chancellor of the kingdom, would declare himself the enemy of the protagonist and her companions.

Hearing that his daughter would not only have her engagement annulled but her position swapped for the sacrificial priestess, the chancellor would be enraged. The engagement that was supposed to be the foundation for his future plans was rendered null. As he slandered the protagonist and male lead, the kingdom would be divided into factions supporting either the chancellor or crown prince. Thus, this event marked the start of the labyrinthian second scenario, which would end half a year later with Julietta sacrificed to the dragon.

I also knew, later in the game, that Chancellor Andriam would disappear from prison before his public beheading by guillotine and Julietta would tragically have all her clumsy schemes thwarted by the protagonist and her comrades until she was finally swallowed by the dragon.

Like hell if I’d let that ending happen.

I inhaled deeply and slowly took off my thin, silver-rimmed glasses. The click of the frame hitting the lens strangely echoed loudly in the throne room filled with buzzing voices.

“Your Royal Highness Vikram…” I courteously bowed among the frozen and shocked crowd. I put one hand to my chest, fixed my gaze on the crown prince, and smiled faintly. I could tell from the air that everyone—the protagonist, her companions, and all the houses and nobles present—was rendered speechless. “Am I correct to presume that your proclamation before is, without a doubt, sincere?”

Andriam was a direct descendant of Sage Azbar, who sealed the ancient dragon with the hero Palcemith. He was also a member of the accursed Azbar bloodline. Anyone carrying the accursed blood, regardless of sex, was breathtakingly gorgeous. Even at death, no one could tell their true age by their appearance. Possessing everlasting beauty and clever minds, the Azbar bloodline supported generations of kings despite their short lives. However, over the years, the family’s dignity gradually diminished until they became the largest stain on the kingdom’s long history.

Despite all the humiliation and hatred thrown at me today, I kept my voice level, my body composed, and my mouth smiling. This was likely outside the crown prince’s expectations as he looked baffled. 

“You have annulled your engagement to my daughter Julietta and chosen Nasha Ratury, the girl who was welcomed into the castle as the sacrificial priestess, in her place. You have also given the role of dragon priestess, that Julietta has long held, to Miss Nasha, while Julietta will now take her role as sacrifice. This shall all happen by your will, correct?” I calmly summarized.

The crown prince was suspicious of my attitude but nodded firmly. The many houses and nobles present were the witness to this declaration. Swallowing my first sip of poison, fate’s seal was set.

I was snickering inwardly, but I maintained a neutral expression. I knelt on the floor and pulled the unconscious Julietta in my arms. I stood back up and respectfully bowed to the crown prince. “It shall be as Your Royal Highness wills. I swear upon my title as Chancellor Andriam Eucht Azbar that my daughter Julietta will no longer be your fiancée but the honorable and holy sacrifice for the ancient dragon.”

Now then, it was time to prepare the rest of my counterattack.

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