Spoiler

FL is the daughter of a Duke and at the story's beginning, was a spoiled brat. She was used to getting whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, even if it put others in a bad spot. As a result she was generally disliked by everyone around her, including the servants. The only people who actually liked her were her parents, who were the ones at fault for her personality. They knew she was spoiled, but chalked that up to her being so young (I think around 5-6?).

One day FL is accompanying her family to a party. She approaches several people her own age, however no one wants anything to do with her. She hears them talking about how she was "just like how Louise said she was" and that she was an awful person. (Louise being the Crown Princess beloved by all.) This causes a crisis with the FL, as no one had ever said her attitude was a problem. Later she asks others if there's anything wrong with her. Her parents deny it and when she asks the servants FL quickly notices that the look of disgust in their eyes when they think she isn't looking, something she'd never noticed because she'd never thought to look for it. From that day on FL decides that she's going to become a better person so people would like her. She succeeds with the servants, however her brother insists that FL is still a bad person, she's just putting on an act.

None of the other nobles are willing to give her a chance and her reputation is so bad that FL's engagement is broken off with the second prince (SP) - a status she never knew she had to begin with. No one wants to invite FL to parties and the other like, so she only goes to those parties where the whole family is invited. At these parties FL is a wallflower no one talks to. Since she's so lonely FL ends up using a magic tool to sneak into town and spend time with commoners. Everyone is so friendly with her and she's able to make friends, so FL decides that she's going to become a commoner if she can't find an engagement. As time goes by this mindset becomes more of a certainty, as guys either avoid her completely or quickly break off their engagement. FL is pretty realistic about the fact that if she were to remain in the family, her brother (who is heir) would likely marry her off to someone gross and/or old enough to be her father - something he would absolutely do because he is one of the people who have discouraged potential suitors away from her, along with Louise. FL even goes so far as to take lessons on various things in the duchy's orphanage, as she helps out there and plays with the children.

Eventually FL comes of age and attends school. No one wants to spend time with her. She's spared bullying, but all of the nobles spread a ton of rumors about her - especially the girl who wants to get engaged with SP. It's also revealed that SP has no fiancee, nor do any of the other guys in his group. They make up your typical otome characters: brainy guy, knight, teacher, prince, and so on. (The manga says the brother is one of the characters, but he doesn't appear to be one in the webnovel.) The reason for this is fairly well known: Louise has told them that they will meet their "destined one" later, so it's better for them to be single. Since she's so beloved and the crown princess, no one thinks to question this. It also helps that people claim that Louise can see the future and has managed to keep various bad things from happening. FL just sort of shrugs and plugs away at her schooling, as she wants to learn as much as possible for her eventual commoner life. She notes that some of the lower nobles aren't completely hostile to her and the commoners don't seem to really care, but they do keep their distance because the social hierarchy at the school is harsh. It's supposed to be equal, but of course isn't actually like that - it's all lip service. FL keeps her distance from them as well, since she doesn't want to make their lives harder, but she does save some commoners from bullying and allows them to use her name to stop the bullying, which eventually gets better. Her reputation plummets even more but it doesn't make an impact on how she's treated. At most the SP and his lot berate her and tell her to stop bullying and be honest, yada yada. It doesn't matter that she tells them she's innocent and that she wants nothing to do with SP, he firmly believes she wants to be his woman.

FL eventually runs into a guy in the library (ML), who approaches her because he's heard all the rumors and is curious to see what she's actually like. He's smart enough to realize that Louise doesn't shoot sunshine out her butt and that her insistence that FL is pure evil is suspect. The two quickly become friends. They only meet in the library, as it's pretty remote, but FL is happy to have a friend. During the second year of school the illegitimate daughter of a baron? (can't remember her dad's status) is admitted to the school, Nathe (Nat). SP and his entourage quickly circle around Nat, something FL can understand because she seems really nice and adorable. She is worried, however, that the women hoping to become SP & company's partners will bully her - but FL assumes that the men will protect her, particularly as Louise is so interested in her. FL is startled when Nat rushes into the library one day and begs FL to hide her from SP and the others. She does, just as the SP comes in. When he doesn't see Nat, he leaves but not before hurling abuse at FL. Nat emerges and thanks FL profusely. After that day she starts hanging out with FL and becomes her friend.

Come to find out, Nat wants NOTHING to do with SP and the others. She finds their obsession with her creepy and hates that they never seem to actually listen to her when she asks them to back off. Nat has no intention of becoming a princess, as she's much happier being a commoner. She originally wanted to educate herself and become a civil servant, but she's changed that dream since it would put her in close proximity to SP and the others. Nat also becomes friends with the ML. He extends the offer for them to come to his country and become citizens, which FL and Nat eager accept. During all of this Nat is getting bullied by the jealous women, however everyone blames it on FL. This pisses Nat off greatly, as she's very offended that anyone would see FL as a bad person. She always takes up for FL, but everyone dismisses her and says she's just deluded.

FL, Nat, and ML go home to the duchy for summer break. Her brother refuses to return home and stays with the SP's group. Nat of course tells no one of her plans, as she knows they'd just follow her and ruin her vacation. While they're out there ML tells FL's parents of the plan - they absolutely agree. They all return to school, where things continue on as they had before. The years go on like this, with the trio spending time together in secret and so on, while they make plans to leave the country. Nat is extremely worried that SP and company will block her from leaving, but ML assures her that there are safeguards in place. By this point there are a ton of hints that ML is someone very important in his home country and not the commoner he claims to be. He's also dropped hints here and there that the king is aware of FL's treatment and that he's going to use her as a "teachable moment" in the future. FL is curious but trusts him enough to let it be. She's also becoming aware that he's someone important, of course.

Nat's bullying increases and ML suggests that FL stay by her side, as it would make it harder for others to bully Nat while also making it more difficult for people to claim FL is the one doing it. Sure enough, the bullying slows. However SP and the others ramp up their obsession with Nat and rumors about FL go into overdrive. SP spends a lot of time insisting that Nat get away from FL. ML reveals to FL that he is also one of the people who Louise claims is a "destined person" for Nat, so he doesn't want to be seen with Nat in public, for fear of setting Louise off. By this point he's very disgusted with Louise and sees her as delusional. ML confesses to FL, who is shocked because well, she never allowed herself to think of love. She's not ready to accept his feelings, so she asks for time. Meanwhile Nat is watching all of this with popcorn and softly cheering for them in the corner, as she had been waiting for this to happen.

This all leads up to the big confrontation: the graduation party. ML escorts FL and Nat is escorted by a nameless person. Eventually SP and company stop the proceedings by shouting that they're going to reveal and condemn FL. They also reveal ML's identity as the crown prince of a neighboring country, something he was trying to keep hidden. They accuse her of bullying Nat and of all sorts of terrible things. Louise and her husband, the crown prince (CP) are there. They also speak against FL and CP exiles her. This infuriates Nat, as it's the final straw. She unloads 3-4 years of anger on SP, Louise, and the others. She says that she wants NOTHING to do with SP or the others, that FL is a good person, and that she can't understand why Louise hates her so much - especially as she's never spent time with FL. She adds that she can't understand why Louise is so infatuated with her, as Nat has never met Louise before in her life. Nat declares that she's going to leave the country with FL and live in ML's lands.

Louise and the others have a fit and claim that they're going to stop FL from going to ML's home, as she's manipulating them. Now it's ML's turn to unleash his anger. Not only did they publicly identify him against his wishes, but they forced their attentions on Nat and insulted FL, who he views as a wonderful person. Louise and SP ask where is his proof - something he'd been repeatedly asking them for. (They claimed FL destroyed the evidence.) ML reveals that there is absolutely evidence. First, several commoners come forward and speak in FL's defense. Then ML brings out the big guns: he lets them know that FL's parents approached the king with concerns about how FL was treated. They asked for him to have people shadow FL and note what she's doing - as well as what is being done and said about her - as this will later prove her innocence.

The king comes forward and vouches for FL and ML. He chastises Louise, CP, and the others for their actions. Louise is taken aback. King goes on to say that as the crown princess, she should have known that what she said would be far reaching and have a severe negative impact on FL. He also says that she should have investigated FL and that she basically orchestrated a lifelong harassment, starting when FL was just a little girl. King goes further: he takes away CP's status as crown prince for the time being, as both he and Louise's actions were highly inappropriate and a sign that they would be terrible rulers. Afterwards FL's parents tell her brother that they are highly disappointed in him. They're going to hand the duchy over to him, after which point they are going to immigrate to ML's country with FL and leave him on his own. SP is stripped of his title and all of the members of his group are disowned by their respective families.

Before leaving for ML's kingdom, FL goes to see Louise because she wants an explanation for why this all happened. Louise has become a shut-in. She tries apologizing, but FL says that she doesn't want her apologies, she wants answers. Louise explains that she had memories of a past life, where Nat is the heroine in an otome game. Using her memories, Louise decided to try and make everything perfect for Nat. She also went out of her way to fix various traumas and tragedies that would have impacted the various love interests, which is part of the reason the guys believed everything she said. Louise also mentions that there was a storyline where OG!FL pretended to like Nat so she could betray and murder her, which is why she didn't believe the evidence in front of everyone's eyes. FL believes Louise, but says that she absolutely should have known the impact she would have as crown princess. She also basically tells her that even if the game existed in another world, there is a huge difference between stories and reality - and that reality can change at will. (IE, if you can avoid the tragedies then what's to say that FL couldn't change as well - and why didn't you try to fix FL rather than ostracizing her?)

FL leaves and becomes a citizen in ML's country. Nat is there as well and becomes a popular civil servant. Her parents join her eventually and lead a very nice life there. SP, stripped of his title, goes off to self reflect. The entourage goes their own similar, separate ways. CP and Louise are sent to the frontier. The third prince is going to become king, however it's questionable whether or not there will be any kingdom left, as Louise's actions have greatly shaken the populace's trust in the nobility, especially as it exposed a lot of the issues. The brother is left behind to maintain the duchy on his own. Most of the servants left as they hated him for treating FL so badly. The ones who remained are the ones who felt bad for him. The butler gives brother advice, namely telling him that FL was so beloved that the serfs will distrust him and his fellow nobles will see him as an easy mark, as he so blindly believed Louise's nonsense. Brother resigns himself to his fate. He eventually marries, but it's a political marriage as she openly states she's marrying him so she can save her family from bankruptcy. Brother also reveals that part of his anger towards FL was because she had no obligations while he had all of them. His side story ends with him wishing he'd treated his sister better, particularly as his daughter looks like her.

The main story leaves off with FL not officially responding to ML's affections, but it's heavily implied that she will return them. There's some additional story, but the author hasn't updated in five months so I've left off with the main story.