Rise of the Unfavored Princess
I had thought that my life couldn't get worse when I walked in on my fiancé cheating on me with my best friend. But after a series of unfortunate events, I opened my eyes in a world that I had only read about in a webnovel, the Erudian Empire, ruled under the domineering, bloody reign of Emperor Helio. The worst part? I'm not even the main character! Reborn as Winter Royberg de la Erudian, I am the pitiful side character who is discovered to be a royal bastard princess due to a certain physical trait only the imperial bloodline possesses. But I know the end of Winter's story and the unwanted royal punching bag is framed as a witch and killed at age 16 on the guillotine due to the scheming of the cruel empress. An aloof, murder happy father? Check. Psycho half-sister? Check. Meddlesome author who wants me to follow the script? Double check! I don't want to die an early death again, so I'm determined not to ever be discovered as a royal again. But before I know it, I'm trapped in a palace of blood and opulence playing tricky games of power, games I have no clue how to win. How will I survive to adulthood in the imperial palace and get my happily ever after? And am I really the only person who fell into this world? *UPDATES 1-2 TIMES A WEEK* *1500 TO 3300 WORDS PER CHAPTER*
Ch. 114: Uninvited Guests
I don't know who's more displeased with the new addition to my lessons, me or the emperor.
Her hands are folded in the lap of a sumptuous skirt, the image of a well-behaved, rich kid. It's weird seeing Julia up close again. The last time I saw her was when we'd learned I was a promised child and she was throwing a tantrum about why her 'slave' sister was there. So I don't buy the facade at all.
"Sister," Julia says in a stiff manner. Her mask thankfully cracks at this point, ungifted at the deception that runs in her mother's veins. Her smile is thin and brittle, ready to break apart at any moment. Even a blind man would be able to see her displeasure.
"Julia!" I'm almost more Katya's daughter than she is, the smile lighting up my cheeks looks far more realistic than hers. My trick? Believe the lie. Lean into it. I rush over and grab cold hands that jerk in my grasp, grinning like Julia's my best friend instead of the daughter of the one who wants me dead.