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. 146: Chit Chat
"Strange things are afoot," I tell Emma after Augustus has tea with me and goes back to his practice.
Emma nods.
"Have you heard anything?" I ask her, alluding to our growing network of informants.
"No," Emma says, dousing my hopes. "But it's strange..."
Her voice trails off, which is unusual for her.
"What is strange?" I ask. I lean like a gossip reporter trying to listen to the latest scoop.
Emma looks back at me. "It feels deliberate. Like there is a secret people are tiptoeing around."
"Must be something big," I agree. I start tapping my fingers on my bedspread as thoughts begin to flood my head.
"What?" Emma asks despite herself as I sit up aggressively in bed.
"Whatever it is, Julian is a part of it. Of that, I am absolutely certain," I say forcefully. My throat twinges in response.
"Are you sure, your highness?" She cocks her head to the side like a confused puppy.