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*
[Bonus chapter]Ch. 131: Live By The Blade
"Asshole," I mutter under my breath, flopping back onto my sofa as if every muscle in my body has just given out. The pins in my hair pinch my skull, but they're easy to tune out.
My eyes have that plastered sensation that arises when you don't sleep enough so I shut my eyes for a bit. But when they shut, I see the same things I saw last night.
"Emma!" I say before my mind can register what my mouth is doing. The stoic maid is typically the best person to speak to when my stomach is in knots like this. And yet, I sent her away last night. She must hate me now, doesn't she?
I can't wait for the empress to approach Emma, just so we can end this farce sooner and I can have her by my side. We've been through the most harrowing events together, yet this is a trial I am undergoing alone. I could call her here, in a moment of selfishness. But with the empress' suspicions at a height after what I did to Julia yesterday, it would topple down the house of cards I've precariously built.