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. 102: The Sleeping Prince
I suck in a deep breath. "Ahhhh. Do you smell that? No manure."
Only the delicate perfume of the exotic flowers stains the air. Walking through the palace feels weird today, the way it feels odd when you start your second year of university in another dorm building. The pathways feel somewhat unfamiliar, although I march across them with a confidence that I don't feel inside.
"There was no need to ruin your boots. We could have brainstormed another way to bait the empress," I say to Emma when the silence becomes too much.
"Brainstorm?" Emma asks.
"Erm, we could have thought of another way," I quickly correct.
Emma shakes her head. "Not on such short notice, your highness."
She's right, but I don't want to admit it. We continue to walk in silence, the matching footsteps of the six attendants who follow me everywhere echoing in tandem.