Extra-Changing Fate ==Editing==

Chapter 4 ==Princess' Birthday Pt. 1==

"Shall we go, Sister?"

Sister Amelia's voice was bright, a wide smile illuminating her face as I stepped into our waiting carriage. This vehicle would carry us to the grand Imperial Palace.

"What did you choose for the princess, Alyssa?" Sister asked, her gaze curious. "Just some jewelry. What about you?" I countered.

"I got her some very expensive perfume." Hearing her gift, my brows furrowed slightly. "You might embarrass her with that, Sister," I cautioned.

She scoffed, a hint of bitterness in her expression. "She did the same to me on my seventeenth birthday. Shouldn't I return the favor?" The memory of the princess's less-than-thoughtful gift clearly still stung.

Before the heroine's arrival, their relationship had been strained, primarily due to their families' equal standing. The Silverton family held a position of power and influence on par with the Imperial family, and no doubt Princess Arabella felt threatened by Sister Amelia, especially since Amelia was widely admired as the "flower of society."

"I see," I replied, understanding dawning. "Since you two aren't on the best of terms, I suppose it's your prerogative." A small smile touched Amelia's lips.

The journey to the Imperial Palace passed in comfortable silence. Sister didn't attempt to engage me in conversation, likely remembering my perceived lack of social grace.

Alyssa. The underrated character. The most enigmatic figure in the book.

The black sheep of the esteemed Silverton family. The only one with striking golden eyes, a feature that puzzled everyone.

Even the author hadn't bothered to explain the origin of Alyssa's unique eye color. And because of these unusual eyes, she became the subject of the kingdom's most whispered mystery.

Unlike the violet amethyst eyes that marked a pure Silverton, mine were the color of the richest gold. Yet, instead of admiration, they often drew disdain. People disliked her because she possessed no discernible skills or talents, unlike her accomplished siblings.

This lack of talent, combined with her distinctive appearance, led to her being labeled the black sheep, an outcast within her own family.

"We've arrived at the palace, young miss."
The coachman's words pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced out the window, taking in the familiar grandeur of the Imperial Palace, a place I hadn't visited since the public announcement of my broken engagement with the Crown Prince.

Sister gracefully descended first, assisted by the coachman, of course. I could hear the hushed compliments of the nobles gathered outside, all directed towards her radiant beauty.

And as always, due to my perceived low standing within the family, not even the coachman offered me a hand as I alighted from the carriage. It wasn't as if I was complaining, but we were in a public space. What would people think of this blatant mistreatment?

Then again, everyone already knew of my position in the family, so perhaps it wasn't such a significant matter.

I observed the long queue of nobles waiting to have their invitations confirmed. But as members of the Silverton family, we were immediately ushered forward. We were the VIPs among the VIPs on the princess's guest list.

I suspected my invitation was merely an opportunity for people to subtly mock me for the annulled engagement. I watched my sister effortlessly converse with other nobles, appearing as if they were the closest of friends.

Since Alyssa had always avoided public life, her unfamiliarity with social customs was evident, leading to varied and often negative opinions. She had spent most of her life within the Silverton gates, detached from society's intricate rules.

Not even her family truly knew her. Not even I, in these brief days inhabiting her body, fully understood her. But I had discovered glimpses of her inner world. A secret room filled with history books, all focused on the mystery of her golden eyes.

Instead of honing academic skills or developing talents, she had been consumed by the enigma of her different eye color, a feature that set her apart within her own family. I even felt a pang of pity for the ill-treatment she had endured.

Upon occupying her body, I had immediately disposed of all those books related to her golden eyes. She discriminated against herself because of them. I had even stumbled upon a book detailing methods to change one's eye color.

Since I, in my original life, had never given my appearance a second thought, my current focus was solely on surviving in this world, a world where my original self had met an untimely end.

"Entering the Silverton Princess Amelia Claire Silverton and Lady Alyssa Glaze Silverton."
I couldn't help but scoff inwardly at the announcer's words. Sister was introduced as the Silverton Princess, while I was merely "Lady Alyssa."

After all, the villainess needed to maintain a flawless image to effectively intimidate the heroine. And I? I was just a mysterious extra, not deemed worthy of any special designation by the author.

We stepped into the grand ballroom, and I could feel the collective gaze of the assembled nobles upon us – or rather, upon my sister. An invisible spotlight seemed to follow her every move.

We approached the birthday girl, who greeted us with a dazzling, albeit undoubtedly fake, smile.

"We offer our warmest wishes to the Imperial Princess on her birthday," Sister and I said in unison, presenting our gifts.

I offered a complete set of jewelry, crafted from the moonstones I had won in the chess tournament. A secret skill, this jewelry making of mine.

The princess seemed genuinely pleased with my gift, but her expression soured noticeably when her sister presented hers.

Gifting expensive perfume was considered impolite in this society. The unspoken implication was clear: "Do you stink?" "Do you not smell good?" "Your body odor must be unbearable." Such were the thoughts that would undoubtedly circulate among the guests.
And because of this seemingly small act, their animosity would continue, a prelude to the heroine's arrival.

Approximately a year and a half from now. A year after my inevitable, tragic death by poisoning, she would appear.

The light that would pierce the darkness of the prince's grief-stricken world.

Such a cliché story plot...