Chapter 1

I was Charlotte Jensen, the sixth princess of Eldoria. Most of my early life was spent in comfortable obscurity. I was a quiet and lazy member of the royal family who preferred to stay out of the way.

Everything changed in my sixth year, when my father the king suddenly began to hear my thoughts. Without any real effort on my part, I became his favorite.

For the past six years, I'd divided my time between doing very little and quietly digging an escape path because I already knew what was coming.

My second brother, William Jensen, was the true hero of the story. When he eventually took the throne, I was meant to be his first lesson to everyone else.

I had been born with the memory of this story in my mind. I knew every event before it happened. But beyond that foresight, I was only an ordinary girl with ordinary thoughts.

I never tried to stand out or seek favor, because I knew better than to compete. I held no illusions of outsmarting anyone here, nor did I ever think my otherworldly origins gave me an edge.

*****

My mother, Evelyn Jensen, was just a palace maid when she got pregnant with me.

While I was still in her belly, I'd often feel her hand resting on her belly and hear her whisper, "My precious boy, please grow strong. Whether I ever have a better life... it all depends on you."

I knew I was destined to disappoint her.

Sure enough, once I was born and the midwife said, "Congratulations, it's a little princess," my mother never looked at me again.

With no family backing, this was pretty much her only chance to bear a royal heir. My arrival just made her resent me.

From then on, I was just the kid nobody wanted.

Because she gave birth to me, my father, Matthew Jensen, granted her the title of Lady Evelyn.

If I were her, I wouldn't have been so shortsighted. Even just a princess, I was still the king's own flesh and blood, someone she should have treasured.

She just didn't get it.

The clothes I wore were barely better than what the maids had. I got just two meals and a soup each day, with meat only twice a week.

The palace staff were all opportunists, always siding with whoever was in power. Since my father Matthew barely glanced at me after I was born, I was pretty much a ghost in the palace.

Honestly, I was happy to be a slacker, just coasting through life.

Things took a real turn for me on my sixth birthday.

*****

Every year, no one ever celebrated my birthday.

But my maid Lucy would always sneak off to the imperial garden to pick some flowers for me, just to make my birthday feel a little special.

As for Evelyn, she'd just lie in bed and cry on this day, mourning the son she wished for but never had, as if I had taken his place. It was all so pathetic.

I guessed that showed why a proper education mattered.

One day, I took Lucy with me to the imperial garden. She went off to pick flowers for me, while I lay back on a stone slab, eyes closed, just letting my mind wander.

'If life could just stay like this, it wouldn't be so bad,' I thought to myself. 'No trouble, no one paying attention to me. I'm like an ant. Anyone could crush me, but no one would bother.

'Wonder if I'll ever get to see my father in this world. I was too young to go to any parties before I turned five, and now I'm six. Maybe he'll finally remember I exist.

'Oh, if only I could've had some warm, sweet cupcakes for my birthday...'

I was just chilling, enjoying the breeze on my face, when someone gave my sleeve a little tug.

I opened my eyes to see a young attendant. Looking up, I noticed a good-looking guy in his thirties. He was dressed in a fantastic robe, staring at me with a confused expression.

'He could get into the consorts' palace, surrounded by attendants and maids, wearing that fancy robe... That's gotta be my unfit father, Matthew Jensen. Great, I'm screwed,' I thought.

Matthew's expression shifted from puzzlement to outright shock.

'What's he so shocked about? Surprised he has a daughter he's never even met?' I chuckled inwardly.

Matthew shook his head and called out, "You, come here."

I shuffled over, nervously fidgeting with the hem of my dress.

Getting closer, I was practically blinded by how ridiculously handsome he was.

'Wow, Father is ridiculously good-looking,' I exclaimed in my mind. 'No wonder I turned out this stunning. It definitely wasn't just Mother's genes.'

Matthew suddenly burst out laughing and pulled me over by the hand. "Who are you?" he asked, still chuckling.

'Classic. Can't even recognize his own daughter. What a father,' I thought bitterly.

"Father... I'm the sixth Princess, Charlotte," I said, trying to sound as respectful as possible.

Matthew raised an eyebrow and asked, "Charlotte... Is today your birthday?"

I was freaking out, and even the old attendant behind him looked shocked. Guess the palace staff would be switching sides again.

'Whoa, how does he know that? Do all kings have to memorize their kids' birthdays or something?' I wondered.

Matthew narrowed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips, and my nerves shot through the roof.

'Ugh, why does he keep smiling like that? Am I really that funny or what?' I thought, feeling even more awkward.

"Since it's your sixth birthday, why hasn't the palace reported to arrange a birthday party for you?" Matthew asked, his tone a bit stern.

'Wow, he even knows I'm six?' I thought. 'Is he secretly paying attention to me? But a birthday party... I can barely get enough to eat. No way would the staff arrange a celebration for me. It's easy to talk about feasts when you've never gone hungry.'

Matthew's brows furrowed, and instantly, everyone behind him bowed deeply.

'Should I bow or not? Ugh, whatever, better play along. What is wrong with Father?' I thought, totally baffled.

Just as I started to bow, he reached out, swept me up into his arms, and then patted the top of my head a little clumsily.

'Is my luck changing? Did he really fall for my unbearably cute face the moment he saw me?' I thought happily.

His hand paused on my head, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Return to the Harmony Palace. Prepare a feast." He paused briefly, and then added, "And make sure there's plenty of dessert."

I was overjoyed, and my feet started swinging happily on their own.