Chapter 1
My name was Charlotte Rainford. I was a time traveler. My half-blooded sister, Evelyn Rainford, was born under a lucky star.
Since she was five, she had been given one choice each year between two rewards.
I, the younger sister, would get whatever "trash" she didn't want.
This year, at fourteen, she didn't hesitate to choose [A Beauty That Topples The Kingdom]. I quietly accepted what she scoffed at, [Ethereal Elegance].
She was overjoyed, planning to be the King's concubine with her perfect beauty.
What she didn't know was that I, using all the "trash" she looked down on, had already been chosen by the King.
By the day she entered the Royal Court, I was already working for the King, handling the court affairs.
*****
When I was five, my half-sister, Evelyn, showed me, for the first time, how different she really was.
It was her birthday, and the roses in the courtyard were in full bloom. She wore a dress embroidered with gold thread, like a little ray of sunshine, basking in everyone's adoration.
Meanwhile, I was in my worn-out, washed-out clothes, shrinking into a corner, doing my best to make myself invisible.
I'd been a time traveler for five years. I'd long since gotten used to the way things worked at Rainford Manor, sucking up to the strong and stepping on the weak.
Evelyn's mom was my dad's wife, but mine was a mistress he never cared for.
Just then, a golden screen popped up above Evelyn's head, something only I could see. "Lucky Star System activated. Evelyn, it's time for your annual pick.
"Option 1: A treasure chest full of priceless gems from Howearland.
"Option 2: A body that never gets sick, immune to all illnesses."
I held my breath. Wasn't that like the cheat code in those novels?
Evelyn saw it, too. She was puzzled for a moment, then lit up with excitement. Without hesitating, she pointed straight at Option 1.
"I want the gems. I want lots and lots of pretty gems," she announced in her sweet, childish voice.
The next second, a lavish wooden chest materialized right in front of her. When she opened it, the gems inside shimmered and sparkled so brilliantly that it was almost blinding.
My dad and the ladies gasped in amazement, crowding around Evelyn and showering her with praise.
Meanwhile, the cold, mechanical voice echoed from the golden screen once again, "Host has made a selection. The rejected reward, Option 2, will be automatically granted to the nearest blood relative within 11 yards."
A subtle warmth washed over me, almost too faint to notice. I could feel my frail, malnourished body slowly growing stronger.
I looked down at my small hands. So, everything she didn't want ended up with me.
*****
From that day on, Evelyn's birthday became the day I most looked forward to each year.
When she turned six, Evelyn went for [Photographic Memory], and I got stuck with the [Zen-like Calm] she didn't want.
She started reciting poetry and classic texts nonstop, earning the title of child prodigy. Meanwhile, I could stay totally chill in the middle of any absolute chaos.
When she turned seven, Evelyn picked [A Priceless Golden Flute], and I ended up with [Master Chess Skills].
She played enchanting melodies on that flute, earning endless praise. Meanwhile, I sat alone in a quiet corner, challenging myself to chess matches. The chess pieces on the board became my truest friends.
When she turned eight, Evelyn chose [A Breathtaking Dress], and I got [Excellent Writing Skills].
She twirled gracefully at a party in that dazzling outfit, stunning everyone in the room. Meanwhile, I was hunched over a dim oil lamp, quietly practicing stroke after stroke, until the literary style naturally emerged from my pen.
*****
Year after year, Evelyn grew more radiant and bold, soaking up everyone's praise. She was like a rose in full bloom.
Meanwhile, I was like boxwood growing quietly in the shadows, unnoticed by anyone.
My dad and the ladies only noticed Evelyn. Everything she got was seen as a glory for the Rainford family. But no one knew or cared about those so-called "trash" rewards I received.
They had no idea that [Zen-like Calm] let me read people's motives in this Manor, never doing anything wrong.
They didn't realize that [Master Chess Skills] taught me more than chess. It taught me strategy, making sacrifices, and seeing the bigger picture.
They had no clue that [Excellent Writing Skills] let me mimic anyone's handwriting, giving me endless options down the line.
So, I quietly gathered my strength.
When I turned fourteen, Evelyn's birthday rolled around again. This was the moment that would decide everything for both of us.