Chapter 4

A week had passed, and Hope was still adjusting to life as Evelina. Today was an important event in the novel—the birthday banquet of the Crown Prince.

As she walked toward the carriage, a tall man with black hair and sharp brown eyes stood waiting for her. His expression was unreadable, his presence imposing.

"That must be Regas Greystone," Hope thought, recognizing Evelina’s 24-year-old elder brother. He was the Crown Prince’s closest friend and someone Evelina had always longed for affection from—only to be met with cold indifference. Their relationship was distant at best, hostile at worst.

"I should just ignore him," she decided, not wanting to stir any unnecessary conflict.

Regas regarded her with a scrutinizing gaze before speaking. "I see you're well. I was concerned." His tone was stiff, as though the words were forced. "Do not cause trouble for Father tonight. Behave yourself."

Hope stopped in her tracks and looked at him in disbelief. "Concerned?" she repeated in her head, barely holding back a scoff. "He didn't even visit me once while I was sick. Now he suddenly acts like he cares?"

Instead of responding, she merely stepped past him and climbed into the carriage. "You don’t have to worry about me," she said flatly before shutting the door behind her.

Regas, visibly surprised by her indifference, hesitated for a moment before joining her inside. Normally, Evelina would have clung to him, seeking his attention. But today, she simply turned her gaze toward the window, ignoring him entirely.

Seated across from her, Regas studied her with narrowed eyes, confusion flickering across his face. The sister he knew would have thrown a fit by now.

Hope, on the other hand, was trying her best to stay calm. "Ugh, I want to kick him so bad. But patience, patience..." She clenched her fists in her lap, focusing on the scenery outside.

When they arrived at the palace, Hope was momentarily speechless. The sheer grandeur of the place was overwhelming.

The towering pillars, the gleaming chandeliers, the elegantly dressed nobles—it was like stepping into a painting. The people here were breathtakingly beautiful, with poise and charm that belonged to a different world altogether.

As they entered the ballroom, the Greystone family naturally split apart. The Duke and Duchess were already mingling with high-ranking nobles, while Regas strode off to join the Crown Prince and the other royal sons.

Selene, the golden child of the family, was—as expected—the center of attention. Dressed in an exquisite gown, she radiated elegance and confidence. Everywhere she moved, people followed, eager to bask in her presence.

Even the youngest Greystone son, who was barely past his teenage years, was popular among the noble ladies, receiving shy smiles and flirtatious glances.

Hope stood near the entrance, unnoticed. She let out a small, bitter laugh.

"In my past life, I had no family. But Evelina does. A father, a stepmother, an elder brother, younger half-siblings… yet she’s completely alone."

Around her, noble ladies exchanged hushed whispers, throwing side glances in her direction.

"That’s Evelina Greystone… the one who always fights with Selene."

"She must be jealous of her younger sister again."

"No wonder she’s standing there alone. No one wants to associate with her."

Hope sighed but ignored them. She wasn’t about to play into their expectations.

At that moment, the ballroom doors opened, and an air of excitement swept through the crowd. The royal family had arrived.

The Crown Prince Caelum stepped forward, and Hope found herself staring.

His silvery hair shimmered under the grand chandeliers, and his piercing blue eyes held an almost unnatural allure. Every movement he made was graceful yet commanding.

The women around her gasped in admiration.

"The Crown Prince Caelum is truly a sight to behold."

"I wonder who he’ll choose for his first dance?"

"Isn’t it obvious? It’ll be Selene. Who else?"

Hope knew the plot well. This was the moment where Evelina, overcome with jealousy, would attempt to sabotage Selene by tampering with her drink. But this time, Hope wasn’t going to do anything.

"I’ll just stand back and let the story unfold."

The king raised his glass for a toast, and with that, the banquet officially began. As expected, the Crown Prince soon turned toward Selene, extending his hand in invitation.

"Lady Selene, would you do me the honor of the first dance?"

Gasps filled the room, though none were surprised. Selene gracefully accepted, and they moved toward the dance floor.

At this point in the original story, Evelina had thrown a fit, drawing ridicule from the crowd. But today, Hope simply sipped her drink, completely uninterested.

This confused many people—especially the Crown Prince, who had been expecting some sort of scene. A few nobles began whispering again, but this time, their words were laced with curiosity instead of mockery.

Regas, who had been keeping a close eye on Evelina, was also puzzled by her behavior. "She’s acting… strange."

Meanwhile, Hope was growing weary of the stifling atmosphere. She found it difficult to breathe, the weight of the gazes around her pressing down like an invisible force.

Slipping away unnoticed, she wandered out into the palace gardens. The cool night air greeted her, a welcome relief from the suffocating ballroom.

She took a deep breath, gazing up at the vast, star-studded sky. "It’s beautiful," she murmured. "So much more peaceful out here."

For the first time that evening, she felt at ease.

At least, until she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

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