'Your mission,' the System informed, 'is to prevent the transmigrator from altering the original course of events and ensure that the crown prince and Theodora achieve their happily ending.'

'I couldn't even make my own love story work in my previous life, but sure, let's add 'making the prince fall for someone else' to my list of talents,' I scoffed.

'Well, they fell in love with each other in the original novel, so it won't be that difficult,' the System replied nonchalantly.

'Right.'

'Anyway,' the System continued, 'You have been equipped with a beginner's tool kit to aid you in this mission. However, in the upcoming missions, you'll have the option to exchange your points for more advanced tools.'

I raised an eyebrow. 'So, let me get this straight. I earn points after completing each mission, and once I accumulate 7000 points, I can return to my world, to the timeline of my choice, and reunite with my family?'

'Yes.'

'And you expect me to exchange these precious points for mere tools?' I questioned.

'Agent, it is entirely up to your discretion. You decide whether the benefits of the tools outweigh the value of your accumulated points.'

For a brief moment, anger swelled within me. From the System's tone, it was evident that I'd have no choice but to use up my points for tools in the future. I swiftly calmed myself, reminding myself of the saying 'Cross the bridge when you come to it'.

'Alright, tell me about these tools.'

'The first tool is the Disguise Draper,' the System began. 'It helps you change your appearance, specifically your hair and eye color.'

'Useful, but not foolproof,' I muttered. Someone familiar with my face might still be able to recognize me. 'Go on. What's next?'

'Moving on, you have both the original and altered versions of the entire book at your disposal,' the System continued, 'you can access them whenever you need.'

Now, this was excellent news. With these, I wouldn't miss out on any crucial details.

'Lastly,' the System concluded, 'you have an advantage rather than a tool. You arrived in this world a year before the transmigrator took possession of Rosalind's body.'

This was perhaps my greatest trump card of all. This advantage would give me ample time to prepare a warm welcome for the nameless transmigrator.

I spent the next hour reading the original work, 'The Lost Heir's Triumph' on the blue window screen. The pages unfolded automatically before me. The System seemed to understand my preferences, as the book seamlessly adjusted to my reading pace.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted my reading. It was Brenda, the maid.

"Miss, it's time for breakfast. The Lord and the Lady are waiting for you," she informed me.

I rose from my seat and followed Brenda to the dining room, where I would finally meet my host's parents. I deliberately refrained from accessing her memories. I wanted to form my own impressions and see what kind of parents they were.

To say that I was sorely disappointed would be an understatement.

Deep down, perhaps I had hoped to find even a glimpse of my own parents in them. But they were nothing like the parents of my previous life, not in the slightest.

Earl Enrique Ashbourne, a man in his fifties, had a stern countenance that seemed even more pronounced behind his monocle. He didn't spare me a glance as I entered the dining room. It was a stark contrast to my real father, whose eyes would light up the moment they laid upon me and my brother, as if we were the remedy to a weary day of work.

Countess Harriet Ashbourne, on the other hand, was a picture of beauty, elegance, and grace in her early forties. She appeared nothing like my perpetually exhausted mother. But more than anything, I despised her artificial, professional smile. I was all too familiar with that smile. It was the same smile I used to wear at work when dealing with unpleasant people. A stark contrast to my honest mother, who would always speak her mind.

As I took my seat, the Countess interjected, "Darling, remember to say a prayer before you start eating."

Pray to whom? Just who was the god of this world? The Grand Librarian? I couldn't help but scoff at the idea. I had no desire to offer my words to an entity that took advantage of people in their moments of vulnerability.

"Don't waste your breath on her," the Earl chimed in, not lifting his eyes from his plate. "She never bothers anyway."

So, my host had never prayed either? I delved into her memories and was surprised to find that she had always followed the customary practice of saying a prayer before meals. Then why did the Count claim that she never prayed?

The incident from this morning flashed in my mind. How Brett and Brenda, the maids who had served me for a year, failed to notice the stark change in 'Maxine,' yet immediately picked up on the irregularity in my makeup.

'System,' I called out in my thoughts. 'What's going on? What they're saying is different from the memories of my host.'

'Their memories have been altered,' the System responded. 'It was done to ensure that nobody discovers your possession of this body and to avoid any further complications.'

I was sure that there was more to it.

'If this alteration clearly benefits me, why didn't you mention it earlier when explaining the tools and advantages?' I questioned.

'It is irrelevant to the story,' the System explained. 'Remember, you have taken on the role of a background character who was mentioned only once in the original narrative. I was also concerned about how you would react to the news.'

The System was right. It seemed as if the existence of 'Maxine' had been wiped from this world and replaced by me. I felt sick in the stomach. What I did to her was no different from killing her. Worse, she was forgotten by every single person who knew her. However, I was sure that the traces left behind by the original Maxine couldn't be easily erased. If someone were to dig deeper, they would easily uncover the inconsistencies.

The Earl soon interrupted my thoughts and spoke, bringing my attention back to the present.

"The eldest son of Marquis Harrington is of marriageable age. The Marquis expressed his desire for you to meet him," he informed me.

Oh, great. It seemed like the first thing my new parents wanted from me was to arrange a marriage.

"I don't want to get married now. I want to focus on my studies," I replied calmly.

"And what good will studying ever do for you?" the earl questioned.

"I want to become a tutor," I explained. "I want to earn something for myself before entering into marriage."

If my host's memories were accurate, women in this world didn't have many job opportunities. Being a tutor seemed to be one of the rare options available.

"If that's what you desire, then suit yourself," the earl conceded. For the first time that day, his stern expression softened, and he looked at me directly.

"Thank you, my lord," I replied.

After finishing my meal, I made a beeline for the library, a place the original Maxine rarely frequented. I had given my word to the Earl, and I intended to follow through on it. My priority was to familiarize myself with this world and gain a broad understanding of how the country functioned. While my host had studied, her focus had been limited to history, embroidery, etiquette, and dancing. However, I wanted to gain a general understanding of all subjects, ranging from medicine to astronomy.

For the next three months, I immersed myself in intensive studying. I spent the majority of my time in the library, surviving on minimal sleep and meager meals. There was another reason behind this self-imposed torture.

Of course, my studying journey was not without its fair share of challenges. I soon discovered that I couldn't effortlessly embroider or dance, and my etiquette skills were lacking in several areas. I wasn't much of a dancer or embroiderer in my previous life, either. Despite vividly recalling how my host performed these tasks, I couldn't replicate them myself. It became apparent that I lacked the muscle memory.

Nevertheless, I refused to let this deter me. After all, these were essential qualities expected of every noble lady. I subjected myself to rigourous training and practice, determined to learn them from scratch. Just as in my previous life, studying proved to be my forte in this one too.

And the results were not disappointing.