The Monster Princess

Chapter 1

Prologue. The Doomed Monster Princess

I hadn’t seen my half-sister in quite some time, but she was once again headed for disaster.

“What’s all the commotion?” I asked.

“Bella!” Chloe, the second princess, turned to me. Her sleek, wavy blue hair whipped through the air.

Slightly behind her, a line of lady’s maids bowed their heads in my direction.

“We are honored by your presence, First Princess Arbella. May Camulita’s blessing and grace be with you, for the glory of the empire—”

“That’s enough.” I had to cut them off before they could finish their lengthy formal greeting. They were all women from renowned noble families, but I could easily silence them with a word. Although I was only a young lady of fourteen myself, being the first princess of the imperial family commanded such respect.

“I was just about to punish this filthy child for soiling my eyes,” spat Chloe, gloating like a wildcat who had cornered a field mouse.

I turned my eyes toward the small and frail girl standing before her.

Was this some wild twist of fate? How come she’s the first one I run into after waking up from that dream?

The girl curtsied as I met her nervous gaze. She looked as fragile as glass. “I am honored by your presence, Princess Arbella.”

Her jet-black hair ran down the length of her back, while her golden eyes seemed to glow like polished amber. It was probably the first time I had ever seen her up close. She was turning twelve this year, if I wasn’t mistaken.

This girl, the target of Chloe’s contempt and insults, was Judith Camulita. She was also a princess, but she had no middle name as she was of humble origin—the illegitimate child of the viceroy and a slave, to be exact. Somehow, she was born with all the physical traits that represented the imperial family, thus earning the hate of the other princes and princesses. That included Chloe, of course. Even so, it was a bit much to punish Judith simply for being out in the open.

Since she was younger than Chloe, Judith could only bite her lip, unable to complain. She most likely knew how futile it would be.

“I’ve been in a horrible mood since morning,” Chloe snarled. “And this lump of filth just decides to hang around where I can see her? How dare she use the same path as the imperial family? She ought to know her place!”

If I were to act according to my predetermined fate, I would also soon start harassing and picking on Judith. Instead, I peered down at her and said, “She has enough right to walk on the imperial path, doesn’t she? Our father has acknowledged her as our sister.”

“Wh-what? What are you saying, Bella?” Chloe exclaimed, astonished. She couldn’t believe that I seemed to be taking Judith’s side. None of the attendants around us could hide the shock on their faces either.

I flashed her a casual smile, disregarding her emotional confusion.

“I’m actually concerned that you have been in such a bad mood,” I said, changing the topic. “If you have nothing planned today, why don’t we head over to my chamber and enjoy a chat over some tea? I’ve been quite busy, so it has been a while since we spent time together.”

I was quite likable among the imperial family, so no one would refuse such an offer if I extended it. Chloe was no exception.

She fidgeted for a moment before reluctantly accepting. “All right. Today’s tea time shall be at the First Princess’s Palace.” She still had a frosty look in her eyes, but it seemed to have mellowed compared to earlier.

“Marina,” I called to my closest attending maid and motioned to Judith. “Take this girl back to the palace.”

As I turned to leave, I briefly met the girl’s wide, round eyes again. She quickly dropped her head, startled.

I could have been imagining it, but as I walked away, I felt an intense gaze on my back.

In the dream I just had, I saw a book in which Judith was the heroine of this world, while I—Arbella Leon Camulita, her older half-sister—was destined to become her ultimate rival.

To be more specific, I was a villainess. Thinking that she was a threat to my position and status, I would resort to forbidden magic. I would become a twisted monster obsessed with bloodshed and carnage, only to eventually meet a pitiful end. Well, I guess it couldn’t be called pitiful—the Arbella in my dream wasn’t even deserving of pity.

A soft, hollow chuckle escaped my lips. Come on. It’s already hard to believe that such a future is my destiny. And it’s going to be a feeble, pathetic-looking girl who will take everything away from me?

Destiny? More like utter rubbish.