Prologue She was never the heroine. She wasn't the main villain either. She was only a side character... a girl whose only purpose in the original story was to be used, abandoned, and forgotten. Born into one of the empire's most prestigious noble families, she spent her entire life chasing something she could never have. Love. No matter how hard she studied, how perfectly she obeyed, or how much she sacrificed for her family's reputation, their eyes were always fixed on her brilliant brother. Still, she never gave up. She believed that if she became useful enough, they would finally call her their daughter with pride. The only warmth she ever received came from a stranger who comforted her when she was a crying child. That single act of kindness stayed with her for ten years, quietly growing into a one-sided love. But he belonged to someone else. In the end, her family betray