Chapter 4

I snatched away her big opportunity. Sure, I saved her life in the process, but she missed out on the glory of saving the prince. This money would be some compensation.

Having lived in the countryside all these years, Caitlin and I grew up together, sharing a deep bond. Today's farewell might be our last.

I held her hand, telling her to take good care of herself, promising to visit if possible, and advising her to avoid the mountains where beasts roamed.

She held my hand back, tearfully agreeing. A breeze blew, and I glimpsed a familiar accessory under her outer garment.

I was about to step closer to get a better look, but the maid keeping an eye on me couldn't wait any longer. She came over and roughly pulled our hands apart, so I had no choice but to let it go.

After saying goodbye to Caitlin, I hopped into the carriage headed for Sliverbrook City, the maid shooting me a look full of disdain as I left.

The carriage jolted and swayed for hours before finally pulling up in front of the Royal Tutor's Estate.

When the coachman called out to stop, I was jolted awake from my sleep. In a flash, I remembered what accessory Caitlin was wearing.

It was the exact token Clive had given me after I saved his life in my previous life.

How the hell did Caitlin end up with it?

Could it be that Clive wasn't dead?

If I had known, I would've stabbed him a few dozen more times when I had the chance.

No way, I needed to go back and see for myself.

But just as I lifted the carriage curtain, a bunch of rough maids grabbed me and yanked me out.

They kept calling me "Lady Erica," but they didn't give a damn about respect. When I struggled, they pinched me so hard I nearly yelped.

I almost forgot. I was already at the Royal Tutor's estate. It seemed I couldn't run for now. I would have to act as the situation allowed and investigate Clive's whereabouts.

The maids shoved me through a side gate and into the Royal Tutor's Estate.

Along the way, I smiled and tried to coax information from them. After all, some events had already changed due to my time travel. I didn't know what I would face upon returning.

But these maids acted like they had taken a vow of silence. No matter what I said, I couldn't get a single word out of them.

I even tried saying I hadn't been back in years and wanted to pay my respects to my father first, but they brushed me off.

"You must be exhausted from the journey, Lady Erica. No need to rush to see him. When he wants to see you, he'll send for you," one of them said.

Before I knew it, I was shoved into the same secluded courtyard I had lived in during my previous life.

The maid who had been watching me left early to report back to my sister, and all that was left was a mute maid to serve me.

In my previous life, by now, news of Prince Edmund's near-death experience would've already spread like wildfire through Sliverbrook City. But this time, not a single whisper had leaked out.

It seemed like a lot of things had already started changing behind the scenes since I had traveled back.

The next morning, before I was even awake, someone kicked my bedroom door open with a heavy thud.

It was none other than my sister, Christina Shaw.

Spotting me still groggy in bed, Christina dragged me out and gripped my chin, maKing me look her straight in the eye.

She sneered. "Well, well, looks like all those years out in the countryside did you good.

"You've grown up looKing prettier than ever. Almost a spitting image of that wretched mother of yours who died so early."

My mother was the daughter of a local schoolmaster. The Royal Tutor was captivated by her beauty and forced her into being his concubine.

But his so-called affection was paper-thin. After only a few years, he tossed her aside and forgot all about her.

The lady of the house despised me, and once my mother passed away, she banished me to some remote estate in the countryside.

The lady of the house always hated me, so naturally, her precious daughter, Christina, did too.

But there was one thing she should never have done. She had no right to drag my dead mother's name through the mud.

When I glared at her, Christina's temper flared. She was about to lash me with her whip, but her maid quickly stepped in to stop her.

"Miss, there's no need to lose your cool over her. If you mess her up too badly, it'll be hard to explain to Prince Edmund. Your important business comes first," the maid said.

At the mention of marriage, Christina finally snapped back to her senses. She perched herself on the high seat, had two rough maids pin me down, and shot me a mocKing smile.