Chapter 1
Prince Jasper Hamilton had fallen from his horse, leaving him unable to father children.
My elder sister, Milana Nicholson, tore up her marriage papers on the spot, sobbing, "I won't marry him."
All eyes in the room turned sharply to me, the second daughter of the family.
My mother grabbed my arm. "You will go in her place."
I smiled coldly. "The betrothal papers clearly say it must be the eldest daughter."
My father, Zachary Nicholson, paused, then silently carried the family registry from the study.
In front of all the guests, he used red ink to cross my name into the legitimate line.
He said, "From now on, you are officially my eldest daughter."
I grinned.
Little did they know, the prince had only lost his ability to bear an heir.
But what I wanted was never the child.
*****
The day the King's decree arrived, the Nicholson family was lit up with festive decorations.
Everyone assumed it was for the Crown Princess's official ceremony.
I stood quietly in the corner, watching Milana Nicholson in her bright red wedding dress, her smile so wide her eyes turned into little crescents.
She was at the perfect age for a bride.
And me? I was the most invisible daughter in the whole family.
The servant unfurled the royal decree.
Everyone was on their knees, and so was I.
The servant said, "During the spring hunt, His Highness, Jasper Hamilton, fell from his horse and suffered an injury so severe that he can no longer have children..."
Milana's smile froze on her face.
I kept my eyes down, but inside, I sneered coldly.
The servant went on, "But with the wedding date approaching, the royal family cannot break its word to the world.
"The legitimate daughter of the Nicholson family, Milana, is to enter the palace in three days and be officially named the Crown Princess."
The decree was read to the end.
The entire hall was swallowed by silence.
Milana flung her round fan to the floor with a loud crack.
"I'm not marrying him." she shrieked.
Her voice was sharp and piercing. "I'm not marrying a useless man."
Her mother Hannah's face darkened with anger.
She marched forward and slapped Milana sharply across the face.
"Shut up!" Hannah barked.
Milana clutched her cheek, tears falling in heavy drops.
Milana sobbed, "Mother, I don't want to marry him. He's ruined. He can't have children. What's the point of marrying someone like that?
"I want to be the Queen someday. I want to bear the royal heir. I don't want to marry a useless man."
She sobbed uncontrollably, as if her heart was breaking.
Zachary walked over, his expression grim.
"This is the King's decree. You don't have a choice," he said coldly.
Milana grabbed her father's sleeve.
"Father, I won't marry him. Even if you kill me, I still won't do it." Milana sobbed.
She cried and made a scene, and in the end, she tore the marriage contract apart.
The marriage contract, personally written by Jasper, was shredded right there in her hands.
The whole room went wild with shock.
Zachary's face was thunderous with anger.
Just then, Hannah's gaze snapped to me.
Her eyes lit up with sudden realization.
"Wait, we still have another daughter," she announced.
Every eye in the room swung to me.
I raised my head, my face blank and unreadable.
Hannah marched over and grabbed my hand.
"Vivienne, you're going to marry him for your sister," she said.
Her voice was quiet, but there was a threat in it that brooked no refusal.
I looked at her.
For as long as I could remember, this woman had never once shown me a kind face.
Hannah was Milana's real mother. My own mom was just someone my father met when he was young, outside the family.
After she gave birth to me, her health never really recovered.
When I was seven, she passed away from illness.
From then on, I became the most invisible person in this house.
I ate leftovers and wore hand-me-downs.
During festivals, I wasn't even allowed to sit at the family table.
Now they remember me.
I just curled my lips in a sarcastic smile.
"Hannah, you must be joking. I'm just the illegitimate daughter. How could I possibly be worthy of marrying Jasper?" I said.
Hannah's face darkened.
"You—" Hannah sputtered.
I cut her off, "The marriage contract for the Crown Princess has Milana's name written on it.
"I'm just a lesser daughter. If I take her place, that's lying to the King, and that's a serious crime."
My voice stayed calm.
Hannah was left speechless.
Milana lingered nearby, clearly enjoying my predicament.
"Yeah, she's just an illegitimate daughter. How could she ever marry Jasper?" Milana snickered.
Zachary was silent for a long time.
He glanced at Milana, still crying, then looked at me, standing tall and composed.
Finally, Zachary turned and headed for his study.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
Moments later, Zachary came back, carrying a thick family genealogy book.
He set the book down on the table and opened it.
Then, he picked up a red brush.
In front of the entire crowd, Zachary picked up a brush and, stroke by stroke, moved my name from the "illegitimate daughter" column to the "legitimate daughter" section in the family record book.