Chapter 2

Edward narrowed his eyes, his expression completely unreadable.

Charlotte, however, couldn't hide her emotions, and panic spilled out of her before she could hold her tongue. "No, I can't—"

Edward squeezed her palm gently and stepped in close to shield her from the surrounding crowd. "Don't be afraid. I'm right here, and no one will ever hurt you again."

Tears welled up in Charlotte's eyes as she nodded weakly.

Their gazes locked, brimming with obvious affection for everyone to witness.

I had watched this exact scene play out countless times in my previous life.

Back then, I had always lied to myself, convincing myself he only cared for her as a sister.

Charlotte and Edward had known each other since childhood.

The Linwood family would never have fallen from grace, and Charlotte would never have ended up in a brothel, if not for a wrongful conviction that ruined everything.

I had told myself Edward's loyalty and kindness toward her was only reasonable.

It made sense to me that he wanted to take her into his family to keep her from further suffering.

I had thought the titles of wife or concubine meant nothing but empty labels. I truly believed a man like him would never fail me.

Yet everything changed when a group of noble young ladies mocked Charlotte for having almost no assets of her own.

Edward went behind my back and gave away most of my personal valuables to her.

Even when I only wanted one simple crystal bracelet that had belonged to my mother, he didn't feel the slightest bit of remorse confronting me about it. "You are a princess with endless wealth and privilege.

"This is nothing but a simple bracelet. Why fixate on such a trivial thing? You should be more generous and graceful."

His words cut deep. But that was only the beginning.

Time and again, he bent every rule in her favor, picking her side over mine without a second thought.

He removed all the lights from my hallway and moved them to Charlotte's room because she feared the dark.

He moved most of my winter firewood stock to her room because she couldn't stand the bitter cold.

Every time, he justified his actions with a self-righteous attitude.

He always claimed she was frail, timid, and traumatized by her harsh upbringing, which made her prone to insecurity.

He expected me to yield to her every time, telling me I already had more than enough as a princess and had no reason to be dissatisfied.

All those small, cruel slights paled in comparison to what came later.

I lifted my hand gently to my flat stomach, still vividly remembering the agonizing pain of the abortion potion he had forced me to take.

My fingers shook uncontrollably at the haunting memory.

Edward's sense of justice had never been genuine. It was nothing but a mask for his selfishness.

I pressed my nails hard into my palms until fresh blood surfaced, forcing back the overwhelming hatred threatening to consume me.

After soothing Charlotte's nerves, Edward turned to me with a calm smile. "We will follow your suggestion. You and Charlotte may draw the lots yourselves. I have full faith that you will keep your word, Your Highness."

Once upon a time, that gentle look from him would have softened my heart completely.

But now, I simply smiled back at him with equal falsity.

He was not the only one who knew how to play tricks. I had already swapped out every single lot in the box beforehand.

Encouraged by Edward's reassuring gaze, Charlotte reached into the box carefully and drew a lot.

The moment she saw what was written on it, her head snapped up to stare at Edward, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

Her legs buckled, and she would have collapsed on the spot if Edward hadn't caught her fast enough.

I watched her coldly, already certain of what she had pulled.

The crowd in front of us craned their necks, waiting eagerly for the result.

I stepped forward and reached my hand into the box naturally.

Just as my fingertips brushed the paper slip inside, a servant burst out from the crowd and stopped directly in front of me.

He cried out in a desperate, hoarse voice, "Your Highness, I can't stay silent any longer. I can no longer assist you in cheating this draw.

"Lord Edward has shown me great kindness. I will never find peace with myself if I continue helping you deceive him."

He bowed repeatedly toward Edward, his cries utterly sincere. "I swear before heaven that I saw Her Highness's people mark the lots earlier. Please uncover the truth, Lord Edward."

Someone in the crowd pointed out that my personal maid was nowhere to be seen. That single comment solidified everyone's suspicion that I had cheated.