Chapter 2

Adriana stroked the fabric of her dress, sighing almost absentmindedly.

She said, "Ugh, the borderlands are freezing, and the wind and sand never stop. How will your delicate skin handle that, Charlotte?

"I've heard General Hurst is vicious and looks downright terrifying. Charlotte, it's not too late to change your mind. I'll go talk to Prince Isaac for you…"

I was busy counting the dowry my mother left me, and didn't even look up at her words.

"No need. I'll see for myself what kind of man my husband is," I replied.

She added, "But you, Adriana, since Prince Isaac is so fond of you, I bet your days in the Royal Palace will be pretty comfortable."

Adriana was stunned for a moment, her face turning sour.

Just then, there was a commotion outside, and a maid burst in, clearly in a panic.

"Lady Adriana! Something terrible has happened. One of the Blue Sea Pearl earrings the Queen gave you is missing!" the maid cried out.

Adriana's expression changed in an instant, her face draining of color.

The pair of earrings was the Queen's favorite keepsake, a gift for her wedding. They were incredibly precious.

She snapped her head toward me, her eyes flashing with venom.

"It was you! You must have taken it!" Adriana snapped.

I frowned. "Why would I take your things?"

"You're just jealous of me!" Adriana screamed, her usual delicate act nowhere to be seen.

She cried out, "You're jealous that Prince Isaac loves me. Jealous that I get to marry him! That's why you stole it to embarrass me in front of the Queen!"

Just then, Isaac stormed in with his guards.

He didn't even look my way, going straight to Adriana and speaking to her in a gentle, reassuring voice, "Adriana, don't be afraid. I'm here."

Then he locked his icy gaze on me. "Charlotte, hand it over."

"I didn't take it," I replied calmly.

"Still trying to play innocent?" Isaac roared. "Search every inch of Lady Charlotte's courtyard. Tear the place apart if you have to! I want that earring found!"

"Your Highness!" My father rushed in, putting himself between Isaac and me.

He explained, "I know my daughter's character better than anyone. Charlotte would never stoop to theft! I beg you, Your Highness, see the truth for yourself!"

"See the truth?" Isaac scoffed. "Lord Garrison, I respect you, but your daughter is scheming and malicious.

"She's already humiliated me in front of everyone, and now she's stolen an imperial gift. Are you still going to cover for her?

"Who else in the Garrison estate would have both the nerve and the motive to pull something like this?"

His words cut deep, nailing me to the pillar of disgrace for everyone to see.

Isaac's men tore through my place, searching every drawer and chest, leaving the whole place looking like a disaster zone.

Just as expected, they came up empty-handed.

But Isaac wasn't done yet. He had no intention of letting this go.

"Charlotte, you're quite the schemer, aren't you?" Isaac loomed over me, gripping my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze.

He fumed. "I know you hate me, and you hate Adriana, too.

"If you refuse to hand it over, so be it."

A flash of cruel satisfaction flickered in his eyes. "I can't defy the imperial decree and call off your wedding, but I have plenty of ways to make you suffer."

"Guards!" Isaac barked. "Lady Charlotte can't keep her hands clean. Her dowry will be seized and given to Lady Adriana as compensation!"

"Your Highness, please, no!" my father cried out, his face pale with shock.

He begged, "That dowry is the only thing my late wife left for Charlotte as a keepsake."

"A keepsake?" Isaac sneered. "Someone like her isn't worthy of keepsakes."

Adriana stood off to the side, putting on a show of tears.

"Your Highness, please don't. Charlotte's already going to have a tough time out at the borderlands. If she loses her dowry, how's she supposed to get by?" Adriana pleaded.

The more she begged, the more Isaac doted on her, and the more he hated me.

"Adriana, you're just too kind," Isaac said, gently stroking her hair. "A woman like her doesn't deserve your sympathy.

"Haul away every last bit of her."

The guards swarmed in like a pack of wolves, hauling away every single one of the dowry chests that had been carefully prepared for me.

Each chest was still decorated with wedding symbols, but then they looked like bloody wounds, mocking me.

I stood there, watching as the last bit of dignity my mother left me was openly plundered. It felt like my blood had turned to ice.

I didn't cry or make a scene.

I just stood there, quietly watching Isaac, his face twisted with smug satisfaction as he got what he wanted.

He was clearly savoring my silence, mistaking it for despair and surrender.

"Charlotte, this is only the beginning." He leaned in, murmuring in a voice meant for my ears alone.

He warned, "I'll make sure you regret ever messing with me. This is the dumbest move you've ever made.

"You and that King of Hell, just wait, and you'll both rot in hell together."

He marched out of the Garrison estate with my dowry in tow and Adriana's crocodile tears on full display, his whole entourage making a grand show of it.

My father was shaking with rage, and before anyone could react, he collapsed on the spot.

The whole Garrison estate was thrown into chaos.