Chapter 1

The Queen Dowager suddenly fell gravely ill while praying.

The king issued an order to choose a noblewoman to attend her illness at Fivefold Peak.

My cousin, Nancy Barrow was chosen.

My mother cried endlessly and begged me to go in Nancy's place. She said, "Your cousin lost her parents young and is frail. If she went, she might never come back.

"You trained in fighting skills with your father since childhood. You are healthy and strong. Why not go in her place?"

I couldn't bear my mother's endless tears and agreed. I went to Fivefold Peak for three years.

When the Queen Dowager finally recovered and returned to the capital, I rushed home, only to find my mother holding an engagement ceremony for her daughter.

But I was still at Fivefold Peak. Who exactly was my mother marrying off?

*****

My mother led out my cousin Nancy Barrow, who was dressed in a gorgeous silk gown. She looked at Nancy, who was looking bashful, and smiled as she spoke to the noble ladies.

Mom said, "It's only when one become a mother that one truly understands how hard it is to raise a daughter.

"Nancy has always been frail, and it hasn't been easy for her to grow up. Now that she's about to get married, I can't help but worry about her."

The noble ladies joked, "Marchioness of Kinville, you really know how to raise a daughter. She's so beautiful.

"Vangard General is one lucky man. He's finally getting the beauty he's always wanted. This marriage was set up since they were kids, and now it's all coming together."

The matchmaker came up and said, "Miss Dennison, please accept the betrothal gifts."

The staff from the general's estate opened the gift boxes one by one. The most eye-catching was a emerald pendant gifted by the king himself.

Everyone gasped, "Vangard General really went all out. This is a gift from the king."

"Miss Dennison sure has some clout."

"I heard the general won this reward thanks to his victories on the battlefield."

"The king holds both the marquis' estate and the general's estate in high regard. They're pillars of the court, so it's only natural he'd honor them like this."

Nancy, blushing slightly, stepped forward and reached out to accept the emerald pendant.

"Hold on!" I shouted.

I lunged forward, snatching the emerald pendant from Nancy's hand. "This is the pair of emerald pendant personally gifted by His Majesty to seal the marriage alliance between the Sherwood family and the Dennison family.

"How dare you accept it? Who do you think you are?"

Nancy was caught off guard by my sudden move, startled and blurted out, "Shannon, why are you back?"

Then she turned to the Marchioness of Kinville, her eyes welling up with tears. "Mother."

My mother hurried over, grabbing my wrist tightly. "Shannon, when did you get back? Why didn't you tell us? We could've sent someone to bring you home.

"Just look at you. You look like you've been through so much. Come inside and change your clothes. Today's your sister's big day, so please don't cause any trouble."

I stood firm, gripping the emerald pendant. "Is this really her big day? Who exactly is she promised to?"

My mother's expression grew tense. "We'll discuss this in detail another time. Go to the back and rest for now. It's chaos here right now."

Nancy's face turned ghostly pale amid the chaos, and she suddenly barked, "Who dares make a scene in the marquis' estate? Someone, grab her and take the emerald pendant back.

"That's an royal gift. If anything happens to it, I'll make sure you're all held accountable."

Her maids rushed forward, trying to snatch the emerald pendant from my grasp.

I stepped back. "How dare you touch me?"

I glared at Nancy. "You really think you can boss people around and have them come after me? Who the hell do you think you are? What makes you think you have the right to order anyone to touch me?"

My mother grabbed my wrist again. "Don't cause trouble. Do you have to spoil the day for everyone? Today's supposed to be your sister's betrothal."

Snorting coldly, I shot back, "Sister? Mother, since when did I have a sister? Everyone knows there's only one legitimate daughter in this house. Me, Shannon Dennison. Is she the 'sister' you mean?" I pointed straight at Nancy.

My mother snapped, "Enough of that nonsense."

Nancy stepped up and whispered, "Shannon, nobody in the capital knows who you are anymore. You should learn to keep your head down, or you'll end up making a fool of yourself and dragging the marquis' estate down with you."

With a slap, I struck Nancy across the face and yelled, "You're taking shelter in my home. How dare you act so arrogant in front of the true daughter of the marquis' estate?"

Nancy's face turned deathly pale as she staggered back. "Shannon, I know you suffered a lot while caring for the Queen Dowager at Fivefold Peak, but Mother promised she'd find you a good marriage prospect when you returned. Why do you have to act like this?"

My mother immediately hugged Nancy protectively. "My precious Nancy." Then she shot me a cold glare. "How dare you hurt her? Who taught you to behave so rudely?

"Today is your sister's big day, so I'll let this slide for now. Someone, bring her in the back courtyard. She's grounded. I'll deal with her after the betrothal ceremony is over."