Chapter 3

"Finally, Your Highness, you've come around," Grace said, her voice trembling with relief.

Watching the princess she had cared for since childhood end up like this, Grace's heart broke, and her eyes turned red with tears.

Grace said, "His Majesty said the Duke of Northgate wasn't right for you. If you hadn't insisted, you wouldn't suffered. But thankfully, you realized in time. Back in the capital, His Majesty will choose a good husband for you. With his backing, you'll never suffer."

Grace's words made my already swollen eyes brim with tears once more.

In my previous life, before I came to Northmoor, my father had tried to persuade me otherwise.

But I refused to listen. I even begged at the palace gates, and then spent my whole life in Northmoor, letting it slip away.

I never saw my father again, not even once, before my death.

My hands curled into fists as I forced a smile.

"I was foolish before, making him worry about me. I promise I won't let that happen again," I said.

From now on, I won't hold on to Edward anymore.

I didn't even dare to, not anymore.

*****

After leaving the shop, I took the carriage back to the military camp.

My name was officially on the roster here, so there was no way I could just follow Grace back to the capital without handling things first.

Even if I were to leave Northmoor, I had to wrap up everything I was responsible for and make sure all the wounded were properly taken care of.

Besides, there was a critical issue at the frontier that I needed to report to my father.

The only person I could trust was Grace, so I quickly penned a letter and had her deliver it to the capital immediately.

I just had to wait a little longer.

Just waiting for the one who truly loved me to come and bring me home.

Just thinking about leaving soon made me feel a little lighter, and for the first time in ages, I managed a faint smile.

But as I lifted the tent flap and stepped inside, I ended up face-to-face with Edward sitting there.

Edward was sitting there, his robe loose, exposing a scar across his abdomen. As my eyes traveled upward, I saw those scars I knew all too well.

After being tormented by Edward countless times in my previous life, I knew exactly what those marks were.

My smile froze, and I quickly looked away. I asked, "Why are you in my tent?"

Edward narrowed his eyes, studying my face, his gaze lingering on my red, swollen eyes.

He let out a cold snort and said, "Caroline, as my military doctor, isn't it perfectly normal for me to come to you for treatment when I'm hurt?"

I frowned at his words.

Since I was Edward's military doctor, treating his wounds was nothing new.

Normally, he would call me over to the command tent; he rarely ever came to mine.

Still, I didn't ask anything. I just quietly took out my medical kit and went over to tend to his wounds.

Edward had been slashed across the waist by a spy, the flesh a bloody mess. After he pushed himself too hard last night, the injury looked even more savage. When I peeled off the blood-soaked bandages, it was a gruesome sight.

Back when I first set foot in the camp, my hands would've trembled and tears would've streamed down my face at a sight like this.

But now, there wasn't a hint of fear left in me.

As I applied the medicine to his wound, Edward said coldly, "You must've heard about what happened last night. I've already made it known. I'll be marrying Isabelle soon. Since you're still in the army, don't bring up that nonsense from before."

I lowered my gaze and said quietly, "I understand, Uncle Edward."

The moment the words Uncle Edward left my lips, Edward felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

He lowered his eyes, giving me a long, searching look.

He honestly couldn't remember the last time anyone had called him that.

All he could recall was back in the capital, when I used to love spending time at Northgate Manor, always calling him Uuncle Edward in that sweet voice of mine.

But later, once my feelings changed, I started calling him by different names, never Uncle Edward again.

He frowned, about to speak, when the tent flap suddenly lifted, breaking the awkward silence between us.

"Edward, my luggage is here. Did you tell Caroline?" Isabelle asked.

Edward snapped back to reality, quickly moved me aside, got up, and went over to Isabelle. He said, "Didn't I tell you to rest? I was going to have someone move your things for you."

His voice was gentle as he spoke to Isabelle, but as he turned to me, still on the ground after he shoved me aside, his voice went cold.

He said, "Your tent is closest to the command tent. From now on, Isabelle will stay here. Pack up your things and move to the medical tent."

Isabelle leaned into Edward's arms, her voice soft and hesitant. She said, "Edward, is this really okay? Caroline has been here for almost three years... Maybe I should just stay in my old tent instead."

As Isabelle was about to leave, Edward caught her by the waist.

"From now on, you're going to be the Duchess of Northgate. You can stay wherever you like. If we were already married, I'd have you move straight into the command tent," Edward said, his tone gentle for Isabelle.

Once he finished comforting Isabelle, he finally threw me a cold, indifferent look.

"As for you, Caroline, you'd better get used to knowing your place," he said, his voice icy.

It finally dawned on me. Edward had shown up here just to remind me that there would never be a place for me in his heart.

He just wanted me gone, so his sweetheart could stay close to him.

I bit back the bitterness, stood up, and brushed off my clothes. I said, "I'll pack up and move out right now."

Soon enough, I would be gone, back to the capital, back to my father's side.

I was leaving Northmoor for good. I was never coming back.