Chapter 4
My words exploded in the study like a bolt of lightning.
My brother George stared at me, utterly confused.
He said, "Prince Robin? You mean the prince who's been stockpiling soldiers for years and playing tyrant in his own lands?
"How on earth did Gabriel get mixed up with someone like him?"
But my father's reaction was completely different.
His face went ghostly pale in an instant.
He shot to his feet, staring at me with a look of pure terror.
There was no more surprise in his eyes, only fear.
He asked, "W-where did you hear that?"
His voice was trembling.
It all made sense now.
In my previous life, I never found out the truth, not even on my deathbed.
Turns out my father had sensed the Adolph family's unusual activity long ago.
But without any proof, and with so many worries weighing him down, he just couldn't bring himself to make a move.
In the end, they got the jump on us.
In this life, my job is to give him that nudge he needs.
I said, "A few days ago, I went outside the city to White Horse Temple to prey and make offerings.
"I happened to see one of Gabriel's trusted men having a secret conversation with someone who had a Northvale accent.
"I didn't think much of it at the time, but after what happened today, it just feels... off."
My excuse was a half-truth, part real, part cleverly fabricated.
It was enough to cover my tracks, but wouldn't expose me.
Cold sweat was already forming on my father's forehead.
He realized I might really be onto something.
With all the hidden currents in the court, my father, as chief advisor, had always been walking on thin ice.
Robin, with his army of three hundred thousand stationed in Northvale, was the biggest thorn in the emperor's side.
Gabriel was a rising star in the capital, overseeing the security of the entire capital region.
If those two ever joined forces...
The consequences would be unimaginable.
My father paced back and forth in the study, his expression changing constantly.
He looked at me, his gaze layered with emotions.
He said, "Shirley, no one else can know about this, just the three of us."
"I understand," I replied.
He continued, "Your brother's right. The Adolph family humiliated you, and we can't let them go unpunished.
"But now isn't the right moment."
He finally made up his mind.
He said, "I'm heading to the palace right now."
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a resolve I'd never seen before.
He said, "Shirley, don't worry.
"Even if it costs me my life, I swear I'll never let you suffer another ounce of injustice."
My heart warmed, and my eyes grew misty.
That was my father.
For his children, he would do anything.
In my previous life, I was too foolish to see people's true colors, and ended up bringing ruin upon him and the whole Bernard family.
This time, it was my turn to protect them.
My father hurried out.
Only George and I remained in the study.
George came over and gently patted my head.
He said, "Shirley, you seem... more grown up now."
I smiled at him.
I said, "George, from now on, the sky over our family will never fall."
It wouldn't anymore.
Because I'd be the one holding it up for us.
After my father headed to the palace, the whole mansion was on edge.
My mother was restless, sending servants over again and again to ask for news.
I managed to reassure Mom and the servants every time they came asking.
I went back to my courtyard and changed out of that torn wedding dress.
Facing the mirror, I caught sight of the whip mark on my forehead.
It was swollen and stinging.
But compared to the pain of watching my whole family get slaughtered in my previous life, this was nothing.
I took out some ointment and gently applied it to the wound.
My gaze grew colder, icy with resolve.
Everyone who had a hand in that bloody feast, including Gabriel, Grace, and Robin were not getting away.
In this life, I'd make them pay, blood for blood.
Time ticked by.
By evening, my father finally returned.
His face was calm, giving nothing away.
He came back with just one thing to say.
"His Majesty said, 'I know.'"
There was not a word of comfort, not a hint of blame.
Those three words were loaded.
The emperor was suspicious too, just keeping an eye on things, waiting to see how it all played out.
He allowed the Bernard family to break off the engagement, but also handed the Adolph family a diplomatic snub, neither soft nor hard, just enough to keep them in check.
The Bernard family was safe for now.
But things were never that simple.
The Adolph family had lost a huge amount of face. There was no way they'd let it slide; they'd definitely try to reclaim their honor.
And sure enough, that was exactly what happened.
Early the next morning, the butler rushed in with urgent news.
He said, "Sir, Miss, something's wrong!
"The madam of the Adolph family has arrived with a squad of guards, and they're blocking our front gate.
"She's calling for you by name, demanding you come out and give her an explanation."
Here it came.
Gabriel's mother, Karen Adolph, born to nobility, was a force to be reckoned with, leagues above Grace when it came to scheming.
In my previous life, I lost count of how many times she made me suffer.
Her favorite tactic was always claiming the moral high ground, using tradition and family duty to keep me in check.