Chapter 1

The day Richard returned victorious, the King held a grand banquet at the Ashford Estate.

Charlotte picked up the wooden sword I gave Richard and laughed out loud in front of the crowd. "What kind of trash is this? Does it even deserve to sit next to the King's gifts?"

Richard's second-in-command leaned over and whispered, "Miss Harper carved it... it's her seventh one."

"You call this a sword?"

Charlotte snickered, flicking her wrist.

The wooden sword hit the marble floor with a sharp crack and broke clean in half.

The hall fell silent.

Charlotte sneered, "Still trying to get Richard's attention with these pathetic tricks?"

Everyone turned to look at me.

Richard's hand froze around his wine cup, and a few drops spilled, staining his gold-embroidered sleeve.

He probably remembered what I told him years ago.

Once I said to Richard, "I'll give you a wooden sword every year."

"Unless, someday, I stop making them for you," I added.

Richard raised an eyebrow at her. "And what happens if you don't?"

I kept my head down, carving the wood. "It means I don't want you anymore."

*****

As I slipped out of the Ashford Estate through the side gate, the sounds of music and dancing from the victory celebration still echoed in the air.

Old Tom, the gatekeeper, looked surprised when he saw me. "Miss Harper, leaving so early? The General was asking about you."

"I had too much to drink. My head's killing me," I lied, hurrying into the alley.

I made up an excuse and quickly walked into the alley.

As the night breeze brushed past me, I suddenly noticed my palms were sweaty.

I still remembered how I carved that wooden sword the Lady Charlotte had tossed aside. The night the news of Richard's injury at the border reached the capital, I sat by the window carving till dawn, ending up with three cuts on my fingers.

Thinking about it now, it all feels kind of meaningless.

"Miss, need a ride?" the driver called out.

There was an old carriage waiting at the alley entrance, the driver peering out at me.

"South Gate," I said.

I got in and set my bundle on my lap. Inside were just a few changes of clothes, a handful of coins, and the medical books my father left me.

The driver snapped the reins and started chatting. "The Ashford Estate was really lively tonight. I heard His Majesty is going to marry Lady Charlotte off to General Ashford?"

I didn't say anything.

He went on, "Lady Charlotte is the Queen Mother's favorite granddaughter. General Ashford is really lucky."

'Lucky,' I scoffed.

I lifted the curtain and watched as the lights of the Ashford Estate faded into the distance.

'Suppose he really is lucky,' I mused.

A few days ago, one of the maids quietly told me that Lady Charlotte had people spreading nasty rumors about me.

She claimed I was using dark magic to keep Richard under my spell, that my father was executed for betraying the country, and that I was only staying at the Ashford Estate to seek revenge.

She even ordered someone to slip irritants into my medicine, making me cough for half a month. When Richard asked about it, she brushed it off, saying I was frail and making a fuss.

At the banquet, I saw Lady Charlotte offered Richard a drink, her fingers lightly brushing the back of his hand. He smiled and drank, not avoiding her touch.

Back then, I would've made excuses for him. 'It's a custom. He had to play along.

Or I'd try to comfort myself, He's loyal to His Majesty. Defying His Majesty's command would cost him his head.

But now, I don't want to lie to myself anymore.