Chapter 1

At the lotus party, Leona Sutton, the daughter of Damon's concubine, fell into the water.

My brother, Simon Chapman, pulled her out, but she slandered him, claimed he'd harassed her in the water, and demanded to marry him.

She threatened to make a scene in front of the king and queen and have the king punish Simon.

Because Simon was about to inherit the Marquis of Nordgarde title, I was worried that a scandal would ruin his career, so I made him marry Leona.

Seven months later, Leona gave birth to twins.

Simon swallowed his pride and raised her two sons. He fought hard on the battlefield and came back disabled.

But Leona and her two sons poisoned him; he bled from every orifice and died a gruesome death.

I tried to report it to the authorities, but my husband, Robert Hayes, strangled me with a belt and killed me.

"If you report this, Leona and my two sons will have to pay with their lives, won't they?" said Robert.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the lotus party.

Seeing Leona fall into the water, I grabbed Simon.

Then I turned to the pockmarked coachman waiting nearby and asked, "Tommy, do you want a wife?"

*****

"Sarah, someone just fell into the water. We need to help her," Simon blurted out.

I stared at his bulk, but everything I could think of was how he ended up with broken legs and how he was poisoned, dying on a bed soaked in human excreta. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"No, you're not going," I snapped and yanked Simon back.

Given this second chance, there was no way I'd let him walk into his own death again.

"Sarah, why are you crying all of a sudden?" Simon asked.

I cried because I was overjoyed.

I quickly wiped away my tears and managed a shaky smile. "I'm fine. It's just the wind."

Simon looked worried, unable to take his eyes off the girl struggling in the lake.

"Sarah, let me go. I must save her," he said.

"I said no," I snapped.

Simon stared at me like I'd lost my mind.

"Sarah, are you crazy? Someone's life is on the line," he shouted.

Everyone in our family had always been the kind of person who loved to help others.

It didn't matter if it was a person or a stray animal in the water. We'd always try to help.

"Sure, someone should help, but it won't be you," I said.

I turned to the burly guy next to me and asked, "Tommy, do you want a wife?"

Tommy Clark was our coachman. He was big and burly. His face was covered in pockmarks, and his teeth were yellow. He always slacked off and loved gambling and visiting brothels.

If he were just a regular servant, he would've been fired long ago.

But Tommy was lucky. His father was loyal and brave.

Years ago, his father, Samuel Clark, also a coachman, carried my father's body, Marquis of Nordgarde, out of a heap of corpses on the battlefield.

Because of that debt, as long as the Chapman family stands, we'll always look after the Clarks.

So even though Tommy was just a coachman, he was treated differently in the Chapman family.

Even Simon and I, his employers, had to show him respect, and we wouldn't order him around unless we really had to.

Today, the other two coachmen were sick, so Tommy was the one taking us to the lotus party.

Tommy blinked, scratched his greasy hair, gave a sly grin, and flashed his yellow teeth.

"Of course I do, my lady," he said.

I pulled him aside and said, "Tommy, I'm giving you a golden opportunity today. Go fish that girl out of the lake.

"But after you pull her out, make sure nobody sees you. Duck into the reeds and stay hidden till I give you the signal.

"If you follow my instructions, I guarantee you'll get yourself a noble lady for a wife, all for free. And I'll give you some funds and make sure your wedding is grand."

Tommy's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "My lady, I'll do exactly as you say," he said.

"Go on, save her," I urged.

*****

Tommy jumped into the lake with a splash.

By the time he reached her, Leona had already swallowed several mouthfuls of water, and she was a little dizzy.

Just as Tommy hauled her out, he heard footsteps pounding toward us.

"Everyone, hurry. Leona fell into the water," someone shouted.

I quickly told Tommy, "Go hide in the reeds. When I call you out, you're gonna have a wife."

"Yes, my lady," he replied.

Tommy bent low and slipped into the thick reeds by the shore.

Leona's maid showed up, dragging a whole crowd behind her.

At the front was my fiancé, Robert Hayes, the eldest son of the king's mentor, Kane.

He glanced at Leona, who was sprawled on the ground, drenched and out cold. And then, he looked over at Simon and me.

"Simon, you were the one who pulled her out, weren't you?" Robert asked.