Chapter 2
I settled into the Regent's Manor.
The place was so heavily guarded that not even a fly could get in, let alone Paul's spies.
But I had my finger on the pulse of everything happening outside.
Early the next morning, my shadow guard came to report.
Paul had ordered all my clothes, jewelry, and even my worn-out comb from the General's residence to be tossed out onto the street.
He stood in front of all the servants, pointing at the pile with a cold sneer.
"Give all this junk to the beggars," he said.
"Since Belinda was bold enough to walk out, let her freeze and starve out there this winter."
Not only that, but he had people spreading rumors throughout Woodshire.
Word was, I'd been cast out for being overly jealous and was now wandering the streets—anyone who spotted me could mock me as they pleased.
He even went so far as to declare, "If Belinda is willing to beg to him in public, maybe I'd be generous enough to let her in as a lowly concubine."
I was sitting in the cozy lounge, sipping my wine, when I heard all this.
The cup in my hand remained perfectly still, not a single ripple disturbing the surface.
"He's really nothing special." I took a slow sip of my wine, a mocking smile tugging at my lips.
He was pushing me, trying to back me into a corner.
He thought I was homeless, convinced that without him, I'd just sit around waiting to die.
But what he didn't know was that if there was one thing I never lacked, it was a way out.
By evening, Paul's schemes had gotten even crazier.
While Vanessa was shopping for jewelry in town, the shopkeeper "accidentally" spilled wine all over her.
That shopkeeper was one of Will's people, so naturally, it was all on purpose.
Vanessa ran back to Paul with tears streaming down her face, looking like the picture of misery, and complained that someone was targeting her.
Paul didn't even think twice—he pinned the whole thing on me.
A letter dripping with humiliation was delivered to a hideout I'd purposely let him discover.
The handwriting was scrawled in furious strokes, radiating the same ruthless energy he had on the battlefield.
[Belinda, you poisonous witch! Still causing trouble after leaving? And you think you can mess with Vanessa?
[I'm warning you—show yourself and apologize to Vanessa!
[Don't think I don't know where you are, and don't expect your no-name, penniless family to bail you out. With a flick of my hand, your whole family will vanish from Woodshire without a trace.]
Looking at the letter, I couldn't help but laugh out loud, until my eyes watered.
My no-name penniless family?
Back then, I told him my father was just a down-on-his-luck merchant so he wouldn't feel burdened.
He actually believed it. For three years, he never once mentioned visiting my parents, and never sent a single gift.
And now he actually thinks he can use his military power to threaten the Prime Minister himself?
"Ms. Parham, should I take care of this?" the shadow guard asked quietly.
I held the letter to the candle flame, watching it slowly crumble into ash.
The firelight reflected in my eyes, flickering with a chilling intent.
"That won't be necessary," I replied.
"Let him stir things up.
"The more chaos he causes, the more disgraceful his death will be."
I rose to my feet and walked over to the window.
Outside, snow kept pouring down, shrouding all of Woodshire in a bleak, ghostly white.
The royal party in three days is the perfect showtime.
Paul, you want to see me beg for mercy on my knees? Well, let's see who'll be the one kneeling in the end.