When Mercy Turned To Ruin

Synopsis

Lydia Finch, the maid I had rescued from a brothel, later stole my identity and fell in love with Edward Sterling, the prince, who had been stripped of his title and placed under house arrest at an estate next to mine. After Edward was pardoned, he came to my family manor to formally ask for my hand in marriage. I agreed. Lydia, utterly despairing, threw herself into the river and died. Ten years later, with the full backing of my father and brothers, Edward ascended the throne. But the first thing he did after his coronation was to fabricate charges of treason against my family and have us all wiped out. "This is what you owed Lydia," he said. "You schemed to kill her just so you could marry me. This is the punishment you and your entire family deserved." The punishment I deserved? But what had I ever done wrong? When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the very day he had come to my family estate to propose.