Chapter 1

I was Charlotte Rivers' maid, sent to her future husband's chamber before the wedding to see if he was up to the task.

There were two candidates for Charlotte, both outstanding in their own way.

One was a rugged, fearless general, decisive and tough.

The other was a gentle, courteous scholar.

I covered up all the marks on my body and told Charlotte that the general was the one she could truly rely on for the rest of her life.

But after she married him, happiness was nowhere to be found. She complained that the general was too forceful and crude, lacking any tenderness. He was nothing like the gentle scholar she always dreamed of.

After the general ripped her undergarments yet again, Charlotte felt utterly humiliated and ordered her servants to beat me to death.

After coming back to life, right after testing her two men, Charlotte turned to me and asked which man she should choose.

I didn't even hesitate and told her to pick the scholar.

What she didn't know was that the general was a real man, while the scholar was actually impotent.

*****

"Hazel, tell me between the general and the scholar, who should I really spend the rest of my life with?" Charlotte asked me.

She gripped my shoulders and shook me, her beautiful face flushed a deep red with shyness.

My head throbbed with memories from my past life, and I realized, to my shock, that I'd traveled to the past—right after the bed test.

I was the daughter of a minister, Charlotte Rivers' closest maid, and the one sent to test her future husband's sexual function.

Charlotte was stunning, came from a noble family, and was blessed with a hot figure. Ever since she came of age, suitors had been flocking to our doorstep.

After careful consideration, her father finally settled on two candidates: the gentle scholar and the young general.

According to the customs of our land, before a noble lady married, her maid would be sent to her fiancé's chamber to test his abilities in bed.

If the man turned out to be impotent, the marriage would be called off for the lady's lifelong happiness.

I was an orphan Charlotte had taken in, growing up by her side. I was clever, quick-witted, and utterly devoted to her, so it was only natural that I did the job for her

Pulling myself back from my memories, I hid all the traces left on me and spoke a different name than the last time.

"Honestly, Edward was really gentle and considerate in bed. He'll treat you right and make sure you're happy," I said.

My words made her face flush even deeper.

She gave me a playful smack, her cheeks burning. "Don't be so direct, Hazel. But General Quinn is so fit. He looks like he's got what it takes. Edward, though, is too scrawny. I'm not sure about him."

I saw the doubt in Edward's eyes, and my heart couldn't help but ache.

Just because I was just a maid, even if I poured my heart out to her, she'd still never truly trust me.

I swore I'd live for myself this time around. The moment Charlotte had me beaten to death in my last life, any kindness she'd ever shown me was repaid in full.

Since she didn't want someone as strong and overwhelming as the general, Henry Quinn, I'd help her get her wish and marry the gentle scholar, Edward Goodman, she dreamed of.

"My lady, sometimes those big, burly types are just all bark and no bite," I said.

Charlotte's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she patted her chest, clearly relieved.

"Thank goodness you went ahead and tested him for me. If you hadn't, my whole life would've been a disaster. I'm going straight to Father to break off the engagement with Henry," she said.

As I watched her walk away, a single tear slipped from the corner of my eye.

My lady, you were into the general in your last life too, but in the end, you had me killed just because he was too rough for your taste.

This time, I helped you pick the gentle scholar. I just hope you wouldn't regret it when you realized he was impotent.

Charlotte's wedding to Edward was scheduled for a month from now.

Edward came from humble beginnings, with barely any family wealth or status. Even with all his talent, marrying into the Rivers family was way above his station.

To give Charlotte extra prestige, her mother, Mary, went all out and gave her twice the usual wedding gifts.

Charlotte propped her chin on one hand, gazing out the window at the flowers blooming outside.

"Hazel, Edward is so poor, and his mother isn't exactly decent. If I marry him, will I really be happy?" she asked.

I kept stitching the delicate pattern as I replied.

"Your mother said once you marry him, you'll be the lady of the house. With your status, Edward and his mother will have to put you on a pedestal," I assured her.

Charlotte's face lit up with a smile, clearly pleased by my words.

She said, "You're right. The best thing about marrying down is that I can have them all wrapped around my finger.

"Hazel, since you're my maid, when I get pregnant and can't sleep with him, you have to help me keep his heart. Don't let any scheming woman seduce my husband.

"You're the only one I trust besides my parents. Don't let me down. If you ever betray me, I'll beat you to death myself."

Charlotte put on a fierce face, trying to scare me.

"Don't worry, my lady. It's my duty. I won't let anyone steal your husband away," I replied.

But even as I said it, I was already scheming for a way out in my head.

"Hmph, you wouldn't dare. Your indenture is in my hands. I've got a thousand ways to make you wish you were dead." She threatened.

"I got it," I said, barely daring to look up.

Before I knew it, the wedding day had come. As Charlotte's attendant maid, I never left her side all day.

Inside the bridal chamber, I bowed to Edward and turned to leave.

Edward shot me a conflicted glance, then gestured for me to wait outside.

The sounds of passion soon drifted from the room.

I watched their shadows flicker across the window, silently hoping everything would unfold just as I'd hoped.