By the time Alistair rose from his knees after receiving the King's decree , his face was ashen . He grabbed my arm , his grip like iron , his voice a hoarse whisper . " You went to the King ... you sought a royal decree just to leave me ? " I wrenched my arm from his grasp , disgusted by his touch . " Surely the great Duke Alistair wouldn't defy a direct order from the King just to keep his hands on my dowry ? " Rosalie was frantic . She had promised Leo a dowry of unimaginable wealth . She tugged at my sleeve , her tone shifting from outrage to a clu- msy attempt at bargaining . " Alright , you win ! This was all just to make my brother and me call you ' Mother , ' wasn't it ? Fine . If you go back to the palace and have them retr- act the decree , we can ... we can make you happy . For old times ' sake . " " Don't bother , " I said , pulling my arm away . " The sound of it would sicken me . " Without another word , I walked out of the house that had been my prison for over a decade . I purchased a modest but elegant townhouse in the city . My days were suddenly my own , filled with the quiet , peaceful task of reviewing the ledgers from my various properties . I had forgotten what tranquility felt like . A few days later , my head servant brought a young , disheveled girl to my study . " My Lady , we've found the child you asked us to look for . " I closed my book and studied her . She was smudged with dirt , but her eyes were as bright and dark as obsidian . In my past life , after I was thrown into the cellar , this was the only person who had tried to save me . She had risked her life to sneak in , bringing me a stale bread roll and a small bowl of salted meat . I had devoured it like a starving animal . Before I could even ask her name , Rosalie had found her . She was dragged out and beaten to death . After my rebirth , I sent people to find her . I learned that years ago , she had been trying to sell herself to pay for her mother's burial when I pass- ed by and gave her five silver coins . Now , seeing me , she dropped to her knees and touched her forehead to the floor . " Thank you for your kindness , My Lady . Anne will repay your grace with her life . " The irony was laughable . The children I had poured my entire existence into raising had murdered me , while a simple act of charity , a passing kindness , had earned me this child's undying loyalty . My heart softened . " Would you be willing to become my daughter ? " I asked gently . " I must warn you , my standards are very high . But if you can meet them , I will adopt you as my own . " Anne's eyes widened , shining with a fierce , hopeful light . " I would ! " she cried . " I will do anything ! " I gave her everything I had once tried to give Rosalie . The lessons Rosalie had refused , Anne studied late into the night . The business acumen Rosalie had scorned , Anne embraced , running across the city in the hot sun to check on my shops for me . I grew more pleased with her every single day . Meanwhile , Rosalie got her wish and married Leo . I didn't hear of her again for several months . The news , when it came , was grim . Apparently , once Alistair and Liana calmed down , they were deeply unhappy with the match , but Rosalie had thrown tantrums , cried , and even threatened to take her own life . In a fit of rage , Alistair had washed his hands of her completely . Liana , with no fortune of her own , could only give her two paltry chests for a dowry . Leo , who had been expecting a mountain of gold and the prestige of marrying a Duke's daughter , was furious when he learned the truth . The rumors that Rosalie was the illegitimate child of a songstress had also spread through the capital like wildfire . Feeling cheated , his gentle facade vanished . The very next day , Rosalie was seen with a bruise on her cheek and swollen eyes . The once - proud 08:24 Chapter 2 daughter of the duchy had become a cautionary tale , a source of gleeful gossip for the entire city . 08:24 9 When Rosalie was three months pregnant , Leo's wife and children arrived from his village . The country woman had strong hands . She grabbed Rosalie by the hair , slapping her repeatedly while screaming " harlot , " and finally shoved her into the river . They said Rosalie lost the child and lay in a coma for three days . When she awoke , she had lost her mind . She would scream that she was married to the King's Scholar , that he would become the King's most trusted advisor , and that she was a grand lady who must not be touched . Leo , irritated by her delusions , would simply beat her into unconsciousness . Hearing all this , I felt nothing . Just then , Anne entered with a guest list , her face beaming . " Mother , your birthday is in a few days . I will make sure it is a celebration to reme- mber ! " A warmth spread through my chest . In all my years at the ducal estate , no one had ever remembered my birthday . Except once . On one birthday , Rosalie had tossed me a plain , grayish hairpin . Overjoyed , I thought she was finally starting to accept me . I wore it every day until I overheard the servants laughing . It turned out the pin was a gift Rosalie had originally bought for Liana , who had rejected it , calling the color " unlucky . " Rosalie had then given it to me as an afterthought . I can no longer recall what was said , but I remember the humiliation burning in my chest like a hot coal . On the day of my birthday banquet , uninvited guests arrived . Alistair , with Gideon in tow , strode toward me , his face a thundercloud . " Elara , this game has gone on long enough , " he said . " You've had your fun playing house out here . It's time you came home . " For a moment , I thought I was misremembering . " We have an annulment , Your Grace . " " That was a fit of temper on your part . I never took it seriously . " Beside him , Gideon added in a stiff , resentful tone , " You were the one who said you would take care of us . It's only been a few months , and you ' ve already gone back on your word . " I frowned , looking him over . In just a few months , he seemed to have gained another fifty pounds . He looked like an overstuffed sausage casi- ng ; even bending slightly seemed to be an effort . Noticing my gaze , Gideon looked away , a flicker of shame in his eyes . Since becoming so large , he had become a target of public ridicule . Children threw stones at him and called him a fat pig . He now desperately wanted to be thinner , but without my strict supervision , he had no self - control . " It's Liana's fault , " he muttered under his breath . " I tell her I'm full , but she just keeps bringing more food . " Alistair cut him off with an impatient command . " After the banquet ends today , you will pack your things and return with me . Gideon is still young and needs you to look after him . " He didn't pause for a reply . " Furthermore , Liana has no talent for your ... ingratiating ways with merchan- ts . She cannot manage the properties . You will resume your duties . An income of a thousand silver a month will suffice . " I was so stunned I almost laughed . So that was it . The ducal finances were in ruin , and now , finally , they remembered me . My grandfather had taught me the art of business from a young age , and I had managed both my own and the estate's properties flawlessly . In Liana's hands , they were hemorrhaging money . Alistair sat down beside me as if he owned the place . The other guests exchanged uneasy glances but dared not say a word . I was about to order my guards to throw him out when a woman with wild , disheveled hair burst through the crowd . It was Rosalie . Trailing behind her , weeping , was Liana . After Rosalie had " gone mad , " Liana had decided to bring her home to care for her . But when Rosalie heard it was my birthday , she shoved her mother aside and ran here in a frenzy . " Get away from me ! " she shrieked at the guards trying to stop her . " My fiancé is in there ! Today is the day the King's Scholar , Sir Jeff , asks for my hand ! " She pushed her way into the main hall , her eyes wild . " Once I marry him , he will become the King's Hand , and I will be a grand lady , living in luxury for the rest of my life ! " 08:24 Chapter 2 Across the room , the real Sir Jeff , sitting amongst the guests , flushed with embarrassment . I watched , surprised . It seemed Rosalie , too , remembered parts of our past life . 08:24 Feeling the weight of dozens of stares , Sir Jeff cleared his throat and stood up . " My Lady , " he said , addressing me . " It is true that I have come to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage . " Rosalie's face lit up with manic glee . But Sir Jeff , his ears turning red , continued , " I have long admired your daughter , Anne ... " Rosalie's eyes widened in disbelief . " My love , what are you saying ? My name isn't Anne ! It's Rosalie ! " Sir Jeff ignored her completely , walking over to stand beside Anne , who was blushing just as furiously . I felt a surge of satisfaction . My careful planning , arranging for them to meet over the past few weeks , had paid off . To my surprise , unlike in the last life , Jeff had been smitten with Anne from their very first meeting , which made my work all the easier . I had given Rosalie the best of everything in her last life , including the best husband . She had thrown it all away . I would not give her a second chance . Understanding dawned in Rosalie's eyes , quickly replaced by a venomous rage . She lunged forward , raising her hand to slap Anne across the face . A guard caught her wrist . " This is a private celebration , madam . Who is this madwoman , and why is she causing a scene ? " Only then did Rosalie seem to remember I was there . Her lips trembled , and she suddenly dropped to her knees before me . " Mother , it's me ! It's Rosalie ! I'm your daughter ! " she pleaded , her voice cracking . " How long have you even known that little nobody ? Why are you being so good to her ? Why are you letting her steal my husband ? " I looked down at her , my expression unreadable . " I am not your mother . Your real mother is standing right behind you . " Liana shot me a hateful glare and moved to help Rosalie up , but Rosalie kicked her away . " A common songstress is not fit to be my mother ! " she spat . She turned back to me , forcing a fawning smile . She fumbled in her pockets and produced a grimy , gray jade pendant . " Mother , this is for you . A birthday gift . Please ... please tell that little wretch to give me back Sir Jeff . " Alistair frowned . Though he had ignored Rosalie for months , his instinct to blame me was deeply ingrained . " Must you be so cruel as to make your own child kneel and beg you on your birthday ? " he boomed . " No matter what , Rosalie was your daughter for over a decade . And this Anne ... this gutter - rat you picked up from nowhere ... you would make her your heir ? " His voice dripped with disdain . " If you truly arranged this match with Sir Jeff , you should give it to Rosalie ! Let her leave that worthless scholar ! You are still the Duchess in the eyes of many . How can you help an outsider over your own family ? " Hearing him publicly degrade Anne was the final straw . A cold , sharp laugh escaped my lips . " I believe you forget , Your Grace . To me , you are the outsiders now . " I raised my voice . " Guards . Escort them out . " Alistair stared at me in disbelief as a group of household guards surrounded his family and began to forcibly remove them . " Elara , you dare ?! " he roared as he was being dragged away . " You'll come crying back to me ! Just you wait ! To abandon your own child for a stranger ... you've truly lost your mind ! " With them gone , the banquet finally returned to a semblance of normalcy . After a discussion with Sir Jeff's parents , a wedding date was set . I thought I had seen the last of Rosalie , but then the rumors started . Rosalie and Gideon began publicly telling a new version of their story : that because I was barren , I had become twisted with jealousy . They claimed I had stolen them from their loving birth mother and subjected them to daily abuse . Soon , the entire capital was buzzing with vicious gossip . I was called a heartless viper , a barren monster who tortured other people's children . Some even went to Sir Jeff's family , urging them not to ally themselves with such a wicked woman . That evening , Alistair came to my home . He looked haggard and thin , but his eyes held a smug , triumphant gleam . 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