Chapter 2

"My master ordered me to guard you, Lady Penelope, for three months. He said that if you remained safe and unharmed during that time, he would return to the capital. He's been gone for five days now," the hidden guard replied.

"Then tell him I'm in trouble," I said.

I handed the ungrateful wretch over to his wet nurse, Margaret, while I kept my daughter, Amelia, by my side.

The moment Clara heard about it, she came straight to see me.

She picked up the ungrateful wretch and placed him in my arms. "Penelope, how can you play favorites? The two children were born on the same day. That means they're fated to share a bond.

"They're both your flesh and blood. How can you keep Amelia by your side while leaving this child with a wet nurse?"

I lowered my eyes.

The red birthmark beneath his eye was painfully conspicuous. I had poured my heart and soul into raising him for 20 years, only for him to call someone else Mother in the end.

I pushed him straight back into Clara's arms, my expression cold. "He isn't my flesh and blood, so naturally, I won't treat him as well as my own child. How about this? Take him back and raise him yourself."

Clara's expression changed drastically, and her arms stiffened around the child. "I... I'm not very good at caring for children."

It wasn't that she didn't know how. She knew perfectly well that a child raised as the offspring of a noblewoman would live a world apart from one born to a penniless orphan like her.

Clara tried to push the child back into my arms, but I simply turned away.

In her haste, she stumbled, and the baby in her arms began wailing in fright. "My son— Ah!"

Gideon hurried forward at the sound. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

When Clara saw the child's face turn red from crying, tears instantly sprang to her eyes. "Penelope, if you don't want to hold him, then don't. Why did you have to trip me?"

I turned back in disbelief.

Margaret was about to speak up for me when Gideon sharply reprimanded me, "He's still a human life, no matter what. How can you be so heartless?"

His words left me stunned. Gideon had always said he would never raise his voice at me, much less reprimand me.

Tears blurred my vision as one beautiful memory after another came rushing back.

When I first learned to ride, I fell from my horse and hurt myself. Gideon cried until his eyes were red with worry and wished he could take the pain in my place.

When I got lost during a festival at 14, he was the first to find me and personally escorted me home.

Our wedding had been magnificent. The procession had circled the city three times, while fireworks lit up the entire sky.

I still remembered what he had said when he lifted me down from the horse. "Only the very best is worthy of my Penelope."

Those memories faded, replaced by the cold impatience in his eyes and the tenderness he reserved for Clara.

Then I remembered what had happened after their plan succeeded in my previous life.

Clara had moved into the Marquis' estate as the household physician. Gideon had used my postpartum weakness as an excuse to hand control of the entire estate over to her.

I had confronted him, but he had simply turned the question back on me. "Isn't Clara your dearest friend? How could you possibly be suspicious of her?"

For a moment, I had been speechless.

"I gave her control of the household because I wanted her to help shoulder your burden. She's been so good to you and the child, yet you're still suspicious of her?"

Back then, I had genuinely believed I was being petty. But later, the two of them would take our son into the mountains to pray for blessings. They would tie protection charms around each other's wrists, while I alone was left without one.

Even the king's rewards were always offered to her first. Some people even mistook her for the Marchioness. Because I had regarded her as my sister in all but blood, I had endured it all.

Now, I wiped away my tears and met Gideon's eyes.

I couldn't hold back any longer. "Why do you keep protecting another woman and a child of unknown origins?"

Gideon froze.

Before he could answer, Clara cried out, "Something's wrong with the baby... Gideon, look!"

I suddenly remembered.

This boy had a heart condition.

In my previous life, I had raised him with meticulous care. That was the only reason he had survived and grown into adulthood.

After such a fright, his heart condition was probably acting up.

My feet instinctively carried me toward him, but the moment I drew near, Clara shoved me hard.

I fell to the floor. A sharp, twisting pain tore through my lower abdomen, and all the color drained from my face.

"Penelope!" Gideon had barely taken a step toward me when the boy suddenly burst into loud cries.

With no other choice, the two of them hurried away with the baby in their arms.

Margaret immediately helped me to my feet, her expression grim. "My Lady..."

I didn't answer. I simply stared blankly at their retreating figures.

In my previous life, I had watched their backs countless times. They had traveled to the Northern Wastes together, and even on the battlefield, they had always stood at each other's side.

After Arthur was born, all I ever saw were three figures walking away from me. There had never been a place for me among them. I had been so foolish that I hadn't even noticed.

Not long afterward, Gideon returned.

"The physician says the child has a heart disorder. Only blood from someone with the same blood type can suppress it. Amelia happens to be a match," he said.