جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

Sylvia hugged her knees to shield herself from the cold winds swirling in the moldy cell. A patch of decaying straw laid between her freezing body and the grimy stone floor that appeared to have never seen sunlight.The underground prison carried the stench of sweat and piss, and these scents were starting to cause a headache.Her pale, tear-stained face grimaced, despair clawing at her heart but she had to hold on until the trial in order to clear her name.“I’m innocent,” she mumbled as she splayed a hand over her lower belly.The reply came in the form of an echo—heels clacking against the floor—getting louder by the second.“What a terribly lovely sight,” said the newcomer in a mocking tone, her voice tainted with shrill delight.It was Lady Clementine, the woman who seduced her husband, the patriarch of House Winston, Duke Alec Winston.A guard who had accompanied her held a torch and positioned himself near the walls further behind.“Ho-ho-ho,” she laughed haughtily, the back of

The two passed by empty cells, hurrying along as if they were being chased.A sickening stench coated the walls and stuck to her skin the further they went.All Sylvia could do was breathe it in as she watched Lord Marcus’ back from behind, the warmth emanating from their tightly held hands proof that she had implicitly trusted him with two lives.“I love you,” he had confessed that night as he took her body gently like a lover and roughly like a beast.As they ran, Sylvia wondered what her life would’ve been like if she, too, was loved. With all the revelations she’d received tonight, it seemed like she had never received it for herself for all the years she’d lived.She loved and loved true and lost herself in the process. And now, the person she gave it all to wanted her death.Sylvia couldn’t tell if the ache in her chest came from her running or from something else. She felt pity for herself, and for the man in front of her.She had no more love to spare even as he was risking his

The three boys had the same unruly brown hair and eyes as brown as mud. They were a few years older than her, but they were taller than most boys around their age. They also packed a bit of muscle from working in the mines.It seemed like they grew a little bigger each time she saw them. They were away for most days of the month, but these well-known troublemakers picked on anyone weaker than them.“Hey, that was dangerous, shorty. I’m walking here, see?” the oldest of the three, Uno, said smugly.Sylvia looked down at the spilled water.When House Winston took her in, servants cooked her meals and served them on time.Now, her meals depended on Shote. And Shote wouldn’t let her eat breakfast until she finished the first half of her morning chores—fetching water for the day and scrubbing the floors until they glistened.She glared at the triplets, making them scowl.“Wha-What are you loo-looking at?” Dos shouted.His speaking had improved over the years, and Sylvia would sincerely cong

If there was one thing that Sylvia could freely do in her current situation, it was to be crude. Unlike when she was a duchess, survival came before etiquette, grace, and vanity.This is to say that Sylvia, having been brought back in time, could curse all she wanted.“Damned old man.”Sylvia’s knees buckled underneath her.“Short ol’ Shorte who stinks of tobacco.”Unfortunately, Sylvia couldn’t reclaim her days of rough-lived youth after having lived a noble’s life.She sighed as she gave up and lay on the earthen floor.Shote had indeed tried every trick he could to make Arden pay more than he should. Of course, when the man insisted on paying the fair price the Sylvia tipped him off earlier, Shote took his losses out on her by working her to the bone.‘I remember my first life, but changes keep happening.’From what she could recall, Shote made her work less because he was happy that she had led the mercenaries to the inn.Sylvia now understood why. Since she had helped Arden, it wa

“What an interesting child,” Livia commented after Sylvia had left the room with the trays.“The little sister was a noble. If it were any other nobles, I’d have a bounty on my head right now for touching a noble’s body.” Arden chuckled.“Indeed. Though you applied first aid, you’ll be kicked to the curb and cursed at.”Livia turned to Grus.“Are you sure about this, Captain—getting involved with nobility?”The single candle they left on the center of the table casted shadows on their captain’s face, his conflicted expression appearing more serious.“It won’t hurt to have them owe us a favor,” he replied, but there was a trace of uncertainty in his tone. “If House Lundren’s reputation bears no falsehood and the same is with her words, we might be able to save more lives in this mission rather than if it were just us.”Arden hummed.“That is certainly a possibility. On that note, Captain, Hanes is taking longer than usual tonight.”“Shush,” Livia whispered, eyes darting towards the now