All Chapters of The Marked Lady: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Everyone in the great hall exchanged looks. Seer Corvyn tried to speak again, but I stopped him with a glance.That blank royal decree had been granted years ago as a gift from the King in honour of Aldric’s mother, who had sacrificed her life to save him. No one had expected Aldric to use it now. In the previous life, even with my help, it was that very decree that had given him the legitimate grounds to claim the throne, and now he had spent it on Rosalind.The Queen, however, seemed almost relieved that he had used it early. It was better that he used it now than let it fester into future trouble.“Lady Leanora, what say you?” the Queen asked.“His Highness does my sister great honour,” I replied, lowering into a curtsey. “It is a distinction for the House Ashveil.”Aldric looked at me, his gaze complicated. However, his resolve never wavered.“Your Majesty,” he said, “I seek Rosalind’s hand not out of ambition for my brother’s succession, but because she and I are of one hear

Chapter 2

The royal decree had drawn attention from the moment it left the palace gates, and with Aldric deliberately stirring the rumors, House Ashveil quickly became the talk of the Royal City overnight. For years, it had been the legitimate eldest daughter, Lady Leanora, who was seen accompanying Prince Aldric, yet the girl given the royal betrothal was the illegitimate-born daughter, Rosalind. Just like that, I became the laughingstock of the city.“Do you suppose Lady Leanora was throwing herself at His Highness all along?”“The Lord Chancellor always seemed so principled. How did he raise a daughter like this? With the legitimate young lady’s courtesan behavior, no wonder Prince Aldric never favored her.”Early the next morning, Aldric sent ten carriages of lavish gifts to our residence. It only further confirmed how much he favored Rosalind.Father looked at me with concern as I practiced my painting. He said, “Nora, I don’t know what happened between you and His Highness, but the r

Chapter 3

I watched as Aldric gently comforted Rosalind before he turned and snarled at me. “Leanora, you’re meant to be a noble lady of the Royal City, but all I see is a jealous woman consumed by envy.”Yet, just last month, on the lakeside promenade, he had whispered tenderly by my side, “Nora, you’re amazing at this style of painting. You’re so breathtaking. Sometimes I wish I could hide you away so only I can see you.”Perhaps noticing my reddened eyes and fearing that the tension might frighten Rosalind, Aldric immediately sent her away.“In our previous life, it was your inability to accept Rose that drove us apart. Why are you making the same mistake again?”I forced back my tears as I looked at him.“Why should I accept her? You know perfectly well who she is. Her very existence is an insult to House Ashveil. The only reason she was raised in our household was that Father couldn’t bring himself to abandon her.”Back then, Rosalind’s father had been nothing more than a homeless man

Chapter 4

Sure enough, not long after, news began to spread that the princess consort, Princess Rosalind, had predicted that a plague would soon break out.The moment the prophecy became public, panic swept through the common people. The prices of grain and medicinal herbs skyrocketed overnight. Although the King attempted to suppress the hysteria, the results were minimal. In the palace, only the Crown Prince stood openly against Prince Aldric’s massive mobilization and early preparations.I listened as the household maid responsible for produce shopping reported the situation. “Many of the commoners have spent their entire savings stocking up on grain and medicine. But the recent rains have been constant. Without proper storage, most of those supplies will start molding soon.”I sighed. “Send word to the Crown Prince. Tell him to send men to guard the granaries.”Ten days passed, then a month. The date of Rosalind’s prophecy came and went, but the plague did not come. The people quickly re

Chapter 5

As expected, Aldric paid a secret visit to House Ashveil that very night. However, he arrived in a miserable state.“You… Did you position those guards outside yourself?” he asked.“Yes,” I replied. “I had them prepared just for you, Your Highness.”Aldric let out a long sigh. Then, without asking permission, he walked straight into my room and began tidying his appearance.“I know you’re angry with me, but I’m not without feelings for you. Marrying Rosalind has angered Father and Mother. It wouldn’t be wise for me to insist on bringing you into my household right now. You’ll have to find your own way to me, but my offer stands.”I snickered. “So you want me to defy a royal decree and stake the House Ashveil’s future on your word? They will take my head, Aldric.”He cleared his throat awkwardly. “You’re capable enough to protect everyone. I know what you want from my brother. Whatever he can do, I can do as well.”Now, not a single word he said meant anything to me when, in our

Chapter 6

Rosalind burst into tears as she clung to Aldric’s leg, all the while throwing accusations my way.“It was Leanora! She planted that man in my cabinet to frame me. I love you so much. I would never cheat on you!”The man caught her signal and was just about to shift the blame onto me, but I spoke first. “By all means, let us say it was my doing. I confess. I planted him here to slander the Princess. And this man, having defiled a royal, should be put to death immediately. Shall we proceed?”Seeing that I didn’t spare myself, the man panicked. He dropped to his knees and clutched at Rosalind’s leg instead.“Save me, Princess! Please! I pleased you, and you said so yourself. You have to protect me!”Aldric’s face darkened as he dealt with the situation. In the middle of it all, a memory from my past life surfaced. After Rosalind’s death, there had been countless rumors about her affairs, but Aldric never believed them. He even had those spreading the rumors punished.I looked down

Chapter 7

In order to return to the Royal City with a victory, Aldric marched across the border and attacked the Vordkai. However, the Vordkai leader had signed a peace treaty with the King a decade prior. Starting a war now was a humiliation to the King.When the battle reports reached the Royal City, the King immediately sent messengers to stop the army. However, the troops were divided in spirit, and Aldric suffered a crushing defeat. In the end, the Crown Prince had to travel to the Vordkai to offer an apology before their anger was finally appeased.Even so, the Vordkai had one condition for peace: a bride. They had heard rumors that House Ashveil had a daughter born with a gift of the realm, someone who could see the future. And so, Rosalind became the bride they specifically demanded.When the news reached the Royal City, the King deliberated for some time. After all, she was his daughter-in-law. However, Aldric showed no hesitation at all. Ignoring Rosalind’s desperate cries, he had h

Chapter 8

Suddenly, countless images flashed through my mind. I grabbed Caelen just as he was about to leave.“Did anyone follow Aldric? He’s about to rebel!”Caelen froze for a moment. Then, he immediately summoned his men and began giving orders. Before he could finish, a secret guard rushed in with urgent news.“Your Highness, Prince Aldric left the Royal City overnight. He’s gone to find the remaining forces of the Renfield garrison.”The Renfeld garrison, once the private army of the King’s favorite mistress, had been reduced to a fraction of its former strength. The current commander, however, had been Caelan's man in the previous life.“I’ll leave guards behind to protect House Ashveil,” Caelen said. “Take care of yourself. Don’t go anywhere.”I nodded.“Your Highness can capture him in one move this time. If you wish, you can even eliminate him once and for all.”A complicated look flashed through Caelen’s eyes, but he said nothing more before he was gone.On the night of the th

Chapter 9

After that night, I knew without a doubt that what he said was true—Rosalind truly deserved to die.Speaking of Rosalind, I noticed some new movement from her. After the old Vordkai leader died, she followed the new leader. Since Aldric never got to her, she heard about his imprisonment instead. So, she decided to tell the new Vordkai leader that I was the one with the birthmark on my forehead.It was because of that information that she was noticed and became the favored wife. She provoked the Vordkai to send troops to invade the border, even attempting to march on the Royal City.Before Caelen went on his campaign, I cast a divination for him, which revealed a favorable omen.“Your Highness, could you bring Rosalind back as my gift?” I asked.Caelen lifted his gaze from the scroll. “Do you want her alive or dead?”I thought for a moment and said, “Alive.”Half a year later, I saw the returning army at the city gates. Caelen was darker, thinner, and somehow even more handsome.

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