Heisen Steele
On the night of the Imperial Winter Festival, the fake princess personally lit the Grand Lantern. But as the lantern lit up, an image appeared on its shade, revealing a horrifying scene of me, the real princess, being thrown into a beggar's den and violated by one man after another.
The noblewomen blushed with embarrassment and called me depraved by nature.
They said anyone who had suffered such a fate should have taken her own life long ago, yet I'd shamelessly continued to live. Some even claimed I was worse than a prostitute behind closed doors, saying countless men had used and ruined me.
My brother, the king, kept his eyes fixed on me and ordered his secret guards to watch me in case I tried to hurt Francesca.
But the arrogant, spoiled princess I once was had long since disappeared.
Faced with their humiliation, I smiled at the noblewomen attending the banquet. "You're right. Someone like me deserves to die."
When she realized I wouldn't take the bait, Francesca deliberately dropped and shattered a treasured keepsake left behind by our late mother, then pretended to accidentally step on my dress and tear it.
Even with everyone staring at me, I remained as numb and submissive as ever.
My brother thought Francesca had gone a little too far. Nevertheless, he gave me an approving look. "Leah, after five years of studying at the Abbey of St. Faith, you've finally learned to be gracious and tolerant of others."
His words struck me as laughable.
What grace? I'd simply given up on the brother who had humiliated me time and time again.