Chapter 2
My mother hesitated, her brow furrowing. “You mean Alaric Thornhill? But his family is impoverished. Why would you suddenly wish to marry him?”
I lowered my gaze. In my past life, Alaric had risen by his own merit to become a powerful lord, one who could rival even Gideon. And in the end, he was the only one who had chosen to believe in my father, who had risked everything to save
He was capable. Loyal.
If I must marry, then I would choose someone who would bring my parents peace of mind.
As for love… I had long since stopped hoping for that.
“He is Percival’s protégé-we know his character well. Moreover, he won the Royal Debates three years ago. His talent is
no less than Gideon’s.”
Clarissa relented and hurried off to discuss the matter with Percival.
I sat alone in the garden, beneath the shade of a lush willow. Not far away, the crabapple trees I adored were in full bloom, and the grounds were vibrant with greenery-nothing like the charred ruins I remembered after the fire.
“My lady, why are you crying?”
I quickly wiped my tears away and forced a smile. “Just a speck of dust in my eye.”
My maid looked heartbroken, no doubt thinking I was pining over a lost love. To distract her, I took her hand and
suggested we go see my bridal gown.
But the moment we stepped outside, I noticed the neighbors whispering among themselves, their eyes darting toward
“I heard the top scholar plans to take a mistress first.”
“Since when does a paramour outrank a lawful wife? And he’s to be a live-in son-in-law-this is an insult to Lady
Ravenscroft!”
“They say the scholar never wanted to marry her in the first place. It was only under the Grand Chancellor’s pressure that he agreed. Highborn ladies will do anything to secure a husband, won’t they? She’d never dare defy him. Who knows what
indecencies she’ll resort to in bed just to please him…”
Their laughter was crude, their words filthy.
My maid flushed with rage. “He was the one who pursued you first! How dare they speak like this!”
I felt a distant pang.
Yes.
I had met Gideon while distributing alms. Though dressed in rags, he carried himself with the grace of a scholar. When I asked, he explained he had lost his funds on the way to the capital for the Debates.
Impressed by his talent, I offered him patronage. Later, after he achieved the rank of top scholar, he lingered outside our manor for days. When I invited him in, he confessed he had come to propose. “I know my status is humble. But if my lady
does not disdain me… I would gladly enter Ravenscroft Manor as your husband.”
Yet within half a year, his heart had already strayed to another.
I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. “No matter. He is not the one I am marrying now.”
The moment the words left my lips, I froze.
There, standing mere steps away in front of the lady’s embroidery tower-
-was Gideon, his eyes burning with fury as he glared at me.
