Chapter 4

The next morning, the House of Coleman was already bustling with activity.

Teresa had already begun preparing for the banquet she would hold once she became the lady of the house.

She was busy drafting the list of guests to invite.

She was also planning a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Rosalind.

The servants were busy replacing the koi in the pond and transplanting new flowers and trees.

The servants murmured among themselves.

"It won't be long before the house has a new mistress."

"That's right. The second young lady will soon become the legitimate daughter, and she'll live in such splendor then."

The entire house was filled with a joyous mood.

Except me.

My father ordered his men to bind me hand and foot with rope and haul me to the front hall.

The carriage to take me to the Regent's Manor was already prepared.

But my father was still not satisfied.

He was afraid the Regent wouldn't be appeased, that I didn't look wretched enough.

So he ordered someone to bring a long whip and lashed me several times, hard.

He didn't stop until I was covered in blood.

I spoke through the pain.

"Father, do you know the Regent has been searching for a certain woman?"

My father's hand froze on the whip.

He frowned and spoke.

"So what?"

Rosalind couldn't help but sneer.

"Does my sister mean to say that the woman the Regent is looking for is you?"

"Sister, I know you cling to life and fear death, but do you realize telling such an enormous lie is useless? You can stall for a moment, but can you stall for a lifetime? And angering the Regent will only make your death more miserable."

Teresa dismissed it with disdain as well.

"The eldest young lady has lost her mind and is already talking nonsense. The Regent is a man of such standing. Countless noble ladies in the Capital are in love with him. How could he possibly take a fancy to you?"

She looked me up and down.

"You're plain as a board, not even as pretty as the lowest maid in the house. Everyone knows the Regent loves only beautiful women. Stop daydreaming."

Before I could get a word out, my father lashed me with the whip again.

"You're just like that poisonous woman, your mother. Are you trying to provoke the Regent on purpose, so you can drag the entire House of Coleman into the grave with you?"

"If you spout such nonsense in front of the Regent, our whole house will be dragged down with you."

He simply ordered someone to cut out my tongue.

Just as several servants were closing in on me—

The steward rushed in from outside and spoke, trembling.

"My lord, the Regent has arrived at the house with his men."

My father's face went pale in an instant.

Teresa and Rosalind couldn't suppress the smiles at the corners of their mouths.

The look in their eyes was full of gloating and venom.

My father immediately went out to greet him, knelt respectfully on the ground, and spoke, trembling.

"This official greets Your Highness. Rest assured, Your Highness. I was about to send that rebellious daughter who offended you to your manor, to be dealt with as you see fit. I only hope Your Highness will let your anger go."

"From this day forward, this rebellious daughter will have no further connection to the House of Coleman. I will strike her from the family register."

But to everyone's surprise, the Regent—who had always struck fear into the officials of the Capital—strode past the crowd and headed straight for me, drenched in blood.

He lifted me up with great care and ordered his trusted men to fetch the royal physician at once.

The Regent spoke, his face still as water.

"Who injured the woman who saved my life?"

"I have come today for one purpose—to propose marriage to the legitimate daughter of the House of Coleman."